The Hornets’ Possible Operation

Clues on the train and at Morioka suggest a coordinated attempt by the Hornets to kill both Minegishi and his son, though the full operation remains uncertain.

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The Old Underworld Precedent

The Old Underworld Precedent A killing that became legend The Hornet gained notoriety for assassinating Terahara with poison. Rumors describe a method involving needles and suggest that more than one person may have participated. Years later, the story remains active in the underworld’s imagination. Nanao and others use the reputation to interpret unexplained deaths, although rumor is not proof.

A Needle on the Train

A Needle on the Train A plausible method Little Minegishi dies without visible wounds, and Nanao identifies the snack trolley attendant as a possible poisoner after a separate passenger’s photograph links to a revenge mission. The woman attacks Nanao with needles, strengthening his suspicion that she belongs to the same underworld tradition. He survives by turning her weapon against her, but cannot establish the full plan.

A Second Suspected Strike

A Second Suspected Strike A theory at the station Minegishi collapses after a needle is found in his back. Nanao and Maria consider whether the train conductor might be the second member of a two-person team. The possible connection between the deaths of father and son reframes the journey as a diversion or coordinated assassination. No definitive proof is supplied, leaving the Hornets’ broader purpose unresolved.

Six years before the train journey

Before the train reaches Sendai

After the train arrives at Morioka