TV-Series
Description
Chizuko "Chiko" Mikamo, orphaned heiress to the Mikamo fortune including the Anastasia Ruby, endured life with her aunt and uncle after her parents' deaths. They systematically poisoned her meals to seize her inheritance. Her avid reading of detective novels alerted her to their scheme, prompting her to avoid food when possible; however, the sustained poisoning severely weakened her health.
Her fate shifted when the gentleman thief Twenty Faces arrived disguised as her butler, intending to steal the ruby. Witnessing her plight, he offered her a place in his thief band. She accepted, escaping her toxic home and adopting the name "Chiko" among the thieves. Over the next two years, she trained intensively under Twenty Faces and his crew, mastering lock-picking, acrobatics, disguise, and knife-throwing—the latter taught by Ken, whom she saw as an older brother. She also performed as the high-wire walker "Lilly" in their circus cover. Deep bonds formed, with Chiko viewing Twenty Faces as a father figure and calling him "Oji-san" (Uncle).
A catastrophic train attack by Twenty Faces' enemy, Tiger, killed most of the thief band. Chiko survived but authorities discovered her, forcibly returning her to her aunt's custody. Traumatized by the loss and believing Twenty Faces dead, she became mute and withdrawn. Her spirits revived when detective Akechi presented her with the Anastasia Ruby—safeguarded by Twenty Faces—suggesting he might still be alive.
Fueled by this hope, Chiko pivoted from thievery to detective work, using her keen observation and deduction to pursue clues about Twenty Faces' fate. She navigated ongoing assassination attempts from her aunt, aided by her loyal maid Tome, who exposed the poisoning and secured their move to a separate residence. At school, Chiko befriended Shunka Koito, who evolved from resenting her intellect to becoming an enthusiastic investigative ally.
Her inquiries uncovered Twenty Faces' pre-thief identity as a World War II researcher who abandoned his work on weaponizing water’s "fourth state" to prevent misuse. This revelation deepened her resolve to continue his mission against global conflict, confronting adversaries tied to his past, including the vengeful scientist Kayama.
In non-canonical media like *Rakenzarn Tales*, Chiko appears as the leader of the Silver Crusade guild brigade, serving as a rival to the protagonist Kyuu. This portrayal retains her detective skills and thief-trained background, though her storyline diverges from the original narrative.
Her fate shifted when the gentleman thief Twenty Faces arrived disguised as her butler, intending to steal the ruby. Witnessing her plight, he offered her a place in his thief band. She accepted, escaping her toxic home and adopting the name "Chiko" among the thieves. Over the next two years, she trained intensively under Twenty Faces and his crew, mastering lock-picking, acrobatics, disguise, and knife-throwing—the latter taught by Ken, whom she saw as an older brother. She also performed as the high-wire walker "Lilly" in their circus cover. Deep bonds formed, with Chiko viewing Twenty Faces as a father figure and calling him "Oji-san" (Uncle).
A catastrophic train attack by Twenty Faces' enemy, Tiger, killed most of the thief band. Chiko survived but authorities discovered her, forcibly returning her to her aunt's custody. Traumatized by the loss and believing Twenty Faces dead, she became mute and withdrawn. Her spirits revived when detective Akechi presented her with the Anastasia Ruby—safeguarded by Twenty Faces—suggesting he might still be alive.
Fueled by this hope, Chiko pivoted from thievery to detective work, using her keen observation and deduction to pursue clues about Twenty Faces' fate. She navigated ongoing assassination attempts from her aunt, aided by her loyal maid Tome, who exposed the poisoning and secured their move to a separate residence. At school, Chiko befriended Shunka Koito, who evolved from resenting her intellect to becoming an enthusiastic investigative ally.
Her inquiries uncovered Twenty Faces' pre-thief identity as a World War II researcher who abandoned his work on weaponizing water’s "fourth state" to prevent misuse. This revelation deepened her resolve to continue his mission against global conflict, confronting adversaries tied to his past, including the vengeful scientist Kayama.
In non-canonical media like *Rakenzarn Tales*, Chiko appears as the leader of the Silver Crusade guild brigade, serving as a rival to the protagonist Kyuu. This portrayal retains her detective skills and thief-trained background, though her storyline diverges from the original narrative.