Fables of the Green Forest (山ねずみロッキーチャック)

Baseball, soccer,

martial arts, gymnastics,

math, science,

art,

music,

entertainment...

In every field, in every subject, there are the so-called "prodigies".

Naturally, the underworld is no exception.

This is the tale, albeit a peculiar tale... of one such man.

The Fable

Moving

Shit, come on, come on, hurry up! Goddamnit, open!

Stop panicking! I'll try to buy us some time.

We wouldn't be here if you assholes had just listened!

- Shut the fuck up! - Come on, you piece of shit!

I ain't gonna die here that easi--

- -

A single shot?

- -

- -

Oh, God, was that actually him? Fable? Fuck!

The legendary hitman Fable?

Holy shit...

They're not... They're not fucking around!

Goddamnit... I knew it!

Get into human trafficking, this is what you get.

Now this hitman is on our ass. The hitman!

The boss is dead and now I'm fucking next!

Oh, God... Fuck!

I ain't dying tonight. Fuck this!

Oh, now that's what I like to hear!

- Round them all up and bring them to-- -

- -

- Boss? -

- - Huh?

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Goddamnit!

Hey, Tanaka!

- -

- -

- You're dead! - Kill him! Take the bastard out!

- -

Fuck you, asshole!

Are you... Are you Fable?

Tch.

That's just a name you people decided to call me.

- - Fact is... I'm no legend.

- I'm a professional. -

Hey, are you okay?

I could hear all the gunshots from here, you know?

You can blame those trigger-happy rookies for that.

- It's whatever. TV. - Huh?

- Turn the TV on. -

- Oh. The usual? - Uh-huh.

- -

Tell us, Jackal, is this your first time on a stunt show?

What? Nobody told me this was a stunt show!

God, why do you like Jackal Tomioka so much?

Your sense of humor needs work.

Come on, I love this guy! Jackal's hilarious!

I'm amazed you can laugh so much. You just killed like five people.

Yeah, whatever.

Just hurry up and take us to the docks, GPS lady!

I have perfect memory, so that's "GPS goddess" to you!

With the name like "Jackal," are you ready to "tackle" these heights?

Actually, jackals don't do heights.

But luckily, I'm more of a wolf!

M-Maybe we could start a little, uh...

- lower? - And begin!

- - This is Human Darts!

- -

I made sure the car was disposed of.

Good. How you holding up?

Oh, I'm fine. Honestly, kind of used to all this.

Don't get comfy in this line of work.

Oh... right.

Hmm... And what of him?

He's the same as always.

You know, laughing at Jackal's dumb jokes.

Right after a job.

Oh, yeah? Jackal, huh?

- - Hmm?

- - You did some fine work out there, kid.

Have a seat.

Relax. Enjoy some fish.

Man... We're really having fish again?

I assume you want a report?

I already told him everything, so...

Yeah, well, things are a lot trickier now than back in my day.

Everything's a damn headache now.

I remember when security cameras weren't an issue.

Now they're everywhere.

Yeah, but we made sure to destroy all the cameras.

We always do.

You've been at this for six years now. And there's a lot of bodies in your wake.

Have you been keeping count?

No.

We're charging premium rates these days.

Hell, we have to. Look at who we're hitting.

Politicians, yakuza, doctors, CEOs, celebrities... you name it.

And all that money moving around.

Just paying off informants is running us millions this month.

In these past six years, you've completed 71 assignments.

And this year's been your busiest yet.

- Here. Take this, will ya? - Hmm?

No, thanks. I'm not hungry.

I'm not asking you to eat it.

It's hot, so blow on it.

Huh?

- - Mm.

So, when's the next hit, Boss?

- - There is no next hit.

In fact, we won't be taking jobs for a while.

Turns out we overdid it this year.

So the plan is to take a year off and lie low.

On that note,

here's everything you've earned in the past six years.

It's time you managed it yourself.

Holy shit!

How much money has he been sitting on?

I didn't count,

but probably around 50 mil if I were to guess.

Oh, yeah, sure!

Stuff my share in a plastic bag, why don't ya?

Lie low?

So basically, you're telling us to hide?

Mm-hmm. We'll set you up with the basics.

Get you some fake IDs that should last you while you're hiding.

Hiding? Hiding where exactly?

I've got an old connection with a group over in Osaka who say they can house you.

Yakuza, obviously.

Is it done yet?

I'll get in touch with them to make sure we don't stir up any trouble.

So play nice.

I mean it, you two better behave while you lay low.

Mind explaining why we need to travel all the way to Osaka just to hide?

'Cause I said so!

Besides, a change of scenery will do a kid like you some good.

Not to mention learning to adapt in the field

only strengthens your profession.

My profession?

Yeah, the ability to be resourceful in any situation

is a valuable skill for a hitman.

Think of it like a mission

where your goal is to blend in with the common folk.

Enjoy the little things like job hunting or making friends.

Hell! Bring home a lover! I don't care.

It's your new life, do what you want.

All I need is for you to live an ordinary life.

Doesn't that sound fun, Fable? New life, new story.

A hitman blending into society as an ordinary person?

Yeah, that does sound interesting.

- Here. - Hmm?

It's ready.

But if I so much as catch a whisper

that either of you killed someone while we're off,

I will personally bury both of you.

Uh-huh.

Lucky I'm a profession--

That's all you're bringing? A backpack and the money?

That your idea of a year's worth?

I always pack light.

Helps me move from place to place for each hit.

You have a pretty extreme definition of "light".

Uh-huh.

By the way, Boss got these finished.

Our fake driver's licenses!

We even get fake matching insurance cards.

Driver's License

"Akira Sato," huh?

Guess that's my new name now.

You keep guns on top of your cabinets?

That address fake too?

Or do we have a place picked out?

I don't know.

All he told me was the guys over in Osaka are handling it.

All right then, do you have a name?

New card says I'm Yoko Sato now.

Same last name?

Yeah, that's right. Apparently, we're supposed to be siblings.