Steel Ball Run - Chapter 45
Summary
A flashback explains the Zeppeli's occupations. Beyond their work as executioners, which is known only to the parents and the eldest son, the Zeppelis work as doctors and surgeon. One time Gyro was almost surprised by his father sleeping with a patient, but managed to get away. Looking at her finger, he sees the trace of an alliance.
Gyro then wakes up in the snow as Johnny hunts a rabbit. They discuss various things, notably that herbs accelerate Johnny's nails regrowth, and Hot Pants, who left Johnny a vertebrae, is looking for the Corpse Parts too for the Vatican. Gyro then detects eleven synchronized horses with his new Steel Ball, and the duo decides to look for the Corpse Parts anyway. Gyro then lets the ball fall into a pond but cannot find it anymore. However he sees a girl not far away from them who has it in her hand. The girl flees, prompting the duo to chase her up to a giant tree. They confront her inside of the tree, and the girl named Sugar Mountain begins to ask them which of various objects they have made fall into the ponds nearby or other various equivalent but considerably more precious items, are theirs. They answer honestly, and Sugar Mountain gives them both sets. Suddenly Gyro gets an idea and puts rabbit ears into a pond, and Sugar Mountain then shows them the Ears, the duo subsequently acquiring them. Sugar Mountain congratulates them, saying that vines would have torn out their tongues if they were dishonest, but as they depart she also warns them of another condition. Showing them various people fused into the tree, Sugar Mountain tells Johnny that they will have to use up every item by sunset or be absorbed into the tree. Meanwhile the Eleven Men approach.
