Killed Again, Mr. Detective. Episode 3: Murder at the Crimson Theater

Sakuya stands in a borrowed suit, his father's, before a movie premiere. He fusses, uncertain, a boy playing dress-up in adult clothes. Lilitia, ever watchful, corrects his tie, her touch a moment of unexpected intimacy. The perfume he wears, a gift from Uzura, makes him reek, a comical misstep in an otherwise serious occasion, setting an odd tone for the night ahead.

At the grand Crimson Theater, Sakuya and Lilitia arrive, impressed by the spectacle. He encounters Sozorogi, who offers cryptic warnings about the 'Seven Old Men,' a league of criminals his father once imprisoned. Five have escaped, Sozorogi reveals, hinting at a revenge plot against Tatsuya's family. Sakuya insists his father is alive, his resolve hardening despite the overwhelming odds and the vastness of the threat.

Sakuya spots Toriho Hiichi, the director, before settling into prime seats with Uzura. She teases him, hinting at a hidden 'thorn' beneath her sweet exterior, testing his loyalty. He promises to protect her, a familiar vow that feels too grand for the setting. The screen lights up, beginning the film that will soon become the backdrop for more immediate danger.

The film plays, showcasing Uzura's talent, when suddenly the theater plunges into total darkness, an announcement blaming a power outage. In the confusion, Sakuya is attacked, a cloth pressed to his mouth, injecting him with something. He awakens in a surreal, red-toned dreamscape, where Lilitia informs him he has been 'killed' again, urging him to return to the real world.

Sakuya snaps awake as the lights return, finding Uzura beside him, oblivious to the attack. Lilitia, now in the adjacent seat, confirms the poisoning, pointing to an injection mark on his neck. He realizes his father's suit and the director's perfume, combined with his seat, made him a target by mistake. With the movie nearing its end, he resolves to identify the attacker, who must still be in the theater.

As the audience disperses, Sakuya confronts Natsume, a young man he correctly deduces as his attacker. Natsume, nervous and shaking, denies it at first, but Sakuya's calm explanation of the mistaken identity—the perfume, the suit, the director's seat—breaks him. Natsume confesses he intended to cancel the premiere, revealing a secret love affair with an actress that would be exposed by a scene in the film. Sakuya offers a simple, diplomatic solution, surprising Natsume with its effectiveness.

Leaving the theater, Sakuya buys popcorn, then collides with a striking woman in a black and red dress, spilling her snack. She reacts with intense fury, then scoffs at his empty wallet, paying for both their popcorn with a high-end card. Introducing herself as Shardina Infelicias, her name immediately resonates with Sakuya. He realizes he is sitting with one of the 'Seven Old Men,' an elite criminal from Sozorogi's warning.

Shardina, 'The Celebreity,' confirms her identity, revealing she came specifically to assess Sakuya, to see if his father's son still possessed fire. Her presence radiates immense power, paralyzing him. Sirens wail outside as police, Lilitia, and Sozorogi converge. Shardina, unperturbed, walks out to a waiting limousine, her own staff rolling out a red carpet. She waves to Sakuya, warning him of 'The Empress,' then orders her helicopter to open fire on the police, her escape a spectacular, destructive display.

Sakuya watches Shardina's limousine disappear, stunned by the sheer power and influence of the Seven Old Men. Sozorogi receives an ominous call, confirming the stakes have escalated dramatically. Sakuya looks to the moon, his resolve to uncover his father's truth burning brighter despite the overwhelming odds now stacked against him. Later, in a quiet moment, Lilitia tends to him, a rare soft smile on her face, before reminding him that their work, and the greater mystery, continues.