Spice and Wolf 04

Spice and Wolf Episode 04: Wolf and Helpless Partner
GET MORE SCREENCAPS FROM "Spice and Wolf" EPISODE 04 HERE.

Lawrence and Holo meet up with Zeelen again, but this time they have asked someone from Milone Company to listen in to their conversation. Earlier, Lawrence had gone to Milone Company to ask for their help concerning Zeelen's scheme.

According to the representative from Milone, Zeelen and his cronies are scamming people into buying and hoarding the weakening currencies by spreading lies that the value would increase. It turns out, however, that the value is decreasing. Once the merchants find out about this, they will try to get rid of the coins as quickly as possible. That is when the scammers would come in and buy back the coins. The merchants will keep it a secret in order to protect their honor.

But then, the representative also adds that there can by tremendous profit involved in buying weakening currencies. But the scheme involves a very high risk.

Later, Holo, a bit tipsy again, expresses some concern about the outcome of Lawrence's deal with Milone Company. According to her, if Milone Company does not act quickly, they would not be able to find out who are the mastermind behind the scheme. Lawrence is optimistic that it would turn out fine.

While saying this, he's balancing on the backlegs of his chair, prompting Holo to burst out laughing as she is reminded of another young man who did the same and fell back. She adds that the young man was from Pasroe Village and that he was the only person in her life who ever treated her as a friend. When Lawrence asks her, she says that he is the same young man to whom she made the promise about the wheat fields.

Lawrence comforts a distraught Holo

After saying this, Holo falls into a drunken stupor. Lawrence studies her for a moment when Holo again sits up, saying that she had something important to say but forgot what it was. Lawrence tells her that she'll remember it soon. Taking him for his word, Holo promptly falls back to sleep, not noticing when Lawrence tucks her in.

The next morning, Lawrence and Holo go to meet Marle Height, the branch manager of Milone Company. Marle Height tells them that they have accepted the deal. After investigation, they find out that Zeelen is being backed by Medioh Company, which deals in farming goods with Pattsio and Zuiche and in transportation ships. Moreover, according to Marle Height, there might also be a group of nobles involved.

After successful negotiations for his share in the deal with Marle Height, Lawrence is quite happy. He plans on using the money for opening a shop. But Holo seem less than pleased about it. She still has a hangover from last night. Lawrence offers her his arm as they walk together back to the inn.

That evening, Lawrence works on his plan for his shop. He tells Holo when she wakes up that it is every peddler's dream to own a shop. He is no exception. But Holo says that if Lawrence becomes a shopowner, then she would have to continue on her travels by herself. She adds that she is tired of being alone.

Realizing Holo's fear, Lawrence assures her that he would accompany her until she could return to her home. He says that it's not like he could open his shop right away, so until then he would be her companion.

Still, Holo does not look too cheerful, and finally, Lawrence comes over to where she is sitting to embrace her. While crying, Holo relates to him a dream she's always had: about waking up to find no one there, not her friends, Yueh, Intii, Poro and Mayori. She says that she does not want to be alone.

Lawrence and Holo decide to split up to confuse their pursuers

After a moment, Lawrence crumbles the piece of paper on which he drew his plan for a shop and hands it to Holo so she can wipe her tears with it. He tells her that he intended to throw away the sketch and that there is no guaranty that the deal would work.

Later, as Lawrence puts out the candle and prepares to sleep, he discovers that Holo has crawled into his bed. Lawrence tries to kiss her but Holo is paying attention to something else. She has finally remembered what she wanted to tell Lawrence: that there are three people outside the door.

The two of them escape through the window with their pursuers not far behind. Surmising that they are from Medioh Company, Lawrence decides to run for the Milone Company building. As a precaution, Holo gives Lawrence some wheat grains. Before they reach Milone Company, however, they decide to split up, with Holo acting as decoy while Lawrence runs for help.

When Lawrence arrives at Milone Company, Marle Height tells him that Holo has been captured, but he wants to know why Medioh Company would want her. If their objective were to prevent Lawrence from going on with the deal, then they would be successful but only in that aspect, since Milone Company would still continue hoarding Thoreni silver coins, as Holo's capture would not hinder them in any way.

But Marle Height adds that there must be another reason why Medioh Company would want Holo as hostage. As if on cue, a letter arrives, containing some hair that seemed to belong to Holo and a warning that the wolf would be brought to the church. Lawrence, thus, is left with no choice but to reveal Holo's true identity as the wolf-deity of harvest.

Meanwhile, Holo is detained somewhere in a dark place with a group of men threatening her. However, at that moment, someone familiar arrives.

COMMENTS:

At last, progress in Lawrence and Holo's relationship. Although it seemed a bit strange to see Holo acting so out of character. I wonder if she's sincere or just trying to manipulate Lawrence. Hmm, she probably meant at least half of it, while the rest was just something to keep Lawrence around her little finger.

I still don't know what in heck Lawrence and the Milone Company are planning. How can anyone possibly profit from buying weakening currencies? Unless they are looking at a long-term investment, there is no way anyone could make a quick buck out of it. At least, I can't think of any.

It's interesting that when Lawrence mentioned about finding a wife, his next thought was Chloe. That was either an allusion to the fact that Lawrence must have at least entertained the idea or a foreshadow to give a clue to the identity of the person who appears at the end of the episode.

Speaking of foreshadows, if the person really is Chloe, then that part in Episode 01 where Chloe received a visit at the barn by some concerned-looking individuals makes some sense. Maybe they found out as early as that, that Holo has left the village. Maybe they might have even known that it was Lawrence who took Holo and may have been following their trail all this time. They would need Chloe's help since being a friend of Lawrence, she would know about his trade routes.

Oh, and so far, this is the only episode where we don't see Holo naked. Heh. The irony is that, this is also the only episode so far where Lawrence makes a pass at her. Like, this guy is dysfunctional.

And finally, is it just me? Or are names of the side characters in this show ridiculous? Just what kind of a name is Marle Height exactly? LOL