Arslan Senki (TV): Fuujin Ranbu

In the port city of Gilan,

Narsus was reunited with his old friend, Shagad.

Raising troops had to wait until order had been restored to the city.

Arslan and his people defeated the pirates,

and demonstrated their strength for all to see.

Goodness! You really saved us.

I never would've expected that the famed Marzbān Daryun was here in town.

Have those pirates been making frequent appearances?

Yeah.

Though, this ship just returned from Serica today,

so it was our first time to come under attack.

We did have reports that merchant ships

coming in and out of this port have fallen victim numerous times.

That viceroy...

I thought he was making things up as he went along, but...

So, it was not entirely all cock-and-bull.

Oh, yeah!

Are you folks the sort who enjoy a good stiff drink?

It's not a lot by way of thanks,

but I'd very much like to treat you all to a round of drinks.

Come on, this way.

It is done.

That was good work, Daryun.

Gieve and the rest of you as well.

And this is?

This is the crown prince of the Kingdom of Pars, Prince Arslan.

Huh?

What?!

Come, come! Here is the Mardān fu Mardān, Lord Daryun!

This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to test your strength against him!

I see.

If you have confidence in your strength, come on forward!

I had no idea that such a thing had befallen Pars while I was gone.

It's certainly good news that King Andragoras has returned alive...

...but to tell you to assemble 50 thousand men...

That's quite the unreasonable demand.

With regards to mobilizing the army stationed at this city,

I will make the formal request to Viceroy Pelagius.

What we wish to ask of you merchants

is to raise the funds to cover the cost of this army.

Hmm, I'm sure sustaining 50 thousand soldiers

will require a suitably substantial sum, but...

I realize that it is an unreasonable request.

But I must do as my lord father expects of me, without fail,

and return to Peshawar with 50 thousand men.

Whoa, please, none of that now, Your Highness.

You folks saved me and my ship.

I narrowly escaped with my life, which I otherwise wouldn't have,

so I'll be showing my appreciation.

Then, you will help us?

Yes, I'll talk to the other merchants as well.

I, Grāze, will be your financial backer.

Financial backer? But that is...

Nothing for you to be concerned about.

You men, you got that?!

Aye!

I originally became a sailor, because I liked to travel to different lands.

Better to have my extra money put to use for the kingdom

than to have it hoarded away on land.

Grāze...

Thank you.

That's great, Your Highness.

That just leaves the Viceroy Pelagius, but...

Earlier, the commotion with the pirates left our talk up in the air,

but he appears to be a man who simply cannot be trusted.

Yes.

It seems inadvisable to continue to entrust that man...

...with the governance of this city.

Narsus.

You have some thought on the matter?

Well, now...

Let us go with a singular plan for this.

Farangis. And Jaswant.

There is something I would ask of you two.

Oh?

Gieve, you as well.

And that leaves...

Master Grāze, you returned from Serica today, yes?

Yeah. And thanks to you folks, most of my cargo made it safely, too.

In that case, might we ask for your help right away?

Hey!

Yes, Master.

Take these to the hidden room.

Be absolutely sure that no one takes note of you.

As long as they do not find those records,

I can cover up the whereabouts of the tribute money however I wish.

The kingdom's crisis is no concern of mine.

Why must I be the one to clean up their mess?

The riches of this city belong wholly to me!

Belong only to me.

Your Excellency, Viceroy Pelagius.

What is it?

The trader, Master Grāze, is here.

Let him through.

My apologies for not coming sooner, Viceroy Pelagius.

Ah, Grāze.

I hear you were met with misfortune upon your return from Serica.

The bright spot in the tragedy is that most of the cargo was safe.

And I owe it all to those guests of yours.

Ah... yes.

So, I have brought my lord viceroy a souvenir from the Kingdom of Silk.

A souvenir, you say?

She says that she would very much like to be placed in your care.

What do you say? A fine creature, is she not?

Oh-ho...

Very well.

Let us see what she has to offer.

Oh, my, your goblet is empty already.

Come, please have more to drink.

To think that you can keep up with me cup for cup...

In Serica, drinking is an important part of being an accomplished woman.

You there, pageboy.

P-Pageboy?

What are you doing?

Fan my lord Pelagius.

Oh, y-yes, ma'am.

Ah, that feels nice.

I like you even more.

You mustn't, my lord.

Will you not formally become my concubine?

I will promise you a life that you could only dream of.

Oh, my...

Come, have another drink.

So, as expected, he will not let us catch him out so easily...

Pardon the late night intrusion, madam.

A th-thief?

You wound me.

But you are the thief here.

What?

You are a cruel woman.

With one look, you stole away my heart.

Oh...

All the riches that come into this city, I am free to do with as I wish.

After all, with the Royal Capital in the state that it is in now...

Oh, my!

King Andragoras was lauded for his brash courage and he fell so easily.

And his heir, that Prince Arslan,

is an appallingly pampered boy who knows nothing of the world.

Pars no longer has a future.

I have an idea for you.

How about coming away with me to some far off land?

Ah! I know!

Going to Serica could be good, too.

What do you say?

How about the two of us go there and simply enjoy our lives?

I refuse, you lout.

What?

Ow!

Your Royal Highness, what on earth is the meaning of this?

Just what is it that I am supposed to have done?

I have done absolutely nothing!

I-I know!

That beauty from Serica and her attendant must have plotted this.

Do you still not realize?

You are a profoundly obtuse man when it comes to beauty.

Betraying the trust of your liege is a most shameful act.

It is worthy of a thousand deaths.

N-No, that was spoken in jest when I was drunk—

You still intend to feign ignorance at this juncture?

Wha...

Do not play dumb!

We heard all you had to say of your will to betray the trust

of the Kingdom of Pars and Crown Prince Arslan.

Taking advantage of the confusion in the Royal Capital...

...you embezzled the taxes collected from the people.

You will hand it all over.

Y-You have some proof of this?!

That I embezzled the taxes collected from the people?!

Proof, is it?

Do you mean these?

Wh-Where did you get those?

I asked the young missy who serves at your side...

...to let me borrow them for a bit.

Th-That cursed courtier of mine...

I told her to make absolutely sure that no one saw her...

By the Sage King Jamshid's law and reason,

this wickedness upon the mortal plane shall be judged.

It may be a petty sort of wickedness,

but we cannot leave it be when it is right before our eyes.

Viceroy of Gilan, Pelagius.

You took advantage of the confusion in the Royal Capital to enrich yourself...

...and I, Arslan, most definitely witnessed this misdeed.

Therefore, I dismiss you from your post as the viceroy of Gilan.

With the dawn, Pelagius's dismissal and banishment was made known

to the entire city of Gilan.

Until the replacement viceroy was chosen,

it was determined that the city would provisionally fall under Arslan's rule.

Returning a whole 200 thousand silver pieces to the townspeople...

That is being most generous.

There are times when such measures are necessary.

We must first have them know that we are different from Pelagius.