Bailu Village, Guilin
Coming across the sea, from a distant land in the east, he shall appear.
A young man, unaware of his own strength.
Hey, Shenhua!
A strength that can both destroy him...
Shenhua?
Him... a young man...
A poem?
Yes. One of the village's oldest.
Oh, I know that one!
"Coming across the sea, from a distant land in the east, he shall appear."
That one, yeah?
Yes, but who is "he"?
The children asked me to tell them.
How should I know?
Right...
W-well, whoever this guy is, he must be pretty weird
to cross the sea just to visit our little village!
Oh, by the way! I wanted to let you know,
a nearby village is holding a night festival soon.
Want to round everybody up and go?
Charlie got his ass whooped? Who was it, the Chens again?
No. It wasn't the Chens.
Just some little punk that thinks he can mess with us.
Kid's got balls.
And here I thought the Chens were the only ones left
actually crazy enough to challenge us Mad Angels...
Yokosuka Appreciation Sale
Visit the pottery store in the shopping district.
I believe the owner there can read all forms of Chinese, both new and old.
Russiya China Shop
Hey, mister!
You're that kid.
I'm Gaowen!
Thanks for saving me the other day.
So, mister, why are you here at our house?
Huh?
Grandma!
What is it, Gaowen?
Oh, who is this?
He's the guy who helped me the other day!
Well, thank you for your kindness. It's much appreciated.
Uh, no, it was noth-
He said he's here to see you about something!
I was hoping you could read this letter for me...
These are mirror characters.
"Mirror characters"?
Yes, they have a rather distinct style.
It says, "Beware those coming. They seek the mirror"
And also, to "contact Master Chen for help if the situation gets dire."
Signed, "Yuanda Zhu."
There's another note on the back.
"Father Sky, Nine Dragons, Mother Earth, Common Allies."
I'm sorry, I'm not sure what it means.
I see...
But I think this might be a phone number.
These are numbers in an old script.
Zero, four, six...
TOBACCO SHOP
Hello?
Father Sky.
"Father Sky"?
Nine Dragons.
Mother Earth.
Common Allies.
Warehouse number 8.
"Warehouse number 8"?
Who is this?!
Um... is this the Chen residence?
Is something the matter?
No, I'm fine. I just can't figure out whose number this is...
You could try dialing the help line, 104.
104...
Yokosuka Port Loop Bus 604
That number is registered to the warehouse district in Amihama.
I... I'm broke, I swear!
Huh? Broke?
Don't give me that bullshit!
Please just let me go!
Cut it out.
Huh?
Who the hell are you?
Mugging is uncool, guys. It's out of style
You're that guy!
From Yokosuka High!
So what if I am?
You're free to go.
Th-thank you!
Don't be such wusses!
This punk ain't gonna get the better of us!
H-holy shit!
Let's get outta here!
Ow, ow... Damn, you're good.
I've got a question for you.
Uh, yessir! What can I do for you?
Do you know the way to warehouse number 8?
Yessir! That a-way!
Got it.
U-um...
Most of the security guards there get off at 7, just so you know.
Guard House
Hello, this is the guard house.
Oh, how's it going?
Must be nice getting duty at the park...
Jiu Feng Co.
My apologies for the uncivilized reception.
Guizhang.
I presume you were the one who called?
My name is Ryo Hazuki. I have a letter from Yuanda Zhu.
Yuanda Zhu...!
The letter directed me to find you if I needed help.
No mistake, this is Yuanda's handwriting.
What can you tell me about him?
He is an old friend of mine who lives in Hong Kong.
And quite a well-known figure in our world.
Why would someone like him know my father?
Some time ago, a precious mirror was transported across China's borders by a Japanese.
Apparently, Yuanda Zhu acted as the facilitator in all of that.
And if your father has some connection to that mirror, then...
A mirror!
It must be the one that man took with him...
What man?
The man who killed my father. Someone named Ian Di.
Ian Di...
Have you heard of him?
Nothing more than rumors. But it would seem that his reach has extended far...
Can you at least tell me what you know?
Are you familiar with the Chi You Men cartel?
It's one of China's most powerful and ever-expanding underground networks.
Some predict they will subsume the entirety of China one day.
Xuhe Hall
Supposedly, Ian Di is one of the cartel's executives,
and master of a particularly dreadful form of martial arts.
B-believe me! I know nothing of the mirror! Honest!
Stop.
Just tell me what you know. Now.
A-all I know is that a treasure was taken from China by someone Japanese!
I heard that he had an accomplice.
What is his name?
Yuanda... Zhu...
Yuanda Zhu...
Ian Di...
Father, do you think Ian Di also seeks the phoenix mirror?
We have a guest. Maintain proper forms of address.
I'm sorry.
Did you just say "phoenix mirror"?
Was only a single mirror was stolen?
Yes.
One with a dragon that was sculpted in stone.
Then, another mirror yet remains.
One that depicts the phoenix, the bird spoken of in Chinese legend
that is known to command life itself.
It seems safe to assume that Ian Di covets both of the mirrors.
Okay, then I'll work on finding the phoenix mirror.
ON PATROL
I don't see why you should help that teenager.
I have no choice. It is what Zhu requested of me.
I have a bad feeling about this.
If we help him, it would mean antagonizing the Chi You Men.
And that's on top of the Mad Angels.
That is none of your concern.
But father...!
Don't call me that.
You are already a member of this organization. And my subordinate.
The day that we return to being
father and son, is the day that we leave the underworld.
The day we die.
Understood. My apologies.
I have an assignment for you.
The Next Day Iwao's Room
What happened?!
Ugh, ouch...
Ryo-san?!
First Aid Kit
A phoenix mirror?
Yeah. It's something my father might have had.
He never told me about anything like that...
I'm afraid I also have never heard of it.
However, I recall that he entrusted something
to an antique dealer just days before his death.
Antique dealer?
Ah, I've found it.
This is what Hazuki-sensei put it in my care, asking me to polish it.
Our family crest?
He told me that per tradition, this is something passed down
to the Hazuki family heir when he turns eighteen.
This isn't the mirror that Master Chen was talking about...
Master Chen? Do you by chance mean Yaowen Chen of the Jiu Feng Company?
Jiu Feng Co.
Jiu Feng Company...
You know them?
Well, the Jiu Feng Company is a major antique art dealer. At least, ostensibly...
But in truth, they're an illicit operation run by overseas Chinese
who have operated in Yokosuka for a long time.
They have amassed a significant fortune by smuggling in antique art from China.
I do not recommend any association with them...
Who are you?
You've been tailing me long enough.
You're that guy from Master Chen's.
What do you want?
What the hell is this?!
Just a test.
You're testing me? For what?!
Master Chen's orders. I am here to serve as your bodyguard.
Relax, you won't die on my watch.
What?!
No need to get heated. We need you alive as much as you do.
And why is that?
You have yet to comprehend the gravity of your situation.
Ian Di will never give up his hunt, not until he has his hands on the phoenix mirror.
So you'd better find it fast. Before they find out you're searching.
And here I thought I was just cramping your style.
You are. But I can't ignore an order from Master Chen.
You're being awfully formal about it. Aren't you father and son?
That's none of your business.
So I was totally thinking about checking it out soon...
Ryo-niichan!
Hey, Mai-chan. It's been ages.
Something wrong, Hazuki-kun? You look all dark and gloomy.
Life's been rough.
Anyways, I have something to ask you two.
What kind of place would you hide a mirror?
A mirror?
I wouldn't hide something like that.
Of course...
Besides, when it comes to girls, we generally don't want to be
seen when we're looking in a mirror. Right?
Sometimes I wish I had my own secret room.
A secret room...
What's wrong?
Nozomi-chan!
Coming!
I've killed a little too much time. I have to go help out at the shop.
Catch you later!
Later.
Bye!
So, uh, Hazuki-kun...
When you have time, could I get your advice about something?
Advice? On what?
Um...
The future, I guess...
Hm?
We'll talk later!
The future, huh?
Y-you got me!
Wow, you're totally amazing, Ryo-san!
It's like you've achieved another level recently!
You think so?
Yeah! How can I put it? It's like your movements have become sharper.
It's kind of hard to describe.
That can't be...
I mean, I'm still at the bottom of the barrel compared to the likes of those guys.
Do I even stand a chance at discovering the truth about my father?
I've always thought this was weird,
but there's an imprint of your family crest and a hole behind these wall scrolls.
What're they for?
Family crest?
Yeah.
So they're also a mystery to you, Ryo?
I've been a student at this dojo for ages,
but I guess I haven't learned everything yet.
All right, I'm off to clean the garden!
Oh, sure.
This is it.
The Hazuki family crest.
This must be...
What's that?
At Bailu Village
Father...
So, this is the phoenix mirror.
It is indeed crafted from phantom river stone.
Why would Ian Di only take the dragon mirror?
He must not have been aware that your father possessed both.
Yuanda Zhu once explained to me...
"When the Dragon and the Phoenix meet, the gates of heaven and earth will open,
and Chi You will resurrect itself on earth."
Chi You?
A legendary creature from Chinese myth said to devour entire worlds.
Ian Di is planning something and he needs the mirrors to achieve it.
But what exactly?
Mirror, number two! Master Ian... delighted!
You're not going anywhere!
Fine then, try... this!
Guizhang!
Hazuki!
Press that button!
You damn dogs!
Got it!
Curse you all!
Who was that?
Someone sent by the Chi You Men.
They have ties with the Mad Angels.
Mad Angels?
They're a rival operation to us.
Over the span of just a few years,
they've gained tremendous influence here in Yokosuka
through arms smuggling and a brisk illegal drug trade.
The Mad Angels likely provided Ian Di his way in.
Then, finding the Mad Angels could lead me back to Ian Di?
Except we have no idea if Ian Di is still in Yokosuka or not...
We leave Japan immediately.
Make the arrangements.
Right away.
Where would he go?
I suspect...
Hong Kong.
I have a favor to ask.
Please help me get there. To Hong Kong!
That's a waste of time.
What would you do in my shoes?!
If your father were killed before your very eyes, you'd just shut up and take it?
Well, I'm sure as hell not!
No matter what happens, I'll always be my father's son!
The day that we return to being father and son,
is the day that we leave the underworld.
The day we die.
I...
Sorry, but we cannot help you.
You are contemplating a venture into our world, the criminal underworld.
I refuse to lead a young man like yourself into such a lion's den.
So, was my father also a part of "your world?"
That I cannot say.
You will not find your answer unless you plunge into eye of the storm
between our organization and the Mad Angels.
And that means, one day, you will have to face the Chi You Men as well.
You should value your life instead.
No. I'm going after Ian Di.
Don't you fear death?
If I did, I would never see my father for who he really was.
All I can do now is...
become strong!
Everything lies...
with Yuanda Zhu.
Shackles
Next time: "Shackles."