Sugimoto proposes that he and Asirpa join forces so Sugimoto can get money for Toraji's widow and Asirpa can avenge her father.

Saichi and Asirpa head to Otaru, the largest town in the area, in seach of the tattooed prisoners; they quickly learn they're not the only ones after the treasure: the army is looking for it too.

Asirpa takes Sugimoto through the Hokkaido forests, where they encounter a bear in its den; Sugimoto is impressed by Asirpa's knowledge of the land; another, older force is after the gold.

Sugimoto visits an Ainu village where he learns about their ways and culture; the next day he leaves in secret, where he is captured by the 7th and tortured.

With the help of Shiraishi, Asirpa goes to rescue Sugimoto from the 7th, but the situation is dire, and Sugimoto has already been badly injured.

Two hunters are after Retar, the last of the Ezo wolves, and the last living wolf in Japan; both of these hunters have tattoos, and Sugimoto wants them for himself.

During the battle with the hunters, Sugimoto is separated from Asirpa; Nihei abandons the wounded Tanigaki and tries to use Asirpa as bait to lure Retar.

Shiraishi is chased all across the city by Ushiyama, and only escapes his predicament by getting the 7th involved; during the chaos, Hijikata's forces launch a raid on a local bank, blasting open a wall to get back his legendary sword.

Sugimoto's crew follows rumors of a tattooed prisoner among the herring fishermen on the coast near Otaru; there they encounter Henmi, a strange, perverted serial killer.

Tanigaki is now staying in Asirpa's village, trying his best to recover and help the people who have been aiding him; a faction of the 7th wants to split off from the Lieutenant, and they have plans for him.