A group of art assessors evaluate a group of paintings reputed to be the work of artist, Saeki Yuuzou, and all but one, Jimi, agree that they are genuine. However the Tenryou City Council accept the works as original and prepare a major exhibition. They also propose to add a Saeki Yuuzou self portrait owned by Fujita to enhance the exhibition being curated by his former mentor and art power-broker Funamura Gentarou. Fujita finds that Jimi has been ostracized because of his dissenting opinion, however there is growing concern about the validity of the paintings. After Funamura Gentarou is taken ill, Fujita is asked to assess them but recommends Jimi as the expert. After Fujita talks to Gentarou in hospital, Gentarou decides to name the highly principled Jimi as his successor.
近頃、とある市の美術館が、洋画家・佐伯祐三の未発表作品を17点も入手したらしい。17点の作品の真贋を鑑定したのは、美術界の大御所・船村元太郎をはじめとした審査委員会だという。そのニュースを知ったフジタは、後日、船村の文化功労賞受賞記念のパーティーを訪れる。そこでフジタは、船村に反対して佐伯作品を贋作だと主張した地味が、船村の手回しで美術館の館長をクビにさせられていたという話を耳にする。
かつての恩師である地味の元を訪ねるフジタ。その直後、佐伯作品が贋作だということが判明し…。
