Gankutsuou (巌窟王)

Get your moccoletti!

How 'bout a moccoletto!

Join the celebration!

Oh, Franz!

Over here!

Ah, hello, M'Lady!

When did you arrive on Luna?

I made a loop around the inner planets

and arrived yesterday.

So...

You're here in time to catch the end of the Carnival.

By the way... Who is this?

Oh!

My traveling companion and best friend.

Viscount Albert de Morcerf, at your service.

I am honored to meet you... Madame.

My...

So you're the son of General Morcerf.

Well...

First time on Luna?

I suggest you enjoy yourself.

In this city all your desires can be fulfilled,

no matter what they are.

Apparently, he presents himself as a count.

But I'm not so sure.

Regardless of what he is...

Luna's society circles are abuzz with rumors.

who made his fortune on the frontier

or that he's an alien from outer space.

Some even say that he's a monster in human form,

or a vampire.

That might be going a little far...

Pardon, but... who is this person?

I mean, what is his name?

He's called the Count of Monte Cristo.

"Death is certain, its hour uncertain."

whoosh, whoosh

boom, boom, boom

whoooooosh

Are you sure you weren't dreaming or something?

You know, daydreaming...

Get serious.

This proves it was real.

Mm-hmm.

And...?

I'm gonna use it to try and meet him.

So what do you think?

Are you insane?

That's a huge hassle.

Look, forget about it!

You have no idea who this guy is.

tip, tap, tip tap

You sure you're right...?

I know I am--

I beg your pardon,

but are you Viscount Morcerf from room 405?

Um uh...

Yes. Yes, I am...

I have a message for you

from my master, the Count of Monte Cristo.

Please accept it.

Well? What do you think?

Uh, What do I think of what?

Why would he want to meet

two complete strangers like us?

His note said he wants to establish good relations

with fellow aristocrats staying in the same hotel.

It's a coincidence...

I'm not so sure.

There you go again.

You're such a worrywart.

At least tag along while I have dinner with him.

I have doubts about whether he's even a real aristocrat.

This is Luna, remember?

He's almost certainly a con man--

How do you do, messieurs.

I am the Count of Monte Cristo,

and I'm delighted that you're here.

You grace me with your presence.

[FRANZ, ALBERT, MONTE CRISTO laughing]

Come now, this won't do.

When a man has come all the way to Luna

he simply must try these dishes.

We thank you for your kindness, sir,

but we seem to be the only ones who are eating.

You haven't touched a thing all through dinner.

Are you not feeling well?

Please, you needn't concern yourselves about me.

Just as journeys traveled alone are dull and unsatisfying,

meals eaten alone have no flavor.

For me, speaking with enchanting guests as I'm doing right now

is really the greatest feast that I could wish for.

Please, help yourselves.

By the way,

I was wondering what you thought of the opera we attended.

Well sir, I really don't go to see operas very often, but...

...but for some reason this time

I found myself drawn into the story!

Oh, I see.

So, Monsieur Albert, are you saying to us

that you have someone in the world for whom you pine,

just as in the opera?

No, sir, of course not!

Come on Albert, you know that's not true.

Are you're talking about Eugenie?

We were chosen for each other by our parents.

I've never experienced the same kind of intense love

like the main character of that opera.

I want something more in my life.

Something I can lose myself in.

Something to grab my heart and never let go.

You see, I came on this journey to find that something.

Really...

Why are you trying to make it sound so noble?

I thought your goal was focused more below your waist.

Franz! Cut it out!

This is marvelous!

Youth is such a wonderful thing.

Endless possibilities.

Hopes and dreams...

And passion unencumbered.

Your Excellency, have you ever been in love like that?

I have.

So, what sort of woman was she?

Albert, don't be rude!

To be perfectly honest,

I once had deep and passionate feelings

for a certain enchanting woman.

I had dreams of a long

and happy life that involved this woman.

However, painful,

in the end, those feelings of passion

amounted to absolutely nothing...

In short,

all those dreams... were only dreams.

And in the place where those dreams lived

stands the man that I have become today.

Bertuccio!

Excellency.

Bring coffee for our guests.

Gentlemen, you honor me with your presence tonight.

Not at all, sir!

The honor is ours!

In that case...

...I want you to join me on my balcony for luncheon tomorrow.

It'll be wonderful.

Will you come?

Oh, really sir?

We'd be honored to--

We're sorry, Your Excellency.

We appreciate your kind offer, but we couldn't possibly accept.

Luna's public executions are the highlight of Carnival, you know.

The festivities reach their peak as the blood

of heinous criminals washes away all the crowd's sins.

One has not experienced Luna's Carnival

without having seen this.

Is that not so,

Monsieur Albert?

Yes! You're exactly right!

Very well then.

I shall await you here in this room again tomorrow.

Good evening.

Hey! Albert!

Yes?

What's the matter with you?

You don't look so good.

It was so cold.

His hand was as cold as ice...

It was like a corpse's hand...

Who are today's condemned?

One is a man who committed murder

out of his abject poverty.

The second is a man

who committed murder over a love affair.