Darwin's Bird
What did you think?
Of the British Natural History Museum?
Don't be coy. I'm talking about that "bird".
"Darwin's bird"?
Scholars are such crass people.
The name "Archaeopteryx" is unbecoming.
A precious treasure like that deserves much better.
It's true that birds flying through the sky
are quite beautiful.
Except this bird is one that has remained asleep
within its stone cage for eons, which is why...
...it exudes something more
than just beauty, I agree.
What makes that bird so gorgeous is that it flies
right through the void between genuine and fake.
I'm not sure I follow.
On another note,
you haven't given me your name yet.
My apologies. I am...
Well, you can just call me Mihail for now.
Mihail?
If you'd prefer, I also go by Michele or even Miguel.
I'm guessing Michael would be okay, too?
It was back in 1861,
at a quarry in southern Bavaria...
when that bird first showed itself to man.
However, 2 years prior to that,
a certain scientific theory was published
that would promptly shock the world.
You mean...
Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species".
The very first printing of it was
released in London in 1859.
Soon after, not even a full 2 years later,
a real-life example that substantiated
Darwin's theory of evolution
was excavated from some ancient bedrock.
Almost as if it had been waiting.
You think the timing was too good
to be mere coincidence?
Do you have any interest in
archeology and paleontology?
To a certain extent, I gue-
It seems there have always been too many
"coincidences" in the academic realm.
You mean fakes passed off as coincidence?
When scholars of that time
struggled with concrete proof,
they would push through
with faith instead of evidence.
Proving something that contends with
the infinite nature of time...
is rather difficult given the short length
of the human lifespan.
Many science history institutions
struggle with scandals
regarding hoaxes and forgeries even now.
The discovery of fossils themselves is,
in a way, the result of mere coincidence.
Thus, in order to make them an inevitability,
they merely presented the world with
the conclusion before the evidence.
Just like the skull of the Piltdown Man.
Or even the so-called "Archaeoraptor".
The other primitive bird that was dug up in China?
That reminds me.
Some people have called that one
the "Piltdown Bird".
There is a sedimentary deposit in Germany
known as the Solnhofen Limestone
that dates back to the Jurassic Period.
A large number of the world's most complete fossils
have been unearthed at that location.
From the period of 1860 to 1877,
there were 3 fossils discovered at
the excavation site that included feathers.
In 1860, they found a solitary feather.
Then in 1861, they found the bird
that we are currently discussing,
known as the "London Specimen".
And the last one...
In 1877, an even more complete
bird fossil was unearthed,
which now sits at a museum in Berlin.
The one called the "Berlin Specimen", yes?
The real problem comes after that.
For some reason, from that period onward,
no other fossils that include what can clearly be
identified as a feather have been discovered there.
Although "Darwin's bird" fit within
the process of evolution,
it somehow remains alone even now.
The circumstantial evidence
does make it seem fishy.
But none of that proves for a fact
it wasn't merely coincidence.
Then maybe this will convince you.
The work done to excavate
those three particular specimens
was all done by the exact same crew of people.
Not to mention, forging fossils at the behest of
rich connoisseurs and museums
goes back to the 18th century.
And apparently, a guild of such forgers
had been established within that very region.
This is where we come to one individual
who deserves utmost scrutiny.
Dr. Karl Häberlein.
He was the medical officer in charge of
the aforementioned excavation site.
When treating the crew, he would frequently receive
specimens that they had unearthed in lieu of money.
The collection that he amassed
as a result was most impressive,
but one stood out.
The London Specimen.
The price it was sold at cost more than
two years worth of the British Natural History
Museum's annual purchasing budget.
So, naturally, the museum had no choice
but to pay in installments.
Just hearing that is enough to imagine
exactly what kind of person he was.
Some time later,
the Berlin Specimen was also purchased
for an equally hefty sum of money.
And the individual who sold that one
to a museum was...
Ernst Häberlein.
Karl's son.
Now it's gone from fishy to downright devious.
Hard to believe such a beautiful bird
is so grossly tainted by money.
Yes, it's a tad disheartening. Wouldn't you say?
Seems like the type of story that Frank Wynne
would turn into a bestselling novel
and eventually get the Hollywood treatment.
However, the authenticity of the fossil
is not of any concern.
Even if it turns out to be a complete fake?
There is something uncanny about
the fossil that makes it beautiful.
You've already said as much yourself.
It is a grand delusion given physical form
through craftsmanship and a billion years of time.
The one kept on display is merely a replica.
The real fossil is kept within a storage vault.
Please use your skills to
infiltrate the museum and steal it.
That is what my lord would like you to do.
Huh? What lord?
I am merely here to act as a representative
on behalf of the lord whom I serve.
Okay... but why do they want it?
There is no one on Earth who can
comprehend the will of my lord.
I have heard great things about
the work of you and your colleagues.
It doesn't matter how you do it.
Please consider it.
I would very much encourage you
to take on my lord's request.
This stinks more than a fish market in summer.
I mean, we're talking about a fossil that's been
featured in almost every textbook in the world.
Even if they get it,
they sure as hell can't display it.
Much less try to sell it.
So what's the point of having us
steal something like that?
Well, what's the money like?
This requires breaking into one of the British Empire's
most prestigious museums, after all.
It's gonna be pretty damn tricky.
That better not be in pounds or euros.
Of course not.
What do you want us to do?
I'll make all the arrangements needed to get inside.
So I want you guys...
...to try and uncover the mystery employer. Yeah?
Count me out.
I ain't feeling this one at all.
Jigen?
I don't work for any client who's
too damn anxious to show their face.
It goes against my code.
Which is exactly why we're talking about
doing the legwork to figure out who they are.
We already know they're not in it
for money or honor.
They fed us that crap about "beauty" instead.
That's how I know they're bad news.
Well I dig being motivated by beauty,
if you know what I mean.
You're a hopeless dumbass.
Huh?
Come on, man!
They don't want the replica from the exhibit,
but the real deal that's kept in a storage vault, eh?
Well, Jigen called it quits.
Guess that means we're doing this 50-50.
I thought you were doing it for free
out of your love for gorgeous things.
You gotta remember that I'm a thief.
When I put my ass on the line to do a job,
you better believe it's for something
with more substance than
vague concepts like beauty or passion.
I tried to dig up info on the client by tracing them
through the guy acting as their representative.
But it didn't work because I couldn't find
any details on who exactly that "Mihail" guy is.
Even though we've seen his face?
Fine, but surely the address turned up something.
Yeah, about that mansion they brought you to...
not a single soul has been seen
going in or out of it.
I know there was a driver and a butler,
at the very least.
Well yeah, it obviously wasn't ghosts who were
driving the limousine or serving the tea.
So, I decided to look into the mansion itself,
but according to what's listed on the register...
that place is totally vacant.
Vacant?!
It's a property that went
on the market five years ago.
Nobody's bought it yet.
I checked and the place was filled with years of dust.
Plus, that limousine's license plate
was unregistered.
You sure they didn't spike your drink or something?
Nothing passes my lips when I'm meeting
someone for the first time.
You know that!
Don't get upset.
I just wanted to make sure.
Where did the advance they give us come from?
Through a whole bunch of
dummy bank accounts.
Impossible to trace the source.
There was nothing in the
immigration records, either?
This is just bizarre.
Fujiko.
If you want out, then it's now or never.
Pretty spectacular, huh? Nothing quite like it.
Lupin?!
A literal mountain of treasure
right in front of our eyes.
Wait, how did you even get in here?
Easy-peasy.
I just followed you the whole way.
I know that stalking is generally
considered your forte,
but I'm no slouch either, you know.
That makes sense.
I can't deny you're the greatest there's ever been
at chasing women's asses.
When exactly did you start following me?
I've always been your guardian angel, Fujiko.
Let's get moving.
That little hacking trick you pulled
won't last forever.
It's on the east side.
A swing and a miss.
The vault is on the north side.
Here it is!
That's not it.
He asked you to steal the real deal, remember?
That's not it.
What are you talking about?
If this isn't the original, then what...
That's definitely the original of
the fossil on display.
But it isn't the real one.
Wait a second.
That's...
The astrological symbol for the planet Venus.
The morning star that's seen shining
in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
Venus? The Roman goddess?
The real "Venus" wasn't a goddess of beauty.
"How art thou fallen from Heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning..."
The morning star...
Venus...
What my lord desires is simple.
To recover that which fell from Heaven to Earth
after incurring his indignation.
Lucifer...?!
Have you considered the request?
I'm afraid I have to decline.
For a sacrilegious thief such as myself,
taking on a job from God is too heavy.
I hope you won't take it personally...
Michael.
Did I get the pronunciation right?
Kono kimochi koi desu ka?
Feel so sweet feel so nice tokeru
Tooku kara miteru dake
Kyun to mune ga itai
Suki na type toka aru no?
Kikeru hazu ga nai yada! Torikeshi
Amasugiru milk tea
Hitori mitsume watashi mata tameiki
Kore ga kata omoi ka
Holmes is back and more determined than ever.
Is he gonna crack the mystery of the Raven first?
Or will I beat him to the punch?
Well, the answer should be obvious.
The Truth and The Raven
Next time: "The Truth and The Raven."
Get ready for the big finale.