The episode begins with a flashback showing Tsurumi and Usami, a young man whom Tsurumi wants to train as a soldier. This interaction resembles earlier encounters between Tsurumi and impressionable youths like Koito. Tsurumi subtly manipulates Usami, leading him to commit his first murder, which will change him forever.

After the flashback, we gain insight into Tsurumi’s psyche. Tsurumi is deeply interested in training soldiers who can kill without hesitation. This scene highlights Tsurumi’s unsettling charm and his talent for manipulation.

The narrative then shifts to Tanigaki, who is reunited with Inkarmat. However, their reunion is marred by a revelation: Inkarmat is pregnant, and Tanigaki is the father. Tsurumi exploits the situation, forcing Tanigaki to hand over Asirpa to him.

Following the recent brutal murders, the main characters realize that the culprit is likely one of the tattooed prisoners. This discovery triggers a race against time, as the different factions attempt to capture the killer first. While Hijikata is geographically closer to the crime scene, Tsurumi’s team possesses unique talents like Usami, who has the eerie ability to predict the killer’s next move. This scenario sets the stage for a potential confrontation between the various factions.

The episode also provides a glimpse into Hijikata’s team, which includes several eccentric figures. Among them is Ishikawa Takuboku, actually a poet, who tries to turn the situation into a marketable scoop but fails. Additionally, Kadokura and Kirawus add a touch of humor, while Ogata, despite his poor marksmanship, contributes valuable intel. He reveals that Sofia Goldenhand, a comrade of Wilk, is also after Asirpa.

The episode ends with a major breakthrough for Asirpa and Sugimoto as they discover a possible solution for deciphering the tattooed skins. Inspired by Heita’s method of identifying rivers based on gold dust, they realize that by analyzing gold samples, they can trace the source of the gold. They are aided by Botaro, a rugged pirate capable of diving deep into Lake Shikotsu to retrieve the gold samples.