The SDF was dispatched to the Special Region.
Zolzal uses the unexpected fall of the Emperor to seize control,
and begins to oppress those who seek peace with Japan.
After one of his assassins is sent after Lelei,
Itami's party in Rondel decides to head elsewhere.
What are you doing, Itami?
I'm deciding where we go next.
This way today, then.
I can't imagine we'll find any resources like this.
The resources are secondary.
Our first priority is to escape the assassins.
If we do this, no one will be able to guess where we're going, right?
Not even us.
That's what's great about it.
Okay!
Off we go!
Ministry of Defense
What's this?
Episode 20 Lover
Ever since Zolzal put his Special Oprichnina into effect,
his opposition in the capital has been severely suppressed.
So he's running his own little Reign of Terror.
What's this "Oprichnina" word mean, though?
In their language, it's an abbreviation of
"Committee to Protect and Restore the Primacy and Authority of the Emperor."
So it's a law that lets them cook up a reason to arrest whoever they want?
That's right.
Pro-peace senators and nobles are being arrested one after another.
Some of them are coming to us for help—
No. Don't let them take refuge with us.
If we side with the doves, that'll only encourage the bastards.
But—
The time to act will come.
Tell the people in the Special Region to lay low until then.
General, you're just going to abandon our allies?
Give Combat Group 1 the order to rescue them.
We'll rescue them all from the capital!
No, it should be Combat Group 4.
We can get them out of there by helicopter immediately.
Calm down!
You know the higher-ups will never approve of that plan.
But...
Nobody's telling us to abandon them.
I want you to be ready to sortie at any time. Make all necessary preparations within 24 hours.
Roger!
I see.
So Marquess Casel has gone to the Tyueri family.
He's safe for now,
but who knows how long he can stay hidden?
There's nothing I can do right now.
Your Highness...
I had no idea I was so powerless.
Would you like some more, Casel-sama?
No, I'm fine.
My lord! Trouble!
The Oprichnina...
The Cleaners are here!
Sherry, take care of the marquess.
What about you, Father?
Don't worry.
Mother and I will be right behind you.
All right.
This way, Casel-sama.
As long as she's alive, the Tyueri family will survive.
Yes.
I am Gimlet of the Oprichnina.
You're both under arrest on suspicion of treason.
Don't cause any trouble.
No trouble, huh?
What do we do?
Why not give them something to drink?
That's true.
It would shame the Tyueri family for generations
if we failed to provide refreshments.
What are you doing?
This won't buy you any time—
No...
How awful.
You mustn't go back!
Let me go!
I need to go get my father!
Let me go!
Father! Mother!
You must not let their sacrifice be in vain.
This connects to the sewers.
Most likely, Casel and the Tyueri girl ran from here.
So you let the pro-peace faction's leader escape?
I didn't think they'd burn down their mansion.
Dereliction of duty...
Or maybe you talk a good game,
but secretly you oppose Prince Zolzal?
That's not true.
Then you'll prove it,
before I tell His Highness about your failure.
This is where the sewer exit is.
Seal all roads within a two-league radius of this area
and search every building.
But we don't have the manpower to search an area that size.
I believe you'll only need to search the first few houses.
What do you mean?
Just raise a ruckus in town.
Casel will act.
So we'll smoke out the rat.
And then if we put a gap in the cordon...
He'll go through it.
Splendid.
Execute that plan immediately.
Yes, sir. But...
The Jade Palace is also within a two-league radius.
If he seeks aid from Princess Pina's knights there,
it could be a problem.
No need to worry.
Even the Third Princess will be considered a rebel if she disobeys the Oprichnina.
Go without fear.
Sir!
Bouro...
What is it?
Make this more interesting.
Understood.
I should've done as you said and eaten.
That's right.
I'm hungry, too.
I don't have a choice.
I'll go get some food.
What is it?
Can I have some food?
How much you paying?
How about this?
Not enough.
Then how about four of them?
Give me everything you've got and I'll consider it.
I don't mind,
but that will cause strife in your house.
What?
These are sized for a child,
so you'll need ten more pearls to put around your wife's neck.
Then I'll use two of them for earrings and sell the rest.
But a woman's greed is a terrifying thing.
She'll want them around her neck, so she'll want ten more!
Just imagine who would end up getting forced to get them for her.
So just take five.
How old are you, miss?
I just turned twelve.
You'll be terrifying when you're grown up.
Okay, here you go.
This is Japanese...
Yeah, that's right.
I'm a footman at the Jade Palace.
They give us food.
Are the diplomats safe?
Yup.
Princess Pina's knights are protecting them.
They'll be safe as long as they're inside.
I see.
The Jade Palace guard changes twice, in the morning and evening.
When they do, even I can tell how lax the guards get.
Bye.
Thank you.
You gave me these pearls, Sugawara-sama...
But this is what I need to do to see you again.
Please understand,
And so, the Self Defense Force fought
Sugawara-sama.
Marquess...
What is it, Sherry?
Let's seek asylum.
What are you saying?
We're surrounded.
It won't be easy even to leave the capital.
There's no need.
There's a foreign country here in the capital.
The Jade Palace?
Yes.
It's protected by treaty, and is essentially foreign territory.
No one from the Empire can interfere.
But will the Japanese diplomats take us in?
For now, we'll just have to cling to Sugawara-sama's mercy.
It'll be trouble for him. No, for many others, too.
Marquess, I want to avenge my mother and father.
I need great power to do that.
Sherry...
Do you know what you're about to do?
Yes, of course.
Maybe they should've arrested you first.
Very well.
I'll bear that cross together with you.
It's begun.
If we stay here, we'll cause trouble for the residents.
Let's go.
Idiots.
Who would give you a room out of the kindness of their heart?
And if you hadn't tried to sell them out to the Cleaners, you would've lived longer.
Now, dance for Tyuule-sama.
It seems something's going on in town.
We've already sent scouts.
They'll return soon.
Reporting!
We've confirmed it's the Cleaners behind the chaos in the capital.
They seem to be chasing fugitives.
The Jade Palace is supposedly included in the search area.
So that's it?
Send an emergency summons to the Yellow Roses.
Tell them to strengthen the guard and be ready for battle.
Yes, ma'am!
It's going to be a long night.
So we need to wait for the changing of the guard to get in?
There's no time.
We'll go in from the front.
I am Senator Casel.
I've come here to discuss an important matter with the Japanese diplomats.
The marquess?
At this hour?
It's an emergency. I'd like to see them immediately.
See? Told you it would work.
Your courage amazes me.
Please wait here.
Miss, you can't go any further without permission.
Why?
That lawn marks the area of the Jade Palace as defined by treaty.
In other words, past that...
...is Japan.
I'm glad you're safe.
I made it somehow.
But the rest of the family...
I know how you must feel.
Now, about that meeting with Japan...
They've refused, saying they have no reason to meet.
Nothing to even discuss, huh?
Um... can we at least meet with Sugawara-sama?
Sherry-sama, you mustn't ask for the impossible.
He's going to be my husband!
If he knows I'm here,
I'm sure he'll take us in.
You're very confident.
Knight Captain Beefeater, will you go?
Sure, got it.
We just refused not a moment ago.
I'm aware.
Marquess Casel is an important member of the pro-peace faction.
We'd like to help him.
But the orders from home haven't changed.
If we take in one, we'll have to take in two.
If we take in two, we have to take in four.
And there'll be no end to it.
And the Crown Prince and his men won't take that lying down.
It'll just make things worse.
I'm aware of the situation.
But the person with him begged me.
The person with him?
Sugawara-sama!
Sugawara-sama! It's Sherry!
Sherry... Sherry is here!
Sherry-san!
I see.
So she was telling the truth, I guess.
What did she say?
The same thing girls her age always say.
Show them the smallest kindness,
and they get all kinds of crazy ideas.
Did she tell you I was her future husband?
Yup.
You haven't laid a finger on her, right?
But that just makes it worse.
It makes her think you really care about her.
Sugawara-sama, at least...
At least let me hear your voice!
She's made it this far by clinging to your kindness.
She's literally risking her life.
You're sure, Sugawara-kun?
I'm a diplomat.
I can't let my personal feelings interfere with our national interests.
That's the perfect answer for a diplomat.
But only for a diplomat...
So they won't take us in after all?
I'm sorry we can't help.
No, you're simply doing your job.
There's no need to worry about it.
The Cleaners are here?
It's time, then.
See them in.
Hello, my dear marquess.
So here you are.
Your flattery won't fool me.
Well done, Bozes.
I'm sure Princess Pina will be happy.
The Princess?
Why?
She's in a very delicate position right now.
Depending on how she treats the marquess,
she could be put in danger.
And I feel sorry for the poor girl.
I'm sure she wants no sympathy from the men who killed her parents.
We lost many of our men, too.
Well, this is it.
Sugawara-sama!
Just let me have a look!
Just a look at your face!
Sugawara-sama!
Enough!
What are you doing to that child?
If you oppose us, you'll be considered traitors.
Come along!
No! No!
Save me, Sugawara-sama!
Sugawara-sama!
Come with me!
Sugawara-sama!
Get your filthy hands off her!
Sugawara-sama!
Hello, Ambassador.
What do you want?
You're going to let that girl go.
Oh? She is an imperial citizen.
Why does a Japanese bureaucrat want her release?
Because she is to marry me once she turns sixteen!
Sugawara-sama!
You really think that's going to work?
What?
Go, miss.
The ambassador's given his approval.
Go to Japan!
Sugawara-sama!
Sherry...
I'm sorry, Sugawara-sama.
I had to sell all the pearls on that necklace you gave me.
It's all right.
I'll buy you another with my money, not the taxpayers'.
Okay!
Trouble, Vice Minister.
Sugawara went off and—
I'm aware.
Contact Minister Kanou as soon as possible.
How dare you!
Form rank!
It is our mission to defend the Jade Palace.
None shall be allowed to pass without the ambassador's approval.
We will defend it with our lives!
Yes!
You can't do this!
The treaty is irrelevant when we're here to catch a criminal.
Get ready!
Draw swords!
Go!
Episode 21 Deadline
Next time on Gate: "Deadline."