Creed, there's a 3 billion bounty on your head.
I wonder if they're trying to get lowly sweepers to take care of us...
Such a futile idea...
Maybe... Train will see it and...
Oh...
This is getting interesting!
Akabane's good in the spring, huh?
Oof... whoops, sorry...
Oh? You're a real tall one,
aren't you?
That's how it always starts... under the azure sky
After making a vow, I now set off
Yeah, the desert glitters with a golden hue (The wind is scorching)
I'm searching for a diamond flower (I keep on wandering)
Now, for the first time in my life,
I live for someone else
There's something I wanna protect
I'll never, ever lose it again
Resound, my heartbeat!
A heartbeat smaller and fragile, but tougher than anyone's.
"Cat that Hunts a Dragon"
Oh, he spit a fireball!
Yeah! You show 'em! Yeah, right there!!
Go for it! Yay! Yay!
Where's Rins?
She was determined to sleep in a nice, fluffy bed,
so she checked into a ritzy hotel.
We've been sleeping outdoors for a while, so...
I'd like a nice, fluffy bed, too.
A hard bed at a cheap hotel isn't so bad, you know...
Looks like you're hard-up as usual?
What're you doing here!?
Want to know!?
No, I don't!!
Give me pancakes and coffee... black!!
What a way to greet me after so long!
Oh, your daughter looks well, too!
Like I said, she's not my daughter!
Hey lady, I want rice balls. One with salmon, one with cod roe.
Seems like your family structure is as complicated as ever...
They're not!!
Well, every family has its problems.
Cripes!
At any rate, he's late... your apprentice.
Well, he'll be here in time...
especially since he e-mailed me and asked me to meet him here.
"I've found a big job. Please come to the sweepers' café in Freesia Town."
A big job, huh?
I seriously hope so! We're really in a bind here.
If we don't find work, we won't be able to pay our tab here...
No tab this time, for real!
Oh, this divine aroma! These must not be the usual coffee beans.
It's instant coffee.
Instant coffee at a café?
Anything good?
Pretty sad, as usual.
3 billion!?
What's with this ridiculous bounty?
What kind of man is worth this much?
Creed!
Hey, are you looking for a fight!?
Shh!
There's a reason I don't want him to see this wanted poster.
Is this reason also complicated?
Uh-huh...
When did this wanted poster come in?
The day before yesterday, I think.
But the sweepers say the reward money is so high it's scary...
They're all hesitant about it.
Well, there's no way they'd offer such a high reward
for a run-of-the-mill criminal, so...
Then, there're people like him
who immediately comes up with a business like that.
A sweeper alliance?
I heard that they're gathering elite sweepers
in order to go after that 3 billion.
This is bad! Can't let Train see something like this.
Hey!
Another rice ball, please, this time make it tuna-mayo.
And can you add a drop of soy sauce in the mayo?
Okay, one tuna-mayo.
What're you doing, Sven?
N- nothing!
Tuna-mayo is the best ingredient when it comes to rice balls, isn't it!?
Tuna-mayo's really delicious, yep!
Hhhmmmm...
All right! I'll pay for the rice balls myself! Cheapskate!
Bro!
- At long last! - Hey! Calm down!
Right, right. We have to talk about work.
I heard this from an old friend of mine who is an information broker.
Don't be shocked now!
Just by finding someone's pet, you get 100,000, believe it or not!
- 100,000? - 100,000?
That wasn't much of a reaction...
Of course not!
You made us come all the way to a place like this for a measly 100,000!?
I'm sorry...
But... what're you doing over there, sir?
Leave me alone.
Oh I know! Eve, Train, you two take on that job.
With 100,000, you'll be able to sleep in a nice, soft bed.
I'll do it!
Hey Train, let's do it!
Well, I don't know...
Let's do it, Bro!
You'll be able to order oden to go with your rice balls.
Okay!
All settled, then! I'm ecstatic!
Our client is Madam Freesia,
a celebrity, whose pet business earns 10 billion annually!
Oh, Flora-chan...
M- Madame!
I'm so worried about her, I can't sleep.
We are here, so you can stop worrying.
So, is she a dog? Or a cat?
Flora-chan is not a common animal like that, dahling.
Of course not! She's much more somber, isn't she?
She is the dream creature that resulted from exhaustive efforts
by my Madame Freesia Pet Company, dahling!
A monster?
Do be quiet!
Flora-chan is very lovely and cute, dahling!
Of course! She's cubed, right!?
So, what are her charming points?
Her darling fangs.
Certainly, fangs are lovely!
And her sharp claws.
And of course, claws!
She has a bad habit of sleeping by day and waking by night.
Viva nocturnal habits!
What does she eat?
Raw meat, dahling.
She's a... carnivore?
Do you have a picture?
It's from six months ago, though, dahling...
Oh, it's just a lizard...
Silence!
I sort of feel sorry for her.
Huh?
This pet Flora...
She was created by humans just because they wanted...
And locked up against her will...
I wonder how she feels about herself?
There's no use in thinking about that stuff.
Flora was born, so she's probably living it up, dahling.
Don't say "dahling".
Job interview, open anytime...
Another small fry came...
Did you read that poster carefully?
It says "Brave" sweepers wanted, doesn't it?
In other words, you're not wanted.
What a greeting.
Beat it, you lame duck.
We don't need old men or women.
What're you doing, woman!?
Next time, I won't miss.
Why you!
Friends shouldn't fight amongst each other.
I'm honored that you've come...
former IBI agent, Sven Vollfied-san.
I am Grin, an information broker.
Hey! We're looking for someone who's lost.
Lost?
Madame Freesia's pet ran away.
Pet? It can't be!
This is her pet.
Flora!
Flora has... run away!
What's wrong? You look pale.
Aahh!! This is terrible!
Flora's loose in town!?
What was that?
Oh yes... this is the real me.
Oh?
All men go crazy over me.
Oh dear... What? Am I that attractive?
Aahh!
W- what was that!?
A big fuss over a lizard, dahling.
I said stop saying "dahling"!
Being a sweeper is a business, too.
In terms of efficiency, you should always go after targets with a high bounty.
However, if the bounty is high, so is the risk.
The reward for Creed is 3 billion.
It goes up to 5 billion for all of the Apostles of the Stars.
So you can imagine the risk is off the scales.
And...
reducing risk is a fundamental of business.
That's why you suggest we join forces?
If we work together, we can definitely win.
And what's our cut?
Split evenly?
Of course.
I don't like it.
I agree splitting it with a kid like you, who'll only get in the way, isn't fair.
I wonder who's the one who'll get in the way?
What'd you say!?
You're pretty cocky, kid!
Quit fighting over every little thing.
More importantly...
Do you know the whereabouts of the Apostles of the Stars...
or rather Creed Diskenth?
Of course.
Hmm... Flora-chan, huh?
She looks pretty noticeable. So, you'll probably find her right away.
Actually, we have absolutely no clues.
You must use your head for something like this.
Use our heads?
I see! You're saying viva nocturnal habits!
You're so smart, Miss!
Geez! Why do I have to come along with you!?
This is ruining my dress!
Aw c'mon... keep us company!
Man, this is the pits!
Whenever I get involved with you, nothing good...
What was that?
Th- th- that was...
Probably a carp or something just jumped out of the water.
As if you'd find carp in here!?
L- It sounded pretty ominous to me...
Something might leap out of the gutter before long!
What's wrong?
I sense something.
Where is Creed!?
Once you become a member of the sweeper alliance, I shall tell you.
Quid pro quo, huh?
This is business, after all.
It can't be helped.
And what of you others?
Yeah.
Fine.
We don't have a choice, do we?
Sure.
Excellent.
Well then, I declare the formation of the sweeper alliance!
So you're a sweeper, too?
Don't you know!?
River Zastory is pretty famous!
Never heard of you.
So what's a famous person like you doing in a place like this?
Well...
I got lost.
Lost? How'd you end up underground like this?
I'm not good with directions!
So? Where were you headed?
None of your business!
Fine! Then, let's go!
See ya!
Well, we're in a hurry, so...
- Good bye. - Uh, oh...
Just keep wandering around for a while and you'll be able to find a way out.
There's something down here, though.
L- I guess it can't be helped!
So who'll be our leader?
We don't need one.
A group without an able leader has no chance of winning.
If there's no one, I'll be...
Don't make me laugh!
You haven't got a chance.
But... he may be better than you two.
- What'd you say!? - What'd you say!?
Cripes, what a bother!
Hey...
Do you seriously think that you can have these guys work together?
I do.
They're not the type to listen to others.
You all are professionals, so...
Oh boy... now there aren't any walkways...
Where the hell is this lizard!?
Now that it's come to this, I'll definitely make sure that we get the money!
And, why are you following us?
I'm helping you!
Having me around gives you peace of mind, doesn't it!?
Yeah right.
Hey, why're you looking at me like that?
You want that money for your dress, right?
Having another person will help you find it faster...
What peace of mind!?
It's close!
What was that noise?
This place really is ominous!
Geez, such pathetic men!
We have no choice.
Let's go in the direction of that noise.
- What!? - What!? - What!?
Because it's certain that there's something over there.
Not me! Definitely no way!!
I can't! I can't!
Huh? Why me!?
You said you'd help!
You're a famous sweeper, right?
Damn, it stinks in here!
This lizard is such a pain!
There's something that I want to confess...
T- to be honest, I... don't like dark places.
Ouch! Hey, why're you just standi...
They're taking a long time.
It hasn't even been ten minutes.
He surely wouldn't have abandoned us, would he?
Bro! You came back for us!
Bro!
Huh?
Looks like it grew this much in six months.
That's too much growth!!
What was that?
It's coming from below.
Its size was falsely represented!!
Reptiles often grow surprisingly fast.
What food can make them grow that big!?
Try asking the monster behind you!!
I can't go on...
If you stop, you'll be eaten.
Just keep running!!
I can't!
Bro! Make your escape while I'm being eaten!
I'm sure you'd be a nice treat for Flora.
Train, don't shoot her!
Leave it to me!
She's upset.
Like throwing oil in a fire.
Take care of the rest!
You!
H- Hi...
Hurry up and get out!!
Oh right!
You'd better run now, Sven!
Why?
Huh? W- why me?
H- he looks the juiciest...
Train! What the hell is...
I'll explain after I've put her to sleep!
Don't shoot!
Dammit!
Hey buddy, get away!
I'll take care of her!
A tranquilizer bullet?
That's right.
Now she looks more like a pet.
M- Miss...
Th- this much!?
Wasn't it supposed to be 100,000?
That's for bringing Flora-chan back without injuring her, dahling!
Thank you very much!
I'm taking my share for my dress!
I'm the one who captured Flora.
This was all thanks to Gallom and me!
I'm the one who knocked her out.
I'm the one who saved you, right?
That's not fair!
That was fine teamwork.
Did you plan this?
No way! This was pure coincidence.
But I was able to reaffirm what sweepers are actually capable of.
Sven!
Come to think of it, what were you doing there anyway?
Err... nothing.
Oh yeah, they're making rice balls over there.
Rice balls? And maybe oden, too!?
That's right! Radish, vegetables, and fish sausages, too!
Former member of Chrono Numbers, Train Heartnet.
I would like you to join the sweeper alliance, too.
Sweeper alliance?
Aahh! Leave him alone!
He's no longer...
Our goal is to capture the members of the Apostles of the Stars.
Apostles of the Stars...
Hey, hey... they'll run out of rice balls!
First come first served for eggs in oden!
You know his whereabouts?
An isolated island in the Adonia Sea, Kraken.
Creed Diskenth is there, too.
Creed is...
Now he said it...
A goodnight call to Kuro-sama...
Hhmmm!
Kuro-sama, what're you doing!?
Train!
So, he's gone...
To the Apostles of the Stars?
He's probably thinking that he doesn't wanna involve us or something anyway.
He treats us like strangers...
You're just the same, Sven, aren't you?
Huh?
You joined the sweeper alliance secretly... to catch Creed, right?
That fool...
He always leaves his friends behind...
Since your new black boots caused a blister,
you rest your right foot
We'll keep walking along with our own rhythm, without rushing
Don't say anything because we'll soon understand each other
I'm just holding you now to keep you warm
I'm completely wrapped around you, so...
Quietly the powder-like snow is building up...
"Next Episode"
That darn Train!
"Next Episode" Does he intend to settle it with Creed all by himself?
I won't let you!
As if I'd let you have the starring role all to yourself!
We'll definitely catch up with you using my beloved car, so be prepared!
Oh, hey Rins... sorry, but can you lend me some money for gas?
"Dozing Cat" Oh, hey Rins... sorry, but can you lend me some money for gas?
"Dozing Cat"