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

While Sugimoto races north by dogsled, Asirpa crosses the border with Kiroranke into Russian territory. Kiroranke--who was once involved in the assassination of the Russian Czar Alexander II--and the Russians, tipped off by Tsurumi that Kiroranke was heading into their territory on Karafuto, have set an ambush at the border. The dark pasts of Asirpa's traveling companions are now coming to light, along with the secrets of her own father...