The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (宝石商リチャード氏の謎鑑定)

Wow...

Seigi, snack time!

Grandma, is this yours?

It's so pretty.

Why did you put it away? It's pretty.

Seigi, you mustn't do bad things.

You'll pay for them.

The train has temporarily stopped.

We will be departing shortly.

Just a dream...

What's your problem?

You're the one who tripped.

You're in our way.

Officer!

Over here! Hurry!

Someone's being attacked!

Shit! Run!

Are you all... right...

A-Are you okay?

Thank you for your help.

That was how I met Richard.

Episode 1 Seigi of the Pink Sapphire

Allow me to formally thank you.

Richard Rana...

Take a look at the back.

My name is Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian.

Jeweler Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian

Jewelry Étranger...

Um, do you appraise jewels? Like on rings?

Yes.

Thank you for today.

Please call me anytime, Mr. Hero of Justice.

Hero of justice, huh?

What did you want to discuss?

Well... You see, I'd like you to appraise a ring.

It seems to be a pink sapphire.

Huh? You can tell just by looking at it?

To a certain degree.

That ring was my grandmother's.

She claimed it was fake,

but I've always wanted to have it appraised by an expert.

But you've never looked into it before now?

Anyone could've assessed it for you.

I know, but I've been busy with exams since my grandmother died.

Normally, you wouldn't casually entrust someone you've just met

with something so valuable.

If I were a bad person trying to take your ring from you,

you'd never see your precious keepsake again.

What's so funny?

Just that a genuinely bad person wouldn't bother telling me that.

I really would like to know about the stone.

Please.

Very well.

Thank you.

The appraising of jewels other than diamonds is known as valuating,

so you've requested a valuation.

Request Form

Please sign here.

At the soonest, the valuation will take a week.

At the latest, it could take about a month.

The fee is five thousand yen.

Got it.

Nakata Seigi

Wow, you even take photos?

The history of jewels is one of fraud and theft.

Theft?

The consumer and the dealer...

It's an old safety-first tradition meant to protect both parties.

I see.

Well, then, I'll contact you once I have the results.

Work your magic.

Takadanobaba Station

Heya, Nakata!

Hey, Shimomura.

What's up?

That old man's here again?

Are you all right?

Here. Hold my hand.

Um...

Thank you kindly.

Excuse me.

Sir, I'll walk you across.

Please hold firmly on to my hand.

Hey!

People may look like they need help,

but while some are honest, others aren't.

You should be... careful...

You're right... but how do you tell them apart?

Oh, I haven't thanked you yet.

I'm Tanimoto Shoko, a second-year education major.

I'm Nakata Seigi, a second-year economics major.

His name means "justice"! Like a hero of justice!

Shimomura!

You really are a hero of justice.

Huh?

Thank you, Seigi-kun.

Don't mention it...

One Week Later

The jewel you asked me to take a look at is most uncommon.

Are you aware that this ring may be stolen?

You're incredible!

You're the real deal!

Incredible! Truly incredible!

Please quiet down.

I'm sorry for being disingenuous.

Could you explain?

Yes. As you said, this ring was stolen.

My grandmother was a pickpocket.

She was what people call a single mother nowadays,

and there was nowhere a woman could do honest work while raising a child alone.

She became a pickpocket in order to survive.

But that ring alone...

The next day, the woman who owned the ring jumped in front of a train.

My grandmother heard she survived,

and while running home to get the ring so she could return it...

She was arrested.

My grandmother kept this ring until the day she died.

I've always wondered why she never got rid of it.

I think she decided that holding on to it

would be her cross to carry.

But this way, my grandmother will never be able to rest in peace.

So I investigated the incident by looking through old newspapers,

but that turned up nothing.

And if I took it to a big store, my mother might be notified.

Does your mother not know about the ring?

I'm the only one who does.

Hiromi...

My mother resents my grandmother more than anyone.

I... I want to end this for her.

If you found out the ring was stolen,

then that means there's some record of a transaction, right?

Records involving quality items

stick around for a long time, even if they're old.

Please. I want you to find the original owner of this ring.

I'm determined to return it.

There's someone...

I'd like you to meet in Kobe.

And so time that was frozen half a century ago in Tokyo began moving with a groan.

Hiromi, it's me.

Don't call your own mother by her name.

Listen...

What?

Are you well?