Episode 1

## "Once Upon a Time in Nagasaki"

**"Once Upon a Time in Nagasaki"** is the first episode of the *Revenger* anime.

## Synopsis

Deceived by a lie, Raizo kills his fiancée's father. When he is in danger out of desperation, he is then saved by the organization called "Revenger." After learning the truth behind his supposed father-in-law's death, Raizo sets out to take revenge on the person who had manipulated him.

## Summary

At night, Raizo confronts a man and his two bodyguards. The man recognizes Raizo, who then in an instant kills the man and his bodyguards. After Raizo leaves, in his dying moments, the man takes out a gold piece and bites it. Soon his body is discovered by Yuen, who takes the gold piece.

Next day, Raizo is under a bridge. Yuen comes and introduces himself as Usui Yuen and asks Raizo of his name. Raizo explains he is Kurima Raizo, a retainer to the daimyo of Setsuma. Yuen explains that he is running odd jobs serving, a merchant of all trades. He explains that there are rumors of a stern-looking samurai passing his days like the legendary Musashibo. The locals got concerned and hired Yuen to look into it. Yuen guesses that since Raizo is refined man and is not staying in an inn, he must be avoiding people's eyes. Raizo states he killed a man, it was an order but he had no grounds to defy it. It was Raizo's duty to dispose of traitors who pose treat to the clan. Yuen is surprised since if it was a lawful act he shouldn't be hiding under a bridge and should be able to return home. Raizo explains he knew the man and he was important to him, and can't face the people who knew the man. Yuen understands his situation, but explains that even if he stay there, he won't solve anything. Raizo thanks him for his advice and leaves, telling Yuen that he can tell the people he disposed of "Benkei Musashibo".

While leaving town through the mountain, Raizo encounters three riders who know him. Raizo wonders if they are there to escort him, but that would be odd for Matsumine-sama. The men state he did a splendid job and single-handedly killed all of his father-in-law's men. Raizo explains that no matter their relationship, it had to be done since he got involved with opium trading. The men congratulate Raizo for his loyalty, but state he needs to do one more thing. The men take out guns and point them at Raizo, stating he is stupid. Raizo wonders why, but they tell him to ask Hirata when he dies. Raizo then hears a voice, telling him to jump if he wants to live. Raizo then runs and jumps from the cliff while the men shoot at him. They manage to hit him, but he falls into the river. Believing he died, the men decide to go back and report to Matsumine-sama. Nio had put a string on Raizo and then pulls him out of the river.

Later, Raizo wakes up at Yuen's place. He wonders if Yuen saved him and Yuen explains that he does all kinds of work, though, as a day job, he produces maki-e gold-lacquered works. Yuen explains that in his kind of business, he learns of Nagasaki underworld things that Raizo doesn't know. Yuen confirms that someone from Satsuma is making secret deals with English merchants for opium. Hirata Genshin had been investigating around Nagasaki looking for the truth. Raizo can't believe it, but Yuen states that whoever told him differently and ordered him to kill Hirata Genshin, is the mastermind behind the opium deal. The Chief financial officer of Satsuma, Matsumine Jonoshin. Hirata had almost gathered the evidence he needed before Raizo killed him. Hearing that, Raizo starts crying. Raizo wonders why he saved him as he was tricked and killed his fiancee's father. A shame that Raizo can't live with. However, Yuen states that if Raizo died, Matsumine will maintain his position and come out unharmed. Yuen reveals that Hirata hired him before his death, in case he died, Hirata wanted Yuen to fulfil his mission. Yuen then takes out the bitten gold piece. Yuen reveals that to infiltrate Satsuma and its castle, he needs someone who is familiar with it, and asks Raizo if he will help. Raizo then nods confirming.

Raizo then leads Yuen and his group to Satsuma. There they hear people talking how Yui lost her father and husband at the same time. Yuen warns Raizo that his wife Yui can't learn he is alive right now. Raizo understands, and also notes that he can't even face her right now as he killed her father. They stay in an abandoned house and Raizo gives details of the layout of the building Matsumine is. Yuen wonders if there is a secret exit, but Raizo states there isn't as Matsumine trusts his men. Yuen tells him that they will act tonight, but its better if Raizo doesn't come due to his injuries.

The three men that tried to kill Raizo are now celebrating with Matsumine and how good his plan was. One of the men heard that Westerners intend to bring the Qing to heel vie the opium and wonders if the same will happen to Nagasaki. Matsumine is fine if this happens as no matter who rules Nagasaki, they will need a local governor. The men are impressed that Matsumine thought that far ahead. Meanwhile, Raizo dresses up and heads out as well. As they run out of sake, one of them goes out to look for the servants and get more sake. He ends up finding the servants tied up, but in that moment Nio puts a string around his neck and releases a kite, which then flies high and pulls the string cutting the man's throat and killing him. As the man falls down and dies, Matsumine and the two others hear the noise. The two men go out to check. One of them faces Soji, who then throws a card and cuts the man's finger, leaving him unable to pull the pistol trigger. Soji then throws few more cards, sticking them in the man's face and killing him. The other man faces Yuen, who puts a golden sheet on his face. As the man suffocates, Yuen gets on his knee and prays to Saint Mary to repent for the man's sins and misdeeds. Yuen's group then goes to Matsumine's room, but see that he escaped using a secret passage. Yuen notes that Raizo outfoxed them.

Matsumine escapes to the forest through the secret passage. There, Raizo waits for him and states he is willing to listen if he wants to explain himself. Matsumine pulls out his pistol and Raizo cuts him in two. Teppa had followed Raizo and also led the rest to him. They see how Raizo kills Matsumine and Nio wonders if they did all of this for Raizo's sake. Soji is annoyed that Raizo took their target and wonders how they will explain it to the Chapel. Teppa states they still need to ring the bell, no matter how was the job done and Nio goes to ring it.

Raizo runs towards Yui, wanting to apologize and explains he avenged her father and take his own life. However, as he reaches Yui, she had just taken her own life after hearing the bell. Raizo hugs her, crying and stating he has so much to atone for.

## Characters in order of appearance

* Hirata Genshin
* Kurima Raizo
* Usui Yuen
* Nio
* Soji
* Murakami Teppa
* Yui
* Matsumiine Jonoshin