Episode 11

**Snow of London (Case 3.1)** is the eleventh episode of the Great Pretender series. It is also the first episode in the third case.

## Summary

In Nice, Laurent sketches Cynthia along the shorelines while Edamame, working at a Japanese restaurant, argues with the Chinese cooks over how to properly make sushi. Later that day, Edamame, Laurent, and Cynthia eat at a boarding house restaurant, and Cynthia notices a painting on the wall that resembles something from the legendary Spanish painter Sergio Montoya. The next day, Edamame attempts to apologize to the chefs, but before that, a customer harshly criticizes the food leading the head chef to return to China and being mistakenly called a Korean. Back at the boarding house, the owner Sebastien and his daughter Marie inform Edamame that their business is in debt and will close soon, and Edamame comes up with a plan to buy the painting for €20,000. Edamame and Cynthia go to Paris and meet up with Abby. They arrive at an art gallery where that critic from earlier browses the selection. Edamame swaps the prices while he is not looking, and he complains about the absurd prices leading him to walk out. At another gallery, Cynthia and Abby bring the painting in after Kudo ushers away the employee. When Cynthia recognizes that the critic is James Coleman, the world's best art appraiser, she tells Edamame to abort the operation because James cannot be fooled. However, to everybody's surprise, James purchased the painting for €25,000. Later, Edamame gives the money to Sebastian and Marie, but when Sebastian turns on the TV, it is revealed that the painting is actually an authentic work by Montoya called Snow of London valued at €20 million. Afterward, Cynthia decides that the next operation is to steal the painting back from James.

## Plot

In Nice, France, Laurent is sketching Cynthia along the shoreline. Cynthia can't stand men who draw and ponders whether Edamura has learned French yet. Meanwhile, in the back of a sushi restaurant, Edamura is arguing with Chinese cooks how to properly make sushi.

Later in the day, Edamura, Laurent, and Cynthia are eating dinner at a small room and board. Cynthia notices a painting and asks about it, saying it looks like Montoya's work. Sergio Montoya was a legendary painter and the master of sorrow with few works to his name.

The next day, Edamura gets an Edward VIII toy figurine at a coin gacha machine. Edamura decides to apologize to the sushi restaurant head chef. However before he's able to, a food critic harshly criticizes the food and walks out. Edamura tries to comfort him later. The boss says he's had enough and will go back to China. He mistakes Edamura for being Korean.

Back at the boarding house, the shop-owner Sebastien asks if Edamura found a place to stay yet. It turns out the boarding house is in debt and will close soon. Edamura comes up with a plan and asks Marie's father if he can purchase the painting for 20,000 euros. Edamura then asks Cynthia for a favor and to help out.

At the Paris airport, Abby, hair grown out, meets with Edamura and Cynthia. She's hungry so dine at a Parisian ramen restaurant. The wander through Paris together. Edamura asks Abby if she would ever visit her home country, but she replies no and her parents died in the war. They share a bag of roasted chestnuts later for dessert.

At an art gallery, the critic from earlier browses the selection available. Edamura swaps the prices when the critic isn't watching. The critic later complains that the prices are absurd, and walks out. Edamura signals Cynthia and Abby to move in. At another art gallery, Kudo ushers away the employee while Cynthia and Abby bring the painting in. Cynthia and Abby pretend to be the employees as the critic walks in. Cynthia walks out, and tells Edamura they can't fool the critic because he's the world's best art appraiser. The critic agrees to purchase the painting for 25,000 euros.

By the riverfront, Edamura and the group meet and celebrate. Cynthia, however, remains distant and refuses to accept her share. Later, Edamura gives the money to Marie and her father. Marie's father turns on the TV and it is revealed that the painting is actually a Montoya work called Snow of London. James Coleman gives an interview saying how shocked he was to find the price so low and criticizes that people don't value art. The value of the painting is estimated to be 20 million euros.

Cynthia then proclaims it's time to steal the artwork back. The target is now James Coleman, and it's apparent she has prior history with him.

## Characters

* Laurent Thierry
* Cynthia Moore
* Makoto Edamura
* Abigail Jones
* Kudo
* Marie
* Sebastien
* James Coleman
* Kudo