Abe Kiyoshi

Abe is ambitious, nationalistic and convinced of his own superiority. He sees Relics as resources that can strengthen Japan and treats competition for them as an extension of international rivalry.

His patriotism is accompanied by open contempt toward Koreans, including Ju-Heon. This causes him to underestimate an opponent who possesses vastly more experience with Tombs than anyone else at this stage of the changed timeline.

Abe can cooperate tactically when national interests align, but such partnerships remain transactional. He has little intention of surrendering valuable Relics merely because another excavation force is temporarily operating alongside him.

Abe is a trained member of a professional excavation force and has military experience appropriate to his rank. He understands organized operations, weapons and the practical dangers associated with entering newly appeared Tombs.

He acquires several early Relics, including the Escape Rope, a mochi-producing Relic and a Red Jar Relic. The Escape Rope is particularly significant because of its potential to develop far beyond its initially unimpressive appearance.

Ju-Heon takes the Escape Rope from Abe, and the artifact eventually develops into the sentient Heavenly Rope that remains one of Ju-Heon's most important Relics.

Abe arrives at an early Tomb as part of a Japanese excavation force competing with American agents and other interested parties. Governments have not yet fully understood Relics, making the expedition one of the first international attempts to seize supernatural artifacts systematically.

Ju-Heon's knowledge gives him an enormous advantage over the professional teams. Abe's dismissive attitude toward him only makes it easier for Ju-Heon to manipulate the situation.

Abe loses several Relics to Ju-Heon and later temporarily cooperates with Linda Walker while pursuing the Gold and Silver Axes. His continuing hostility eventually places him directly against Ju-Heon again.

Ju-Heon Seo is Abe's early rival for Relics. Ju-Heon steals the Escape Rope and other advantages from him, beginning the Rope's long association with its new owner.

Linda Walker temporarily cooperates with Abe when their interests overlap during the international competition for Relics.

Heavenly Rope is the evolved form of the Escape Rope that originally belonged to Abe before Ju-Heon took it.