The Return of the Great Departed Soul

Episode 3: The Return of the Great Departed Soul is the third episode of Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Kakugo.

Crime
The time has come for the London World's fair. German scientist, Benjamin Dobinbough, is there giving a speech about the transportation of the twentieth century and is going to do something spectacular. He says he created an invention that will break down a human being's molecules and reassemble them in a completely different location! Dobinbough's volunteer steps into a large cage underneath the device, his destination will be the Crystal Tower. The excited scientist starts pulling levers causing the invention to spark and sputter smoke. But suddenly the smoke gets really large and grey and the sparks get out of control like the device is going to explode. Was that supposed to happen?

"Another day, another incident"

 * 9:36 AM

Iris Watson asks if Ryūnosuke Naruhodō likes her breakfast and London World's fair in the newspaper. Naruhodō likes the food and would like to go to the fair some day. Sherlock Holmes is also depressed but snaps out of it, he notices his messy hair. This hair topic keeps getting brought up ever since the two met. Holmes says he can't go to the World's fair due to a mystery he apparently has to solve, but he can't talk about. Iris says that's really weird of him since Holmes is usually happy about cases. Naruhodō can't believe it has been six months since he was banned from courtroom due to leaking a government secret. He's been reading the British jurisprudence and records of Holmes' cases ever since. Naruhodō was thinking about to going to Hart Vortex to see he can lift his ban.

Everyone in London is here for the World's fair, there are exhibits from all over the world and hot air balloons. But Iris also mentions an accident during a scientific demonstration yesterday, one involving a big explosion. Holmes shows the two a newspaper containing lots of articles on the fair showing off scientific technology. Holmes says there is a darkness behind the light, Naruhodō realizes meaning the other side of the paper, it shows Barok van Zieks being attacked by a group of thugs! Holmes reveals that the villains of London would do forgery, threats, and bribery to go free. Due to his reputation of being the Death God of the Old Baily, the deceased defendants underlings try to get revenge on him. Van Zieks may have grown to defend himself, but this time the attackers had guns! The articles says the results of the Death Bringer's fate is in tomorrow's paper but Naruhodō doesn't want to wait. Holmes suggests they go see Hart Vortex about it, then he gets dressed and leaves. Iris is in a bear outfit for the World's fair. Naruhodō decides to take her to see Vortex first.

"The ban has been lifted"
In the Chief Justice's office, Iris is on the floor reading a book from the shelf. Hart Vortex arrives and heard about Naruhodō's request. He notes the security protecting the World's fair technology and that the new international forensic science symposium will begin next month. Investigator authorities from lots of different countries, including Japan, will gather in one spot. England is the host country so Vortex was seen preparations. Naruhodō asks for permission to practice law again but also has more to ask. Naruhodō regrets his mistake six months ago but Vortex reminds him he is just a substitute for Kazuma Asōgi who died. He was Naruhodō's best friend and he wants to complete his mission to change the Japanese legal system, but Vortex tells him he knows nothing of his friend's true mission. Since Naruhodō was taken his research seriously, Vortex lifts his ban of practicing!

He mentions a case that just happened, it's the same one Iris mentioned earlier. A German scientist named Benjamin Dobinbough was working on hyper electric instantaneous teleportation technology. An explosion occurred and an investor named Elyder Meningen was killed. Dobinbough was arrested right after the accident and his trial for murder charges is tomorrow. They decide to go to the gaol and meet the defendant later, Vortex says van Zieks has a connection to this case as well. The international forensic science symposium will be the most important international meeting. Among the years crime has increased, so new methods are being developed to fight them, but England is lagging behind other countries. Vortex says a really long speech regarding his view of the law. Then he sees the newspaper Naruhodō has and says Barok van Zieks is fine. A month ago, he prosecuted a leader of a crime syndicate and lost, Vortex believes it's because the jury was bribed. That man was the recently deceased Elyder Meningen! Meningen's investor occupation was just a cover-up to the public, Vortex suggest his death was because of the Reaper. Naruhodō says something doesn't seem right, there's no evidence saying he's a reaper. Vortex allows him to keep prosecuting because he is most outstanding prosecutor in London and he has nothing to do with the Death Bringer's victims, Naruhodō protests that they wouldn't be dying if no one was directly responsible.

Vortex is off to his next meeting which he was really late for. Barok van Zieks is in his office so Naruhodō and Iris decide to go meet him right now.

"Visiting the Death Bringer"
Van Zieks' office is as if someone died in there. There is someone in a cloak sitting near a small desk. Barok van Zieks arrives and demands to know what the two are doing here. Naruhodō thinks the cloaked man is getting punished but van Zieks says he only wishes to sit there, he's his apprentice. Naruhodō recognizes him as the other man in the newspaper article, he has necessary quality. Van Zieks wishes to meet the real Grim Reaper. There is a portrait of a man who looks similar to him, though he says it's not him he doesn't say who he truly is. There is also a model of the World's Fair, van Zieks says it's nothing more than an investigative tool. The cloaked man hasn't moved an inch.

Barok van Zieks confirms that the thugs were indeed from Elyder Meningen's crime syndicate. Through an investigation, they were all rounded up before they could take him out. Meningen's wealth comes from the syndicate's activities making him look like he was one of the most successful investors in London. He uses his money to get his crooks free as well as himself, now he's dead but van Zieks denies having caused it. He's pretty angry and shocked to find out that Naruhodō is going to be the defense. He reveals that Benjamin Dobinbough was his classmate at London university, he's English but immigrated to Germany after graduation to pursue his research. He was studying science while van Zieks was studying law, they got along well but haven't seen each other since graduation. Naruhodō is very shocked to find out he's the prosecutor. In light of the Death Bringer curse, it means his old friend is doomed no matter how the trial goes. But can Zieks says he is merely a human prosecutor, not a death god. Besides, before Naruhodō came along all of his defendants were bad people, he didn't care that they died. He says someone else is responsible for these mysterious deaths, ever since he was called the Grim Reaper the crime rate in London has dropped.

A hidden reporter caught the incident with the thugs. Van Zieks's "disciple" is studying to become a prosecutor, he currently writing about that attack. He was ordered to wear a mask by Lord Vortex, no one is to see his face and they don't know his origins either. Van Zieks doesn't know why he'd order something like that. Naruhodō thinks to himself that while this is his first time meeting this Masked Disciple, he gets this feeling they've met before. He was standing casually showing no weak points, Vortex also ordered him not to speak to outsiders, but Naruhodō has an idea of who he might be. Van Zieks asks about Sōseki Natsume, Naruhodō mentions the letter he received. Naruhodō considers asking Dobinbough about his relationship with van Zieks.

"Interviewing the Scientist"
In holding cell 11 of the Gaol, Benjamin Dobinbough wonders if Naruhodō's defense attorney profession means he's going to defend his theories. He says the experiment was a success but none of the other defense attorneys would believe him nor defend him. Dobinbough admits that the explosion that killed Elyder Meningen wasn't according to plan, but he actually made it to the Crystal Tower. He says the death was an accident, not murder. Iris explains that Holmes said whether it was an accident or murder changes the situation entirely. If it was an accident, the teleportation device is protected by the Special Provision for the Protection of Science and Technology, England's new system. But if it was murder, then the device can be investigated to see if it was a murder weapon and Dobinbough's theory would be lost.

According to hyper electric instantaneous teleportation technology, a human is composed of molecules electrically linked. So it should've been possible to break them down and transmit it somewhere else if one had enough electrical power, that's Dobinbough's theory. It could really help people to travel to places, but Iris says that would make the world feel small. Dobinbough needs a lot of money to actually make an invention, that's when he met Meningen.

Regarding Barok van Zieks, Dobinbough says he was a quiet and good-natured chap when they went to university. Naruhodō is surprised considering the bully he's like today. He was the younger son of the illustrious and aristocratic van Zieks family. Dobinbough was surprised that people are calling him the Grim Reaper. He also heard about a huge case that changed van Zieks life after he graduated, but Dobinbough doesn't know about it due to being in Germany. Naruhodō thinks he shouldn't tell him that van Zieks is the prosecutor.

Elyder Meningen visited Dobinbough in his German lab last year wanting to investigate his theory. He seemed like a wonderful man, he had a teleportation device built for him entered in the World's fair, he also got the British government to financially support his research. He prepared a large amount of money and an outstanding engineer who built the device based on Dobinbough's plans. Dobinbough owes Meningen so much, he can't possibly be his killer.

Dobinbough once again confirms the explosion was an accident, and he didn't kill Meningen on purpose. He says science is about the pursuit of truth, Naruhodō believes him and will prove his innocence. Dobinbough realized one more thing after graduation, if a person does work and fights with all his strength for something then their origins and nationality don't matter. Iris says it's finally time to go to the World's fair, that's where the crime happened.

"Pickpocket turned Detective"
The two were walking around a large crowd for two hours. They here arguing under the public stage. It's Tobias Gregson and Gina Lestrade, Gregson threatens to arrest Lestrade but he's got no proof. Iris calls for Gregson who calms down in front of the girl who includes him in her stories. He will make your she'll get a hot air balloon ride. Gregson took a leave of absence due to helping the culprit who stole that government secret six months ago, but now he's back on the job. Lestrade was the defendant of that case, she just pickpocketed five shillings from Naruhodō. She is now a Scotland yard detective-in-training! Gregson headed upstairs and tells Lestrade to keep watch down here. While she was still in prison, she was thinking that she couldn't go on as a pickpocket. So she went to Holmes who told Gregson to take her under her wing as a detective-in-training, "Inspector" Lestrade has a nice ring to it. She will also use her position to search the world for Iris' father, but she couldn't read the entrance exam. Naruhodō begins to wonder why the Death Bringer curse isn't affecting her, Lestrade tells him not to worry.

Now regarding the current situation, the accident was intense. First smoke, then the explosion, she saw it from a hot air balloon because Gregson was in charge of the World's fair security. Lestrade admits that the experiment was technically a success, the victim was actually discovered at the Crystal Tower! It's right nearby, the large crack is where the cage victim was in plunged down into. Lestrade gives the two a diagram made by the police. No one is allowed to investigate the device due to the Special Provision for the Protection of Science and Technology. They find weird device near a tree and a burned scrap of canvas cloth, Naruhodō makes notes of them, there are ashes on the ground. The Crystal Tower is Suishoutou in Japanese, this tall, completely glass architecture is a symbol of the London World's Fair. Inside, there are observation platforms, an art museum, a botanical garden, and other museums. The to just get into the door is three hours long. Now people are just looking at the closed crime scene from the hot air balloons. The hole where Meningen's cage fell is being investigated, they had to get the body down. They decide to check the device.

"Gregson on Stage"
On the stage, the machine looks totally blown apart. Iris says Holmes does this all the time. She would love to go to Japan one day and is sad that ninja nor feudal lords no longer exist. Anyway, it's weird that Elyder Meningen was transported and not blown up. Iris attempted to pull a lever but Tobias Gregson intervenes. She gives him tea and he tells them the provision is preventing the lawyers from investigating. But Gregson really doesn't see any problem with them looking. Naruhodō wonders how Dr. Dobinbough wasn't hurt, Gregson doesn't want then to touch it. Naruhodō notices that part of the machine is made of wood and Iris finds a tool in the wire mash. It's a screwdriver with an A-shaped handle. Gregson will examine it for them and confiscates it.

Naruhodō and Iris check out the weird device from the tree, it's a crossbow. Naruhodō used to always put two arrows during archery and they snap, but he thinks this could actually beat Kazuma Asōgi with this. Gregson says people are promoting new scientific inventions, that why they allowed Dobinbough to test his invention at the World's Fair. Police are forbidden to mess with the inventions to protect science and technology, only the new division can examine them. The Special Provision for the Protection of Science and Technology guarantees the rights to protect the secrets of scientists, Gregson still has to be present when they examine them, the government also makes support funds for theorial research. Dobinbough came back to England for the World's Fair and funding, Gregson is very surprised that he went to university with Barok van Zieks. He heard about the thugs attacking him and is relieved that he is fine. Gregson heard the juries were bribed and evidence was forged, that's why the Death Bringer came into existence. At first Scotland Yard was suspecting van Zieks taking justice in his own hands, but after investigation they found out that he had nothing to do with it, yet they don't how the deaths happened. Naruhodō mentions the incident after van Zieks' graduation but Gregson doesn't know anything about it.

After Gregson leaves, Iris asks Naruhodō if Holmes knows something about van Zieks. But he's in the middle of investigating something so she gives Naruhodō a ticket. It's for Madam Rozaic's wax museum near Baker Street that's gotten popular in London. It's where Holmes is but Iris was told not to tell Naruhodō. He wonders what Holmes is up to despite not seeing any connection.

"A Visit to the Wax Museum"
Holmes found out that Madame Rozaic has two thousand pounds in her purse. When questioning the purpose of the money, Rozaic seems to be looking at a plaque to the left. She must have sold the wax figure for that money. Holmes also claims the "old man" there fainted from shock from seeing the two thousand pounds in Rozaic's purse.

Aftermath
Van Zieks decided that the time has come to reveal the Professor's face. He reveals that he borrowed the key to the mask from Connette Rozaic, he unlocks it and Naruhodō and Susato are surprised to find out that the man responsible for the worst incident in British history was Japanese. What's more, Susato says the man's face looks familiar. Suddenly, the Masked Disciple screams clutching his head. He removes his cloak, calls the man his father, and removes his mask revealing himself to be Kazuma Asōgi! Naruhodō knew his best friend was alive and Susato cries tears of joy. Asōgi thanks them for guiding him and Naruhodō gives him his "Karuma" sword which he received after his friend's "death". But Naruhodō can't believe that the Professor was actually Asōgi's father, Asōgi takes "Karuma" and slices the wax sculpture. Then he says he has a lot to tell Naruhodō but he will do so another time.

References to other cases

 * Ryūnosuke Naruhodō says playing that telegram to the court was a fatal mistake for him. This is similar to his descendant who unknowingly presented forged evidence.
 * On the newspaper in the beginning of the episode there is an ad for the Altamont gas company.
 * Naruhodō mentions how he was stuffed in a closet on his journey from Japan.
 * When examining the building seen from the stage, Taketsuchi Auchi is mentioned having a similar hair style as a feudal lord. Naruhodō wonders if it grew back since he last saw him.
 * Juror No. 1 from The Adventure of the Runaway Room can be seen as a wax sculpture.

References to popular culture

 * The Great Exhibition was an actual event that happened in Hyde Park, London. It was the very first World's fair, except the Crystal Tower was a palace.
 * When examining Barok van Zieks desk, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō mentions Tsumeshogi, the Japanese version of Chess.