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

With Asirpa unaware that Sugimoto is still alive, she heads farther north into Karafuto with Kiroranke, Ogata and Shiraishi. Back in Hokkaido, Hijikata follows up on information he discovered inside Abashiri prison, leading him to a former assassin. Meanwhile, Sugimoto and his party, desperate to find Asirpa, come upon a traveling circus whose ringmaster might be able to help. But to secure his aid will Sugimoto have to kill himself?