Wow!
Thank you so much, Nino!
Jean's away for work again?
He left as soon as he returned from Dōwā.
What's with that box?
Oh...
I send gifts to the owner, along with our monthly reports.
I'm not sure what he likes, so I end up sending lots of things.
Didn't you say you've never met him?
Yeah, and I only know his post office box.
Huh...
Thanks for the cake.
Leaving already?
I'll take the package to the post office for you.
I have to mail something, too.
I'll send you the report.
I'm going to Suitsu District tonight.
Oh,
and Lotta's present will be included with the report.
Enjoy.
Also...
Apparently, people working for the prince are sniffing around Lotta.
Jean's about to get sucked in even more.
It's okay.
Just don't call me out of worry like you did before, please.
Excuse me.
Suitsu District
You can use that?
There's no signal, so I can't.
Hey...
Could I touch that?
Wow, it's real.
Hey.
I'll give you the money...
Next time you visit, can you bring me something like that?
In Suitsu District, they're forbidden by law.
How much do you want?
It isn't about the money.
Then, what do you want?
Hmm...
Maybe cigarettes.
It's a cigarette!
I've never seen one before.
If you're eating here, eat at your own table!
I told you not to talk to outsiders!
I'd like to request that you not frequent places like this.
The food just smelled so good.
I couldn't help it.
Deputy Chief...
You didn't arrive as scheduled,
so I've come to get you.
How long have you been stationed here?
Four years.
A long time.
This is a difficult assignment, and not many are a good fit.
That tends to extend appointments here.
Isn't living here inconvenient, though?
Unless you're a district citizen,
you can only eat or shop in designated areas,
so you don't bring in outside influences.
If you call it preserving tradition, it may sound like a good thing.
But I wonder what the residents think.
I can't really tell. It's an interesting district.
You were stationed in Dōwā District before, right?
How does this one compare?
It's isolated.
One can freely come and go from Dōwā.
Yeah, gaining entry here is a pretty complicated process.
Have you been back to Bādon at all?
No.
Next term, you will likely be reassigned.
All right.
All locations in Dōwā are important,
with complex relations to maintain with local populaces.
I think I can trust you to carry on my responsibilities,
but my transfer request never goes through.
I couldn't possibly do your job.
I'm not as skilled at staying on good terms
with the brass.
You can use the terminal there to communicate with HQ.
For personal communication, you can use the phone.
Only being able to communicate with people in select places is inconvenient.
Here's the schedule for your audit.
I've always said that I decide the schedule.
Tomorrow morning, I'll pick you up at eight o'clock.
Please refrain from smoking.
I received reports that HQ's
Inspection Department made contact with the locals.
Be more careful.
My apologies.
5 Chief Officers' Meeting Room
What did you just say?
Jean Otus has no connection to any coup d'état sympathizers.
That is my conclusion.
It is a personal one,
and I do not ask you all to accept it.
But I am his ally.
Where is Otus now?
In Suitsu District.
My beloved homeland.
It is its own country...
An independent nation, located within a country.
The south station is next.
Let's walk there.
The north sector
is among Suitsu District's most isolated.
Please refrain from taking any personal actions.
Isolated, huh?
It's just a sector without any nobles living here.
It isn't particularly dangerous.
What's that?
Who knows? They probably committed theft.
It's already two o'clock. Let's eat.
We can't go to any restaurants here.
I'll buy something.
Then—
As long as it's bread, you don't care, right?
Please return to the carriage.
Hey, I'm glad you're safe.
Oh, the man from earlier.
An ACCA Headquarters uniform!
Damn.
What should we do? He heard us.
Don't move!
Now that you've overheard us, we can't let you leave!
Overheard what?
Don't play dumb!
We were talking about the coup!
I saw him
taking photos there, but...
If you'd actually vanished into thin air,
it wouldn't trouble me in the least, Jean Otus!
You're crazy, bringing someone like him here!
This is an important meeting place!
He learned about our plans for the coup.
We had no choice but to bring him!
You should have discussed it with us.
It isn't my fault if Biscuit gets angry at you.
Biscuit?
You guys captured someone from headquarters?
Biscuit!
It's you.
You guys brought trouble.
Biscuit, look!
There are lots of photos on his device!
I was asked to take them.
These photos are around the meeting place.
Are people investigating us?
Everyone, quiet!
Now that he knows, we can't let him leave.
I asked Jean to send me photos of Suitsu,
but I guess he's busy.
Thanks for the food!
You lost her?
I'm sorry, sir!
The restaurant's mochi dessert was so tasty that...
Idiot! You can get desserts like that in Dōwā!
The deputy chief?
We've received no particular word.
Has something happened?
No, I'll contact you later.
Damn it!
Where'd he go?
You're very calm.
You guys haven't given me
any reason to be nervous.
You think we're meeting like this as a hobby?
We do want to change Suitsu. That isn't a lie.
This nation is wrong.
By "nation," you mean Suitsu District?
This is its own nation!
Although it's within the larger nation known as Dōwā,
how can one area be so isolated?
We may have been granted autonomy,
but nothing has changed in nearly a century.
We want to make Suitsu into a real district, under Dōwā Kingdom!
As suspected, their goal is different than
the coup d'état the chief officers and director-general spoke of...
By "coup d'état," you mean you plan to occupy the district office?
That's right.
And what will you demand after doing so?
We have two demands.
First, to remove restrictions on the transportation network.
Once we can go freely between here and other districts,
this district will change.
Many people want that.
If that demand is granted,
I can introduce you to people who'd want to help with your reforms.
You're just saying that so we'll let you go!
It isn't a lie.
In my briefcase, back at the hotel, I have something I received.
It's in room 301, the hotel across from the ACCA Suitsu Branch.
Our other demand
is to have Suitsu's representative congressman, Beurre, resign.
I guess ACCA's so removed from politics, you don't know why.
When Dōwā granted autonomy
to the districts, the central congressional system was established.
District representatives were to gather as an institution.
The idea was to leverage each district's unique advantages
for developing the nation as a whole.
In the hundred years since, while other districts maintained a balance
with each other and continued to develop,
Suitsu was different.
Thanks to nobles who wished to preserve "tradition and formality."
Then Beurre rose to prominence, promising to change Suitsu's bad habits.
Though a commoner like us,
he obtained a title and even became our representative.
He was our hope.
And yet...
He's never once returned to Suitsu from his congressional seat in Bādon.
"Change Suitsu"?
How would he know how things are, if he never comes back?
In the end, Beurre was only after fame and glory.
It seems like Chief Officer Pastis often comes back here.
He isn't a politician.
He doesn't even consider changing Suitsu.
He merely likes Suitsu as the nation built on tradition and formality.
After all, he's of noble blood.
For now, forget about Pastis.
But Beurre must be brought down!
We need a new district representative!
Hello, Chief Officer Pastis.
Oh...
I didn't know you also frequented this place, Congressman Beurre.
Of course I do.
For anyone with a name worth knowing in Bādon, it's a must.
Have you returned recently to Suitsu?
I just returned from there the other day.
I used my personal jet.
I see.
How was it?
The same... It's a beautiful place!
I couldn't agree more.
Well, I hope to see you soon.
District Chief Lilium...
I didn't know you were in Bādon.
I had business with the central congress.
Then you should have invited your younger brother along.
He wouldn't come to a place like this.
True.
Beurre asked you for a favor, didn't he?
To become a member here?
He did.
A most entertaining man.
He seems quite proud to get a referral from Furawau District's
prestigious Lilium family.
But in Suitsu, he'll be a very different man.
You are a count.
He's a commoner who bought a title to become a baron.
He has never gone back to Suitsu.
I have full access to Transportation Department records.
But he is better off not returning.
If he does, he'll be burned at the stake.
He said he would change the district,
but he only changed himself.
Untie him.
Biscuit!
We're back!
The majority of businessmen in my apartment complex
wish to do business with Suitsu.
There are many who would help Suitsu open its doors.
All are influential men who can fund things being done in the district.
Why would you do things like this?
I get cigarettes as payment...
You mean this?
They found this in your hotel room's doorframe.
Biscuit!
What's wrong?
Sorry, I was looking for someone—
Warbler?
What's going on here?!
He learned our plans, so we had to secure him.
You...
We have an emergency!
ACCA discovered our meeting place in the west sector!
Those who escaped say
it's just a matter of time before the others are found out!
They're taking action tonight!
Crap! No one gave them the go-ahead!
Don't let them enter the district office!
If you encounter resistance, weapon-use is authorized!
What should we do, Biscuit?
We have no choice now!
Yeah! We have to do this!
We have no choice.
We must go, too.
Men, follow in your brothers' footsteps!
This coup d'état in Suitsu District...
It's only one of many which have occurred between the district and commoners.
You're the one telling them about
Congressman Beurre's actions in Bādon, aren't you?
I'm worried about the Inspection Department.
Let's take back roads.
People are coming into the back roads, too.
Please be careful.
Deputy Chief!
Where are you?
Hey, look...
This one's with ACCA.
He's trying to hide among us!
Wha—
We don't have time to bother with ACCA.
Our enemy is the district office!
That's right.
Let's go!
Deputy Chief!
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
Let's wait until things calm down.
Yeah.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
The Inspection Department is fine.
The area is cordoned off, so we can't get back in for a while.
I don't care for now.
You saw how they were doing, right?
Well?
Some got away, but the leaders were all captured.
Biscuit included.
He's with ACCA.
Yes.
Warbler, you'll be charged with being an accomplice.
After being stationed in Suitsu, I've opened my eyes.
In this kingdom, there are shadows I didn't know about.
It's just a fiction that we're at peace.
You often say, "This kingdom is at peace."
During audits, you must have seen how things stood in this district.
What can you call "at peace"?
I never had any chance to see how the district citizens were feeling.
That's right.
ACCA's presence here is different from that in other districts.
The majority stationed at ACCA's Suitsu Branch are commoners,
but the more senior ranks are dominated by lesser noble families.
They do anything
the more powerful noble families in the district office tell them.
In the past, there were other coups.
But word never got out that they even happened.
That's Suitsu District for you.
I met Biscuit and the others here,
and I wanted to help their coup succeed.
They're a ragtag bunch,
but they really love their district.
This is all very unfortunate!
Then, being stationed here
for the long term was working out for you.
I guess I'll be fired.
Will you let me run?
Once I leave this district,
I can never come back.
You made it out!
The other women and children?
They're all okay.
Thank goodness...
Issue a gag rule!
What about the inspector from HQ?
Who could've expected a coup during an audit?
Branch Director, what do you want to do?
Jean Otus...
We don't want to be on his bad side.
Huh?
I'll talk to him.
Call him to my office.
Yes, sir!
I'd prefer to take
this opportunity to talk to you about a different coup d'état.
But I'd like to ask you not to mention what's happened here.
A gag rule, then.
We can't let you leave until you agree.
May I have a smoke?
You bastard!
Go ahead.
I have a condition for my not
mentioning the coup elsewhere.
Let's hear it.
I want you to release everyone arrested
in the coup.
Very well.
We'll look the other way this time.
But the ACCA staff member, their leader,
will be fired.
He is under your purview.
No ACCA staff, ordered to quell the coup,
used weapons against the people.
None of them
could harm their own flesh and blood.
Word of this will not get out.
Meaning this won't be reported to HQ.
You will retain your position.
Next term,
when I'm reassigned, I'm going to leave my post here.
Until this district changes, they will keep rising up.
I wish to see that through.
In my audit,
I must admit you received the lowest marks, unfortunately.
You didn't fulfill your supervisory responsibilities.
During my audit, you disregarded your responsibilities to focus
on events occurring in the district.
You were staring out the window.
Earlier, I said you could be the one to take over my responsibilities,
but back to square one.
After recent events, this assignment has become more difficult than ever.
You'll be staying here.
Warbler, you can stay?
All right!
I'm happy for you, Warbler!
Yeah.
Indeed.
I have also heard reports that Otus received a cigarette in Suitsu.
Wait...
Can we not meet and talk about this?
Overlapping Footprints in the Distance
Good work, Jean...
I know what you did.
Next time on ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department,
Overlapping Footprints in the Distance.