Beat Audio Orbit Saga

[Nella Mcnairy]

Andthat effort continued after The Times broke the story of the probe. It culminated Monday in a news conference by Ohtani at Dodger Stadium, and what the ballplayer, the Dodgers and Major League Baseball had hoped would put the matter to rest.

If the allegation against interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is true, and if Ohtani and his money were protected by the usual roster of business managers and financial institutions, the translator would have had to evade all the safeguards typically in place to shield a wealthy celebrity from thievery, fraud and other forms of financial exploitation, experts have told The Times.

Those lines of defense would include human and digital protocols for verifying the legitimacy of large withdrawals of money from a bank, in addition to assurances that financial professionals who handle expenses, investments and taxes are performing regular reviews of significant transactions.

Multiple sources, who requested anonymity to share sensitive information, confirmed to The Times that the alleged payments under investigation were made via wire transfers. Such transfers should involve a multi-step verification process and leave a clear electronic trail, experts say.

The first suggested that there was no link, and that Ohtani had no comment in response to a Times query about the Dodger, Bowyer and the investigation, according to a representative for the ballplayer.

Then came the current narrative, made public March 20: Mizuhara stole the money. Ohtani said Mizuhara had invented every other rendition of events. In a meeting at their Seoul hotel, Ohtani said, Mizuhara admitted to him the theft and the deception.

The Ohtani circle also retained Andrew Brettler, a West Hollywood lawyer who has represented Chelsea Handler as well as several celebrities caught up in sex scandals, including convicted rapist Danny Masterson, Armie Hammer and Prince Andrew.

Ohtani has become a global sensation since debuting with the Angels six years ago. In December, the Dodgers signed him to a 10-year, $700-million contract, the largest in baseball history, with most of the money deferred until after the agreement expires. Ohtani is expected to supplement his salary with an estimated $65 million in commercial endorsements this year, according to the sports business website Sportico.

Among the queries that yielded no response from Brettler are whether Ohtani gave Mizuhara access to his bank account and who in his orbit should have been aware of large wire transfers to a bookmaking operation.

Banks have a duty to monitor large transfers and file suspicious activity reports with the U.S. Treasury Department when it appears the money is going toward illegal enterprises, said Grupe, the other former FBI agent.

The Times left a voicemail message with Balelo, the CAA agent, on March 15 and did not hear back. After the paper emailed Balelo the next day, the publicist Hiltzik responded and eventually said Ohtani had no comment.

On March 20, as the drama continued to quietly take shape, the Dodgers beat the Padres in Seoul in a game that began at 3 a.m. Pacific time. Minutes before the contest ended, another camera caught Ohtani and Mizuhara chatting and laughing in the dugout. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

*warning* This is a spoiler-filled section. It is meant to be used more as a reference for those who have already read the book and need the information for possible projects or a refresher on the story line. By no means is this meant to be an alternative to reading the book. The book is excellent. Go read it.

Darrow is now 20 years old. It has been over two years since he graduated from the Institute and took a position as lancer for House Augustus. The Reaper of House Mars now trains in the Academy, a prestigious school not unlike the Institute, that focuses on space based warfare and planetary tactics.

Darrow commands his fleet with two of his old friends and lieutenants from the Institute, Roque and Tactus. The rest of his old retinue has been scattered across the solar system, notably Sevro and the Howlers who have been sent to far orbit, and Mustang who has taken up politics on Luna. Darrow has also welcomed into his circle Victra au Julii, the half-sister of the brutal woman who betrayed him in the Institute, Antonia au Julii.

Already well into the game, it looks as though it will be an easy victory for Darrow. His last opponent, Karnus au Bellona- brother to Julian and Cassius from Darrow's days at the Institute-is left with only one ship. Confident with his odds, Darrow moves in for the kill, but is surprised when a second ship slips through his lines and rams his, devastating Darrow's flagship. After being left to die by Tactus, Darrow narrowly makes it to his personal escape pod. In a last-ditch effort, Darrow attempts to use the pod's Mech Suit, traditionally used for planetary invasions known as Iron Rains, to launch himself into his enemies bridge. However, Darrow's controls are overridden by the proctors saying it would be a suicide mission. Their interference gives Karnus the win. 833 of Darrow's men died in the collision, a figure that seems to bother only Darrow.

Soon after returning, Darrow is jumped by seven Bellonas lead by Karnus. After beating him badly, Karnus tells him that his actions against house Bellona will not go unanswered - his Mother wants Darrow's heart. To add insult to injury, Darrow is then informed by Nero au Augustus and his chief politico Pliny that due to the embarrassment of losing to a Bellona, they will be removing him from his position as lancer. Given only a few days notice rather than the traditional months, the move both destroys any power and clout Darrow may have held and removes all the protections afforded to him by House Augustus. It is a death sentence.

Out of desperation, he and Victra secretly meet with Adrius au Augustus, commonly known as "The Jackal," in the Lost City on Luna. Victra leaves Darrow and the Jackal to discuss an uneasy alliance. The Jackal has been expanding his power since the Institute and is now in control of a sizeable percentage of the Core's media networks. With this power, he plans to unseat the Sovereign and destroy the Sons of Ares, using the immensely popular Darrow as a sort of figurehead TV-hero to gather support. In return, Adrius will use his now considerable fortune to purchase Darrow's contract. Darrow agrees, seeing no other way to make it into next month.

Before the gala, Darrow visits Roque in his room to apologize for his behavior of late. Roque of course thinks nothing of it and says that he will bid on Darrow at the auction so he need not worry. He confesses that Darrow is his closest friend and truly a brother. Knowing he will die tonight, Darrow says his final goodbye and sedates Roque, ensuring his friend's safety.

At the gala, with the bomb strapped to his chest, Darrow sees many familiar faces, including Antonia and Karnus. Darrow also sees Cassius, who has been made the Morning Knight - one of the Soveriegns' Olympic Knights. Also, confirming rumors that were plaguing Darrow, Cassius has Mustang at his side. Seeing his ex-lover with his self-proclaimed mortal enemy, Darrow's composure and plan go out the window. He leaves the Gala to catch his breath and gather his thoughts, eventually deciding not to set off the bomb.

Cassius is spared but it is too late to stop what Darrow began. As Cassius's mother screams for the Reaper's head, a Bellona is killed while trying to attack Darrow. Bellona and Augustus forces clash, bringing to a head the bitter rivalry of the two houses. In the melee, Nero's lead Lancer and likely heir, Leto, is killed by Karnus. Only Darrow sees the dart fired by the Jackal into Leto's leg, paralyzing him before he reaches Karnus.

As House Augustus tries to make their escape, they come across the former Mars proctor from the Institute, Fitchner au Barca, who is now holds Arcos' old position, the Rage Knight. He (and his army of heavily armored Obsidians) convinces House Mars to return to their estate. In the meantime, he brings Darrow to meet with the Sovereign, who is with her grandson Lysander and one of her Furies, Aja au Grimmus. She offers a position by her side, but Darrow rejects. She then challenges him to a game of truths, which if he wins, allows him a chance to get whatever he wishes from her. The game involves sculpted pit vipers, named Oracles, that inject an immensely painful venom when they sense lies. They question each other for information, each confessing many truths, namely the Sovereign who gives information perhaps more freely than is necessary, not believing there is any chance she will lose. Among other confessions, she admits to giving Karnus his extra mystery ship during at the Acadamy. Mustang enters, revealing just how close she has gotten with House Lune. Having now pieced together The Sovereigns plan, Darrow takes the opportunity to ask if Octavia had planned for House Bellona to kill the ArchGovernor Augustus and everyone at his table during the Sixth Course of dinner, she denies it, but the Oracle bites, revealing her lie. Mustang is enraged with the Sovereign for planning the murder of her family right under her nose. After some back and forth, Mustang agrees that the death of her father is the best thing for the society.

Darrow is locked in a bedroom, but quickly rescued by Sevro, his Howlers, and Quinn. Carrying a wriggling bag, Sevro says Mustang gathered them all on Luna weeks ago. Rushing to save the rest of House Augustus, the group finds many Pinks, Browns, and Violets have already been killed by the Praetorians and Bellona, but find no Golds. They track the House Golds, including Nero, Roque and The Jackal, to a swamp where they are rapidly running out of air. Realizing they have no chance of fighting their way out, Darrow decides to use the ace Sevro brought. Darrow reveals to Aja that they have Lysander. The Sovereign has no choice but to let them go. Mustang arrives with a ship and all are evacuated. However, at the last second, Aja attacks Quinn, mercilessly beating her head.

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