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

After the chaos at Abashiri prison, Asirpa, Shiraishi and Kiroranke head for Karafuto, unaware that Kiroranke has betrayed them for his own goals. The untamed island of Karafuto is even further north than Hokkaido, and home to both Japanese and Russian settlements. Asirpa is also now the only person who can decipher the map on the tattooed skins. Sugimoto, wounded and captured by the 7th Division after the battle, makes a deal with Tsurumi to go along. The search for the Ainu gold moves to a harsh new environment