Robert Figg, the 'English Killer', is a sailor, trader and also feared bare-knuckle boxer, stationed upon the English trading-post known as 'Leaving Island', off the coast of southern Japan. When the English Killer is found brutally murdered, the opponent he beat just the previous day readily admits to having killed him - and also provides a definite motive for the crime. But is the young English sailor named James Plummer the real murderer? Ennin - who also had cause to recently fight the English Killer - has his doubts...