EPISODE CONTEXT

Coming off 'Leave the Revenge to Lupin,' which put a personal spotlight on Jigen's past, this episode pivots outward to institutional corruption, introducing ICPO Bureau Chief Jasmine as a fresh and formidable adversary within a familiar organization. It marks a tonal reset—less personal, more strategic—landing at episode 85 of 155, well into the series' long middle stretch where the show explores new threat archetypes while keeping the core crew dynamic intact. The conflicts and deceptive frameworks introduced here carry forward into 'The Mysterious Nocturnal Mask,' seeding threads of internal ICPO tension for the episodes ahead.