Edaurent

Edaurent is the slash ship between Makoto Edamura and Laurent Thierry from the Great Pretender fandom.

Canon
Laurent and Makoto are close business partners who are mostly in disagreement when it comes to plans, especially on Edamura's side, although they can get along well sometimes, with Edamura slowly accepting being Laurent's teammate and accomplice. For Laurent, Edamura's name is difficult for him to pronounce, since his French accent makes it difficult to pronounce Japanese names. He uses to call him "Edamame" instead of Edamura, as well as "soybean" and "cute" (eng dub/sub respectively), due to it being a playword as Edamura's nickname given by Laurent means "inmature green soybeans", to which the reason of being called soybean too. On the other hand, likewise the Team Confidence, Makoto calls Laurent "blonde bastard", due to him coming off as very silly most of the time as well his flirtatious nature, with also being a reputed playboy. There are several times in which they're involved in sexual tensions (unintentionally on Edamura's side), Laurent being the main cause of these moments, being pretty much aware of it.

Case 1.1
Makoto was in his normal journal for deceiving people alongside with his partner, then he found Laurent drinking in a stall and began his plan to deceive him; pretending that Laurent's wallet had fell from his pocket, which this one had a lot of money. Then it looked like Laurent already knew Makoto's plan, and once Makoto gave him "Laurent's" wallet, the blonde man "hugged" Makoto in signal of a "thank you" from his part. Makoto thought that his plan worked, but once he looked the wallet throughtly later, he noticed that Laurent had fooled him, giving him a wallet that had newspaper instead of money. Makoto was shocked at this, but then the police arrived to his basement, he didn't know how they did found out the place, so he left it and got inside a taxi for escaping, without noticing that the guy he deceived before was there. As they were traveling, Makoto noticed that Laurent was a swindler too, and asked him where he was heading, Laurent told him that he was going to Haneda's airport for heading to Los Angeles. Makoto then decided to come alongside with him since it was a good idea skipping a town, because they were following him.

After arriving, Laurent was going to plan going on alone, but Edamura decided on going with him, since he was the man who he deceived and got deceived by him, and he wasn't going to wait until he gave him back the money he "robbed" from him. While that, Laurent points out that Makoto's accent wasn't "really japanese", and that it was a mix of dialects, so he asks him where did he learned to talk like that. Edamura got offended at the comment and he attacks Laurent by grabbing him by the shirt's neck, while Laurent says that his action was "cute", while laughing as he's violently shaked by Edamura. After hearing news about Cassano, a film producer, Makoto asks him about his next deceivement, Laurent tells him that he was going to look for an "acquaintance" that would watch for a haul he got from Japan earlier, Makoto then proposes on working with him by selling the haul at a high price in exchange if Laurent becomes his henchman, Laurent conditions him that if he won instead, Edamura would be his assistant, Makoto agrees with the deal, but then Laurent told him that he would have to get suited first before coming with the plan. At first Makoto complains about Thierry having a different suit from his, but Laurent compliments him instead saying he looked pretty good too. After getting dressed, Laurent adds a tie pin inside Makoto's suit pocket, as he remarks that it looks smarter than a pocket square as he grabs Edamura's shoulders from behind, making him fluster. They officially introduce each other, however Laurent doesn't know how to spell Edamura's name, instead repeating it as "Edamame", to which Makoto tries to correct him, getting a comment from Laurent saying that japanese names were difficult.

As they head to the place (which was a mansion), Laurent introduces Makoto to the "guard" that actually was a gang member, saying that he was a friend from Japan and he liked to play with a "big guy" like the guard. They got in successfully, and they were straight to the plan; selling japanese merchandise to Cassano by a high price saying that it was a "synthetic drug", that was magic, called "Sakura Trick", which would fool him and Laurent would get money in the deceivement, but for this, he had to use Edamura for the plan, with introducing him as a young expert of the Chemical Research Institute of Japan, and making him to escape the place. The plan had succeded very well, but Makoto was the one of suffering consequences, since he attacked Laurent but failed at the attempt and he was the one who got hurt by Abby, who joined them, with a kick which threw him to the floor, ultimately falling unconscious. The case ends with Edamura being roped up from the legs at a great height from the floor, asking about [Laurent and Abbie]'s indentities, to which Laurent responds by announcing themselves as confidence artists.

Case 1.2
With Edamura hanged upside down, Laurent proposes him that he would free him if he just don't run away, calling him by his wrong name "Edamame", in response, Edamura corrects him as he promises not running away, for then getting freed but fell down after that. They then head to a place for eating, and Makoto hits a glass with vine on to a man and he apologizes for this, it's seen Laurent smiling at the action. As they were eating, Edamura implies that he never wanted to touch drugs again and he blamed Laurent for that, and before he could say anything more, Laurent throws him a Sakura Trick candy to his mouth explaining that everything was just an act; the rumors of Sakura Trick, Abbie's act, etc. He then gets hungry and gets some food for eating, while Abbie explains that she thought that Makoto was acting too, and then Laurent points Makoto as "a cute swandler". Edamura asks him why did he use him, Laurent explains that Cassano insisted on getting the fabricant of the drug but he couldn't find a good swindler in Japan and that he was the best swindler the Laurent's scout found. Thierry explains throughtly about what Makoto experienced before; the police (who actually were detectives) were working with Laurent, alongside with Edamura's partnet, and the person that he fooled firstly. Makoto was a bit confused on why didn't he asked him for his help, which Laurent says that it was easier dragging him than doing that, since it was hard to resist training an innocent boy who pretends being a bad one like Makoto, and adds that he knows everything about Makoto and the reason why did he became a swindler. When the Mafia found them, Edamura was the one who payed the account of the food while he whispered to Laurent's ear that he wouldn't owe him any favors, Laurent smiles at the comment.

Laurent tells everything about Cassano, and once he finished, Makoto couldn't believe that only for some ordinary candy like the Sakura Trick, Cassano could be cheated like that, since he was an adult. Laurent explains that sometimes humans can't believe the truth in front of them, and that they only believe about something convenient for them. Then he says that he already sold the candy for the agreed high price and that he won, so Makoto was now his henchman. Before Makoto could leave the place of where he was staying with Abbie and Laurent, he got attacked from behind by Abbie, and once he could get rid of her, Abbie couldn't know how did Laurent pick him for his assistant, Makoto was going to finish talking, but Abbie points that his ideas and his lower body control Laurent's actions, and after that Makoto left the place.

Next day, Abbie tells Laurent about what happened last night with Makoto, and then points out that he was a virgin too, to which Laurent was a bit surprised, but he says that he expects that Edamura would get back at noon. Minutes past noon, Makoto wasn't back, so Laurent decides on trying again by going to Cassano's place. Cassano says that doctor Edamura was playing with girls at the pool, which this surprises Laurent while Cassano explains that Makoto wanted to double the price of the drug by 10 million. Laurent heads on where Makoto was relaxing, while Laurent praises him by saying that he was a bit mature, then Makoto throws at him a Toyotomi Hideyoshi's statue saying that he was a man that went from being a farmer to a king, which this made Laurent smile. The case ends with Makoto saying that he won the bet and asked Laurent for massaging his feet.

Case 1.3
The next case starts with Makoto telling how he managed to convinced Cassano on doubling the price of Sakura Trick to Laurent, saying that he spend all the night on making a believable recipe of the drug for then selling it for 10 million yet. After telling it the story, Laurent tells Abbie that he was just as how he thought before, by complimenting a movie (Razzie Series) that Cassano did which Makoto liked, Edamura didn't like the comment about that and he tells Laurent on how cool the Razzie Series was. After Cassano recognized Makoto as a worker for the Chemical Research Institute of Japan, they invited him along with Laurent and Abbie to an elegant dinner with them, Laurent whispers Makoto that he will consider the bet a draw. Cassano told them that they would do the payment on another place, since the Detective Anderson from the LAPD was chasing him for a long time with a surveillance camera. For getting rid of Anderson, Salazar (the guard) had to mislead them while he was driving, and after doing that, they finally made crash Anderson's car with a poster. After getting rid from him successfully, Makoto said that Anderson's crash was pretty impressive, and Laurent compares it with one scene of Razzie Series and Makoto says that it wasn't what he meant. Makoto then finds out that Anderson was part of the plan for helping by getting them to a safe place without Anderson's team noticing.

After getting to a safe place for hiding, Cassano asked Makoto for doing the drug in front of them, and Makoto said that he couldn't do it because the place wasn't hygienic like his "lab", as he was trying to persuade them, Laurent helped him by backing him and adding more credible false information, and managed to convice Cassano and decided to renew the place to an exact replica of his "laboratory". What they didn't know was that the FBI was behind them working on a plan for catching Cassano and Laurent.

Case 1.4
While doing factory renovations to replicate Makoto's lab, Makoto asked Laurent about his new plan, Laurent asked him in response if he could cook well while he blinked his eye to him, Makoto looked at him with a disgusted-like face. At night, Abbie showed Makoto a live-stream video with Laurent and someone else that was an expert with drugs, the video was for teaching Makoto the instructions of the Sakura Trick so he could do something similar for fooling Cassano. Next day, the FBI caught Makoto and interrogated them, saying that he would be a spy for catching both Laurent and Cassano, and they already knew about Makoto working for them for making drugs and adding that Laurent was actually using him, and that Laurent was only being nice in the outside, and they gave him glasses saying that he could work with them if he wore them. Later at night, Abbie appeared in Makoto's room while she threw him the phone with Laurent giving a video-stream in them. Thierry explained that Makoto didn't have to make the drug perfectly and once they get the money from the drugs, they would escape right away.

At the end of the case, Makoto decides to join the FBI with the condition that they could leave Salazar be while they arrest both Laurent and Cassano.

Case 1.5
At the beginning of the case, Cassano gave them the promised money in exchange for not touching it until they got the Sakura Trick. Laurent patted Makoto's shoulder telling him he needed to be focused. After the process of making the Sakura Trick, Laurent approached Makoto to offer him a friendly coffee for the great work of the plan. Makoto looked somewhat intrigued and Laurent apologized for taking him to such an extent but also told him that he was doing well, hence he thanks him by touching his shoulder again saying that he would be a great man of confidence, that he was diligent, sensitive, and that he had guts as he winked at him, he also said he needed to improve his English accent. After Laurent and Abbie retired from the place, Makoto asks the alleged FBI member Dickens how much they would give Laurent and Cassano a sentence, to which she replies around 20 years.

Just before the money transaction was delivered, the FBI began their move on the plan and attacked the place where the money was to be delivered, telling Laurent and Cassano that they were under arrest, then called Edamura to come with them. Edamura slowly approached while Laurent can be seen somewhat surprised as he said that now Makoto had done it. Something that had surprised and that Makoto had not expected, is that his two companions, Laurent and Abbie, were shot without any warn, causing Makoto to be perplexed by the situation asking in horror why they had been shot, to which the agent Dickens says it was the right thing to do, as Makoto stares at "Laurent"'s body, for then grabbing a nearby pistol in berserk and threatens the agents with holding the agent Dickens as a hostage of the situation. Unfortunately for him, he was captured after Cassano destroyed the factory and was knocked out by him with a traffic cone.

After waking up, he realizes that he was tied up, and that the Agent Dickens (who was his hostage before) was free, while she was asking Cassano for a $100 million transaction, which he hesitated, but in the end he agreed. Makoto was about to ask what the point was for his two companions to sacrifice while Cassano was doing that, but before finishing, he was knocked out again. Later, he wakes up in an unknown island and was able to see Laurent and Abbie, who were still alive, as he looked surprised, in addition to the supposed agent Dickens who is actually named Cynthia and was participating in the act as an FBI agent. While Makoto was still confused about the case, he was reminded by his companions that it was actually all a farce, and the one who had knocked Makoto out earlier was Abbie herself, while Laurent told him that she was very violent doing that. Cynthia then comments that it was also to gain the trust of Anderson and his team and for entertainment. Laurent then tells him that it was a lot of fun to tease him while Makoto still didn't believe it was all an act and Laurent says that the part where he berserked was not part of it and that he almost killed everyone. After they received $120 million as a prize, Laurent gave a part of the money in a large bag to Makoto saying that he would also have his share.

Cynthia asked Makoto if he could go with them, Makoto replies that he was not sure yet and among the people who supported him, Laurent said that he was still working for him as his assistant, to which Makoto smiled and said that he would have to wait, Laurent asked him how much time he needed and Makoto replied that he needed around 3 or 4 years as he had to take responsibility for his rotten life, surprising Laurent and the others. At the end of the case, while Laurent is smiling at him as the sunset begins, he says he would wait for him and he could still investigate about a Razzie movie and these things, which comment made Makoto smile back at him.

Case 2.1
While Makoto was fulfilling his sentence in the prison, he receives a message from Laurent from his friend telling him that he had to enlist his equipment as he would be invited to a party once he got out of prison. Once outside, he lived a normal and ordinary life, and then he decided to tell Laurent that he would leave the team since while he was in prison, his way of thinking and living changed a lot. After getting a job and continuing his life normally, he apologized to Laurent to himself saying that he had to forget about him, and that they wouldn't cross paths again, saying goodbye to him and the rest of the team.

But to his surprise some time later, he realized that he and his other companions had met again on the same island while he was explaining the parts of an aircraft prototype, and among the people who had praised his work was Laurent, as he said that Makoto's explanation was impressive. Laurent was glad that Edamura was still alive and with them as he expressed it by welcoming him to their Team Confidence air race team, while Makoto pointed out that it was actually a team of artists and that he needed to stop with his constant "tricks".

Laurent tried to reason with him by showing him some photos of his next targets of plan, but Makoto ignored him as he turned his head to the side, Cynthia then chimed in telling Laurent that he was further disappointing Edamura. After explaining about his two objectives (two princes of a country with fuel), Makoto said that he would not be part of the plan, since he was finally living an honest life and didn't want to get involved in it again, although Cynthia intervened saying again that it was true, since they were no longer comrades, Laurent then asked if he could continue and Makoto nodded. After explaining part of the plan, which was to get $200 million from the princes by winning an air race competition, Edamura was surprised about the plan, but still said that he was not going to participate in it, so Laurent proposed to him to be their mechanic, since Makoto was working on airplanes and that he would waste his skills if he did not accept the offer, and then with that they were able to convince Edamura and then they told him that he would have to help Abbie to drive the plane, which Makoto did not want since He did not like heights, but they ignored him and dragged him anyway.

As at the beginning of the case, the two, Abbie and Edamura, are seen driving the plane until something goes wrong with the engine, and through a wireless headset Laurent asked Makoto if he could hear it, while asking him if Edamura really he was sure of his skills as a top-notch engineer, since being a mechanic was not that easy, and he was just a swindler. At the end of the case, Laurent reveals that he had actually capped the engine with a formula in a small capsule.

Case 2.2
In the following case, the two, Edamura and Laurent are seen watching the airplane competition together, while Laurent sipped the well-known bubble tea. Makoto then points in surprise to the umbrella that Laurent had at hand, while he told him that it was to prevent aging, since it was quite hot in the place where they were from the sun and the people around.

A bit later, Thierry tells Makoto about the history of the two brothers and also said that they were princes before but then they were banished and disinherited, also that they had a competition which ended long ago but that it seemed that they had not done well, and then Edamura asked about how they reversed that situation, to which Laurent simply replied that with money they could do it. Also that Sam, one of the brothers, paid their clients so that rivals could lose and that his younger brother, Clark, could triumph, which Makoto concluded that they controlled the races, Laurent said that was the case if he saw it from that way, and that also all depended on how long the customers would be with them, while Laurent offered Makoto his bubble tea. Then he tells him about Clark's rival, describing that he was an unbeatable rival, saying that his name was Lewis Muller, also nicknamed "Rabid Bull", but although he always said that he would do anything to win, he always losted races against Clark and even if it didn't seem like it, he had always put his earnings in humanitarian aid even though he had an arrogant attitude.

After finishing with the introduction of "Raging Bull", it suddenly starts to rain, and Laurent asks Makoto if he wants to come in with him, while giving him a flirtatious look. To which Makoto gives him a distrustful look saying that at least Lewis was better than Laurent himself, as he crossed arms in ignorance, and Laurent said that Lewis, with a villain face and acting, was suitable for the role of the "villain". But then Laurent recounts that Lewis was different in his last race, as he didn't know if Muller was blinded by money or some other reason, but while doing the race, he had taken the lead and for some reason his plane propeller had been damaged causing the aircraft to crash to the ground and leave him on the brink of death and paralyzed, saying that Sam, the older brother, had read his intention and punished him that way. After talking, it had stopped raining and Laurent looks at Makoto for a while and he takes away his bubble tea while violently sucking the drink with the straw, revealing his contained thirst, while saying that it would be part of the plan after hearing the story, Laurent agreed and they would help Abbie to overthrow Clark.

In order to continue with the plan, Laurent involved Cynthia and Abbie to participate in it. The two are later seen together, but Makoto was the one who worked the hardest to dispense false negative comments towards Clark's competition while Laurent wasn't doing anything other than eating which made Makoto complain that he also had to work since Laurent was the one who had proposed the plan. After Cynthia and Abbie finished the plan successfully, Makoto praised Cynthia's abilities to trap Clark and convince him to go with her, while Laurent asked if Makoto was excited, while saying that living like a peasant didn't suit and it wasn't feasible for him too, besides that he was a swindler by nature.

At the end of the case, Abbie wins the next competition and Laurent asks Makoto if he wanted to know the reason why Abbie did that, Makoto listens to him and Laurent tells him that it was in order to her to die.

Case 2.3
In this case, Laurent makes a change of plans and Makoto then asks while complaining why he can change plans easily- but before finishing, he is beaten by Cynthia through a pillow so that she could unburden after Kim called her an "old hag", and after the plan was rejected by Abbie because Laurent said that she needed to seduce Sam and that Abbie didn't like the plan, Thierry said that it was going to be Edamura's turn because he had no choice. Makoto did not accept the idea at first, but Laurent interjects asking him why he was a mechanic. Edamura responds that it is because Laurent himself had tricked him and thus made him become the Abby's mechanic. Laurent later denies that fact, saying that he just had to infiltrate the opposing team of mechanics in order to ruin their machines. Makoto asks how he would do that part, Laurent said he had a special guest who would help him with his mechanic skills, the one who faced Sam and Clark, and that was nothing more and nothing less than Lewis Muller.

In recounting the plan (which was to make Lewis a swandler), Lewis only said that he would participate in the plan in exchange for Sam being killed and Clark being surrounded for everything they did to his body. Laurent rejected the idea and said they had nothing else to do then, and then Lewis proposed to his wife, Isabelle, that she was welcome to the plan anytime.

After finishing with the concept of the plan, Makoto analyzed Lewis' situation of before, before he was paralyzed, and in the end he concluded that maybe someone had related Lewis, Laurent then told him that Makoto had to concentrate on his own work, and Edamura assured him that it would be fine, since he would later walk around the workshop as they needed more mechanics. At night, Makoto was attacked by "Sam's" henchmen, and as he recounted the situation, Cynthia worriedly asked if she could just go tomorrow to get mechanics. Makoto did not assure them, and told Laurent that he would need more people for that and that in return he would give them food, Laurent agrees to the plan, but also told him that he needed a good plan.

To infiltrate, Makoto was caught by Sam's alleged henchmen, who turned out to be people working for the scheme, and the one leading them had given false testimony that Makoto was responsible for Lewis being unable to participate in the races anymore, since Makoto had gambled everything on Lewis in the underground casino and that was how he failed. The plan was a success, since the objective was to deceive Sam making him buy Makoto and so he could infiltrate to the brothers' workshop.

Makoto and Sam were able to enter the casino which Laurent and the others participated in to perform (Sam was disguising himself as a turkish gastronomic), and after successfully convincing Sam about the history of the Casino and introducing Edamura as an old customer, Makoto he was glad that Kudo, his partner, had improved his English and Laurent said that he spoke English better than Edamura himself and Makoto ignored the comment about his accent as he said not to speak to him while smiling at him and Laurent wondered himself the reason why Makoto had gotten angry. Edamura asks about who attacked him the previous night, Laurent then explains that the henchmen, who worked for Kim, the one who had planned the attack, had received a communication error and that they had to cancel the plan, causing Makoto get mad and tell Laurent that he was very careless. At the end of the case, Kudo and Laurent reassured him that they were going to trap Sam in a "bottomless swamp."

Case 2.4
The plan continued successfully; take Sam out of the casino so that he wouldn't bet more because he disguised himself as someone else and that according to Laurent (in disguise) customers always showed confidence towards gambling and the casino itself, and that breaking that rule could ban anyone, as it could be considered as distrust of the casino. As the plan continued, Makoto said that Sam had used another card for his play, and Edamura also decided that Clark needed to compete with Caio (one of Sam's workers) in the semi-finals. Laurent appreciated Edamura's work and Edamura only turned his head in ignorance. Later, Cynthia showed him a capsule which would be involved in the plan, and which would be useful.

Makoto later asked about the capsule, and Laurent said it was really simple; once the capsule is put inside an airplane and after it starts to fly, the capsule would dissolve with chemicals inside it in the oil and once in the engine, the airplane would lose more speed and then stop, making the plane falling on the spot. Laurent then says that he suspects that Sam had put those chemicals on Lewis's plane, making him unable to participate in any race since then. The plan was that they would first apply the capsule on Caio's plane in the semi-finals, making Clark win, which was a resounding success and Laurent and the others were able to recover the lost money from what Sam won in the past bets, which was a total of 2.5 million. After Caio losted, Makoto said a little perplexed that Sam must be very angry with the situation and Laurent told him that he had to comfort him.

After threatening Makoto to death but then calming down, Sam said he couldn't stand the French casino manager (Laurent), which Makoto agrees by saying he was a very unpleasant guy. Edamura then returns to his team saying that he felt he was on the brink of death and Laurent reassures him that soon Sam would give it his all and fall into his trap.

In the end of the case, it's seen Abbie trying to kill Lewis, while he was hanging out at night alone, since she thought that he himself was the one who had killed his parents because he had participated as a pilot in the Middle East's war which involved many dead and among them was Abbie's parents.

Case 2.5
Then, Sam decides to return with an amount of 25 million to bet with Clark, but not before asking for an apology by donating a considerable amount of money to entering again to the casino. Before that, Makoto asks if Sam could really prepare 25 million, Laurent says it was likely, if Sam used his team and management rights as collateral. Cynthia then gives Edamura a capsule saying it was her turn, Laurent says it was a cheap trick but it could still work. He also told him that the cleaning of the stage where the act was going to end was tight, but the plan was going to be perfect. Later, Makoto didn't put the capsule inside Clark's plane as planned before, and he decided to throw it away so that he would not get his pants dirty and be "discovered", since he decided to change his mind; replace Abbie with Lewis so that he could participate, since previously he had made a bet with Lewis and Isabelle that consisted of guessing if Muller could win or lose, and to win the bet, Lewis only had to win the race.

In the end, Muller wins the bet, as he lost the race, but still Makoto says Lewis's race with Clark was good. To make Sam believe that Muller had won, they had to remodel the building by putting color-distorting panels, thus replacing the windows, and putting on previous recordings of Abbie's previous victories to make the illusion that Clark had lost, and all of that was part of Laurent's plan, in order to deceive Sam and keep the 25 million that Sam himself had bet on Clark, in addition to that Lewis also participated, but that it would depend on Makoto and the others.

In the end, Laurent and the others escape with the money in a boat and they went to pick up Makoto and Abbie, since they were the last to arrive because they had to jump off a building in order to escape from Sam.

Case 3.1
At the beginning of the case, Cynthia and Laurent are seen on a beach chatting, while Laurent was drawing her. Laurent flirted with Cynthia a bit, but she then says she hated being drawn, incluiding the artists, and Laurent said that didn't sound very nice, and then Cynthia tells him that she thought Makoto was her favorite, and after that comment Laurent stays silent. Afterwards, they both see Makoto on his workday at a restaurant, and Laurent comments that it seemed that he had not yet learned to speak French, and on that same day Makoto was fired. From there, the three of them return to the place where Makoto is staying a little disappointed that they couldn't taste the sushis that Edamura was going to prepare and Laurent comments about Makoto saying that he did not want to do a dirty job and needed an honest job, and that it was which was why Laurent and Cynthia had found that restaurant for him. Edamura then says that he didn't want to work there to which Laurent proposes that he should then return to work with them and Makoto refuses. Laurent then praises Makoto for finding a home which was cozy, Edamura agreed saying that the food was delicious right there. Makoto then says that he would go back to the restaurant and apologize to the restaurant owner, as he finally had an honest job and that he could be punished if he didn't try, Laurent is seen happy after Edamura made that decision. To his bad luck, Makoto couldn't return, because the restaurant was closing, due to the resounding failure of the food that the workers made. And to make matters worse, the owners of the house where Makoto was staying were going to move because they had a debt that they had not paid, and if they only had 20,000 euros, they could easily continue living without any debt. Edamura then decides to try to get that amount of money by selling a painting that they had there and also needed the help of Laurent and Cynthia, but Makoto preferred to keep it a secret from Laurent, after Cynthia agreed to help him so Edamura told her to not telling it to Laurent, because he was bothersome. But, what Makoto didn't know was that Laurent was meeting Cynthia on the other end of the phone and that upon hearing Makoto's request and comment about him, Laurent jokingly says that how he could deal with his own pain, while Cynthia told him that Makoto seemed not liking Laurent very much and then Thierry says that Makoto is going to see what Makoto himself may be capable of what he's got.

Makoto's plan was to make Coleman (the target of this case) buy a painting for between 20 and 30 thousand euros, which was not a simple painting, it was one that was by a legendary artist, which made the painting a rare piece, the participants in the plan were Cynthia, Abbie, Kudo and Makoto. But then Cynthia cancels the plan because Coleman was actually the greatest appraiser in the world, and that it would be impossible to fool him. After selling the painting for the agreed price, Makoto said that things would work out if they did it without Laurent, while thinking positive. The initial objective of the plan was to sell the painting (which was very rare painting but they had not had no idea of it) to a person with a lot of money in order to get the money to pay the debt of the owners of the house where Makoto was staying. But what they didn't know is that they sold it to someone who was a well-known person and difficult to deceive, in addition to that the real value of the painting was much more than what they had sold; 20 million euros was the original price before being selling by only 20,000.

After Makoto found out about the painting from the news, he was defeated and Laurent said that his plan was a disaster for selling a rare painting for a cheap amount, further saying that Makoto's generosity was overflowing, while Makoto said that Laurent could say whatever he wanted, because Edamura still didn't think his plan would fail if Laurent didn't work on it. Makoto, in trouble, asks Laurent what he should do to fix the situation he was going through, but Laurent said to give up, because the painting was already sold. At the end of the case, before the situation got worse, Cynthia stepped in and said they would get her back and destroy Coleman once they got the painting back, while they looked her in a shocked state.

Case 3.2
To retrieve the painting, Kudo and Makoto had to infiltrate the place where Coleman and his wife Farrah Brown were living while they were disgused as plague exterminators to see the location of the purchased painting, in addition to recording Coleman through a voice recorder and with a radio, Laurent, Makoto, Abbie and Cynthia were able to listen to the conversations of Coleman and his wife, and once they heard about Coleman's plans and that the situation where he and Fara got a little romantic, Makoto turned off the radio and Laurent complained saying the conversation was about to get better, Edamura said it would be disrespectful if they kept listening. After they found out about Fara and Coleman's relationship (that they were more than friends but less than lovers according to Cynthia), and that Fara was being used, Laurent denies that fact, saying that Brown did know but that she was only playing silly, and while looking at Makoto, he said that it was called "the pitiful heart of a woman", since Fara didn't really want the painting.

At the next auction sale, Coleman displays her next painting to sell; the same one that had been sold to him for 20,000 euros, the Montoya painting "Snow of London, 1930". To win, Laurent had to bet more money on the painting than Fara, since he knew that Coleman and Fara worked together and that they had a secret relationship. After winning after selling the painting for 30 million euros, they got the painting back and then Cynthia told Makoto he had to pay the deducted 30 million he owed, Edamura said he would not pay that amount and then they decided to go for Fara to do it; they would sell a replica of the Montoya painting to Fara for the same price while they would take the original away without spending a cent. After Cynthia contemplated Makoto's "imitation", she laughed as Makoto said that she was the one who proposed that he had to paint it while Laurent said that Cynthia had told him that making fun of Makoto's painting made her drink more. At the end of the case, to advance to the other plan, Cynthia said that she had someone in mind who was a great artist who would help them.

Case 3.3
In the next case, they had to convince Thomas to paint the Snow of London to make a replica of it while Laurent distracted Coleman by telling him that they would sell the paint to the Mafia so he couldn't notice about their plan. After some time, they successfully managed to convince Thomas for creating the replica and then at the end of the case, he finished it a few time later and then he took a long rest so he could recover, since he hadn't eat a lot while doing the work close as perfection. The two guys don't interact in this part of the case.

Case 3.4
Once the group realized that Fara would sell her free real estate for 50 million to bet on the painting, Laurent said that he wanted him to sell it for at least 70 million, Makoto then is shocked as he complains and asks who would have that amount, since it was impossible for someone to have more than 70 million euros, Cynthia then says that Fara was submissive and pitiful and that they would have to settle for only 70 million.

On the day the painting is sold at auction, Laurent is seen working as a judge and Makoto as his assistant, as he displayed the paintings and Laurent sold them. Coleman and Fara were together contemplating the auction and seeing the paintings and calculating them at a moderate price, Laurent was selling them at a price beyond, and this caused Coleman and his wife to be surprised to see that he sold them almost twice as much. what they were actually worth (example: if a painting was worth 30,000, Laurent increased it to 100,000 euros or more). And so they continued with the other paintings until they reached the last painting, the box of Snow of London. To prevent Coleman from buying the painting for $ 50 million, that he made after he sold his property which he and Fara lived in and plus other $ 20 millon from that Fara made to get, Cynthia was part of the crowd that would participate and thus defeat Coleman in a gambling war. As the amount of money grew, from 70 million up to 100 million, Coleman managed to get the painting sold for 100 million euros, and after selling his property and Fara reacting to the fact that Coleman used it, Coleman stayed nothing more than debts and falsifications of paintings while he was begging Fara for letting him in the property. At next, it's seen Fara sad while she was hearing the voice recorder that was set for listening to Coleman's plans and which Abbie gave to her, her butler managed to cheer her up while both smiled at each other.

Later, Makoto was going to confess to Laurent, Cynthia, Abbie and the shop owners that he exchanged the phalsified painting that was sold to Coleman with the original, but Laurent had later realized that and expressed Makoto's confession in front of them. Edamura later told them that Thomas had worked hard on the paint while he ate 75-cent canned beans and only slept for 3 hours to finish it. Marie and Sebastian (owners of the place where Makoto was staying) then accepted the painting, since according to them, it felt warmer and more kind. Laurent put his hand on Makoto's shoulder saying that this was a sudden turn of events, and as Edamura pulled his hand away from his shoulder, he arrogantly says that was part of the plan as well.

Makoto then decides to go back to work at the restaurant where he was before, but then they kicked him saying they didn't need any more "koreans" since they already had thais with them, while Edamura looked at them puzzled while saying in a low voice that he was a japanese. Before finalizing the case, Cynthia and Laurent are seen talking again in the same place as before, and after she retired, Laurent said for himself that men are tragic creatures, and while looking at his collar, asked a certain "Dorothy" if she agreed with the idea.

Case 4.1
Determined to build his life, Makoto separates from the team and returns to Japan. He gets a job without wondering what he's getting himself into.

Makoto recounts everything that happened during his stay and absence in Japan at his mother's grave, including the scams done in the same country, and that it all started with him trying to scam Laurent, but got scammed instead, thus, without knowing, he'd become his accomplice, who would later end up being part of his plans involving around the world, narrating the numerous things done alongside him (referring themselves with "We") and his other allies. After finishing, Makoto admits everything was fun and he thanks his mom for hearing him.

Shi-won wakes Laurent up after he's gotten asleep and had a dream about a woman. After drinking, Abbie asks Laurent about what's next, to which he says they're still short one person, and later Makoto appears playing, which didn't work out as everyone could tell about it. Makoto admits playing death wasn't easy, and Laurent along with the others point to the various flaws in them as "advice". Makoto officially announces his depart, this time for real, as he looks as Laurent and the latter understands, and suggests him for both to talk outside. Makoto didn't want to die as a con artist, and admits he despises Laurent, and only appreciated him a tiny bit. He also says that Laurent's revived him while he was stagnating in Japan. He doesn't know how to put it on words, but at the rate he'll lose sight of himself and might start believing all of his lies he's been telling in order to con people and the thought frightened him. Though, Laurent knew all of that, and he was aware of it. Laurent admits Makoto puts his heart on it, and was the main reason he could persuade people in first place. Ultimately, he asks Makoto if he had any regrets, to which he says that if he ever did, it would be that he never truly conned Laurent, making Laurent remark him having a "tough" luck. Despite not having much to advice, Laurent says the next:

After this, Laurent winks at Makoto, and this latter seems to contemplate his words, while looking at the little Toyotomi Hideyoshi toy on his hand and grips it. Makoto then parts with a "see you around" to Laurent, as he gives the toy to Laurent, this latter keeping it on his hand as he gazes at the view.

Upon getting a new job, Makoto learns that he's been working for the mafia without knowing, and notices he's gotten tricked once again by Laurent, and has a discussion with him over phone, shouting the Scarlet Company being a shell company for the mafia, and that he tricked and steered him into working for them. Laurent expressed his amazeness over Makoto figuring that out fast, to which gets an angered question on Makoto about the times he has to trick him, to which Laurent reassures him commenting that he wanted to give Edamura a glorious final performance in Tokio, done out of love, all said while Laurent is holding the toy given by Makoto between his fingers. Makoto asks over the Suzaku Association's actions, and Abbie is the one to answer him. explaining them being Japanese mafia who buy orphans and refugees from all across Asia to sell them to the world's wealthy. Laurent's now the one who speaks, and reveals the boss of the mafia being the empress of the Japanese underworld, Akemi Suzaku. Tired, Makoto asks about the hustle this time. Laurent tells him about the next plan that an old friend was going to give them a hand in it.

Case 4.2
Cynthia and Shi-won arrive in Japan to start the Scarlet Company scam. Makoto and his boss accompany them to the UAE to witness a kidnapping.

During his work feeding the orphans, Edamura empathizes with them upon learning that they barely ate out of fear. Makoto and Laurent keep in touch, this time being no exception, with Laurent asking if he was being good, to which he informs him that it was the hardest job he's done so far. As Edamura lies down, he continues to be questioned by Laurent, this time about Akemi, who he was working with, and Makoto tells him that, although intense, she wasn't that frightening. He expresses that he wants to get out of this as soon as possible, although Laurent reminds that he can drop it, however he asks if he did not feel anything when he saw the company's child trafficking. Makoto reconsiders and asks after his plan, while Laurent announces that Cynthia was about to make her move.

After following the plan and managing to trick the company into buying a piece of merchandise (Abby, under the title of a supposed princess) for 1,000,000,000 yen, Makoto returns from feeding the trafficked children (or at least unsuccessfully trying to), he is greeted by Laurent, Cynthia, and Shi-won, announcing his arrival home and congratulating him on his work. Makoto is not at all happy about this, and tells them to go get out as he didn't want to be found out they were in cahoots, to which Laurent agrees for them and says that Makoto would take care of the rest. Makoto questions about "the rest", and Shi-won explains as she leaves that he would let Abby escape and Cynthia ends by saying that when that happens, the mission will be complete, everyone counting on him this time.

The plan goes smoothly at first, until after Abby gets into the van -driven by Laurent- in which the three were going to use to escape, which is when Makoto makes a last-minute change and tells them that he will release the children, ensuring that the van would have more space, though Laurent tells him that would be against the traffic laws, getting a shout from Makoto who said that if he was against it, he'll escape on foot. The plan goes downhill after the change at the last minute, with Abby going back to where she was locked up before acting normal and the kids in the same room because they didn't want to go with Makoto, as they explained that they were in that place because their parents had sold or abandoned them, because they didn't care for them. They had no home to go to, and whether they were dead or not, it would be as if they did not exist. After all that, Makoto returns home with an unreadable expression as he reminisces about the time when he was being piggy-backed by his father.

Case 4.3
A delegation from the branch of the Suzaku organization in Shanghai arrives in Tokyo. Makoto, who must interpret the meeting, finds the other interpreter familiar.

After fitting into the job after a failed mission, Makoto is called by his boss announcing that the chairman wanted to see him. When they arrive, Akemi announces that Makoto will act as her interpreter, since the guys from Shanghai are coming. After a brief discussion by Suzaku and the Shanghainese, Makoto finds himself asking his boss about the interpreter for the Chinese mafia, and he introduces him as a very old man who goes by the name "Oz", and tells him that he was japanese and a lawyer, at the same time working in human trafficking broker but he screwed everything up and got caught. Makoto has a realization while being told all this, and leaves the place without warning, leaving his boss behind him.

Consequently, Laurent is seen walking around and courting some women, to which Makoto interrupts him by knocking him to the ground with his arm. Laurent questions the reason for this, and Makoto bursts out on not playing dumb about Oz. Laurent tries to calm him down, but Makoto refuses to believe that that guy was his father, to which Thierry intervenes and asks him why he was getting worked up about it then. Makoto doesn't know how to answer him, and just clicks his tongue as he storms off, though not before Laurent reminds that they're on tonight at 3:00 a.m.

After meeting his father in an apartment, Makoto manages to trust in him once again, and tells him about the mission after telling him that they would escape together. His father apologizes to him, admitting his guilt for not being able to be with him and his deceased wife in his imprisonment.

Once again, the plan goes better than expected, now managing to force the boys to escape in the van just like before. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long, since when he was about to escape with the children, his boss caught up with them and arrested everyone involved in the plan (excluiding Laurent, who's absent). Makoto's father, Seiji, then walks up to the boss and shakes hands with the boss, the latter thanking him for the information about the escape, while Seiji tells him that Shanghai and Tokyo need to continue working together, a much clearer sign that he had betrayed all of them, especially his son Makoto. Edamura, beyond enraged, manages to approach his father in an attempt to attack him, but is stopped by a gun being pointed right at his forehead, the culprit being his own father, remiding Makoto about his identity as "Oz of Shanghai Longhu-hang".

Case 4.4
The scam is completed, and two months later, Makoto is still working for Akemi. One night, he is visited by the man he thought he had seen die.

Although there are no interactions between Laurent and Makoto, after Seiji is "killed" by his son after this latter is convinced by Akemi, he appears later outside of Edamura's apartment in order to talk about a pretty long story, in part for explaining his actions. He narrates about boy who lived happily with his mother in Brussels, Belgium, this boy being Laurent. It recounted Laurent's miserable life as an adult after his mother died of her dyslexia after it worsened when she was conned by a businessman who had taken advantage of her reading disability and made her sign a syndic's contract (a model contract made compulsory by the ALUR law of 2014). It was also visualized that he wanted revenge, and when he grew up he had the opportunity to do so when he found him and went to kill him one night, having of course been carrying homicidal ideations towards the businessman during his infancy, only for an unknown woman to step in and take the man's place, getting stabbed by Laurent. He is in a state of shock and horror when he sees what he had done, especially when she wasn't the actual target, a pool of blood appearing at the attack point.

Case 4.5
Young Laurent joins the group of con artists that Oz is a part of after he inadvertently helps them in Paris. They travel around the world, and he falls in love.

Once again there are no interactions present, however the thread of the story by Oz is followed, which is his relationship with Laurent and the latter's with the Chinese mafia that would serve as an explanation for his actions towards his son, Makoto and his goal, since Seiji and Laurent once used to work together. There's also an introduction to Laurent's lover, Dorothy, who's also a con artist from the same team.

Case 4.6
In their latest job, the team masquerades Dorothy as an Ethiopian princess and sets up her kidnapping for the Shanghai organization. But it all goes wrong.

The whole plan followed by the team is identical to the current one, involving a fake princess to be kidnapped and later rescued; at first it was going perfectly for that same going down. The reason why Seiji could not meet with his son and his bedridden wife on the brink of death is also revealed; the abrupt change of plans at the end when he was told that he had to escape since they had been discovered. However, he was able to visit his wife after Makoto left after seeing her, although Seiji could not with him present, since his son commented that he did not care about any of them. It is also seen how Laurent reunited new allies, the current Team Confidence, and ultimately meeting Makoto during his journey around Japan. Upon meeting his co-worker's son in person, he smiles.

Case 4.7
When Laurent returns to the city, the latest phase of the Shanghai organization scam begins. They are at greater risk than ever and have no margin for error.

The case is a review before Makoto's death play. They're still short in one person, but Laurent is going to tell his team about the plan as a long story before Edamura arrives.

The scene changes to Seiji's "death" on Akemi's ship, following Cynthia and Abby's, they're all around safe with Laurent on a different one. It's revealed they were all working together on Seiji's plan, incluiding Shi-won. Now it was all on Makoto's part for the mission. Everything went well, although Shi-won comments things are a lot different than the original plan, Cynthia says that Laurent always provises to go through them, and also remarks that Laurent was the one who dragged Edamura into it, and asks about why he didn't trust Makoto and explain it all from the start. Laurent responds by saying that he was a two-bit swindler before, and that he was full of himself, but he had put him in his place, and in fact, he thanks him now. Laurent also informs that he shouldn't have to explain them what's so special about him. Abbie understands, because if Laurent had told him about the plan, he'd spill the beans in no time. Laurent agrees, and keeps explaining keeping Makoto in the dark to let him gain Akemi's trust is for his safety as well, although himself hated to admit it. They trust Seiji to explain to Makoto about the original plan after Abbie asks Laurent if he thinks Makoto will go along with the plan.

Back to Seiji and Makoto, this latter agrees to participate in the plan as well with a dead expression on his eyes.

On the day of the meeting between Akemi and Shanghai (which is virtual), everyone gets into their positions, Laurent being the Chinese mafia interpreter and Edamura, Akemi's. Laurent smiles as soon as he sees Makoto on the other side of the screen and to then both of them start their work as translators. They end up in a monetary exchange agreement for the next night.

The case ends with Makoto and Laurent, ready for the last part of the plan in their respective places.

Case 4.8
Both sides prepare for a momentous meeting in Tokyo, with Laurent and Makoto serving as interpreters. It all depends on what Makoto decides.

The next night, Shanghai (and Laurent) meet with Akemi in person to deliver the money agreed between them. Laurent flashes Makoto a smile as soon as she sees him, while he stares in her direction. As soon as the double-check of the money is requested, Akemi-Liu (Chinese mafia leader) and Makoto-Laurent stare at each other in serious tension. Makoto and Laurent were supposed to double check the money for both parties, however they are left standing around waiting as their respective bosses start to get worried. Still being called by their names, Makoto and Laurent continue to stare at each other, all this to wait until the next part of the plan happens and it does, with the "police" intervening on the scene and taking the money.

Both bosses don't expect this, and at first Akemi thinks that one of his men was spying for the police, but Laurent calls Makoto and tells him to explain it to Suzaku, leaving her in shock. The two bosses were already cornered, and after Laurent deals with Liu, Akemi questions the police's goal in intervening at the scene, and before one of the "police" members can arrest her, Makoto intervenes and pulls out a hidden sword under the arm of the chair personally assigned to Akemi to protect her. He sends out an attack signal, to which armed people burst into the place shooting, and announces to the "police" that his weapons were real unlike theirs and that they should not put up any resistance.

Laurent questions about Makoto's actions and asks about the identity of the guys, to which Cassano appears and explains how he had gotten out of prison with the help of some cash. Makoto announces that they were a group of international swindlers, and that the armed guys were his allies and that apparently this was supposed to be a "grand plan." Makoto asks his boss to retrieve the suitcase containing Shanghai's money and Akemi's money ticket, who compliments him on this. Edamura then tells her that she could do what she wanted now before he stood there and began laughing maniacally. His father asks him how long he would keep his lousy act. Once again, Makoto reminds him that it was Seiji himself who had abandoned him and her mother, also saying that she lies alone in her grave while everyone avenges Dorothy, while screaming thinking that they themselves were lonely wolves and not partners as he poked the sword into Seiji's chest.

When Makoto is about to pierce through Seiji's chest with the sword, Laurent places his hand on Makoto's to stop him, asking him if it wasn't enough. Edamura bursts out it is enough, ultimately calling Laurent lowlife trash that gets off on deceiving people, and even calling him callous after losing someone close to him, but with a little scratch, he acts like a tragic hero and it disgusted him. Makoto tries to pierce through Seiji's chest, but the grip on Laurent's hand prevents it, as Makoto continues to blurt out everything in his chest about Laurent and his job, as well as his involvement in the job as a con man, refusing to be dragged by him again and that he would only trust himself.

It's Seiji's turn to put his hand over Laurent's, stopping Makoto once more, and Laurent tells him that he's screwing everything up again, and reminds him in question mode about the team's mantra. Edamura, unable to take it anymore, fails to attack both, and seizing the moment, Laurent kicks the weapon out of Makoto's hand and it is now Seiji who "slices" through Makoto's chest.

The "police" make their move, and they end up fighting against Cassano's people, while one of the "police" releases a smoke bomb to act as a curtain and nothing more than the sound of the shots could be visualized, forcing Akemi, his subordinate and Shanghai back out of the place. As soon as the sounds stop, they go back inside and notice that no one was present, and then they see a lever that wasn't there before, and after Akemi pulls it, the entire room they were in suddenly goes down, showing it to be an elevator which led them to the surface on a small, desolate beach. After gazing at the view, they all felt a brief quake, and watched as the fake building behind them collapsed, made out of wood, cardboard, paint, and other materials, leaving them with no place to take shelter.

Case 4.9
The wizard from the Far East manages to pull off one last magic trick, and some people finally get their comeuppance.

The entire episode reveals everything behind the scenes was a ploy to get rid of both parties and keep the loot, which included the construction of the fake building, the police, the hiring of Cassano along with his people, the shooting, the supposed death of Makoto and his acting, to then subsequently everyone's escape.

They all go down with the elevator but they reach their destination in a ship. Those involved make a toast to the success of the mission once again. Laurent did not expect the involvement of the other con men in the mission in the same way, including Sam Ibrahim, Cassano and Coleman, who reveal their association between the three.

Kudo comments on his surprise at how Laurent knew how to play along with Edamura. Laurent tells how he didn't know if Seiji had noticed the blood bag inside Makoto's suit, and so he lowered his grip on the sword to give him a better view. Everyone celebrates their big haul, which is the briefcase with the money (100 billion) and Akemi's ticket with 1,316,676,400.00 yen in it.

After the short celebration, everyone is sound asleep except Laurent and Makoto. Laurent comments on his relief that he made up with Sam, Coleman and Cassano. Laurent smiles at Edamura as he receives a "cut it out" from him after telling him that, like Akemi and her son, Edamura and Seiji should think about how to live their lives. Thierry subsequently asks what he would do after he got out of this racket, which Edamura considers, only to be interrupted by Laurent, who offers to open a cafe since he likes it. Makoto admits that he doesn't really like coffee, but that it would be nice to make people happy with his own product, while he yawns. Laurent announces that it is already morning and Makoto says goodbye to him wishing him good night, and he agrees, returning the gesture in the same way.

Left alone, Laurent looks up at the view and takes off the necklace with the ring given to him by Dorothy, his ex-lover, to throw it overboard.

A few weeks later, everything returns to normal, as well as the life of both the members of Team Confidence, as well as that of the trafficked children, especially the oldest one, Makoto trying different cafes around the city, etc. When the new US President is announced, Laurent is seen holding the little toy given to him by Edamura some time ago in his fingers, as he gives a brief monologue about how [Edamura] had risen to the top as a modern-like Hideyoshi. The episode ends with Laurent talking to someone on the phone, saying that they must be dying of boredom by now.

Moments

 * After dressing up, Laurent adds a tie pin in Makoto's suit's pocket, which makes Makoto blush (image in top.)
 * While in the anime Makoto didn't do anything at Laurent when he added him a tie pin, in the manga Makoto pushes away Laurent while blushing saying that he was too close, Laurent points that Makoto was "so innocent".
 * In the Case 2.2, both Laurent and Makoto are seen together, and Laurent had a bubble tea with him, and after drinking it, moments later Makoto drinks of it too without noticing the "indirect kiss".

Fanon
Edaurent was the most popular ship of the Great Pretender fandom when it premiered on Netflix on 2020, but gained more fans when Laurent was confirmed to be pan/bi, which led people into believing that he was attracted not only to girls, but also to Makoto (confirmed by Ryouta Furusawa, GrePre manga's author). Fans would often compare this ship with Daiharu from the The Millionaire Detective fandom, as both ships have things in common like the "tsundere" and the "flirtatious and rich" one and because both come from Mystery animes related with solving several cases, forcibly paired up (one-sided). It rivals Mabbie, but this latter is overshadowed by the title ship.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

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