Episode 3

## The sinews of war are infinite money

**The sinews of war are infinite money** (金は戦力なり, *Kin wa senryokunari*) is the third episode of Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited.

## Synopsis

Moments after Kato returns from his business trip and steps out of the bullet train, a hostage crisis occurs on the same train. The suspect has taken hostages and, for some reason, begins live streaming his actions on the internet. While the First Investigation Division and Special Forces arrive on the scene, Kato discovers that the suspect is the same young man that was sitting next to him in the train. The First Investigation Division decide that they have no choice but to shoot the suspect, but Kato tries to talk them out of it. However, due to an incident caused by Kato in the past, his pleas fall on deaf ears.

## Summary

At Kikuko Kambe's residence, Haru Kato sits next to Daisuke and Suzue Kambe as Kikuko introduces herself as Daisuke's grandmother. Haru exchanges greetings with her, and Kikuko thanks him for taking care of her grandson. Suzue presents Kikuko with a gift from Hong Kong, and they all prepare to eat it as Kikuko questions Daisuke's happenings at work and Haru's experiences working alongside him. When Haru mentions his partner's reckless financial usage, Daisuke is visibly irritated and receives a scolding from Kikuko. After learning that Haru is older than Daisuke, Kikuko requests him to be a good senior to him and educate him well, much to Daisuke's annoyance, and a smug Haru agrees to do so. Jiro Hattori passes by and Kikuko introduces him as the family's butler. Haru asks if he is the butler Daisuke uses to gather intel and make purchases, but Suzue explains Daisuke's butler is a separate entity, an A.I. named HEUSC.

While Daisuke drives back, Haru mentions that he had a business trip planned and taunts Daisuke by reminding him to make sure not to trouble their coworkers. His remark prompts Daisuke to immediately accelerate the car, startling Haru.

On the bullet train to his destination, Haru sits next to a teenage boy named Yuichiro Saito and listens to a group of women lament about the farewell concert of an idol group named Yokoights. He offers some food to Yuichiro but is rejected. After Haru explains that he plans on getting noodles at the station, Yuichiro accepts his offer and thanks him. After Haru begins initiating small talk, Yuichiro reveals that he is heading to Tokyo to attend a prep school after failing the college entrance exam and expresses guilt that his parents are allowing him to do so. Haru asks him about the music he is listening to, but Yuichiro explains that he is actually listening to English conversation since he has to travel to the United States with his younger sister.

At Shinagawa, Haru bids farewell to Yuichiro and gifts him a charm. As he enters the station, Haru hears over the intercom that the train platform will be temporarily closed. Realizing something was wrong, Haru approaches an attendant and requests for information, clarifying that he is part of the police. The attendant reveals a stand-off is happening in one of the train cars, and Haru immediately begins rushing towards it.

Outside the train, Haru gathers more information from another attendant and goes inside the train, where he comes across many hostages and a hooded and masked individual holding a woman at gunpoint, who tells Haru not to come close. The woman begs Haru to help her, and Haru, recognizing Yuichiro's voice, informs him that he was the one who sat next to him. Yuichiro recognizes Haru but pretends he doesn't, instead angrily instructing him to leave the train. Haru advises Yuichiro to calm down and begins withdrawing, noting the contents of the boy's bag before exiting.

In the next car over, Haru calls Shinnosuke Kamei and asks if he had any information. Shinnosuke states that he can tell Daisuke, but Haru requests he doesn't. At this point, Ryo Hoshino with other Investigation Division I members approach Haru, and he reveals some information about the culprit. Ryo instructs Haru to leave the scene; when Haru protests that he can help given he knows Yuichiro, Ryo states that his authority isn't high enough to be involved in the case.

Ryo's words spur some of Haru's memory back to when he was part of Investigation Division I and working with Ryo. During an incident to capture an armed robber, Haru receives authorization to fire his gun and does so, but is soon threatened by an accomplice and shoots her out of panic. Traumatized from his actions, Haru leaves the division as Ryo watches.

Haru heads back into the station after his confrontation. When he walks pack a crowd of people, he overhears two men talking about an ad campaign where users can earn a large sum of money from getting ten million views in a day. As Haru listens to their discussion, Daisuke greets him and asks if he is working hard.

Outside in Daisuke's car, Haru tells him to begin driving but Daisuke counters by requesting instruction from Haru. Haru tries to yell at him but is interrupted when Daisuke suddenly accelerates the car. Daisuke notifies HEUSC to provide them with information from Investigation Division I, and they learn more details of the case, including that Yuichiro was suspected of killing a woman in the train. After hearing this and seeing the SAT arrive, Haru yells at Daisuke to stop the car and expresses that Yuichiro isn't the type of person to be a killer. Upon hearing Haru's deliberation, Daisuke gives him equipment and tells him to put it on.

The pair make their way back to the train with the help of Daisuke's gadgets, and HEUSC connects Haru to the Investigation Division I's radio. Haru demands to know why the division was planning on killing Yuichiro and why there weren't any negotiations being made. Ryo discloses that Yuichiro wasn't giving an opening to negatiate and, instead, was seemingly enjoying the situation and streaming the incident. Daisuke pulls up the video, and he and Haru watch as Ryo attempts to approach Yuichiro as a sniper waits on the side. Haru mulls over what he could do, and Daisuke asks him what he wanted to do. Haru states he simply just wanted Yuichiro to not die. Daisuke then summons fuming missles to create a smoke screen, which he and Haru use to make it past the SAT and into the train.

Back in the train, Yuichiro exclaims that Ryo has become a celebrity and that his stream has surpassed 4.5 million views. Ryo spots Haru behind the door hidden from Yuichiro's sight, and Katsuhiro instructs Haru to shoot since the sniper could not get a clear view with the smoke. Haru remembers his trauma as Daisuke hands him a gun, but he has a sudden realization and requests HEUSC to provide him with Yuichiro's emails. One email refers to a surgery procedure and as Katsuhiro instructs Haru to act, Haru kicks open the door and confronts Yuichiro.

Haru asks him if his actions to garner views for the monetary rewardwould make his younger sister happy, which surprises the boy. On the side, the hostages gather together and use their devotion to Yokoights as motivation to approach Yuichiro and free their friend, trampling over Haru in the process. The hostage being held at gunpoint yells out that she doesn't care what happens to her and that the others must go to the idols' concert. Moved by her words, the women continue approaching Yuichiro. In the background, Daisuke makes a purchase with HEUSC.

Suddenly, music begins playing and the Yokoights members appear outside the train and begin performing a song. Elated, the hostages immediately rush towards the train's window to watch them, including the woman presumed dead and the hostage being held by Yuichiro. In the process, Yuichiro's gun is knocked out of his grasp and Ryo picks it up, identifying it as a toy gun. However, a hostage bumps into Ryo and he drops his gun as well, and it slides in front of Yuichiro who picks it up. With Yuichiro equipped with a real gun, Haru points his gun at the boy but the memory of his accident prevents him from acting.

While Haru tries to process his thoughts, Daisuke walks up to Yuichiro and places him under arrest. Yuichiro points his gun at Daisuke, and Daisuke promises that he will make sure the surgery will happen for Yuichiro's sister. Unable to shoot the man in front of him, Yuichiro breaks down and lets himself be taken away.

With the case resolved, Haru exits the train and greets Katsuhiro. His former superior praises him for his work and departs. In the train, Ryo thanks Daisuke for his help and HEUSC notifies Daisuke that all media related to the incident has been deleted. Back in the car, Haru questions Daisuke how he knew Yuichiro wouldn't shoot him, and the man replies with Haru's quote about how he wasn't the type of person who would kill. Daisuke then quickly accelerates the car once again, much to Haru's dismay.

## Costs Incurred

\* *This is assuming a conversion rate of 1 Japanese Yen (¥) = 0.0092 US Dollars ($).*
## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Daisuke Kambe
* Kikuko Kambe
* Haru Kato
* Suzue Kambe
* Yuichiro Saito
* Shinnosuke Kamei (phone call)
* Ryo Hoshino
* Araki
* Katsuhiro Takei

## Events

* After returning from Hong Kong, Haru meets Daisuke's grandmother, Kikuko.
* Haru meets a boy named Yuichiro.
* Yuichiro begins a stand-off to garner views and earn money from a campaign.
* Haru and Daisuke interfere with Investigation Division I's actions and confront Yuichiro.
* Yuichiro is arrested after Daisuke confirms he will pay for his sister's surgery.

## Gallery

Teasers
Teaser 1Teaser 2Teaser 3Teaser 4Teaser 5Teaser 6Teaser 7Teaser 8
Miscellaneous
Illustration on Episode 3's script done by Tomohiko Ito.
## Trivia

* "The sinews of war are infinite money" is a quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero

## References

1. ↑ Label names are based off of fan translations by the unofficial English translation account.