Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix- (火喰鳥 羽州ぼろ鳶組)

Matsunaga, I looked into this Hidesuke you told me about.

You were right. He's a firework-maker.

And he worked for the Locksmiths, the famous fireworks company.

He's the one who killed Kingorou?

It's the old monk we met at Komoroya!

What?

I'm sure of it.

The Locksmiths group...

Or rather, regulars of ours will be using that area soon.

What?

When the Locksmiths were mentioned, he looked angry. It must be him.

I'm amazed you remember that.

It's true that a firework-maker would know how to read the wind,

and their god is Inari.

And Inari's symbol is the fox.

Just who is this guy?

He was the shop's head clerk. A genius when it came to fireworks.

He had a child and life was good, it seemed.

But then, another genius appeared at the shop,

and everything went wrong.

This other genius's name was Seikichi.

He was a child no more than 10 years old.

He admired Hidesuke and wanted to surpass him.

And then, one day...

Daddy! I want to see red fireworks, too!

That's impossible.

Red fireworks aren't easy to make.

Nobody knows how to do it yet.

But you can make green fireworks.

So you should be able to make red ones, too. I wanna see them!

I'll make some for you, Oito-chan!

Really?

Seikichi, you know how dangerous red fireworks are, right?

No, I can do it.

I've got an idea.

What?

Oito-chan, leave it to me.

Yay! Thank you, Seikichi-san!

Seikichi!

And so, Seikichi made the fireworks.

It was decided he would try without telling Hidesuke.

Why did nobody stop him?

They're so dangerous.

I have to stop him!

Wow!

Thank you for waiting, everyone.

It's time for today's main event: red fireworks!

We've been waiting!

Just watch, Oito-chan.

Okay!

No! Don't do it, Seikichi!

Oito!

Oito! Oito! Oito!

Oito!

Hey, firefighter! Give me water!

Huh? Water?

Water from the buckets!

Give me that!

You bastard!

We didn't think this would happen, so we didn't prepare any.

Oito. Oito.

Oito. Oito.

Daddy?

It's hot.

I'll save you, okay?

Okay.

Oito? Oito!

Oito. Oito.

Oito!

After that, Hidesuke's wife committed suicide by jumping off a bridge.

They say Hidesuke came to hate the Locksmiths

and the merchants who let the display take place, as well as the firefighters.

If he's really behind it,

he'll go after the Locksmiths at some point, right?

Yes.

Many merchants backed by Tanuma-sama are in the area, too.

If we watch that area, we might find him.

That makes this easy.

Let's stake out the area and capture Foxfire.

Yeah. It's time for us to take the initiative.

Yes. Tanuma-sama has ordered for him to be captured at all costs.

Please aid us.

Right!

OEDO FIRE SLAYER THE LEGEND OF THE PHOENIX

It's been six days.

And no sign of Foxfire.

We'll just have to keep waiting.

There's no telling how long it'll take.

Should we set some kind of trap?

Like what?

Well, if we're catching a fox...

We could hang up some fried tofu, their favorite meal?

That's the arson investigation team's whistle.

We've finally caught him, huh?

Over there!

Right.

Boss?

You guys go on ahead.

I'll catch up!

Wait, boss! Boss!

The wind's coming from the west.

Let's destroy the eastern buildings first.

More than one of them?

There! Catch those men!

We are the arson investigators.

You're all under arrest!

Foxfire?

There's more than one guy?

No, wait.

Hikoya, this way!

These guys are good.

Hikoya-san, you put out the fire.

I'll help them!

Huh? Why would you go with them?

Just go!

Fine!

I'll help you!

Oh, that's right.

You're the Shinjou prodigy.

You're said to be one of the best warriors in Edo.

Let's see what you can do.

I knew it was you.

You're Hidesuke, right?

You're Foxfire.

I've never called myself "Foxfire."

The idiots in this city call me that because it entertains them.

I heard about the accident that took your daughter's life.

But that doesn't make arson okay.

Your daughter wouldn't want—

Shut up, you worthless firefighter!

You firefighters killed Oito.

That day, the firefighters did nothing.

Oito was suffering and they did nothing to help her.

Oito was killed by firefighters!

That's...

But firefighters can't live without fire.

They fear fire but they always want more of it.

That's who you people really are!

That's not true! Some of us sacrifice our lives to protect others—

No, it shows on your face. Do you know what face you make when there's a fire?

What?

You look alive.