Italy
So, this is the village...
...mentioned in the blackmail message.
There is absolutely no one here.
All the villagers have been evacuated by the Italian government.
I see. The ship anchored off the coast is the public patrol ship.
But is an earthquake really coming?
Well, we'll find out soon enough.
We should take refuge in the shelter vehicle soon.
Yeah.
"Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa Be Standing?" (Shaky Pisa)
I see. So, this is the leaning tower of Pisa. Is it?
Hey, don't play a cheap trick!
Wow! It's so high up.
Galileo is said to have tested the law of gravity here.
Which is heavier, 1 kg of cotton or 1 kg wad of bills?
- Just kidding. - Wad of bills, of course.
What?
- Wad of bills! - Correct. Wad of bills!
Aye-yi-yi...
Any new information on the "Earthquake" group?
Neither their identity nor their location has been revealed.
The only thing we know is that the incredible weapon to...
...create earthquakes anywhere epicentres exist...
...is in their possession.
So, the leaning tower of Pisa has become the target of their threat.
They will make the tower fall unless they get a godly amount of money.
Is the government ready to pay up?
They have no choice after seeing the result of that experiment.
Hmmm? The countermeasure meeting is about to begin.
National Security Center Crisis Task Force
- I can't hear anything. - That's weird. I set a wire tap.
This is Lupan's doing!
Oh, no! That's Zenigata's voice!
There is no villain but Lupan who would think of as a...
...stupid, no, outrageous plan as to extort money from a government...
...using an earthquake as a threat.
Do you have any evidence?
Well... no.
But I received a tip saying Lupan and his gang have entered Italy.
As soon as I received the tip, this happened. So, I'm positive...
...Lupan and his gang planned this!
I admire your enthusiasm to pursue the internationally-wanted Lupan.
However, this is not the simple problem of a single villain.
A sovereign nation being held for ransom is a very serious matter!
I'm telling you that Lupan is...
There is no evidence that Lupan is behind this!
We've been requested by ICPO to cooperate with you in arresting Lupan.
However, this is not the Headquarters for Lupan Countermeasures.
This is the Earthquake Countermeasures Headquarters. So, please leave the room.
I'm positive Lupan is involved!
Take him out of here!
Well... uh... um...
It's definitely Lupan! It's definitely Lupan's doing!
Pops finally got thrown out.
This is no time to be laughing.
If you don't do anything, they might really start suspecting you.
That's true. We're just trying to snatch away the money...
...the government is giving to the blackmailing group.
They weren't bluffing, saying they could cause earthquakes at will.
Chief! The video tape from the blackmailers is ready.
All right. Play it right away.
He... He is...
How do you like the power of the device I invented to cause earthquakes?
Dr. Paolo! A former professor at the National Earthquake Institute.
What? Who's Dr. Paolo?
I've got his file right here. He was kicked out of the Institute...
...for unauthorized research.
What else?
You labelled my study unorthodox and threw me out of the Science Academy.
Are you regretting your decision by now?
With this device, I can cause earthquakes anywhere in Italy or...
...anywhere in the world, as long as there are epicenters.
In other words, the fate of this world is in my hands.
But, how do you cause earthquakes?
As you may know, there are several theories about the cause...
...such as the elastic-rebound hypothesis, volcanic earthquake theory and...
...mantle convection theory. But whatever the cause is...
...the mechanism is simple. It is caused by the movement...
...of the tectonic plates in the crust.
If I use this device I have developed...
...I can send special electromagnetic waves to the spot where...
...the energy of the earth is gathered...
...and cause an artificial distortion underground.
Right now the device is targeted at Pisa.
What in the world...
If you want to protect the leaning tower of Pisa, the world famous...
...historical monument, deliver the demanded one billion lira.
It will be a justified compensation for my study.
The exchange is to take place at noon noon the day after tomorrow...
...100 kilometers off shore, south of Elba Island.
Put the money in a trunk and drop it from a helicopter.
Just remember that the police won't be welcomed.
Give me a map.
Here.
Here it is. It's right here.
This is where the money will be dropped.
Right. No mistake about it.
There is absolutely nothing around here. Where are they gonna show up from?
Probably from the sky.
They have just loaded it.
Ten-four!
Hey, Lupan. The treasure is finally coming!
What is that?
Maybe it indicates the drop site.
- There! - Here it comes!
We'll graciously take it.
All right. Here we go! Ready...?
Lupan!
Whoa! Zenigata! Pops!
Lupan!
What a bummer! A troublemaker showed up!
What shall we do, Lupan?
No need to ask. We'll take what we want and take off.
Here we go!
I won't let you take this, Lupan!
Damn! You mean old man!
- Oh, man! - Darn!
Aye-yi-yi! What's going on?
Lupan, what was that?
I don't know. Anyway, let's get going.
Wait, Lupan!
Lupan!
Therefore, it's clear now that Lupan is involved in this case.
So, it should be our top priority to arrest Lupan.
Mr. Zenigata! You don't seem to understand what you have done!
Huh?
Because you disturbed us yesterday, they gave us a new demand today!
What are you saying?
Gentlemen, you had some nerve to deceive me.
You broke our agreement that the police would not interfere.
What is this? You thought you could fool me?
You thought wrong!
As a punishment for breaking the agreement, I demand an additional...
...one billion lira, the total of two billion lira!
Prepare the money before the end of the day...
...and drop it at the spot I tell you to.
Otherwise, I'll destroy the tower as well as all of Italy.
Now do you understand? This is what you caused!
Yes, sir, I understand.
What?
It means I have one more chance. I'll catch Lupan this time!
Mr. Zenigata! You are...
Huh?
If you interfere this time, I will have you deported!
Leave it to me! I won't let him go this time!
Throw him out!
Ah! Pops is in good spirits.
We have no good plan either. How can you eat like that?
The game has just begun.
What do you mean?
I attached a transmitter on that trunk.
If we follow the signal, we'll reach the enemy's base.
Way to go, Lupan!
Have you fallen in love with me once again, Fujiko sweetheart?
Did I ask for too much?
Rome
Naples
Oh, we're almost there.
It says Marine Science Laboratory.
- Hmm. Smells fishy. - Yeah. It reeks!
Shall we go in?
No. We can't be too cautious. Let's wait till it's dark.
We'll pose as the shadow of the moon in Naples.
Pops is probably still making little progress over there.
Deportation is a small price to pay to arrest Lupan!
There they come!
This time, I'll never let go of this, no matter what!
What? A shark?
Let's go!
- What's this place? - A pool?
Damn it! The secret passage was closed!
It looks like we've already been discovered!
Peculiar guests are entering through a peculiar passage.
Damn! Where is he?
Ahhh! What is this? What is this? I can't... I can't... Whoa!
I wonder if Lupan is all right.
What?
Huh? What the heck...?
Are you awake now, Lupan?
I guess we are in captivity.
Look.
We must have wandered into a pool for dolphins.
I see.
Now the mystery of the trunk disappearing in the sea is solved.
It's kind of too late.
Gentlemen.
How are you all feeling?
So, you're the producer of the earthquakes?
I feel all refreshed after that body wash in the whirlpool.
Great! Then, just relax and watch the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall.
The government ignored my warning.
They sent strange spies like you instead of money!
Spies? That's not true. We're plain ol' thieves.
Shut up!
I want no excuses. If that's the way you're going to be...
...as I promised, I will destroy the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Ah! He pushed it for real.
The Leaning Tower will fall and so will all of Italy.
Then Europe and the entire world will be turned into ruins like Pompeii!
Then, where are you going to live?
Ahhh! What the hell... It's straight now.
What?
My dolphins came back!
Along with Pops!
What's up with this?
You thought prematurely that the government broke its promise.
Who are you all, then?
I haven't told you my name yet.
I'm Lupan The 3RD, a simple thief.
Lupan The 3RD? You're wanted internationally and still at large.
That's right! That's why I can do this easily.
That was close.
Hey, Pops, are you all right?
Oh, Lupan! You were worried about me?
Sure.
Really?
Uh... of course, you're important. But THIS is even more important!
- Lupan! You bastard! - Bye for now!
Pops! Take care!
Wait! Lupan!
My device! My device!
Everyone! Perish!
Everything, turn into mud! Cursed earth, shake with anger!
- Lupan! An earthquake! - The island is sinking!
Damn it!
Wait! Lupan!
Lupan!
Pops! Get out! You'll sink with the island!
What? Wow! Ahhh!
Hah! Pops, keep up your hard work!
Oh, no! The money! The money! The money!
Lupan! What is this?
Stop it! I can't play with you right now!
Now, it's time for us to get going, too.
Where is my dear Fujiko?
Over there.
Let's see... Here we go!
Ah! I got some! I got some!
There! Some more!
Oh no! This would make me fall out of a 100-year love affair!
"Letter of Appreciation. You have saved the Leaning Tower"...
..."of Pisa, our national building, from the earthquake blackmail terrorist!"
"As a representative of the citizens and the government"...
..."of Pisa, I express our gratitude".
Pops seems totally nervous. It's not like him. He's so stiff!
We should be the ones receiving the letter of appreciation.
Such a letter isn't worth a penny.
- Shall we, Lupan? - Bye, Pops!
Why don't you fix the Tower for the sake of international goodwill?
I stole Tutankhamen's Golden Mask with the ever-lasting sparkles.
Then, I witnessed the ancient Egyptian World of 3,000 years ago.
I wonder what happened to me.
Next Episode. "Tutankhamen's 3,000 Year-Old Curse" (Cursed Case Scenario) See ya!
(Cursed Case Scenario)