Episode 21: The Black Rider Assassin
(featuring Shadow assassins Magnum & Winter Wind)
The previous episode's teaser for this
episode referred to the first assassin as "Black Helmet" but in this
episode his name which is not mentioned until the end is given as
"Magnum" after the .44 magnum revolver he used (in violation of Shadow
rules).
A motorcycle cuts a car off. The
motorcycle rider says he is a "courier for Shadow", he pulls out a .44
magnum revolver and shoots the car's driver. He shots off the locks on
a briefcase full of money. He then goes to another man's apartment,
claims he is there to collect the repayment of the money he borrowed
from Shadow. The man hands over the money but the killer puts a
silencer on his revolver (which is impossible as the noise from a
revolver comes from the openings around the cylinder not the barrel
like with a semi automatic pistol) and shoots him anyway. And in the
dumbest scene in the series the force of the bullet knocks him out the
window. Never happen, not even high powered rifle has that much force.
The phone rings at the Kuri Clinic, Kojiro
answers it. A voice demands, "get me Dragon",. incensed by the callers
impoliteness Kojiro gives the caller a lesson in phone manners. The man
says "this is Shadow we do what we want". Dragon comes and talks to the
man, he wants to meet with Dragon to ask him a favor. Dragon wants a
location where the caller won't try to kill him (I don't think such a
place exists), they agree on a place, a Chinese resteraunt. The Shadow
assassin introduces himself as Winter Wind. He wants to call a
temporary truce with Dragon so he can deal with someone who is
interfering in Shadow business and murdering people. Kojiro initially
laughs at the idea. Dragon accepts. Winter Wind leaves as a waitress
brings a lot of food. Kojiro starts to eat but when he looks up dragon
is gone. Dragon attacks Winter Wind, but it was only a test. He tells
him his kick boxing skills are excellent but his enemy has a gun
capable of dropping an elephant (its been done but its not wise to try
hunting elephants with any hand gun the people who have done it as a
publicity stunt had men with rifles backing them up.). Dragon decides
to help Winter Wind not just remain neutral. Kojiro and Rika argue over
whether Dragon has fallen into a Shadow trap when he phones to tell
them he hasn't. Losing a coin toss, Winter Wind has to play the sitting
duck victim while Dragon waits to pounce, When the killer with the gun
enters the room he stares at Winter Wind as if he knew him and that
hesitation allow Dragon to hit him causing him to drop his revolver. He
runs away. Dragon and Winter Wind give chase. Magnum takes a hostage a
young girl pulling a smaller revolver from his boot and pointing the
barrel at her head. Dragon stops but Winter Wind strides forward.
Magnum looks terrified lets the girl go and shots at but does not hit
Winter Wind. He lets him know he has one more shot. Dragon leaping at
him knocking the second gun from his hand and Winter Wind strikes a
killing blow. The young assassin falls to the ground and says with his
dying breath "brother..." Winter Wind explains that Magnum was his
younger brother but he stole Shadow's list and used weapons violating
Shadow's rules so he died at his hands. Dragon asks if they would bury
him. But Winter Wind's icy stare causes Dragon to realize the truce has
ended. Dragon does not want this fight, like Kojiro he was taken in by
Winter Wind's good manners and charm and forgot he was cold blooded
killer, started looking at him as friend. After Winter Wind is dead,
Dragon finds his two-headed coin on the ground and says to the corpse
"Winter Wind, I did not want to fight you."
‹To Be Continued›
