This was once the famous city on the sea, Zaza.
Every fall they hold a grand festival, a masquerade ball.
It is a town overflowing with mystery.
It is said to be quite a spectacle to see everyone in their masks.
Or at least that's what is says here.
How did we end up in this mess?!
There has to be more to the ball than this.
If you guys are trying to throw a good party,
you're suffering from a lack of decent looking women!
Okay, get on up there!
Madam Earl will not stand for idiocy!
You're the idiot here, old man.
You'd better watch your mouth!
Why must they be weighed before they enter the ball?
What's next? An eye examination?!
What's the real reason for wearing masks to this ball anyway?
Is it so that we can overcome prejudices people might have
with the appearance or age of others?
So that everyone in the town can become friends on equal ground?
It's quite a loving and liberating ideology!
So why is it that none of you here
look like you're remotely interested in either friendship or love?
Please be our friends! Please, will you give us your love?!
Sure, that sounds great. We can start off as friends.
We're so happy, we could just die!
This should save you a little time, right?
Thank you.
So where's the party?
The Masquerade Ball of Zaza Part 1
So where is this so-called masquerade ball?
Hey! Tell me! Do all you guys like to dance?
I'm sure all of you are beautiful dancers!
But this can't be the ball, can it? I'm right, aren't I?
Nope, this is a different kind of masquerade ball.
Mas Corrida?
Shouldn't it say masquerade?
I thought a masquerade was a dance party.
Isn't a corrida a ring for bull fighting?
It seems like they are sizing us up for some kind of fight.
So I guess this isn't one of your more traditional masquerade balls?
Ladies and gentleman, thank you for waiting.
I pleased to announce the beginning of the long awaited masquerade ball
that brings together the most talented warriors in town.
No, I'm sorry, the most talented warriors of the entire world!
I am sure that everyone here has heard,
but the champion of this intense battle
will receive the great privilege of becoming
the next heir to the throne of all of Zaza!
The purpose of this great exhibition of warriors
is to determine who will replace Madame Earl Dubonnet!
What's with that crazy mask up there?
That Madame Earl is one cold bitch.
Even through the mask,
you can tell she always retains that expressionless look.
I've heard her face doesn't even move when she speaks.
That is why she changes into masks with different expressions.
Oh man, all of a sudden, my face itches so bad!
Now presenting, the young lady next to the Madame Earl,
the beautiful Miss Stir!
Oh, she's so cute!
I long to make her smile and give her everything in the world!
Now that we have welcomed her Highness Madame Earl,
the battle will now begin!
Fight!
Hey, here he comes.
It looks like he gave it his best shot.
Looks like he fought hard too, Kir.
Whoever that is, he's defeating everyone.
This is normal for the masquerade ball.
No one ever wins this damn thing!
Ever since Madame Dubonnet's only son died,
she has been holding these balls to find a warrior to replace him.
It doesn't matter how many fights you win, or how strong you are.
That cruel-hearted Madame Earl will never decide on anyone.
It sort of makes it hard to take this thing seriously anymore.
She doesn't care who wins, or who loses.
At the end of the day, everyone is thrown out together with the trash.
But there are the three Ice Brothers
who serve the House of the Earl, Baffle, Crash, and Cube.
They always end up killing everyone who becomes a possible champion.
It is like she is a disease that has poisoned the entire town.
That is why she always wears a mask in front of the people.
But that is not the only mask that she wears.
This battle is the biggest joke yet. This is how it goes.
The loser loses,
and the winner loses too.
It's useless. The only one who ever wins here is the Madame.
You're up next, kid. Get ready.
Next up, we have one of the favorite seeds for the championship title!
Go get 'em!
Hey, Danda! Go get 'em!
Hey, Danda!
Look over here!
Hey, Danda! Look over here!
Hey, Danda!
I don't think I'll ever understand the way little, human kids
can fall so passionately in love based solely on looks alone!
Fight!
The fight of the hour has just begun!
Everyone's favorite in this fight has got to be Maltick Danda,
one of the best warriors in all of Zaza!
Danda is the best bull fighter we've got here in town.
We should all consider ourselves privileged to watch him fight.
He says his wolf claw makes him an artist of death,
who makes meals of his opponents!
It doesn't look like this little runt will stand much of a chance.
Especially with no weapon, he's fighting barehanded!
Danda may already be tired, but I don't think it matters much.
He should make quick work of this kid,
and cook him up faster than a hamburger patty on the grill.
He dodged it!
His trademark left wolf claw! No one has ever dodged it!
Hey, kid, you're the first one to ever dodge that attack.
Oh, really? I guess this will also be your first time to lose.
He dodged that one too!
That was nice. You blow really nice kisses.
You little...
So what's next? Aren't you even going to buy me dinner first?
He'd better drop that thing.
Excuse me, Miss, be careful!
Leave me alone!
Yatonokami! He is using the yatonokami attack!
This is turning into quite a fun fight, thank you!
This little move should shut that mouth of yours up!
Looks like I got a new toy to play with!
If I were you, I'd check my armor.
I think you've got a new vulnerable spot.
Of course, no man can continue a fight without his butt armor!
That would be pretty risquй, even for a lady-killer like him!
Madame, are you all right?
Calm down, she's fine. You saw what happened! Madame, are you all right?
Calm down, she's fine. You saw what happened!
"I will get your Vintage Smile. - Signed, The Bandit King"
Oh, I'm such a bad boy!
The Vintage Smile?!
Is that our famous, special mask made of pearl?
The same mask that is to be presented to the Madame's heir?
Is he talking about that same Vintage Smile?!
Get a hold of yourself, Angostura!
Okay...
He's after a family heirloom!
Quick! Surround the mask vault and protect it! Hurry up!
Angostura? Do we have a thief on our hands?
Yes, Sir!
So he's after the Vintage Smile? Yes, Sir!
So he's after the Vintage Smile?
Who does that bandit think he is?!
Mother, this is all happening
because you still haven't found a suitable replacement for Lemon!
Miss, there's no need for that.
We need to get guards posted right away!
We cannot allow anyone to desecrate the sacred mask!
From what we've already seen, I can tell he is a master thief.
I'm sure he is the most heinous thief this town has ever seen!
We must get the guards in place to protect us from this devil!
A demon! A devil!
I told you not to eat that cherry, Jing!
Really?
Right now, I'm more worried about
how we're going to steal the Vintage Smile.
Hey, Kir!
Welcome...
Welcome, please follow me.
She's gone, my true love, where could she be?
Over here?!
What the?! Who's bothering me at a time like this?
You again! You little brat!
This time around you won't have a ref to stop me.
The only thing you'll have is a brand new tombstone!
I'd have thought you would have had enough of showing everyone your ass,
but this is the second time today.
Baffle...
Hey kid, you feel like meeting the same fate as this guy!
This is a special place
where friends of the Madame come to have a little taste of paradise.
It is an important place for Her Highness,
and outsider scum like you don't belong.
You can either get out, or stay here and we'll turn you into mincemeat!
Your flowers will never bloom if you're dead kid!
Oh, really? I'll leave my seeds with you then.
Hey, now are you glad I ate that cherry?
You little...
You won't be laughing when I cut out your throat.
You can't hide behind there forever!
Don't worry, he'll keep me safe for a while.
Nothing here but a monkey and a little chicken.
I think I'll eat both of you in a sandwich for lunch.
Kir Royale!
What's wrong, Kir?!
It's from when he grabbed my neck.
I can't...
What do you think you're doing?!
Can't aim right?! You're not going to hit anything like that!
What's going on? The ground is shaking.
This is one kid who will never have a chance to be the champ.
What's going on?!
What's happening?
This town is held up by many pillars,
and now they're all shaking.
I guess underneath us is all just empty space.
So you had better...
Watch your step!
Stop right there!
Angostura Sr., but he's...
If you move one more inch, I'll have both of your heads.
Kid, you're coming with me.
What kind of town is this anyway?
Hey, Postino, you're not going to wear a carnival mask?
I can't Jing. It is my job to not discriminate and deliver letters
to everyone equally, regardless of whether they have a mask or not.
Hey, Jing, I guess that guy, Ginjou, was right about everything.
That Madame is like a god here and controls everything.
You guys know nothing!
The Madame has shed many tears for this town of ours,
and given us everything we have.
Don't pretend you don't know what's going on here!
I don't, but why does she cry?
The Madame has already shed a lifetime's worth of tears.
Eight years ago,
the seemingly endless years of war were finally over.
Peace was finally restored to Zaza
and our benevolent Earl Dubonnet was returning home.
In the meantime, Madame Earl received a message
that reported of the Earl's death in battle.
But the Madame had no time to shed her tears.
The devil had already finished his plans for the next tragedy.
Their son, Lemon, was assassinated.
He was only three years old at the time.
The killer was his very own uncle.
There was a huge conspiracy among their family,
and his uncle assassinated Lemon
to assure that he would become the heir to the throne.
The Madame lost her beloved husband and son, whom she loved so much,
and I have not left her side since that unfortunate night.
Why, why do men have to love war and battle so?
If you love it so much...
I too must fight. Fight until the end!
I too must fight, for all time!
Ever since then, she has been prepared for battle.
She continues to fight in hopes of filling the void in her heart
that was caused by the murder of her son.
Hey, what the hell is he doing?
What should we do?
Well now, are we all in store for another big surprise?!
This is one of the three Ice Brothers, Cube de Ice,
otherwise known as the Carpenter of Hell!
This will definitely be one of the best fights of the year!
Cube! You had better not lose this battle and defame our family name!
Hey, why is everyone so quiet all of a sudden?