Contributor(s): Author: Satoru Noda A tale of high adventure and survival In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure Asirpa and Sugimoto are faced with a shocking truth--Noppera-bo, the criminal mastermind behind the stolen gold hoard...is Asirpa's fatherTo confirm this they decide to go to the impregnable Abashiri prison to attempt to meet him. Along the way they find more clues to the location of the gold, and make a stop in a hellish hotel. Meanwhile, Toshizo Hijikata lays down his own brand of justice in a lawless town...