In pursuit of the tattooed prisoner’s remains, pilfered from his grave, Tsurumi crosses paths with Edogai Yasaku, a taxidermist known for crafting garments from human skin. Tsurumi gains Edogai's favor through sincere praise of his artistry…

Sugimoto and Shiraishi followed Sergeant Hajime Tsukishima to Edogai’s workshop, only to find it under assault by Ogata. Edogai retreated into a mine, where he was caught in a cascade of explosions. He perished, but not before conveying to …

The assembled party scoured Edogai’s workshop, seeking a means to distinguish the counterfeit tattoos, when they were ambushed by the Seventh. Forced to scatter, they resolved to meet again in Ashibetsu. Meanwhile, Tanigaki and Inkarmat agr…

Shiraishi falls into the hands of the Seventh Division, despite valiant but ultimately unsuccessful attempts by Hijikata and Kiroranke to secure his release. Tsurumi encounters his old comrade, Lieutenant General Arisaka, a man skilled in w…

Under the guise of anonymity, Suzukawa tries to offer a bribe to the Seventh Division for Shiraishi’s release. His attempt ends in death, thwarted by Second Lieutenant Koito Otonoshi, who intervened on Tsurumi’s orders. Sugimoto, accompanie…

A telegram arrived for Tanigaki, bearing grim news: Huci was near death. He was drawn into a somber reflection on his past, specifically his friendship with Kenkichi, a fellow Matagi. Kenkichi had married and, years later, murdered Tanigaki…

Tanigaki relayed to Asirpa the deteriorating condition of Huci, though she expressed a desire to press on with their search for gold. They were accompanied by Nihei’s dog, Ryu, who had tracked the scent of his former master's weapon – now c…

A cloud of locusts broke the company, isolating Asirpa and Inkarmat. Asirpa turned to Inkarmat, inquiring about her father. Inkarmat replied that Asirpa’s father was Wilk, a man of Polish and Ainu heritage with eyes the color of the sea, sl…

In a village nestled near Lake Kussharo, Sugimoto’s party discovers rumors of a band of blind bandits commanded by a man adorned with peculiar tattoos. Shiraishi recognizes him as Toni Anji, a prisoner held at Abashiri. While the men bathe …

Under the cloak of darkness, Sugimoto and Hijikata’s men secretly tunnelled into Abashiri Prison, connecting with Chief Kadokura, an acquaintance of Hijikata's. On a moonless night, they initiated their escape. Inkarmat, Cikapasi, Nagakura,…

Disguised as a response to a prison riot, Tsurumi orchestrates an attack on Abashiri Prison. He confronts Sugimoto within Nopperabo's cell, but Kadokura, seeking his own escape, disengages the master lock, unleashing the prison's inmates. H…

The man with blue eyes affirmed his identity as Wilk upon seeing Asirpa’s makiri, but stated he would only disclose the gold’s location to her. He explained to Sugimoto that his intention had been to cultivate Asirpa as the Ainu guerrilla l…