I have been informed that Kaito and the others
will be returning to Japan in two days.
Is that right?
On another note, I have received word from Director Rook.
He claims to have unraveled the mystery
behind Jin’s behavior during his blank year.
Enigma is proving to be a tougher nut to crack.
Even the POG’s information network has been unable to learn anything.
Cubik and I are also working on the case, but so far...
Hello.
Very well. Then we shall pay you a visit.
Mr. Principal?
It seems you will get to take
your concerns directly to the person in question.
Now then, let’s enjoy a puzzle together,
Lovushka.
Let’s Go to That Place
Your sudden invitation, quite honestly, has me speechless.
Sorry about that! Believe it or not, I’m rather busy.
It’s surprisingly hard to find any openings in my schedule.
It has been a while, Jin Makata.
Are you another one of my acquaintances?
Why the sudden urge to invite them over?
You see, certain people seem to be sniffing around my personal affairs.
I will be straightforward with you.
I am willing to answer any questions you care to throw my way.
True, that would make this quicker for everyone...
But one thing before we start asking questions:
We do not believe that Jin has ever hated puzzles.
Really?
That statement holds true even if he once claimed to hate puzzles.
We believe that he had been devoured by the Armlet of Orpheus,
which warped his mind and made him say things of that nature.
You put up a good argument. That is a fascinating theory!
But is that the reality of the situation?
Meaning?
I have been conducting research on the Armlet myself.
Admittedly, my research may not be as advanced as your own,
but going by past cases, I am of the belief that the Armlet
amplifies emotions or beliefs that the bearer
already possesses and then warps them.
I would love to hear what someone
who has worn the Armlet has to say on the matter.
It sounds logical.
In which case, regardless of how great or small,
wouldn’t it be safe to assume that Jin Makata possessed
some degree of hatred for puzzles?
That is a possibility.
But for an old friend such as myself, that is hardly anything new.
You’re an... old friend?
Puzzles were always hurting the Jin I know, filling him with anguish.
Raetsel, when and where did you meet Jin?
He met her while on his pilgrimage of Puzzles of Fools...
I’ve heard that it was off in a small, mountain village.
What a beautiful puzzle!
That was Raetsel.
She had lost her parents in an accident.
With the help of her neighbors, she was managing on her own.
Her parents had given her puzzles ever since she was a wee lass.
W-would you like to see this one, too?
Did you make it?
She possessed astonishing potential as a puzzler.
It was simply a matter of time before the POG--
Count Pythagoras--set his sights on her.
As such, Jin decided to have Raetsel
travel with him for her own safety.
With no family to turn to, she opened her heart to Jin.
I’ve heard that she was happy to accompany him.
That’s right. Jin, you...
You tried so hard to prevent me from seeing...
your harsh battles with the Puzzles of Fools.
But...
Raetsel!
I’m sorry. I scared you back there, didn’t I?
No. I wasn’t crying because I was scared.
I was crying because I felt bad for you, Jin.
Because I wanted to offer you help
when you were out getting hurt by yourself...
I couldn’t stand the puzzles that tormented you.
That’s why I wanted to be there for you!
Jin!
Jin! Are you okay?
Y-yeah, it’s nothing...
Puzzles are still tormenting you,
just like they did back then.
Jin?
Before I got here, someone attempted this Puzzle of Fools, but...
Stop it! That puzzle is a--!
Who are you? Why are you...?
Jin!
What’s wrong?! Hang in there, Jin!
After that, you left Raetsel to face Count Pythagoras in battle.
And then you lost your memories and were taken captive.
But Jin entrusted me with a certain mission.
A mission?
If anything were to happen to Jin,
I was to gather a group of people who would inherit his will
and see his ambitions realized.
Jin’s will...
Are you referring to annihilating all puzzlers?
By releasing the Puzzle of God,
obtaining the Book of God and using that,
Jin had planned on destroying all of the puzzlers in the world.
There aren’t any records to back that.
Everything I know about Raetsel came directly from Jin.
I pinpointed her location and explained my plan.
Naturally, she offered her approval,
regardless of the fact that he told her that
she’s lacking something and left her behind.
I have genuine admiration for the loyalty Raetsel feels toward Jin.
President, I would like to ask a question
about you instead of Raetsel.
What might that be?
Where precisely did you meet Jin?
Back when he was still with the POG,
I just so happened to visit Japan.
Jin has never once mentioned a friend that fits your description.
He told me all about you, Baron Kaidou.
Once your puzzles became too easy for him,
he decided to start challenging the Puzzles of Fools.
You even know about that...?
Tell me: Why did Jin entrust you with the Master Brains?
Why did he choose someone who has absolutely nothing to do with puzzles?
Do you bear some sort of grudge against puzzles as well?
Puzzles are made to hurt people and take lives.
Do I need a special reason to hate them?
Any other questions?
I have one last question. Raetsel?
What is it?
I’ll admit, Jin definitely harbored some uncertainty toward puzzles.
He may have been suffering.
But when he was with you,
I’m sure he also tried to teach you the joy of puzzles.
The Jin I know was that type of guy.
He showed me their fun side...
But I hate the puzzles that made Jin suffer--
that stole Jin from me!
And once I’ve gotten rid of all the puzzlers...
What then?
I will completely drop puzzles!
Jin--Jin told me to, so I will!
He did?
Raetsel,
you’re free to abandon puzzles.
He told you to abandon puzzles?
Did Jin really say that?
Master Rook?
I did...
I’m sure I said that you’re free to abandon puzzles...
It was at night... The sound of waves...?
The beach... We were on the beach...
Jin!
You got another memory back!
I knew it!
I knew I was the only one who could help you
get your memories back.
Jin--Jin, you need me!
Jin!
So that’s what happened...
But to think that Jin asked Enigma to kill all puzzlers...
I still don’t buy it!
He said that he would answer any of our questions, but...
Enigma is trying to hide something.
Furthermore, there is nothing to back any of his claims.
So all we can do is help Jin-Jin remember what happened.
I’ve tried everything.
For all of my methods to prove ineffective...
What does it mean?
Normal means may not work.
Why not?
Think about it.
How did Jin lose his memories to begin with?
The Puzzle of God!
The Puzzle of God is released when two Phi-Brains confront each other.
One gets to obtain the Book of God,
which contains all of our world’s natural laws.
Jin once fought Count Pythagoras in the Puzzle of God.
They each paid dearly.
It shortened the Count’s life and Jin lost his memories.
As for the Book of God that was obtained in that battle...
The Puzzle of God and the Book of God...
They may contain the key to helping Jin regain his lost memories.
The Puzzle of God and the Book of God...
I never thought I’d hear those names come up after all this time.
I’m sure it isn’t over yet...
We are still trapped inside of the Puzzle of God.
What possessed you to do that?
I’m sorry!
With Jin still unable to remember his past, I couldn’t help myself...
I am the one who is supposed to defeat
Kaito Daimon and help Jin recover his memories.
That was the deal.
You have my sincerest apologies, Raetsel.
This is hard on me, too.
I revere Jin Makata, yet I am unable to do anything for him...
It’s hard...
At any rate, if you’re going to keep doing your own thing,
I’ve got an idea of my own.
He remembered something!
He recovered another memory!
Yay!
“Revere”? Me, revere him?
I revere Jin Makata?
That shall be all for today.
Puzzles are such a rare treat.
I need to take this one slower, savoring every moment of it.
It was simple, yet strong.
And... it was a warm puzzle.
This is a puzzle that you made.
Use this Puzzle of Fools, created by none other than Jin Makata!
Jin!
What’s the matter?
Hearing what that Enigma guy said about me
didn’t stir any of my memories.
Don’t beat yourself up about it.
But I made a promise with Kaito.
I swore that I would bring back
the Jin Makata who taught him puzzles.
That this would be my personal battle from here on out.
But you did remember one thing, didn’t you?
That old fart’s a nuisance!
I remembered something?
That’s right. “You’re free to abandon puzzles.”
Did you honestly tell that to Raetsel?
I honestly think I did.
Is there a problem with that?
Well, I find that to be a bit strange.
Long ago, you said something else to Kaito when he was still young.
Having lost his parents and all hope,
Kaito was ready to abandon puzzles, which were his emotional support.
Don't give up what is dear.
Never.
And yet you told Raetsel that she may abandon puzzles.
Why the discrepancy?
I’m not sure...
I don’t remember telling that to Kaito, either.
But...
But?
But she’s missing something.
That’s the feeling I get.
Perhaps the two are connected.
“Something.” What is this “something”?
I’m really not certain...
In all likelihood, it is probably related to puzzles.
In other words, it is something that Kaito has and Raetsel doesn’t.
I get the feeling that at the time, I probably needed Kaito,
who possessed whatever that “something” is.
That would explain why you told Kaito not to give up puzzles,
yet you told Raetsel the opposite.
I loved puzzles, yet I hated puzzles.
I guided Kaito, yet I abandoned Raetsel.
Jin Makata,
who in the world were you?
It’s a lie!
He was lying!
Jin... needed Kaito more than he needed me?!
More than me... More than me?!
That’s not true!
He was lying! Lying...
That’s a lie!
No...
No...!
No!
Jin belongs to me.
I will never...
ever let someone else have him!
Raetsel!
Let’s leave together, Jin.
Together? Right now?
Where would we go?
To a place that only you and I know about.
That’s where we’ll go...
If you go there, I’m sure all of your memories will come flooding back.
Come on! Let’s go, Jin.
Jin has gone missing?!
I have already contacted the POG.
They have begun searching for him.
What should I do?!
And here I promised Kaito I’d protect him.
I-I’ve gotta find him.
Iwashimizu, prepare to launch the mechanic bugs!
Roger! Catapult: Preparations complete.
Calm down, Cubik.
But--!
Guys!
This fella said that he saw Jin-Jin go bye-bye.
Was he by himself?
Actually...
Find him!
Increase the intelligence department’s forces and find Jin Makata!
Raetsel...!
Mew!
Didn’t I warn you? I said I had an idea of my own.
Isn’t this in violation of our contract?
Is it really?
Now then, where is Jin?
Wanna know, Mr. President?
You damn feral cat!
What?! What’s going on?
I don’t know!
All I know is that Raetsel grabbed Jin and took off with him.
Damn that unlucky black cat!
Freecell and Pinochle are getting our plane tickets as we speak--
Unknown Caller
Who is it?
It’s me. Recognize my voice?
Raetsel!
Brat! What are you gonna do with Jin?!
You can be so rude!
This is a puzzle.
I am the Giver.
You are the Solver.
And the prize is...
Jin Makata.
I dare you to solve this puzzle!
Try to find the two of us!
I can’t believe you’re making the genius basketball player Gammon Sakanoue
practice nothin’ but the baby basics!
Dribble 500 times on both your left and right.
Start over if you lose the ball.
I don’t have time for this, Coach Nonoha!
I need to practice my dunks, not dribbling!
Moron! You’ll never win if you haven’t mastered the basics.
Next time, “What is Your Real Dream?”
What is Your Real Dream?
And then I’ll make my pan-American debut.
Naturally, it’ll be puzzle novelist.
The game’s over.
I wanna play basketball.
Here is the prize! Say what?!
Fin Art: Akeru Otsuki