Black Lizard

Renowned detective Kogoro Akechi relentlessly pursues the truth, parsing clues and disguises with calm authority. He deduces that Junichi Amamiya is under Black Lizard's coercion and orchestrates a pursuit to expose the mastermind. He confronts the villain and coordinates the unmasking, embodying cool logic under pressure.

A calculating mastermind who hides in plain sight, adopting multiple identities to manipulate her victims. She flaunts power by turning people into unwilling living 'dolls' and by demanding the Star of Egypt as ransom. Her reign ends when Akechi unmasks her and she faces the consequences of her cruelty.

Sanae is the daughter of Shobei Iwase, a young woman drawn into a web of abduction and manipulation. She serves as the focal point of the caper while a separate persona, Yoko Sakurayama, is used as her double, blurring lines between victim and instrument. Her resilience under pressure anchors the emotional core of the story.

A depressed man manipulated by Black Lizard into participating in the kidnapping. He develops genuine feelings for Yoko, choosing to be part of the master plot to stay close to her, even at the cost of his own humanity. His arc explores manipulation, vulnerability, and the consequences of coercion.

A jeweler and Sanae’s father, protective and financially powerful. He seeks to shield his daughter, but his wealth also makes him a target in Black Lizard's scheme. The plot’s tension escalates as his household becomes a battlefield.

Iwase’s housekeeper who participates in the kidnapping plan, illustrating how loyalty and ambition can entangle ordinary workers in a crime’s machinery. Her actions escalate the danger around Sanae.

An alias used by Akechi when he poses as an old sailor to observe the scheme. The ruse reveals the detective's willingness to go undercover to uncover the truth, though it also places him in danger. The real Matsukichi’s fate underscores the peril of deception.

A police figure allied with the investigation, assisting Akechi in pursuing the truth. His role helps move the case toward a public resolution and exposes the mastermind’s plot.