Phantom F. Harlock II, known as Captain Harlock, descends from a line of explorers and warriors. His ancestor, Phantom F. Harlock I, was an early 20th-century aerial explorer who braved the treacherous Owen Stanley Mountains in New Guinea, confronting the legendary "Stanley Witch" winds. This ancestor chronicled his exploits in the autobiography *Arcadia of My Youth*, a work that inspired future generations. Meanwhile, an earlier namesake, Phantom F. Harlock II, flew as a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II. He piloted a Messerschmitt Bf 109 marked with an Iron Cross, adhering to a personal code of honor and viewing his service as "just paying rent" – a feudal reference amidst modern warfare. As Germany collapsed, this Harlock aided Toshiro Oyama, a Japanese engineer developing advanced gun sights. Disillusioned by the war's futility, Harlock II helped Oyama flee to neutral Switzerland. Their escape plane crash-landed following a dogfight, after Oyama sustained severe injuries manually repairing damaged controls mid-flight. Harlock II carried Oyama to safety, gifting him his prized Revi C-12D gun sight before returning to face the consequences. This act forged an "eternal friendship" between their lineages. Centuries later, in the late 30th century around 2960, Captain Harlock, then a Solar Federation officer, returned to Earth aboard the battle cruiser *Deathshadow*. He found Earth conquered by the Illumidas Empire, aided by the Tokargans. Earth's populace, resentful of absent defenders, blamed Harlock for their subjugation. During the occupation, he searched for his lover, Maya Rosenberg, who broadcasted hope as "The Voice of Free Arcadia." He encountered Tochiro Oyama, Toshiro's descendant; despite their initial meeting, DNA analysis confirmed their shared ancestral bond. Harlock joined the resistance after losing his right eye to an Illumidas gunshot during a failed attempt to rescue Maya. Tochiro revealed a hidden starship, the *Arcadia*, named to honor the ancient Harlock-Oyama friendship. Harlock adopted the persona of a space pirate, wearing a black uniform and flying a Jolly Roger flag sewn by Maya. The rebellion culminated in the *Arcadia*'s launch, though Maya perished. After Harlock defeated the Illumidas commander Zeda in ship-to-ship combat, Earth's quisling leader, Triter, exiled Harlock and his allies, including Emeraldas and Tochiro, branding them outlaws. They departed Earth aboard the *Arcadia*, seeking freedom in deep space. This incarnation of Harlock meets Tochiro as an adult, not in childhood. The *Arcadia* is constructed covertly on Earth, not on the planet Heavy Melder. His facial scar results explicitly from the Illumidas gunshot, contrasting with other narratives where its origin remains unexplained.