Dr. Paolo was a character from Lupin the Third Part II.
Character History[]
Dr. Paolo was a professor who was part of the National Earthquake Institute however he was kicked out for unauthorized research. They claim that his study was unorthodox and he was also thrown out of the Science Academy. He then invented a machine that triggers earthquakes to trigger anywhere at an epicenter (such as a fault line) caused by movement on tectonic plates in the crust. The device uses special electromagnetic waves to the spot where energy of the Earth is gathered causing an artificial distortion underground. He currently lives at the Marine Science Observatory off the coast of Naples and often appearing to be crazy and laughing to himself.
To test the device, he decided to use it on a village and sent a blackmail message however the Italian government ordered the residents to evacuate and anchored a public patrol ship off the coast. Lupin III, Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa XIII and Fujiko Mine were at the village and witnessed the earthquake destroying the village. Dr. Paolo kept his identity hidden and called it the "Earthquake group" according to Lupin.
Afterwards, he recorded a tape and sent it to the Earthquake Countermeasures Headquarters (aka the National Security Centre Crisis Task Force) who were having a countermeasure meeting. He laughed during his presentation, thinking that they are regretting his dismissal and with his hands out thinking that the fate of the world is in his hands in a crazy matter. He also explained that there was the elastic-rebound hypothesis, volcanic earthquake theory and the mantle convection theory however the theory to him was simple. Dr. Paolo set the device at Pisa to cause the Leaning Tower to fall down and demands one billion Italian lira if the historic monument wants to be saved, he considers it to be compensation for his study. The exchange is to take place on noon on the day after tomorrow, 100 kilometers off Italy, south of Elba Island. The money will be placed in a trunk and delivered via helicopter but does not want the police in his persistence. The government decided to accept the blackmail and gave out one billion lira however while Lupin and Koichi Zenigata were fighting over the briefcase, a dolphin planted a bomb at Zenigata's boat and took the briefcase however the money was emptied.
Dr. Paolo made another tape and was annoyed that they thought that they deceived him, he mentioned that they broke the agreement that the police should not interfere unaware that it was Zenigata and his pursuit over Lupin. His henchman gave him the briefcase and was furious that it was empty throwing it towards his camera breaking the lens. He doubled his blackmail offer to two billion lira and to send the money before the end of the day at the same location. Otherwise he will destroy the tower as well as the whole of Italy. Lupin mentioned that he planted a transmitter on the briefcase to track down the base.
The two billion lira was dropped off, again sending a dolphin to deliver the briefcase with a magnet but this time Zenigata is holding on to it. Lupin, Jigen and Goemon followed the path to the observatory however they were caught as Dr. Paolo and his henchman saw them. After nodding to each other, his henchman pulled a lever causing a whirlpool as they tried to swim away from the dolphin pool. Dr. Paolo caught Lupin, Jigen and Goemon putting them on beds with hand and leg cuffs. He asked them how they were feeling and Lupin replied that he was the producer of the earthquakes and feels refreshed after a wash. Dr. Paolo found it great and wanted to show him the Leaning Tower of Pisa ready to fall despite ready to accept the two billion lira, he claimed that the government ignored his warning and pointed at Lupin thinking that they were spies. Lupin says that they are thieves, not spies but he shouted to shut up as he wanted no excuses and vows to destroy Pisa. He laughed and pushed the buttons with his palm of his hand to activate the device.
He went crazy as he says that Pisa will fall along with Italy, then Europe and finally the rest of the world will turn into "ruins like Pompeii". Lupin points out an error in his plan and asks where he will live as the tower decided to straighten itself. After laughing, he noticed Zenigata with the dolphin and was surprised that it came back pulling a lever. He wondered why and Lupin tells him that he thought that the government broke his promise, he asked who he was but then Lupin tells him his name and that he is a simple thief. Dr. Paolo knew that he was Lupin III who was internationally wanted and at large, he was shocked that Lupin freed himself and as Paolo was ready to point his gun, Lupin threw a red Frisbee at him. His henchman then threw knives but Jigen shot them. Goemon used his Zantetsuken to break the glass at the dolphin pool causing the room to fill up with water, his henchman was helping him walk up the stairs and saw Lupin save Zenigata also getting the briefcase. Water got into the device and started to explode, Dr. Paolo panicked that his device was getting destroyed and pulled the lever to destroy the observatory as well as the island.
While Lupin, Jigen, Goemon and Zenigata escaped, Dr. Paolo and his henchman stayed. His last words were "Everything turn into mud, cursed Earth shake with anger!"
Notes[]
- Despite his general insanity and megalomania, he does seem to have a sense of honor, as he stops the earthquake machine from destroying Pisa upon realizing that Zenigata's presence wasn't sanctioned by the Italian government.