Original subtitles

JAPAN'S CRIMINAL CONVICTION RATE IS 99.9%

I had a cat.

Go on.

All of a sudden, a cop came up to me…

Then there were two, three of them…

I thought, "If they arrest me like this, my cat will die."

We weren't allowed to keep pets,

and I was the only one who knew I had it.

Iwate Prefecture, Morioka City.

March 2016.

A young girl and her mother

were found stabbed to death at home.

The Morioka District Prosecutors' Office indicted Keita Oe, who lived nearby,

on suspicion of robbery and murder.

Here's how he was arrested.

- Oe fled during a police stop… - Hey, stop!

- …by a patrolling officer. - Hey, wait!

He ran into his house,

and when officers followed him in, they found a bloodstained knife.

He was arrested on the spot.

- Later DNA testing matched… - Hey! Settle down!

…the blood on the knife used on the victims.

Oe consistently denied the crime.

and the knife, the key piece of evidence…

I found it.

It's not mine.

Come on, that doesn't add up.

He refused the stop because he felt guilty, right?

HIGURUMA LAW OFFICE

No.

He was unfairly interrogated before

because an acquaintance of his used drugs.

So it was trauma?

Even so,

he "found" a bloody kitchen knife?

Why?

He says he planned to turn it in to the police later.

Later?

I know. Every part of his story sounds forced.

But if you consider his situation…

He is a live-in worker at an NPO.

It starts to feel like it isn't impossible.

An NPO?

They mainly run shelters and support

elderly people with nowhere to go.

Oe worked there, taking care of them.

But he wasn't paid a salary.

They call it "allowances." He gets New Year's money sometimes,

or boxed lunches and ingredients. That's it.

And despite that,

they charge him 50,000 yen a month as "rent."

That's brutal…

A lot of the residents there have criminal records.

As for why he was late turning in the weapon he found…

We weren't allowed to call them. Patrol cars or ambulances.

It would bother the neighbors.

That organization sounds pretty shady.

Yes. It's gray, almost black.

Ever since disaster relief money started flowing into Tohoku,

these shady NPOs have been increasing.

So a weapon lying around isn't that far-fetched.

There's more than enough chance Oe is innocent.

First, we dig into the group. Their activity record, tax filings,

and the identities of every resident.

I'll keep questioning Oe.

Shimizu, you keep investigating.

Isn't my workload increasing all of a sudden?

Also, can you keep a cat?

A cat?

Court appointments pay peanuts, but they dump a ton of work on you.

And public opinion is all "guilty."

Plus, it's murder. No suspended sentence, and the death penalty is possible.

You do all this, and for what?

Mr. Higuruma,

why did you take a case like this?

It's fine once in a while.

If I only do easy work, my skills get dull.

"Once in a while"?

This isn't once in a while!

What you're thinking is all over your face.

Higuruma, you never change.

It's rough when the boss attorney doesn't care about money.

I'm not saying

he should run a café on the side like you, Ms. Takagi…

But you said he never changes…

Was Mr. Higuruma always like that?

Not really.

If anything, he's worse now.

What?

Back when he was at our firm,

he handled a case for reckless driving causing injury.

Drunk driving, I mean.

The defendant was 19 years old.

People at work

forced him to drink and drive.

But they made everyone match their testimonies.

He couldn't come up with a settlement

or get a suspended sentence.

Liar…

You said I would be found not guilty!

You said you would try to get him probation.

You never said he would be found not guilty, though.

That should have taught you, right?

Quit taking hopeless criminal cases.

Saving the weak…

Sure, it sounds noble.

But on our own, without the court

and prosecutors, there are limits.

Oh, I found it!

You don't need to go that far. Even the clients would resent you.

They are cornered,

financially and mentally.

It is no surprise they lash out at me.

What is in your heart, Higuruma?

I…

The ruling. The defendant is…

Not guilty.

What?

What's going on?

No way…

We actually won…

Not yet.

They will appeal right away.

THE MORIOKA MOTHER AND CHILD MURDER CASE- NOT GUILTY VERDICT DESPITE SUSPICIONS

FORMER JUDGE WAS SHOCKED AT NOT GUILTY VERDICT DESPITE EVIDENCE

NOT GUILTY IF YOU PAY, YOU'RE NOT GUILTY

HOW MUCH WAS IT? LAW IS DEAD. PROSECUTOR IS USELESS

Next, the prosecutors…

The stolen items were not found in Mr. Oe's room.

Someone at the NPO

went missing right after the crime.

Also, at the estimated time of the crime,

the security camera at the shop

showed you there. That's the biggest problem.

Good thing you do not cook, Mr. Oe.

Mr. Higuruma, sir. Thank you so much.

Don't call me "sir."

And do not get ahead of yourself. There is still the appeal.

I WAS NERVOUS, TOO

It's not that.

Thank you for believing in me.

APPEAL TRIAL-SECOND TRIAL

LIFE IMPRISONMENT

The defense has to work

with limited budget and staff.

The prosecution pours in taxes and manpower to build evidence.

That is fine. That is how it works.

But in the appeal,

the prosecution added no new evidence.

Yet they ruled, "There is no reason to suspect

the missing person. The investigation was reckless."

And the verdict was overturned.

The Supreme Court is a narrow gate.

Most appeals are rejected outright.

It is hard to even get a proper hearing.

This trial was guilty from the start…

Why are you looking at me…

with those eyes?

What is in your heart,

Higuruma?

I'm not some champion saving the weak.

Since I was young, I could not ignore what I felt was wrong.

That is all.

The Lady of Justice blinds herself for equality under the law.

But people shut their eyes

to anything, to protect themselves.

So I will not shake off the hands that cling to me.

I want to be the one who keeps her eyes open.

If you object to this ruling,

file a notice of appeal

within 15 days, including today.

Mr. Higuruma?

Everyone, dismissed.

Start over.

CULLING GAME PLAYER

HIROMI HIGURUMA

Higuruma is…

- in Shinjuku. -…in Ikebukuro.

Shinjuku…

I hope Itadori is headed there too.

Ikebukuro?

Maybe Fushiguro is there too.

Isn't he a little late?

When is that kid going to bring me

the next sucker?

Huh? What?

No. That's not it.

Hey, what are you doing?

Like this.

Why are you being so quiet?

- Just grin and laugh along. - What's your problem?

All right.

- Yes, don't talk back. - What is your problem?

What is it?

- I didn't say it, but… - Hey!

- Why doesn't he get it? Is he stupid? - What? That's not enough?

They aren't good at school

- or sports, but they've got pride. - Come on!

So don't bruise their egos.

- Just laugh and play along. - Come on!

Then the others won't target you.

- And once in a while, you might get lucky. - What do you think?

Stop it.

Another idiot…

That uniform… West Junior High?

A middle-school kid?

He talked back.

So, for you…

Guidance is needed!

What?

Say no to violence!

You…

CULLING GAME PLAYER

Me?

YUJI ITADORI RIN AMAI

- Hey. - What?

If you're going to Shinjuku through Ikebukuro, don't.

This area has a lot of supplies.

You're more likely to run into players.

I have two reasons to refuse.

The route is easy to follow.

And my base is nearby.

Let me at least take a shower.

I haven't really rested since yesterday.

Higuruma is using this theater as a base.

If he hasn't moved, anyway.

Oh, right! Seriously, that helps.

Thanks.

Hey, wait!

What?

Are you really going?

I want to regroup, but we're in a hurry.

I've never met Higuruma,

but Haba got totally wrecked by him once.

Then we're fine.

I beat Propeller Head.

- I can at least run away, right? - What?

MAYBE…

See you!

Say it…

I have to say it…

Let's stop doing this…

Sorry.

Itadori…

Higuruma? Yes…

Sorry, but I'm Reggie.

You got played.

What's with that face? That's not scary at all.

- And just so you know, Reggie-- - Don't talk.

You're wasting time.

Who are you? What are you doing there?

And you?

Have you ever taken a bath with your clothes on?

No.

It feels better than I expected.

Right.

Back in primary school,

I liked clothed swimming lessons.

Lately, nothing really matters to me.

So I've been trying things I told myself I shouldn't do.

Guess I went bad after 30.

Funny?

It's a little funny.

You are Higuruma, right?

- Correct. - I want to talk.

Wait.

I'm a lawyer.

Talking to me costs a 5,000 yen consulting fee per 30 minutes.

What?

Kidding.

I felt like playing a slightly annoying lawyer.

Right…

For awhile, this guy…

You've got 100 points, right?

He's not a reincarnated sorcerer.

He's a modern sorcerer whose technique awakened.

He'll listen. There's room to negotiate!

Yes. You pass.

- What? - All right, I get it.

That shikigami is the real deal. You're strong, right?

If you were weak, I would have used you and killed you.

I like you. Join my team.

What's that? Nobody told me.

What are you planning?

How much do you know about the Culling Game?

It's a ritual, isn't it?

Using players' cursed energy

to ferry Japan's people to the other side,

and turn them into something else.

Should we keep Tengen out of this?

- What, you know Kenjaku? - What?

Figured there would be sorcerers

connected to Kenjaku…

So, in short…

we want to end the Culling Game.

Wait, time out. Not "end it," exactly.

We want to nullify forced killing.

To add a rule,

let us use your 100 points.

I'll be brief.

I refuse.

Was that a joke too?

No. I simply see potential in the Culling Game.

STATUTE BOOKS

Sometimes the law is powerless.

But, what about the Culling Game's rules?

If the jujutsu I was given is real,

then the rules are real too, right?

That "using players' cursed energy" bit you mentioned…

That's probably a bluff.

What?

Not exactly a bluff.

More like plan B or plan C.

I've got three reasons.

The number of players. The gap in strength between players.

And the barrier's rules.

Say there are about 1,000 players

split evenly across ten colonies.

That's about 100 per colony.

But among sorcerers,

there are freaks like Kashimo and Higuruma.

Those two alone have already culled about 60 sorcerers.

There's probably at least one like that in every colony.

So even from early on, only the strong remain,

and the Culling Game stalls out?

Yes. I had felt it.

It's too quiet in here!

It already has.

At least in Tokyo Colony One.

And the teleportation on entry.

Sure, it spreads people out.

But mainly, it pushes modern sorcerers

into an early second awakening.

Some people even die from teleportation.

If Kenjaku really wanted their cursed energy,

he would want more sorcerers.

And he would want them fighting longer, dragging it out.

No complaints and prosecutions needed.

What if anyone who breaks the rules

will be punished, like the law of physics?

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Sure, the general rules have problems.

But I want to watch the barrier system.

I can't have it ending too soon.

Especially the confiscation of techniques

in Rules Two and Eight.

Rule-wise, if your technique is confiscated, you'll probably die.

The Culling Game itself is a ritual.

If we screw around, everyone in this country will die.

That's bogus.

The Culling Game claims it will go on forever.

I don't totally get that either.

I'll put it differently.

Let me use your 100 points, Higuruma.

Ever killed someone you didn't like?

It feels better

than I expected.

Shikigami…

Higuruma has 100 points.

He might have killed 20 sorcerers.

I can't rush in.

I'll handle whatever he throws at me.

Domain Expansion.

Deadly Sentencing.

That "forever" clause is just a cover

for the real plan.

I'm sure of it.

Once only the strong are left, Kenjaku will drop a bomb on the game…

And the Culling Game is done. Its role will be over.

SIT DOWN

THANKS FOR INVITING ME

All right. Make your excuse.

- What happens if I'm found guilty? - Judgeman, begin.

So it's okay to lie?

You get one chance to testify.

I can't knead my cursed energy!

How are you keeping up with me, without cursed energy?

Do it over! One more time!

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