Tesshu Yamaoka and Kyunosuke Masumitsu, messengers sent to deliver a secret letter to form an alliance with the emperor, are halted by Sotetsu Ibaragi on their way to Sunpu Castle. A sudden earthquake caused this letter to be undelivered, thus a stalemate to an era. The Yokohama Foreign Merchant Area opened up to the world in a time of economic expansion in 1853, in which the Japanese lived in the west and the foreigners lived in the east. Yojiro Akizuki breaks up a fight between pairs of gunmen and swordsmen in the streets. He is introduced to the Yuyama Troupe, an adventuring kabuki group, who show appreciation for him rescuing Benimaru and Kobako, the children of the troupe. However, Yojiro leaves them in disinterest. After the Yuyama Troupe advertise their next performance, Jubei Nakaiya assigns Hario Genba as the bodyguard of Tsuginosuke Kawai upon his arrival. After recognizing Hario, Ebisu no Zukin reports to the troupe that Kawai will be at the Shanghai Club. At an underground auction, a bid for two Gatling guns is sold to Kawai. When Jubei tries to sell the Head of the Conqueror, Yojiro cuts it in half, consequently setting the building in flames.