The Noble Detective (貴族探偵)

Hurry up!

Yayoi-sama is mine!

What's with that look? Do you want to settle it here?

Please stop, Kaneyama-sama!

If you do something reckless, the Master will be angry!

Hmph.

Damn it!

I wonder if they're done?

Satsuki-sama, who do you think will catch the Hourai pheasant?

- I don't want any of them to do that. - I understand how you feel.

But this is what the Master has decided.

Please support Lady Yayoi too.

Excuse me.

There is a guest at the front gate.

- A guest? - The witness?

No. She said she's Yoriko-sama's friend.

She said she's here to see the Master.

Ah, hello? Yoriko-san?

Hi, Aika! So happy you called!

- I'm at the front gate now... - Front gate? Where?

- What? Sakuragawa House, right? - Sakuragawa House?

- What? Granpa's house?!! - Yes. You're inside, right?

No, I'm shopping in Dubai as usual.

Dubai?!

But I told you we couldn't go to Sakuragawa House today because of a very important event, right?

What? You never told me!

Grandpa is a really grumpy person,

and today the entire Sakuragawa House is on edge,

so don't go near it at all!

Get away now! He'll be so angry. Oh no, oh no!

Seriously?!

OK! We're taking off. Hanging up now. I'm flying, I'm flying!

Hey, Yoriko-san?

Yoriko, up and away!

What?!

Sakuragawa Takasuke. Used to be a Count or something like that in the House of Lords.

Something like that?

Maybe he knows something about Kizoku-sama.

Please excuse me!

Yoriko-san's friend, Takatoku Aika-san, right?

Yes. I'm so sorry.

It seems I've come at a busy day.

- I'm sorry to have disturbed you. Please excuse me now. - Wait.

I bet Yoriko-san didn't properly tell you about today, right?

Will you forgive her?

Her incredible ignorance is one of her best qualities, after all.

Yes, of course.

I'm Yoriko-san's cousin,

Sakuragawa Takasuke's granddaughter, Toyosato Satsuki.

As a family member, I would like to apologize for your troubles.

No, no, not at all. Please don't do that.

Since you've come all the way here, please at least have some tea.

But I heard you have an important event here today.

Ah... I don't know if it's an event or just the whim of the head of the family.

To be honest with you, this event is making me feel a bit stifled.

I was just wishing for someone to talk to.

Ah... Then I accept your invitation.

What a beautiful garden. Sakuragawa family was originally in timber, right?

You know us very well.

Ah, I'm sorry. I looked it up online.

Oh? What else do they write about us?

Giri, Sakuragawa Takasuke.

I found this information about Sakuragawa Takasuke on the web.

- Giri, please explain. - Yes.

Sakuragawa family was bestowed with the Count title before the war.

The family has owned the entire forest around Mount Outei for generations.

According to one theory, they are descendants of the Southern Dynasty who moved during the Nanbokuchou Era.

Right after the war, the family found itself in financial difficulties,

but thanks to resourcefulness of the current head, Sakuragara Takasuke, their fortune was restored.

Because of his immense wealth and personal connections, he wields a great deal of influence among the political, business, and medical spheres.

It is rumoured that he manipulated successive prime ministers from behind and was the power broker in the Mathilda Company bribery scandal.

That's why he's called Japan's last fixer, the shadow prime minister...

- H-hey, Giri! - Yes.

- No, don't say "Yes"! - Yes.

Hey, you!

What does angry feel like?

Aika-san, you're a funny person.

I'm sorry.

It's nothing for you to apologize about.

If people already know that much, then Grandpa is no longer the fixer, right?

So he really was a fixer...

The pheasant...

I will let the Master know.

Yes, thank you.

What is it?

Ah, I'm sorry. We're having an important ceremony after this.

Ceremony?

What's going to happen?

It's the next son-in-law selection.

Son-in-law selection?

That man...?

My grandfather, Sakuragawa Takasuke.

Next to him is the only direct descendant of the Sakuragawa family, Sakuragawa Yayoi.

She's my cousin, but more like a younger sister to me.

Yayoi's parents were killed in an airplane accident 3 years ago.

She is the only heir to Sakuragawa family.

Grandpa's health has been deteriorating, so

he would like to select a husband for Yayoi before he gets worse.

Who caught it?

I did.

That is the truth.

Prepare for the celebration!

Yes, sir.

- Echigawa. - Yes.

Hm? What's wrong?

Sakuragawa family has a custom when they're selecting a new son-in-law.

For generations, every time the family needs to select a new son-in-law, it will gather the candidates,

and have them hunt for pheasants.

The captured pheasant will be honored as the Hourai pheasant, and

the person who caught the pheasant will be named as the next head of the family.

To decide a husband through pheasant hunting...

Of course, right now it's just for tradition's sake. Yayoi is still the one choosing.

The weather is fine today. Shall we take a walk in the garden?

Tomoya, come with me.

Yes, my lady.

- Hey, let her go! - Wait!

Yayoi-san, where do you want to go for your honeymoon?

Should we help her?

Grandpa has said that we should keep watch

until he says we could help her.

But it's obvious she doesn't like it, right?

They are all so rude!

Especially the one who caught the pheasant. He's so pushy!

Kanayama Shunichi-san, the son of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

He studied pharmaceutical science and is currently a researcher.

But he doesn't think of Yayoi's feelings at all.

Poor Yayoi-san.

- Excuse me, Takatoku-sama. - Yes?

The Master would like to see you now.

- Is it all right? - Yes.

I've brought Takatoku-sama.

Please.

Excuse me.

Um... Nice to meet you. I'm Takatoku Aika.

I'm sorry to interrupt you on such a busy day.

Tamamura Yoriko-san introduced me--

You're...

The apprentice of Kitami Kiriko-san, right?

- You know Kitami? - An accomplished detective.

And a very charming woman, as well.

Um...

I came here today because I have something to ask you.

Hm?

Do you know about Kizoku Tantei?

Who is he?

Rather than asking me,

maybe it's better for you to ask him yourself.

A unique facial expression as usual.

But...

I don't advise you to continue investigating me.

If you do, you might be risking your life.

Why are you here?

You heard about the husband selection for my granddaughter, right?

It's a ceremony to select the next Sakuragawa head of family.

He's here as a witness.

I don't care about other people's husbands,

but since it's a request from the one and only Count Sakuragawa, I couldn't refuse it.

I'm grateful that someone I trust could come to this ceremony.

There's no need for gratitude.

I look forward to seeing a beautiful bride.

Um... How are you two related?

You're in time for the banquet to enjoy the Hourai pheasant.

Since you're here, will you observe it too?

It's not an easy thing to decide who should succeed you, right?

I feel assured, having two detectives here.

These are guests who will be observing the son-in-law selection ceremony.

Ah, I'm Takatoku Aika. How do you do.

Um... I was introduced by one of Sakuragawa's relatives, Tamamura Yoriko-san.

As expected from the princess of the Sakuragawa family!

I'm still talking!

I am honored to be present at the moment a beautiful person like you chooses her life partner.

Thank you very much.

Pardon me.

But I envy your future husband.

He'll be able to spend his life next to someone as beautiful as you.

And to inherit the powerful Sakuragawa family too!

But is the worthy man in this room?

This is something you don't see everyday.

Who are you?

Echigawa-san, my name card.

- Yes. - Name card?! So he has one...

Finally, I'll know his name!

Huh? What's this?

Kizoku Tantei? What is this?

Are you pulling our legs?

It's a heavy gold paper...

I thought upstarts like you would be happy to receive that.

What do you mean?

There's a lady who has been waiting over there. Please excuse me.

Count, is it all right if I sit over there?

I forgot to introduce her. That is my granddaughter, Satsuki.

This way, please. Takatoku-sama too, please.

Ah, yes.

How unusual. Are you really a detective?

Yes. It's the best hobby.

He doesn't do deductions though.

And I get to meet wonderful ladies like you.

Especially since there isn't any case this time,

I can get to know you better, Satsuki-san.

I heard gentlemen put their hobbies above women, though?