In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!

The coded tattooed skins have at last led everyone to the old fortress of Goryokaku, on the outskirts of Hakodate. Sugimoto's and Hijikata's groups have gotten there first, and are racing against time to find the hidden treasure before Lieutenant Tsurumi arrives with his forces. But is the gold really there? Did Wilk and his Ainu conspirators conceal something even more valuable all those years ago? What is the true legacy that Wilk left to Asirpa? The only answer that is certain is that the Battle of Hakodate is about to be fought once again!