In the Peony Room of the Arima Grand View Hotel, Superintendent Otani is guest of honor at the festive banquet to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his appointment to command the Hyogo police force. But even this civilized and uninhibitedly boozy occasion is interrupted by the call of duty. Two members of Otani's team have been accidental witnesses to a hit and run death, and Otani is forced to breach the conventions and retire early from his own party.