Episode 7

**The Jade of Succession** (受けつぐ翡翠, *Uketsugu Hisui*?) is the seventh episode of The Case Files of Jeweler Richard anime.

## Summary

Ascending the stairs to Jeweler Étranger, Seigi spots Richard talking to a man called Ito, who is part of the Ito Shobin Company. The man leaves and Richard invites Seigi to an auction.

A man called Soichi Azuma passed away. As one of the most prominent collectors in Japan, this caused a lot of commotion over inheritance, until his oldest daughter entrusted the collection (referred to as the “Azuma Collection”) to an auction company. One of the items that Richard points out is Buddha’s hand citron, a 200-year-old jade piece.

Richard reveals that Ito requested for him to win the jade at the auction. The company has been banned from the auction hall due to their repeated attempts at buying the jade hand prior to the auction. Ito reached out to Richard’s mentor for help, who passed the request to Richard.

Richard and Seigi arrive at the preview to observe the items up for auction. Seigi notices that the hand’s estimated sale price is 30 million yen. Seigi is too distracted after spotting a man staring at them to notice Richard walking away. A man approaches Richard on his way out, calling him Lord Claremont, and he immediately responds by saying that he has the wrong person. The man asks him questions about the jade, but Seigi interrupts him. The man laughs when Seigi states that Richard’s his boss, introducing himself as Shin Ganapati Bertuccio. He warns Seigi that he’ll be met with disaster if he stays with Richard, and then walks off after telling Richard to give his regards to “Ranasinghe.”

Richard explains that the man was a former competitor of his who believed that Richard was stealing his customers. He also confirms that he used to work at his mentor’s, Saul Ranasingha’s, store. When Richard asks if Seigi has any more questions, Seigi says no, because he doesn’t want to force him to do or say anything he doesn’t want to. Richard claims that he’ll tell him after the auction. Knowing that there’s someone in Europe who wants the jade, the two prepare for a fierce battle at the auction.

Seigi and Richard return to the auction hall on the day of the auction, and Bertuccio greets them. Richard asks him who his client is and he responds by boasting that Richard doesn’t stand a chance. Seigi hands Richard a royal milk tea flavored candy, successfully cheering him up.

Richard allows Seigi to do the bidding. Bertuccio manages to drive the price up to 45 million yen before withdrawing, letting the two win the jade hand. Bertuccio confronts them afterwards, but Seigi defends Richard. The man who Seigi caught staring earlier runs over and thanks both Ito and Richard. He introduces himself as Hidenori Azuma. Ito, Richard, and Hidenori all had differing motives but shared the same goal.

Seigi is curious how Richard had 5 million yen to contribute to the cause. Richard explains that they’re going to reimburse him, and it was worth it to preserve the Azuma family. Following up on his earlier promise, Richard tells Seigi about his family’s fall out over its own inheritance issues.

## Characters

* Richard Ranasinghe de Vulpian
* Seigi Nakata
* Saul Ranasinghe (mentioned)