The exciting conclusion to the Arc of Truth storyline picks up right from the V4 cliffhanger. The book opens with Fei Long’s men torturing Asami’s spy, Yé, and then it flashes back to when he met Fei Long in prison. Is he truly working against Fei Long? Meanwhile, Fei Long and Asami play a deadly game trying to one up each other, and the Russian Mafia has taken Akihito prisoner. They want the casino deed as well. The Mafia’s leader, Mikhail, is a new character who will return in future volumes. One who has a fascination for Fei Long, and whose true intentions are unclear. Akihito manages to flee his captors, and is finally reunited with Asami, but Fei Long is right behind him. He pleads with Asami to walk away from their feud: can they maintain a truce long enough to overcome the Russians?

This book is action-packed with violence, intrigue, and sexual tension in spades! The characters have come to a new level; they are all three-dimensional and very real. Akihito, the usually bubble and cheerful photographer, is traumatized by what happened. Asami has to find a way to help him, and it finally moves their relationship from Yakuza boss and plaything to something more. I could not put this book down! Again, this SAuBlime volume benefited from a fantastic and much improved translation. Since this story was so heavy and completely wrapped up, the deluxe edition bonus is not a Finder interlude, but an extended interview with the Mangaka. ( )