You guys have really done it this time.
Running amok in Chinatown in broad daylight like that...
The magistrate won't stop yelling
about the ribenji-ya needing their heads lopped off and hung up.
And we're supposedly responsible for all of it?
All thanks to a hot tip from everyone's favorite trade union rep, Shishido-sama.
Aided by Kurima Raizo, you guys swiped the Satsuma opium,
then wiped out the Qing emissaries, led by Liu, who'd been sent to retrieve it.
I'm surprised they want to cover it up so hastily.
Chinatown is under the Nagasaki Trade Union's supervision.
This incident ultimately tarnishes their reputation.
Wouldn't that motivate them to find the true culprit?
And yet, they're still dead set on saying it was you guys who did it.
Why do you suppose that is?
The union knows who's responsible.
Come on, man. You're sharper than that.
Then it was the Nagasaki Trade Union who killed Liu and attacked Chinatown.
That's more like it.
Liu was a Qing agent sent here on a mission to dispose of opium.
Opium that should also pose a threat to the union's operations. So why?
Well, it's not like they had a meeting and all agreed on it.
There's a loose cannon in the mix.
Shishido Saimon-sama, the union's general overseer.
Yep. That bastard said he was gonna bite gold for the sake of the folks in Chinatown.
And he did just that.
Seems Shishido wants to get in good with that foreign priest,
while cutting the rest of you off.
Play it cool if you want,
but you might wanna think about what to do with yourself.
I can always hook you up with a job waving a jitte around.
I'd have your back then.
I'm barely able to deal with all the odd jobs in town.
I'm afraid assisting you would be beyond me.
Gotta be stubborn, huh?
As the general overseer of the trade union, he's positioned to take over someday.
Why would he do all this?
He had Sakata gunning for me, too.
On top of supplying him with opium.
I thought he was a rich little shit playing with fire,
running a side hustle to make a bit extra...
But I was wrong.
Maybe it's time the Pajama Police thought about hanging up our robes.
Because this son of a bitch is serious about turning Nagasaki into one big opium den.
But why?
Hell if I know.
I suppose we'll just have to go find out, then.
Hey, Soji!
It's too late to be making so much...
What happened here?
Slippery bastard.
It seems they do know where we live.
Well, they did see our faces.
What now?
I'm not going back there for a while. You find somewhere to hide out, too.
We don't wanna drag Hana's family into this.
Episode 10
I must say, this is rather, uh...
A piece from the renowned Tenzan-sensei.
I would like to spend today remembering him with all of you.
Remembering? I had no idea he'd died.
From what I heard, his wife passed away, and the grief drove him to opium.
Stop that. Those are just rumors.
Before his passing, Sensei gave form to the ephemeral nature of man.
I see! When you put it in those terms, this piece is quite thought-provoking.
I'm sure his surviving family is honored to have your patronage, Shishido-sama.
Unfortunately, Tenzan-sensei was only able to finish the cup portion before he passed.
What do you say, Usui-sama?
Perhaps you could adorn it with your lacquer.
Usui-sama's touch... for this?
I see!
With the addition of your gifts, I'm sure Sensei's work can become truly everlasting.
I appreciate you inviting me here today,
but I must humbly decline.
I thought only your work would be a match for this teacup...
May I ask why?
I don't believe this piece turned out the way Tenzan-sensei wanted it to.
As a fellow artist in pursuit of expression,
I do not wish to expose it to greater scrutiny.
You say that, but there is no shortage of works decried by their makers as failures,
only for them to later be reappraised as fine art.
And you believe this to be such a piece?
Yes. I dare say that Sensei was born for the purpose of giving birth to this work.
P-Putting that aside for a moment...
Is that by the artist everyone's been talking about?
Yes. It was quite difficult to actually get my hands on it, but isn't it something?
The rumors don't do him justice.
It's like the living image of someone.
Though I must say...
Whoever had this artist take up a brush must be truly cruel.
What do you mean?
I believe the girl depicted here is no longer among the living.
Taishin
I can feel the despair and self-condemnation that comes from letting a loved one die,
as if this was painted by cutting away at one's own flesh.
People deal with their grief in different ways.
I'd wager that, for this artist, Taishin, creating art is his method for doing so.
In that case, I can't wait to see more from him.
If he can reproduce the image of a lost one so clearly,
it must be akin to perpetually losing that person over and over.
I wonder what will become of this artist.
If he's able to keep confronting his grief without turning away from it,
in time, I'm sure it will be his salvation.
Would that be like a ray of light clearing away the clouds of grief around his art?
How dreadfully dull.
If salvation brings about such a pedestrian turn, this creator has no need of it.
Infinite suffering capable of shattering the body and mind
would be much more valuable.
I'm certain that would create much finer art.
It's only just healed, all right? So don't push yourself too hard.
Thanks for everything.
Well, time for supper.
Hey, you making the same thing again?
Aw, c'mon, Doc. I'm impressed you can make a meal out of a single daikon radish,
but it wouldn't hurt to spice it up with a whole sea bream or something, y'know?
Sorry, did I adopt you two at some point?
What do you want from me? These guys could attack my place at any minute.
Can you imagine if they lit that tiny room in the middle of town on fire?
Even that hulking frame of yours would get cooked.
That about covers it. Plus, Raizo spends all day scowling blankly up at Yuen's place.
I don't wanna hang around there.
Then could you at least help out a little?
Sorry, but I ain't what you'd call "educated." Western medicine goes right over my head.
I'm great at killing people, but fixing them up? Nah.
Hey, aren't there any new revenge jobs?
'Course there ain't. We picked a fight with the Chapel, remember?
I'm not so sure about that. Usui-kun should be visiting the Chapel right about now.
Depending on how it goes, he might return with a gold coin.
The boss is doing what?!
He's going to the Chapel? Alone?!
With the Liu matter more or less settled, he has to go report in about it.
As well as return the oban gold.
If it was that easy, would we really be in a situation this hairy?!
How do we know he's even gonna come back alive?
We don't.
What the hell?
And you just let him go?
What else could he do? You know Yuen doesn't take no for an answer.
Damn it!
Hey! What's the big idea?!
Where are you going? Food's almost done.
Ain't got much of an appetite.
The best thing we can do right now is wait. For the time being, at least.
Soji, where are you going?
To the damn gambling den! I'm too worked up for much else!
Didn't you just say these guys could attack at any time?
Shut it!
Times like these, you need to check how your luck's working!
The failed revenge against Liu Wen-Lin was not what I have come to expect from you.
That said, the ultimate outcome was a suitable one,
so perhaps this, too, is God's will.
Which is why I am willing to overlook what has happened.
Liu's aim wasn't to bring opium into Nagasaki, but to remove it.
An emissary from Qing charged with the eradication of opium...
I must ask: what reason was there for him to be a target for revenge?
All that glitters is the gold of a bitten koban.
You know better than to probe too deeply.
I met with a man named Shishido Saimon.
Hm... I believe he is the general overseer of the Nagasaki Trade Union, yes?
You're not acquainted with him?
That's rather a sudden accusation.
What makes you think so?
There's something I've been wondering.
Why would a piece of gold left behind by our brethren at Shimabara
not bare the teeth marks of a vendetta?
And Shishido Saimon feels no grudge. No rage. And no hatred, for that matter.
All he feels is twisted pleasure at seeing people's lives disrupted.
Neither he nor those who disgrace themselves as his followers
could sink their corrupt teeth
into this piece of gold, the embodiment of the faithful who died for their beliefs.
I have taught you that such impertinence only serves to distance you from true faith.
Close your eyes, my child. You should be able to feel it.
The vendetta of those who died in the flames clings to that coin even now.
With Liu gone, Shishido will move to begin distributing the opium Matsumine purchased.
Do you believe letting Nagasaki turn into Hell is the vengeance this coin pays for?
The truly virtuous would never succumb to the temptation of opium.
Indeed, it may even be that Shishido's very machinations are the will of God above.
For the Lord's judgment can be harsh.
If Japan can plunge into the inferno due to the influence of opium,
it only means this nation has sinned enough to deserve such a fate.
There is no doubt that men sin easily.
But it is for that very reason that God sent his only son to us.
And those who exist beyond even that salvation...
We revengers serve them.
Now that is a most deep-seated vendetta.
It is the vendetta Liu incised with his final breaths.
Against those who deceived him and killed his comrades.
A grudge against those who toy with something as loathsome as opium.
How could I, as a revenger, ignore the sentiment bitten into this coin?
Thy will be done.
Shishido Saimon...
He is the one responsible for Liu's demise?
Not only that, but he stole Matsumine Jonoshin's opium,
and is on the verge of distributing it around Nagasaki.
I was never fully convinced of the purpose behind being a revenger until today.
But if I had never met you,
I would have died without knowing the truth of the crime I had committed.
You have my gratitude.
You were the one who followed the thread of karma.
If nothing else, it is the duty of this foolish samurai, Kurima Raizo,
to ensure that this is all brought to an end, even at the cost of his own life.
But what happens after?
I shall do the noble thing and disembowel myself.
Though I doubt my father-in-law or Yui would accept me dying like a samurai.
You have another name.
That of the artist, Taishin.
True.
One that forces me to confront the crimes I committed for as long as my life continues.
That may be a better fit for me.
If you intend to come into your own as an artist,
you may need a wider variety of subject matter.
That is not possible.
Not yet, at least.
But perhaps one day... someday far from now...
Yui may smile for me.
Hey, what's going on? Things are awful lively in here.
She floated in here and asked to give it a try, but she's got a real knack for it.
We're living it up today!
Here we go!
You've got a lady throwing the bones?
Now, let's hear those bets!
Odds!
Evens!
Odds!
Evens!
Odds!
Evens!
Odds!
The bets are in.
Game!
Five and two! Odds!
Nice!
How're you guys gonna gamble with hearts in your eyes?
Hey, move aside.
You're...
Here we go.
Now, place your bets!
Odds!
Evens!
Odds!
Any other bets on evens?
Evens.
Right. All bets in the house are now in. And so, the moment of truth...
Two and two! Even!
Now, place your bets!
Evens.
Odds!
Four and two! Evens!
Odds.
One and two! Odds!
Evens.
Four and six! Evens!
Damn, Soji! You only ever luck out when it's a huge gamble?
The dice are in.
Now, what's it gonna be?
What's it gonna be? Come on. Any bets this time?
That's enough for me. I'm done.
Hey, you gonna just win and run?
Can it! You guys were just waiting to ride my coattails!
What kinda gamblers are you?!
Say what?!
What the hell was that?
Why's the nun from the Chapel throwing the bones at a dice game?
Did something happen to Boss Usui?
You were on such a roll. What's the problem?
Did you drop the tools of your trade?
Then why don't I...
give you mine?
What are you doing?!
Damn. Of all the cheap little tricks...
How lucky you are.
Keep this up, and in a month, you'll have made a fortune.
Gimme those back, damn it!
What the hell are you doing?!
So a nun from the Chapel's here just to make me look a fool?!
Consider it a deposit.
For what?
If this is the usual business, just hand some bitten gold to the boss!
That's not an option anymore.
Don't tell me...
Is the boss...
That will depend on you.
Why does Usui Yuen harbor Kurima Raizo?
Wh-What are you talking about?
Don't play dumb.
Kurima Raizo was supposed to have been killed at Tsurumaru Castle Town in Satsuma.
Yeah, that's right. But the boss didn't do it.
Why not?
How the hell should I know?!
Then find out. Before every gambling den in the city closes its doors to you.
You want me to snitch for you?
You already took the money.
You forced it into my hands!
What the hell?
What's going on with the boss and that bastard, Raizo?
Episode 9
Next time, Episode 10