In a darkened dungeon, Azura keeps Noir chained up.

Azura: I really didn't want to do this, but as you insist on being so stubborn, I'm afraid I must... Rei. Or should I say, Masked Noir.

Noir: ------I was an idiot for believing in you. I'll never cooperate with you again...! You can solve the mystery of the code by yourself! !

{sound f/x jara: jingling of chains}

Azura: And so, why did you think that I called you all the way from Paris?

Noir: ----- You were always a special person to me. I thought that we were tied by bonds closer than brothers... I was poor... Everything was against me as a child------ And so if it was for you, I'd do... anything. That's... what I thought. With our little gang, we lived together and looked after ourselves. The only time I let my guard down------ It was--- just... you. Azura... But you betrayed me. And to top it all of, Florian...! If... anything... happens to him---- I won't just forget it...!

Azura: ---- He's very important to you. You're very close to your little toy. Perhaps I should have mixed some for you as well?

{sound f/x gacha: clattering of chains}

Noir: Azura!

Azura: You don't know about that path, do you. However, you are too late. About this time, one of my assassins should have turned him into a cold corpse. Even if he were to survive, he would be a victim of opium poisoning. ---- It's quite surprising for you to be so concerned about someone else, Rei.

{sound f/x gui: Azura's whip moving Noir's chin}

Azura: Perhaps that's always why I wanted to take him from you...

Noir: I'll kill you someday, you bastard... Azura. I SWEAR IT!

{sound f/x pishi: whip}

Noir: GUWA~

Azura: Lovely eyes, Rei. You understand.

{sound f/x bashi: whip}

{sound f/x bishi: whip}

Azura: It's not enough to take your friendship and confidence----- You're caught up in these things, and that's why you go through this! People who want to use someone simply make them submit! This is what I will teach you. Even if it's the last thing you learn!

{sound f/x bishi}

{sound f/x gichi: creaking chains}

Azura: Masked Noir. The elusive great thief causing such a commotion on the darkened streets of Paris. You've grown up. ---Even greater than myself. But here you are, reduced to an awkward figure in my presence.

Noir: Ku...

Azura: Because this is reality. You will cooperate with me--- if you don't... terrible things will happen to your other friends, too.

Noir: Wh...at did you say!? Bastard, you planned this from the beginning......! What do you plan to do to them!

Azura: That's the way things are, Rei. Say that you'll be mine. Your power is necessary to me. If you do that, I will deliver them home to Paris.

Noir: ------ Azura...!

Azura: I don't want pointless deaths... But I am not one accustomed to waiting...

In another prison, Noir's men wait for rescue.

Man: He-y, let us out---~~

Man: A-ah, I'm so hungry.

Man: ---dammit, what the hell's going on?

Laila: ------Noir...

{sound f/x katsun: dropping pebble}

Noel: Laila.

Laila: Noel!

Man: It's Noel!

Man: You weren't caught!

Laila: Are Noir and Florian with you!?

Noel: Uh-uh. They aren't anywhere. I looked all over for them...

Man: Damn, one little munchkin can't do anything by himself. What're we gonna do?

{sound f/x mu: Noel's anger}

Noel: Don't be stupid! I'm one of Noir's gang, too, y'know!

Laila: Noel!?

Noel: Wait here! Even though I'm little, I'll find a way to do something!

{sound f/x da: Noel dashing off}

Laila: Noel! Don't be reckless! Until Noir comes back, you just hide! Noel!

Man: ---- I wonder if he's really coming back for us?

Laila: What do you mean by that!?

Man: If the Boss was safe, then we wouldn't be staying here forever... I mean, maybe he's already------

{sound f/x bashi: punch}

Laila: Don't say such awful things! The anxiety... is unbearable. Noir. Right now... where are you...!? Where---- in the world----

Railway station in Fez

{sound f/x shuu: steam from the train}

{sound f/x ka: click of footstep}

Local Man: Sir, I'll take your bag to the cart.

Solomon Sugar steps out of the train.

Solomon: Ahh, thank you...... and That's your own cart!?

{sound f/x gara: cart quickly speeding away}

Solomon: WAIT, ROBBER

Later on, Solomon storms off, the dazed robber lying on the road.

Solomon: (Can't let your guard down for even a second.) The Black Hand boss, Louise Mastroianni. According to some leading information, after breaking out of the Paris jail with the help of a friend---- she ran here and the information trail stops---- The ancient capital of Morocco----Fez------ It's always---- one more step and I'll be at a dead end. But this time------ is different......

Voice: Niisama. Niisama. [A polite form of address for an older brother.]

Solomon: I have a hunch that I'm getting to the heart of things-------

Nearby, a brother and sister pair walk along, smiling.

Brother: (C'mon, c'mon, watch where you're going.)

Solomon: Julia... How many years has it been since you died. But... very soon now---- Very soon, I'll expose the whole organization that killed you------ Your brother----promises to take revenge for you.

On the streets and alleys of Fez

Solomon: White skinned women would stand out around here------ If she came this far, it should be easy to pick up her trail------

{sound f/x ka: click of shoes against stone}

Solomon: [whistling] It's an Arabian Night's palace! Amazing... this estate...

Noel: --Mr. Detective? Aren't you the detective man?

Solomon: You---!? Noel...? Hey hey, what're you doing here!? Weren't you staying at Rei's place? [GASP] That damned corrupt loan shark, he sold Noel---~ (The bastard~)

Noel: [holding Solomon back] No, no that's not it!

Later, Solomon and Noel sneak around Azura's estate.

{sound f/x kyoro: looking all around}

Solomon: ---in other words, in this estate, Rei and Florian have gone missing, and Laila and the rest are caught up in an underground prison----!? That's---- who in the world is this Azura guy? And then, why did news of Louise stop here, too----

Noel: ---- I don't know. No...(awawa) Rei said it was his old best friend...

Solomon: ---- Best friend...huh. There's... something fishy going on------

{sound f/x da: running footsteps}

Noel: There's a door at the bottom of the stairs.

{sound f/x gasha: large clatter}

Laila et al: [gasp]

{sound f/x ki: door squeaking}

Solomon: One of a detective's seven secret tools: a wire~! (TA-DA~)

Noel: (Isn't that a burglar?)

Solomon: Huh?

Laila: SOLOMON SUGAR!? What in the world are you doing here!?

Solomon: Thank the munchkin. I'll explain later. We have to hurry or they'll catch you again.

Later, everyone sneaks around Azura's estate.

Solomon: It's okay. It doesn't look like there're any guards. We'll leave here one by one. Okay, now it's Laila and the munchkin, you're last. Hurry up!

Laila: ------ I can't! Leave me behind! Re...Rei, I know that he's somewhere here in this estate! I can't just run away and leave him here! Because I'm... one of his followers......!

Solomon: Laila...!

Noel: Laila, um you see, I just remembered... He could be there... maybe. Inside of the estate, inside of a forest of trees, there's just one, with the run-down roof that looks like a summer house. The trees are in the way, so I couldn't find my way inside. I---- didn't check there, so that's... the only place it could be...

Laila: Could you show me the way? Noel.

Noel: Ye... yeah!

Solomon: H...hey. (----hold on now)

{sound f/x da: running off}

Solomon: ---- Can't do anything about those guys...

{sound f/x zawa: crowd noise}

Man: W...we're coming, too...

Solomon: Be quiet. Do you want to get stuck in prison again? You fellows hide yourselves somewhere and wait for us. I'll go with them.

Man: But...!

Solomon: It's my dear little black cat. I don't intend to hand him over to some guy I don't know. I'm sure that I'll have to research a little about this Azura fellow------

{sound f/x jara: jingling of chains}

Down in the dungeon, Noir sits alone.

Noir: That was a pretty showy display there... Owowow... Dammit~ (I want a cigar---) If I had to pick, I'd say that I like doing it to others better. So... will you... sell your soul... ------ What're you going to do, Noir... ----hmph. Ha-ha-ha... There's nothing to think about. I decided to protect those beautiful amethysts----

{sound f/x kii: door creaking}

{sound f/x ka: footstep}

Noir: I couldn't protect even one person---- Yo, Azura. Are you there? Right now, I haven't got pride or anything left------ I got it. You win. Do what you want. I'm yours. And so------ don't lay a hand on them...! Not at all!

{sound f/x da: dashing forward}

Noir: U...WA ----What...'re you... Owowow, and so don't attack me all of a sudden~~

Voice: Noir!

Noir: Azu... !? (Chest?) La... Laila!? That shadow right now, that was you...?

(Embarassed.)

Noir: (Ha-ha...)

Laila: [wiping a tear] I knew it, you're the best boss, ever. The only one worthy of risking my life! I'm so glad you're okay~~~~~

Noir: (I said, "Ouch.") I'm not really that okay...

Solomon: That was a pretty touching speech there, little black cat. [grinning] This is a moving reunion, but perhaps we should hurry?

Noir: (Geh~) SOLOMON!? You chased after me all the way to Morocco--- don't tell me that's what's going on?

Solomon: (Hold on, turn your head.) Do you want to say that?

Noir: ---No...

{sound f/x gacha: clattering of Noir's collar}

Solomon: I'm sorry to say this time, it was something different. Still, you've been worked over pretty good--- Can you walk?

Noir: Yeah... somehow...

Solomon: By the way, where's Florian? I thought for sure he would be with you.

Noir: ------ He's...

Voice: Oh my, now where would you all be going at this time of night?

Azura appears in the woods, brandishing a gun.

Noir: Azura...!

Solomon: ----This man is Azura...!?

Azura: I suppose it can't be helped if you dislike following me this much. I'll send you to the same place as your precious amethyst.

{sound f/x pan: gunshot}

Solomon: Pale blue eyes that seem to suck you in, silver hair... This guy's...!

Noir: !

Laila: Noo~

Noir: Don't come closer, Laila---- Solomon, hold her back. He's only aiming at me!

Azura: I won't miss next time. I'll aim straight for your head.

{sound f/x jaki: cocking of gun}

Noir: ------ku.

Azura: Too bad, Rei.

{sound f/x do: explosion}

Azura: What!?

Solomon: [deep breath]

{sound f/x bashi: whipping kick}

Azura: Gua~

{sound f/x kara: gun spinning across floor}

Noir: (Ow)

Solomon: Now's the time, hurry!

{sound f/x do}

{sound f/x bara: falling rubble}

Azura: ! What is this!?

{sound f/x go: ominous flames}

On the street, the people of Fez watch the burning estate.

Person: What's that, what's that!? Sounded like a huge explosion!

Person: That estate's burning...! H...how horrible, Azura's mansion is like a sea of flames!

Person: Ha~ It's cause he's just doing a bunch of nasty stuff. Gets what he deserves, the upstart!

Person: Burn, burn!

Solomon: Is this your doing, Noir?

Noir: I didn't do it. When did I have time to!?

Noel: So it was just an accident! We're so lucky!

Noir: Somebody started that explosion... with gunpowder... ----It's... not an accident...

{sound f/x gura: Noir collapsing}

Solomon: Hey, hold on, Rei.

Laila: ! He's burning up...

Solomon: He fainted... It's better this way----- Laila, Noel. Help me get him on my back.

Laila: Solomon...!

Solomon: The ship's set sail. They aren't gonna leave us alone now.

{sound f/x pachi: crackling fire}

Guard: Azura-sama. Hurry, we must escape. It is already collapsing.

{sound f/x pasa: parchment crumbling to ash}

{sound f/x kata: clattering noise}

Guard: Someone's there~!

A man with a curved sword crouches above Azura and his men.

Man: DISASTER UPON THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE TREASURE!

{sound f/x dosu: thudding of knife}

Man: Waah~

{sound f/x cha: cocking of gun}

Azura: The one who set fire to ths estate---- it was you.

Guard: This man------ He's with the men who are after you, Azura-sama!

Man: Hu...hu-hu-hu. It is prohibited for anyone other than our own kin to lay a hand on that ancient text. To seek the treasure written there is to commit an immoral crime against God. If that is do, we would rather it be burnt to ash------

Azura: A descendent of the Knights of Templar.

Man: That's right. Our duty is to protect God's treasure from mortal beings like you bastards...

{sound f/x don: gunshot}

{sound f/x don}

{sound f/x don}

{sound f/x zo: the guards' shock}

Azura: Amen. (Ku-ku-ku-ku)

Voice: Blue---- Devil------

Azura: Thanks to you, it had become increasingly important to get Rei.

Elsewhere in Fez...

{sound f/x ji: kids staring}

Old Man: Hey, don't be peeping into people's houses, you little brats!

Kid: Senile old man~!

Kid: Wa---~ Old man Isaac is mad now--~!

Isaac: Really, and that's why I said no. Now this place is the butt of curiosity!

Girl: But, no one's seen a person as pretty as this! He looks like he just came from a European painting, like an angel~!

Isaac: Hmph. You think that there're really angels?

{sound f/x piku: twitching movement}

Isaac: He's a westerner. They're just like white ants nesting in this land.

Girl: Ah.

Florian: ------ Mm...

Girl: Ojiichan, it looks like he's waking up!

Florian: ------! ---Ah...

{sound f/x zuki: Florian in pain}

Isaac: Ahh, you shouldn't be trying to get up so soon. The stab wound isn't all that deep, but your whole body looks pretty beat up----

Florian: Ah...~

Isaac: How in the world did a white man like you end up like this? Huh----?

{sound f/x gata: clatter of the chair shifting}

Florian: Why...did, what---how... Ah...

Isaac: !? What is it?

Florian: Uh... ...ah...?

Isaac & Girl: !?

Florian: I...am, wh...at? ...wh...o? I don't know... I...don't remember... any...thing...

Part 3d | Part 3e | Part 3f