Even though they are forced to work in the national limelight, Morimoto and Suzuki calmly rely on their unparalleled skills of deductive reasoning as they sort through the clues. Mr. Bando, one of Okayama's most prominent lawyers, has an extraordinary tale to tell them, and the cherry blossoms around the temples provide spectacular viewing when they visit Kyoto. As they grapple with the intriguing puzzles that they uncover, Morimoto and Suzuki realize that the essence of the case is the interaction between trust and mistrust, and one man's dream for the future of Bizen pottery.