I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction.
It's been a while, Gaston.
How long has it been?
Ten years? Twenty?
It was back when you were still green, at least.
Yeah, right.
It was definitely back before your hands started to shake.
So why'd you call me out here?
I can't imagine you got me here just to reminisce.
Truth be told, I need to hire you.
For a job? You trying to land a big score or something?
Not exactly.
Plus, I'm retired now.
Aw, quit making me so blue, Gaston.
You're the guy everyone in the underworld used to call the "God of Forgery."
I need you to retrieve something for me...
Against the wishes of its owner, naturally.
Easy as pie.
You helped me when I was starting out,
so I'd dive headfirst into any fire or vault you asked me to.
You sure you should be taking this so lightly?
I'm asking you to go up against Mr. B.
Oh, knowing that just makes me more dead set on doing it.
I thought it might.
How much time do you need?
Three days is plenty.
Sounds great.
We'll meet back here at the same time next week.
Aw, come on. You don't trust my estimate?
Of course I trust you.
And to prove it...
An advance payment.
Is this...
Napoleon's Bible.
An item from his traveling library.
A replica?
I felt like stretching the old "art" muscles.
When I pass away, read a prayer from it for me.
His Name is Albert
Slow down a little, Mr. B.
You don't understand.
I've waited so long for this moment...
Then, another few minutes won't kill you.
I'm going to take a shower.
Good grief. Typical horny old man.
The retinal capture looks good.
Fingerprints, too.
Fujiko!
How long are you going to be in that shower?
I can't wait much longer...
Oh...
Someone's a fan of the classics.
Let's go.
Retina and...
...fingerprints.
I had to go through a lot to get these, y'know.
Well, would you look at that?
Check it out. This little stash must be worth billions.
I've seen tidier junkyards, to be honest.
The guy throws cash at every piece he sees just so he can say he owns it.
But once he has it, he loses interest.
So he ends up hoarding all of it in a hole like this.
It could be a masterpiece,
but once it's down here, it never sees the light of day again.
Which is why...
The "b" in Mr. B stands for "black hole," huh?
Got it!
What's that?
A previously unknown Picasso that's never been on public display.
Looks like something a kid doodled to me.
You've got a sharp eye!
You see, Gaston's grandkid drew that.
Then, Gaston forged Picasso's signature on it as a joke...
And everyone thinks it's the real deal, huh?
All kinds of experts examined it, and all of them said it was legit.
Just goes to show how good Gaston is.
I guess when you're a master of your craft,
even a little prank can cause trouble.
That goes for you, too.
We're with the DGSE.
We're joining this investigation.
I see. So the Directorate-General for External Security is involved now...
Director Guillaume probably sent them.
Well, now we know who wanted it.
What should we do, Director?
This case is clearly a police matter.
An intelligence agency getting involved is overstepping their authority.
Let them have their fun.
The more pieces in play, the more exciting it gets.
Talking shop so early in the morning, Albert?
No... Just discussing the game.
There's something weird about this painting.
Weird? How?
It looks way too much like a real Picasso.
The composition makes it look like a piece from his Las Meninas series.
Well, it's a forgery. Isn't it meant to look like a genuine Picasso?
Have you forgotten already?
This painting was done by Gaston's grandkid. He just slapped Picasso's signature on it.
The fact that it looks so much like a real work by Picasso is weird.
Maybe it's just a coincidence.
The smell's a little too strong for that.
Are we talking about the stench of being saddled with a bad luck magnet?
More like the aroma of "a lie that was sold a little too hard."
What are you gonna do?
Hold your nose, pretend everything's hunky-dory, and just hand it over?
Guess I'll start digging...
Hey. How's business?
What do you want, Lupin?
Looking to sell some of your collection? Hard up for cash?
Surely you jest.
I am curious about this piece, though.
You buy stuff that can't be sold legally, after all.
Thought you might know something about it.
It's trash. It doesn't have a shred of artistic value.
The frame's probably worth more.
Even with Picasso's signature on it?
I'm guessing by your reaction that you know what's up.
Fine. Let's talk about this down below.
Wh-Whoa! What is this?!
Degas, Monet, Delacroix...
You've got a collection to rival Mr. B's.
Please don't compare me to that artistically illiterate philistine.
Doesn't stop you selling to him, though, does it?
That's just business.
Incidentally, I was the one who sold this to Mr. B.
You were?
At the request of Gaston.
Say what?
He asked me to sell this painting to Mr. B years ago now.
At first, I thought it was some stupid prank, but I soon realized the reason behind it.
Any piece of art Mr. B buys never sees the light of day again.
That makes his collection the perfect place to hide something.
Understand?
Can't fault the logic...
But what if you need it back?
Mr. B never lets anything escape his grasp once he's got his hands on it, right?
True, except that Gaston has an old acquaintance...
that can even steal things from a black hole.
Isn't that right?
We're being followed.
Yep.
You don't give up easy, do you?
Well, that didn't work!
Guess I'll have to try harder to ditch him...
Hey, up here!
Don't move.
Place the package on the ground by your feet.
Slowly.
Good. Now, put your hands above your—
Sneaking up from behind isn't usually my style.
Good to know I can rely on you, partner!
They're from the DGSE, huh? No wonder they were so persistent.
Hey, Lupin. If these guys were watching Aghion's shop, that means...
They knew where he was getting his paintings.
So they're after this thing, huh?
Seems that way.
What are you doing?
I figured I'd ask a bigwig why they're after me.
What is it?
You're the head of the DGSE, I take it?
Who the hell is this?!
I'm the guy who has that thing you guys are after.
Lupin?!
And to be frank,
I have a hard enough time playing hide-and-seek with Old Man Zenigata.
So how about a trade?
Don't turn around.
This is what you're after, right?
You mentioned a trade.
What do you want? Money?
How about you enlighten me about something first?
Why are you so desperate to get your hands on this thing?
What's the point of asking that?
I'm a curious fella.
Curiosity killed the rat, you know. Or wait, was it the cat?
Maybe it was the dog.
Don't move!
Aw, man.
I didn't realize the DGSE had rented this place out.
I said, don't move!
You're not using whatever you have in your hairpiece!
Wow, you've got me all figured out, haven't you?
Well, at least let me say a prayer before I die.
O Lord! Let there be light!
Don't let him escape! Go!
I don't care if you have to kill him!
So that's what you were after.
Lupin?! How?
I don't mind being relied on,
but sometimes, I think he works me a little too hard.
Let's save the questions for later.
First, hand that to me.
Get a move on.
Whoa, now.
Peeling out isn't gonna throw off my aim, you know...
It'll just spray the roof with your brains.
What's written in there? Places where you can find stashed loot?
Nothing as pleasant as that.
Carnet noir–the black notebook.
This thing holds the details of every misdeed and crime committed...
and covered up by the French police's top brass.
Sounds like a godsend for internal affairs.
If the stuff in here went public, forget the director general of the national police,
even the interior minister would be...
Must be one hell of a ticking time bomb from the perspective of the cops.
Which is probably why their bosses have been trying to keep it firmly in the shadows.
And yet, here it is in your hands.
Yeah...
And why is Gaston mixed up in all this?
I'm a little early for our meeting, but I guess I should go talk to him.
To Gaston, you mean?
I've been getting chased high and low because of this thing!
Time to see what the old coot has to say for himself.
Director, Lupin has left Paris.
Uh, sir...
Don't worry.
He'll come to me in his own time.
Hey, now.
You suddenly going all religious on me? What's up?
I'm wondering why Gaston gave me this thing.
From the look on your face, I'm guessing only God knows.
This place hasn't changed a bit...
...is something I wish I could say.
It's actually pretty run-down now.
Is Gaston's place nearby?
Nah, if he's still in the same place, it's pretty far.
A taxi?
What makes you think they come around here, where there's usually no fares?
Oof...
So much for that. I guess that means we'll be walking.
Where are you headed, mister?
I want to see Gaston.
Not much chance of that, even if you do hike over there.
He's six feet under.
Gaston died. A month ago.
Don't be silly. I saw him just the other day...
"In the world of man, there is only one who is without falsehood...
...and that is the Lord," huh?
So who was the Gaston you met?
A ghost?
When I pass away, read a prayer from it for me.
Albert...
Albert? Someone you know?
The last guy I ever wanted to see again.
Daisuke Jigen here.
This thing's like the Grim Reaper's notebook.
It's been nothing but bad news since we got it.
They're even shooting rockets at us now.
Lupin, you oughta just toss that bad luck magnet.
Why do you care so much?
Who Has the Black Notebook?
Next time: Who Has the Black Notebook?
Lupin, just who is this "Albert" guy?