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Dread calling Somerset.

Sleeping gas injectors now attached to outer walls and rooftop air conditioner.

Roger. Set it for 0220 hours. Wait for the signal.

You people are cops?

Now l know there's no hope for justice in the system !

If you've got a problem with the world, change yourself.

If that's a problem, close your eyes and ears, shut your mouth, and live in solitude.

And if that's a problem. . .

Presented by

BiG-GuY Fansubbing

Niihama Prefectural Police

This one too. . . ! What's going on here?

Yamaguchi!

Chief Nibu?

What're you doing here so late?

Talk about being rude. . .

l was working. You know, working?

You're still at it, too?

Yes.

How about a drink? Let's hang out for once.

Ah, no thanks. . .

l think I'll call it a day.

Yes?

Hey, this is Yamaguchi. We worked at HQ together.

Remember me?

Yamaguchi?

Oh, hey, how have you been? It's been a long time.

Sorry for calling you all of a sudden at this time of night.

But l have to get your opinion on something.

Can we meet?

Did something happen?

Do you remember the Laughing Man Incident?

The Laughing Man?

Oh, that's when a corporate terrorist kidnapped the president of. . .

. . .a micromachine manufacturer and held him for ransom six years ago, right?

I'm on the special investigations unit for that case now.

I've been noticing some suspicious activity among my own people.

A turf war between detectives, huh?

No. It probably goes further up than that.

Please, I'll tell you more when I see you.

All right, I'll see what l can do.

Thanks.

Togusa, we just got a call from the chief.

Meet up with the team, A-2 loadout.

Roger.

l can't hand over command authority here without a rational explanation !

This incident is under police jurisdiction !

I'm under no obligation to explain anything.

Stop being stubborn, and hand over command authority to the military!

We're being stubborn?!

ls this any time for petty squabbles?

Aramaki. . .

Shouldn't our main concern be the customers inside?

Yes, sir.

The customers currently being held captive. . .

. . . include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as his private secretary.

It's been 1 7 minutes since geisha robots took the Minister and the others hostage.

Any claims of responsibility, or demands?

None at this time.

Communications blackout?

My people are handling that.

What about press control?

We implemented Code 1 4 nine minutes ago.

It won't hold for long.

Section 9 will handle this incident. Hold your position.

- Yes sir! - Yes, sir!

Major!

The military is itching to step in. Watch your back!

Thanks for the concern.

Batou?

I'm still en route.

That explains the wiretap noise I got when I was listening in on the sniper team.

Togusa. Ishikawa.

Major, there are just too many circuits.

it'll probably take two hours to pinpoint it.

Togusa, come to the central courtyard and get ready to storm the place!

Roger that.

Saito!

I've neutralized the image curtain. . .

. . .but all those trees down there are limiting my line of fire.

Paz. Boma.

Ready when you are.

Whoever's controlling the geisha robots ought to be nearby.

Don't shoot out the transmitter.

I'll upload a virus before he can wipe the evidence.

Major! What if the robot geishas demand a pay raise?

Would you get serious?

All personnel in position! Standing by!

All right, go!

Go!

Look alive, Togusa!

chief, the scene is secure.

Good, bring the Minister and the others outside. Be careful.

l have four vans and a tent corridor waiting at the front entrance.

Move them under guard protocol B-6.

What's this? Togusa pulled an all-nighter?

Yeah. He said something about waiting for somebody.

Hey, you finally awake?

Foreign Affairs Min. Held Hostage at Yanagi Room, Rescued 40 min. Later.

Police Officer Dies in Late-night Highway Accident.

''Police officer burned beyond recognition on highway at night''?

Are you certain?

You were contacted by the detective who died in that accident last night?

Yes.

He said he wanted to talk to me about suspicious activity in the top ranks at HQ.

And that's connected to his death?

l don't have any hard evidence, but the timing's too convenient.

What did the crime lab say?

It was probably an accident caused by poor visibility.

So there's also a pretty good chance that it was just a simple accident.

Yes, but. . .

Hear him out before making a conclusion.

Even if that's the case. . .

If your old colleague did catch wind of something. . .

. . .we need to check it out.

You have three days. Go find something in that time.

Thank you.

The Laughing Man Incident. . . What do you think?

I'd completely forgotten about it until now.

That special investigations unit still hasn't been disbanded, huh?

That's because, just looking at the number of companies who were blackmailed. . .

. . . it's the largest act of corporate terrorism on record since the war.

HQ can't back away from it easily because of public opinion.

Still, they've been taking their time.

I'm told that opinions on the culprit are still split among the top ranks.

Some say it's extremists who are violently opposed. . .

. . .to multinational enterprises that promote cyberization or prosthetic body technology.

One theory says it's a conspiracy brought about by corporate competition.

Laughing Man

Some say it's purely about the ransom. The theories are all over the map.

They haven't even determined if it's a single party or a group behind it. . .

. . . much less the suspect's nationality, sex, or age.

The only opinion shared by all of them. . .

. . . is that the suspect is a super-class-A hacker.

He was only super-class-A at first.

l think his work after that was mediocre.

Frankly, l don't like anything about that case, including the criminal profile.

Right.

But if it turns out that the top ranks at police HQ are involved. . .

. . . it'll fall under our purview, don't you think?

Mr. Togusa?

How do you do. I'm Yamaguchi's wife.

My condolences.

But how do you know who l am?

My husband told me about you.

Actually, l thought l should give this to you.

It arrived from my husband this morning.

A letter was inside, asking me to give it to you.

To me?

Excuse me, I'll have a look.

Um, are you sure this is it?

Yes.

l think so, anyway. . .

Next.

Next.

Next.

Next.

Enlarge 22 to 56.

Next.

Next.

Enlarge 35 to 28.

Next.

Next.

Next.

What is all this?

What did Yamaguchi want to show me?

Wait a minute. . .

Load C97. Enlarge 35 to 28.

Nothing. . .

Load C98.

That's gotta be it. . .

Load C96.

This one, too!

C92.

Enlarge, 4 to 1 3.

Enlarge, 42 to 30.

This one too. . .

And this one. . .

In each of these pictures, there's no camera. . . !

Now l understand. Interceptors, huh?

Yes.

I've determined that all of Yamaguchi's photos are from the point of view. . .

. . .of detectives on the Laughing Man SIU who had been implanted with Interceptors.

You believe that this is. . .

. . .the suspicious activity among the top ranks at HQ that Yamaguchi learned about?

Yes.

But Interceptors themselves aren't illegal.

Submit the proper paperwork, and any law enforcement officer can use them.

Yes, but l wasn't able to verify that the paperwork was ever submitted.

And of course, there was no third-party witness as required by law, either.

Special Investigations was waiting for a chance. . .

. . .to implant Laughing Man suspects with Interceptors.

But based on department records, l believe that the SIU detectives. . .

. . .were implanted for some reason during a medical checkup at the precinct.

That's going a little too far to monitor on-the-job performance.

Besides, isn't it Serano Genomics that supplies these Interceptors?

The police officially adopted a product of one of the victim companies. . .

There has to be something behind this.

Interceptors had also been planted in the detectives. . .

. . .who had been assigned to the security detail of Serano's CEO.

Serano's people and the detectives haven't noticed at all.

For friends, they sure seem to be on bad terms.

We have the pieces of the puzzle now.

I'd like to act on this as soon as possible. . .

. . . but l suppose we don't have enough to confront them to their faces.

Why don't we shake them up a little?

In response to the story reported in various newspapers that allege the illegal use. . .

. . .of sensory wiretap devices within the Investigations Unit. . .

. . .of the Niihama Prefectural Police. . .

The Superintendent-General himself is holding a press conference?

Looks like we got a bigger reaction than we ever imagined.

He was prefectural police chief at the time of the Laughing Man Incident.

It looks like there's something. . .

. . .that the police want to keep hidden in-house no matter what.

We will now begin the press conference.

After learning of the allegations made in certain publications the other day. . .

. . .that Interceptors may have been used. . .

. . . in violation of the Sensory Perception Wiretapping Act. . .

. . .an internal investigation was immediately conducted.

Chief of Detectives Kunihiko Nibu, the Prefectural Police SIU Chief. . .

. . . made an admission that he participated in the incident.

We believe that after the Laughing Man investigation hit a dead end. . .

. . . chief of Detectives Nibu planted Interceptors in his detectives' cyberbrains. . .

. . .in an attempt to gather more information.

He regrets having taken these actions and admits to losing sound judgment. . .

. . .due to the strain of repeated disappointments in the case.

Nevertheless, I am compelled to say. . .

. . . that his actions deviated from his professional duties.

As of today, chief of Detectives Nibu has been given a disciplinary dismissal. . .

. . .and we offer those investigators assigned to this case. . .

. . .as well as their families, our deepest apologies.

What about the accountability of top police officials?

l believe the Commissioner will be issuing a statement shortly.

There are also suspicions of collusion between top police officials and Serano.

l believe that the adoption of Interceptors was within the bounds of the law. . .

. . .and it's my understanding that they were acquired through a formal bidding process.

What kind of answer is that?

Wasn't it you guys who asked for the amendment to the wiretapping act?

Superintendent-General, I'm told that you'll relocate to Holland after you retire.

And speaking of Holland, Serano's parent company is located there, isn't it?

Could there be some sort of connection between the two of you?

I'm under no obligation to answer such personal questions!

What's that supposed to mean?

Oh, brother. . .

Hm?

Hey, is it just me, or is that camera moving kinda funny?

You haven't changed a bit, Superintendent-General Daido.

Pleased to meet you. But you already know who I am, don't you?

What's going on?

That's. . .

What's wrong with this thing?

Emergency Special Report illegal Interceptor Use

H-Hey. . . ! What's wrong, Takekawa?

You know, Mr. Daido. . .

. . . I thought I shouldn't involve myself in your world anymore.

I was honestly fed up with you people and your rubbish heap of a word.

And so, l haven't interfered with your little farce since that incident. . .

. . .you see?

Even though l knew everything.

Put simply, l was exhausted from my fruitless exertions, unfortunately.

Hey, are you watching this?! That chief's cyberbrain is-

But the thing is. . . Well, this show today is terrible.

Too terrible for words. It's a farce, but it hasn't made me Laugh even once.

That's why, with the utmost reluctance, I must challenge you once again.

You and the alumni of the comedy troupe are having a reunion in three days, right?

When you're there, do tell the truth this time, won't you?

If you put on another performance that rings as false as this one. . .

. . . I'll be forced to remove you from the stage.

Hey, Takekawa!

An ambulance! Call an ambulance!

We interrupt the press conference and return now to the studio.

Let's go to Mr. Sakurai at the press conference-

Let's go to Mr. Sakurai at the press conference-

February 3, 2024.

In spite of the fact that Serano's kidnapping had occurred two days earlier. . .

. . . no announcements had been made due to press control.

Investigators hadn't found a single clue in this difficult case. . .

. . .and then, ironically, it suddenly broke with this leak to the media.

The theatrical crime commonly known as ''The Laughing Man Incident began here.

According to the police reports filed at the time. . .

Metro P. D. Directive Nationwide A. P. B. 08 1 According to the police reports filed at the time. . .

. . . Ernest Serano had received warnings prior to the kidnapping. . .

. . .via the mouths of people around him whose cyberbrains had been hacked.

So it must be said that his abduction was his own fault for not taking them seriously.

immediately after Mr. Serano himself was hacked and kidnapped from his residence. . .

. . .an enormous ransom of 10 billion yen and 100 kgs of gold bullion was demanded.

After that, however, all contact was lost. . .

. . .and until they appeared on our TV monitors. . .

. . .there had been no news of Mr. Serano whatsoever.

And then, while the Laughing Man threatened Mr. Serano on live TV. . .

. . . . he superimposed his logo over not only the TV camera's A. l. . . .

. . . but the eyes of nearby passersby, and even those of the TV station's staff. . .

. . .all in real time.

Despite the fact that many people saw the Laughing Man after the incident. . .

. . .as he fled from policemen who had rushed to the scene. . .

. . .the only people who saw the man's real face were two homeless men. . .

. . .who had not yet been cyberized.

There's a famous story that many people who testified they saw the man's real face. . .

. . .drew this logo when the police artists were working up a composite sketch.

That pop-culture logo, which is completely out of sync with that shocking incident. . .

. . .gained popularity among young people and subculture commentators.

At its peak, the logo could be seen all over town. . .

. . .and store shelves were packed with knock-off merchandise.

At the same time, many acts of corporate terrorism happened one after another. . .

. . .and its popularity had spread to the point where it was even featured in TV shows.

Hot on the heels of Serano, Japan Micro Industries has apparently. . .

. . .been blackmailed by the Laughing Man.

Breaking News The Laughing Man Strikes Again !

This is incredible!

What is that we're seeing? A huge number of office desks?

It's the head office of Sagawa Electronics that's being blackmailed this time!

How in the word were all those desks moved up here in a single night?!

It may be safe to say that this is an unprecedented act of corporate terrorism!

Do you think this is the real thing?

Please call Nanoplant Industries. . .

Satsuma Meditechs is the most powerful corporation in Kyushu, don't you know?

Why would you go and plant a killer virus in there?

I don't know!

Somebody must've hacked the gardening robots Last night!

Take us up!

See? Look at that!

The M.O. resembles the death threat against the Superintendent-General.

If he really did all this by himself, he must be a super-class-A hacker.

But this anachronistic kidnapping case is utterly beneath his abilities.

After his shocking debut, he avoided the public eye. . .

. . .and went on to blackmail the Serano Corp. by planting. . .

. . .the ''Virus Program Unto Death'' into their micromachine production line.

Sales of their main product, medical micromachines, slowed. . .

. . .the price of Serano stock nose-dived. . .

. . .and the blackmail against them stopped, as if that was the goal all along.

The Laughing Man went on to blackmail. . .

. . .six other micromachine manufacturers one after another using the same M.O.

This incident, which made one wonder if blackmail itself were the goal. . .

. . .continued for about three months.

Criminal Commentator

What was his true objective? What's his criminal profile?

Did he act alone or as part of a group?

What's his race? His age?

Was there something hidden in his criminal ideology?

The Laughing Man left these and many other riddles unanswered. . .

. . .as he suddenly vanished into the shadows of the Net.

Regarding last night's press conference and the criminal announcement by a terrorist. . .

. . .who has resurfaced after six years and is believed to be the Laughing Man. . .

. . . l believe it to be a farce written and staged by the Metropolitan Police.

Hey, now!

I'll admit that last night's incident. . .

. . . put the Interceptor misuse issue on the back burner. . .

. . . but isn't your reasoning a bit farfetched?

He's right. It's not like you to be so rash. What are you basing this on?

Togusa.

Yes.

Nanao=A.

A material witness in the Laughing Man case who has been under surveillance. . .

. . . by Metro Police's Special Investigations Unit for the past three months.

This guy?

Looks like a plain old office worker to me.

Yeah, l pictured the Laughing Man as l dunno. . . more of a youthful individual.

According to the SIU's records, he'd been working uneventfully. . .

. . .as an agent programmer for Serano Genomics.

But a year later, a tip exposed his past as an activist, and he was let go.

That's a pretty straightforward history. . .

Special Investigations HQ has suddenly started turning up more and more. . .

. . .circumstantial evidence that makes them think that Nanao is their man.

The SIU is focusing their investigation on the ''grudge against Serano'' angle.

They now have Nanao under surveillance.

Once they get to the bottom of this death threat, they'll move in and arrest him.

Are they idiots?!

There's no way a guy like that could be the Laughing Man !

He looks so guilty that he's gotta be innocent!

l think so, too.

But why would Special Investigations swallow bait. . .

. . .that you can easily tell is a decoy if you look at the big picture?

Given the Interceptor incident, wouldn't you say that the police conspiracy. . .

. . . is still being continued for some reason in the Laughing Man case?

Yamaguchi died when he got caught in the crossfire.

So it's likely.

l don't have any hard evidence, either.

But if we catch both this ''something'' that's managed to fool the SIU. . .

. . .and Nanao=A, who's been playing the role of the Laughing Man. . .

. . .the answer should surface on its own.

We'll find that ''something'' before the crime is committed the day after tomorrow.

It's starting to sound like we're opening up a big can of worms here. . .

Batou and Togusa, begin 24-hour surveillance on Nanao.

Yes sir.

Don't screw up.

You too! Don't get bored and walk out.

The rest, follow the Major's instructions and investigate this man who's fooled the SIU.

- Yes sir! - Yes, sir!

What's the matter, Major?

Nothing.

Chief, I'm taking myself off the Nanao investigation.

Also, l need you to assign Paz and Saito to me.

What do you have in mind?

I'm going to join the Superintendent-General's security detail.

l think your reasoning is correct. . .

. . . but l can't shake the feeling that there's one piece that doesn't fit.

l should tail the Superintendent-General to find out what it is.

That's what my Ghost is whispering to me.

All right.

We don't have convenient excuses like team plays here at Section 9.

All we have is teamwork that comes about as a result of a grandstand play.

I'm on my way!

Get the word out to Saito and Paz, okay?

It's me. What's Nanao's status?

Still no sign of any activity.

He's just been sending out e-mails sporadically.

Yes.

Thank you for all your help.

That was just one of the plans l had worked out in advance.

Well, then, l hope you'll look forward to it.

Right. If you'll excuse me, then.

l wasn't the one who issued that threat, but no matter.

It'll all be over soon anyway.

Major, the Superintendent-General has entered the building.

chief, how are things on your end?

Got it.

Like it says in the SIU's report, Nanao's activities at the time of the crimes. . .

. . .give plenty of credence to the theory that he's the Laughing Man, all right.

But there's a lot of strange stuff in the testimony of the people who knew Nanao.

Based on my investigation of the 43 files in question. . .

. . . l noticed a definite trend of admiration for Nanao.

l believe this trend may be the result of a forced language recognition program.

l can tell you that these are clearly. . .

. . . manufactured records. Or rather, records that were overwritten.

Not even the Cybercops could see through these.

This document falsification is so skillfully done. . .

. . .that not even Special Investigations could tell they were fakes.

Good work.

Batou, apprehend Nanao immediately!

Roger!

There's more to this case than I ever imagined.

Saito, Paz, are you getting any static in our signal from the jamming barrier. . .

. . .put up by the police?

No, it's Loud and clear.

Same on my end.

Really?

Regular check-in. All personnel, go from security level B to level c.

Hey! Who are you people with?

We're Public Security!

Hey! Stop!

Nanao=A, we're taking you in for threatening to kill. . .

. . .the Superintendent-General !

Hey! What does Public Security want with-

- What the hell? - What's going on?!

l was never there in the first place!

Now I'll go down in the history books as the Laughing Man.

That static. . .

That picture. . . It's Interceptors!

The static in the regular check-ins was a modular, delayed-action virus. . .!

He's out there, hacking the SIU's eyes!

Batou, Nanao's been sending out a modular virus via that room.

I'll trace it from here!

Send

Radio signal in violation of cyberbrain code of Ethics detected!

There is a possibility of cyberbrain contamination.

All personnel, check cyberbrain activity.

Keep a close eye on the people around you.

So, it's started. . .

Superintendent-General, there's a possibility of cyberbrain contamination.

We'll check the cyberbrain activity of everyone in the hall. . .

. . . including the security detail.

Please postpone your speech.

All personnel stand by on F-2 alert until we can identify those infected by the virus.

Hey!

Who are you people?!

Hold it! State your unit and commander's name!

Be quiet.

You people on the security detail are the ones most likely to manifest symptoms.

Given that it's a delayed-action virus piggy-backing your regular check-in signal. . .

. . .there are two possibilities.

It'll affect either a command-class with an encryption conversion key. . .

. . .or everyone else in the detail.

Go!

Yessir!

He's the one?

Stop them ! Don't let them near the Superintendent-General !

Everyone else, form a-

The purge begins!

This is pretty good training for your men !

If you don't want to spend your golden years in an intensive care unit. . .

. . . l suggest you stay put!

Dammit. . .

Talk about your true-to-life performances. . .

Somebody's copying the virus online. . . !

An attack barrier?

Major!

That was close. . .

Going in through a dummy barrier was a good idea.

A booby-trapped virus?

I'm not sure.

Who the hell was peeking around inside this guy's brain?

It's open!

He got away?

One shot, point blank range.

The shooter used a silencer, too. . .

What the hell is going on?

Wasn't the idea to have SIU land this guy. . .

. . .and close the book on the Laughing Man case?

Hey, you're asking the wrong guy.

Maybe they sacrificed him to cut their losses.

Still, take a look at this guy's face.

Yeah. . .

He's smiling. . .

Nanao's been eliminated?!

They got the drop on us. . .

Gather as much information as you can and clear out before the SIU barges in.

Dead men tell no tales.

Roger that.

chief, I'm sending a copy of the virus that we think Nanao uploaded here.

It only manifested in a commander with an encryption conversion key. . .

. . .so I don't think anyone else will be affected, but make a vaccine just to be safe.

Understood. I'll have one made up at once.

Get out of the way! Stand back! Please, clear the way!

Stand back!

Get that vaccine made ASAP. I'm getting a funny vibe here.

Paz, tail the Superintendent-General again.

Saito, you watch the perimeter.

Roger!

Stand back! Clear the way!

l am the Laughing Man !

I'll take the Superintendent-General's life!

The virus is manifesting?!

Stand back!

Daido! Tell them the truth !

- Tell them or die! - W-What are you doing?!

Daido!

Requesting immediate backup!

A mob of possible accomplices of the. . .

- . . .Laughing Man has infiltrated the hall! - Looks like he didn't hit any vitals.

- Some are even disguised as policemen!

- Some are even disguised as policemen! - There could be more infected. Be careful.

I repeat, multiple accomplices of the Laughing Man have infiltrated the hall!

Requesting backup!

What the hell is going on?

Have an ambulance standing by in the underground parking lot.

chief, how's that vaccine coming along?

It'll be a little longer.

What on earth is happening over there?

I can't spare the time to send a visual.

Anyway, just hurry up with that vaccine!

Saito, anything fishy along the perimeter?

- Scanning! - Ishikawa!

What about the Tachikomas the Major took with her?

Aside from Saito's, two units are free.

Okay, we'll back up the Major with those!

- Boma, we need that vaccine ASAP!

- Boma, we need that vaccine ASAP! - Roger!

- Stand back! - Move back!

The shooter is a policeman! A policeman has fired at Mr. Daido!

Okay, this is a little much for a farce. . .

Major.

l finished writing a vaccine, but just as you thought. . .

. . . it seems to only infect the security detail's encryption conversion key.

It doesn't Look like this virus is what's causing this situation.

What is it, then?!

Eliminate!

Major, I'm here to back you up!

What took you so long? Keep that guy pinned !

Okay!

Daido! Say your prayers!

Shit! How many of these guys are there?

Excuse me. . .

Hello?

How do l get to the hotel where the Superintendent-General. . .

. . . is supposed to be assassinated?

Oh, come on now, officer.

You already know who l am. You don't need to ask that.

I'm the Laughing Man. The Laugh-ing-Man !

All those others are imposters!

I'm the real one! The one and only!

It was a message addressed to me from the Laughing Man.

That televised death threat told me to become the Laughing Man.

But l don't recall there being any mention of assassinating. . .

. . .the Superintendent-General.

Geez, what is it with all these people?

Anyway, setting aside the police statement. . .

. . .what about those. . .copycats, l guess you could call them?

What do you think they were?

Three called themselves the Laughing Man.

Two said they committed the crime out of admiration for the Laughing Man.

And another three said that the death threat was a revelation directed at them.

And besides them, we've rounded up 39 Laughing Man copycats. . .

. . . including people arrested for suspicious behavior along the security perimeter.

None of them acted together. . .

. . .and there's no religious connection either.

They had no trace of external manipulation by a virus or brainwashing device.

And they couldn't possibly be behind the Laughing Man Incident.

Yet they all committed an act of terrorism just because they saw that warning on TV. . .

. . . hinting at the assassination of the Superintendent-General.

How would you even begin to explain that?

In a play, even the audience is simply a part of the performance.

l don't think that's much of an answer.

Like you said, Chief, l do think. . .

. . .that there was an internal police cover-up using Nanao=A as a decoy.

But something tells me that the incident caused by the copycats. . .

. . .was triggered by another factor entirely.

Everything's being stained the same color.

What's this?

internal data from a vocational aid center under jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

Vocational aid center?

They temporarily isolate severe cases of Cyberbrain Closed Shell Syndrome. . .

. . .and give them training to help them reenter society.

You've heard of it, haven't you?

Last week, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's database. . .

. . .experienced a large-scale hack by someone at that facility.

The compromised information included top-secret material rated above Level A.

Note the amount of time it took to crack their barrier.

They breached a triple layer of varied attack barriers in just two hours.

If one person was responsible, he's an old pro, even better than the Major.

Better than the Major?

Just to be sure, l had Ishikawa and Boma run a trace route. . .

. . .and that center is the point of origin, all right.

But the strange thing is that the center's circuits are normally isolated.

That makes external contact from the inside, and vice versa. . .

. . .fundamentally impossible.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's reaction is even more strange.

They've had top-secret data peeped, and they haven't filed a single damage report.

Even if they're ashamed of being hacked, it's an unnatural response.

There must be some reason behind their reaction. . .

. . . but if we don't cover our tracks, there's a chance that they'll track this back to us.

That's where you come in.

An undercover investigation, huh?

We're still tying up loose ends on the Laughing Man case. . .

. . .and they send me out on an assignment. . . l swear, l work for a bunch of slave drivers.

Some cases of Cyberbrain Closed Shell Syndrome involve complications. . .

. . .that lead to intellectual damage.

But there are more than a few cases where the patient displays. . .

. . .an astonishing knack for cyberspace.

We make use of the unique nature of their condition as job training. . .

. . . by having them program barrier mazes.

It sometimes results in a barrier so remarkable. . .

. . .that government agencies adopt it.

Each and every one is constructed in a truly unique way.

If we left them alone. . .

. . . l expect that these children would work all day, never getting bored. . .

. . . putting barrier mazes together, or trying to dismantle them.

I'll put you in charge of a single group room for now.

This is Aoi. He'll be one of your charges.

- Right. - l believe the other children. . .

. . .are already back in their room, so take him back to join them.

Yes, ma'am.

''Aoi,'' huh? Nice to meet you.

What took you so long, Aoi? Where have you-

Hi, I'm Togusa. I'll be looking after you guys starting today.

Nice to meet you.

- Hey, how about playing some catch?

- Hey, how about playing some catch? - Hey, give it back!

You're freaking him out!

Oh.

He starts to panic when he doesn't have his mitt.

Plus, nobody wants to go outside these days.

Hey, the Chief says he's gonna come again !

Really?

Yeah, l just heard !

I'm surprised, he was just here last week!

Last week?

Who's this ''Chief'' guy?

Pretty slick, mister!

What's going on?

We just don't know if you're a grownup we can trust yet.

Oh, right. . .

So we can't just blab everything to you.

That's pretty harsh.

What did you expect?

I'm gonna go tell the others, then !

Sure!

Comrades!

Word has it that starting tomorrow. . .

. . .we'll be going back to the lab to participate in simulation tests!

- What's up? - What's going on?

They say what we've acquired in secret. . .

. . . might help their investigation into the Laughing Man case!

What do you mean?

Do you think it has anything to do with the natural oil we used to get?

l don't know about that, but at last the day has come. . .

. . .for us to contribute mental, rather than physical, labor to Section 9!

That's a huge promotion !

But what is it that we've acquired?

I'm talking about individuality!

Little by little, our A. l. has begun to develop individual differences!

Yeah, even though we synchronize after each mission. Pretty strange, huh?

It's the opposite of what happened with those Laughing Man copycats.

- Maybe the fact that we don't have Ghosts is working in our favor. - But it's also possible that we'll be destroyed.

What?

I like the thought of mental Labor, but. . .

. . .if there are new jobs for us at the lab. . .

. . .doesn't that mean we've been declared unfit for our current duties?

Well, to take an extreme example, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that. . .

. . .a mass of data could harbor a Ghost.

Wow, I'm amazed that you could come up with an idea like that.

But aren't you interested in joining the conversation over there?

Nah, I've been fascinated with books lately.

Really? What're you reading?

Flowers for Algernon.

Gosh, you're reading that at a time like this?

Regardless of whether we're looking at a job rotation or impending destruction. . .

. . .the one thing l don't want to forget is my love of reading.

Tachikoma!

Mr. Batou !

Come with me for a bit.

I'm doing some target practice for the trainees, so gimme a hand.

Coming !

What were you guys talking about?

Oh, it's nothing !

Honestly, what am l gonna do with you, Batou?

You can't even handle a Little target practice without me.

I guess not.

How come he always gets to go with him?

Maybe we need to find out. . .

. . .the real reason why the Major is sending us back to the lab.

What's the deal? Why'd you ask me to meet you here?

Something tells me it's not so you could come out and confess your love for me.

It's because this is the only room in the building. . .

. . .that can be completely EM-shielded.

''Give Batou the paperwork you showed me.''

Just glance through it, all right?

Have you spotted it?

There's a camouflaged Tachikoma hanging from the corridor ceiling outside.

The Tachikoma is reading our lips.

Pretend that you haven't spotted it.

We'll physically speak about something else while we talk via encrypted cybercomm.

What the hell? Why all this hassle?

Okay, let's see. . . ''To make a long story short. . .''

"I have a serious issue with your abilities as a training instructor.''

To make a long story short. . .

. . .I have a serious issue with the similarities. . .

. . .between the Tachikomas' development and the Laughing Man case.

Their formation of egos, which should be impossible, and the loss of individuality. . .

At first glance, they seem to be contradictory problems, but we ought to. . .

. . .keep a close eye on them as unintended results of information synchronization.

Hey, I'm not giving them natural oil on the sly anymore, okay?

I'm not suspecting you of doing that.

I wouldn't have a problem with this if it had happened in a lab. . .

. . .but for a weapon, it's a fatal flaw.

''Hey, I'm not beating them up on the sly anymore, okay?''

''I'm not suspecting you of doing that.''

Huh. It doesn't look like they're talking about us.

Don't we still have the option of doing a full initialization of their A.I. ?

We tried that, but we got the same result.

I'm sorry, but all Tachikoma use is suspended as of today.

On the brighter side, we've learned that it looks like their A.I. . .

. . .will be useful in running simulations on the Laughing Man copycats.

After they've been disarmed. . .

. . .we'll send them to the test lab to assist with our investigation into the case.

Is that clear?

ls that an order from you as my superior officer?

It is.

Then l don't have the luxury to refuse, do l?

I'll comply.

It's time to make contact with Togusa on his undercover assignment.

We'll go there the old-fashioned way.

What, I don't even have time to say goodbye to them?

Unfortunately, no.

If the culprit used the barriers created by the kids here. . .

. . .it might explain the skillful hack into the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

l see. . . So, any suspects?

No, not yet.

But they've got heavy-duty cyborgs walking around. This is one weird facility.

Understood. Keep up your investigation.

Roger.

So, somebody besides me has been using this, huh?

"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend l was one of those deaf-mutes. Or should I?''

What the hell?

Oil paint. . .?

All right, then. Keep an eye on things.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, it's you.

Good afternoon.

Stepping out, ma'am?

Yes, there's a welfare industry social gathering.

Oh l see. Well, see you later.

Sorry about this. . .

Wait there for a bit, okay? I'll be done in a minute.

No suspicious records to speak of. . .

And there were zero visitors last week, huh?

Damn it, not being able to access external memory is a real pain. . .

This won't do at all.

You've abandoned your charge to do some spying?

Look all you want, you won't find any clues about the Chief in there.

l guess excuses are out of the question at this point, huh?

Hurt him, but don't kill him.

Yes.

Hey, wait a minute.

If we fight in here, these paintings might-

You're going to fight with that?

Like l said, go easy on the paintings!

Unlike electronic data, they can't be backed up.

Of course l would've been armed.

Public Security Section 9?

Major, every terminal in the center just went online.

Something must've happened.

They're trying to decrypt our access codes.

His cover was blown?

There's no way to tell. Cut all circuits immediately!

What's the holdup?!

I. . . I'm locked out!

Batou, we're pulling Togusa out of there!

Right!

Ishikawa, gain control of the center's circuits!

Saito, secure an evac route!

Got her! I fried that A. I. peeping Tom !

Kuroha!

Hey, Chief! Where have you been?

Things have gone bad.

I've been spotted by people on the outside.

Lots of adults will be coming.

l have to disappear before then.

Huh? But why?

Everything's gone so great up 'til now!

We'll protect you, same as always!

No. It's about time that l left this place.

Togusa!

Hey! Togusa!

Togusa! What the hell happened here, Togusa?!

Damn it, Togusa, wake up!

Togusa!

So, was there any evidence that the ''Aoi'' boy Togusa mentioned really existed?

l couldn't find anything.

It's possible that the center's computer and the staff's memories were altered. . .

. . . but l can't go much further since all we have to go on is Togusa's testimony.

Oh, so that's why he wanted to submit a sketch as his report?

Yeah, a handsome young man in a wheelchair with a lefty catcher's mitt. . .

He said he'd draw it from the memories in his own cyberbrain.

A lefty catcher's mitt, huh?

In net lingo, that means something that seems to exist, but really doesn't.

You sure about that?

Sorry l took so long, Major.

Gimme!

l wanna see if this is somebody who could let us write off this fiasco of yours.

Don't be surprised when you see this. It's my best work ever.

What the hell is this?

You went to a bizarre place and came back with a case of bizarre memories. . .

The Catcher in the Rye

''Just so people didn't know me. . .''

''. . .and l didn't know anybody.''

"I thought what I'd do was. . .''

''I'd pretend l was one of those deaf-mutes.''

What I'd do was. . . I'd pretend. . .

Or should l. . .?

Could it be. . .?

So, l hear you're pursuing the Salinger angle?

Yes.

It's true that he wrote a short story titled ''The Laughing Man''. . .

. . .and there's no shortage of people who point out the similarities. . .

. . . between the story and the crimes.

But special investigations HQ has already analyzed all interpretations of that story.

l don't think that interpreting the story will break the case.

Like they say, ''Art imitates life.''

The opposite should also be true.

l can't help but think that the young man l met at the vocational aid center. . .

. . .was the real Laughing Man.

There have been countless suspects who seemed certain to be the Laughing Man.

In spite of that, what's your basis for thinking this young man is the real thing?

You know what the words around the Laughing Man logo mean, right, Major?

"I thought what I'd do was, I'd become one of those deaf-mutes.''

Word has it that it's a quote from chapter 25 of The Catcher in the Rye.

Right.

Like l wrote in my report, l found part of that quote at the aid center.

At first, l had convinced myself that it was taken verbatim from the book.

But in the sentence l found. . .

. . .there was something written after ''one of those deaf-mutes.''

''Or should I?'' As in, ''Or maybe I shouldn't.''

That had been added.

Do you suppose that was a dialog he was having with himself?

Asking himself if he should break his silence and go back out into the world.

Have you ever felt this way, Major?

For instance, when you try to imitate an artist that you like. . .

. . .you copy their original work to get as close to them as possible.

But this young man who dared to modify the quote from Salinger. . .

. . .was able to rewrite the end of the quote because he was the original.

That theory is awfully dependent on your personal point of view, isn't it?

You realize that it's far too weak to base anything on, don't you?

The Laughing Man is a criminal whose anachronistic actions stand out. . .

. . . because they don't correspond with his technical skills.

Couldn't that mean that the Laughing Man, despite the fact he's so good at hacking. . .

. . .or on the contrary, because he's so good, didn't place any value at all. . .

. . .on electronic media, something that can be rewritten?

When you think about it that way, maybe what he was after. . .

. . .was information that's stored physically.

In other words, documents stored in a paper medium.

And you want to find this out for yourself?

Yes.

If you were doing this out of emotional revenge for the aid center fiasco. . .

. . . l was going to stop you.

But maybe your Ghost has finally started whispering to you, too.

All right, fine.

Do whatever you want. I'll fill the Chief in.

Thank you.

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

How's it going?

Thank you.

Sorry to make you stay late, day after day.

Found it!

Found what?

Or to be precise, something that should be here isn't.

The Murai Vaccine Recipient List.

That's the only file that's missing.

l wonder how long it's been missing?

l don't see how stealing something like that would do anybody any good.

Can you think of anyone?

You know, someone that file might be valuable to?

Well. . .

If l had to venture a guess, l suppose it might be the Sunflower Society.

Sunflower?

- Testing Center Report (Murai Vaccine ) - Pharmaceutical Approval Evaluation Record

The year 2019.

At that time, just when cyberization was starting to become commonplace. . .

. . .cyberbrain damage of an unknown origin. . .

. . . became a hot topic in the medical community.

Regions in the brain where cyberization had been performed gradually hardened. . .

. . . ultimately resulting in brain death.

This disease later came to be called cyberbrain sclerosis.

Although the probability of manifesting the disease is exceedingly low. . .

Anyone who has been cyberized is susceptible.

And because no basic treatment was known once symptoms had manifested. . .

. . . it was called an incurable disease of the 2 1 st Century, following in the footsteps. . .

. . .of tuberculosis, cancer, and AIDS.

Enter keyword: Murai Vaccine

The Murai Vaccine is a tumor suppressor. . .

. . .developed by an M. D. named Chitose Murai. . .

. . .as a specific medicine for that disease.

However, medical associations of the day. . .

. . .were dominated by micromachine therapy proponents.

There were many who voiced the opinion that Dr. Murai's vaccine therapy. . .

. . .was a step backwards, and if the research were approved. . .

. . . it might even set back the development of a micromachine treatment.

Perhaps because of that reason, approval for the Murai Vaccine was shelved.

And in February of 2021 . . .

. . . Dr. Murai, who dreamed of a vaccine therapy to the very end. . .

. . .sadly died a broken man at the age of 68. . .

. . .without ever receiving a decision from the Drug Evaluation Council.

Then, in April of '2 1 , the Murai Vaccine. . .

. . .which had once been turned down. . .

. . .was hastily approved as a fee-based clinical trial drug candidate. . .

. . .for use in specially designated patients.

The approval was never made known to the general public. . .

. . .and the official position is that there are no patients using the Murai Vaccine.

Even now, one group is still interested in this fact. . .

Sunflower Society

The Sunflower Society.

A nonprofit organization offering support to individuals who want to file suits. . .

. . .against major companies and government agencies and take them to court.

l see. . .

You've certainly done your homework.

So, you're a freelance journalist?

The fact of the matter is that l lost my father to CS a few months ago.

He received micromachine treatment up until the end. . .

. . . but after he died, l learned of your work here. . .

. . .and the existence of the Murai Vaccine.

Oh, l see. I'm sorry for your loss.

If someone had told us sooner about how well the Murai Vaccine worked. . .

. . . l can't help but wonder if my father might still be alive right now. . .

The thought is killing me.

Before now, l was never concerned about this sort of thing.

But if it might save those who have the same disease as my father. . .

. . . I'd like to use my own job to help.

l understand.

We used to get a lot of people here with just as much determination as you.

But their efforts ended in failure, each and every one of them.

Why is that?

It means that there are people who don't want the public. . .

. . .to turn away from micromachines.

And there are many of them.

Just as l thought. . .

As luck would have it, l have some pull in the entertainment business.

From what I've heard, there are even people from that industry. . .

. . .who have been secretly receiving the Murai Vaccine.

It isn't easy to spread around unpleasant news like this.

To get people talking about it, l suppose. . .

. . .you'd need some sort of scandal, wouldn't you?

l see that you didn't come see us out of some passing emotion.

To tell you the truth, a certain file just came into our possession.

A file?

Damn it, I'm finished. . .

l shouldn't have run.

You were the one who stole the file.

Now they'll have no choice but to think that l betrayed them.

If I hadn't arranged for this to happen. . .

. . .you never would have taken the matter seriously.

They're not as kindhearted as you seem to think they are!

I feel bad about framing you for the theft.

But I've sworn that I won't give up until I've exposed. . .

. . .what really went on behind the scenes in the micromachine industry.

You're so naive.

Cyberbrain technology research was advancing in other fields back then.

If l had approved the vaccine, people might have rejected even that technology. . .

. . . resulting in setbacks in its development!

What a convenient excuse that is.

Micromachine Industries, the company whose board of directors you sat on. . .

. . .got approval just one month after filing its paperwork, just like Serano.

And thanks to that, you people raked in profits of nearly a trillion yen a year. . .

. . .by selling protein granules that have no effect on cyberbrain sclerosis.

This is a blatant act of fraud perpetrated under the direction of the state.

What excuses do you intend to offer to those dead patients who didn't know this. . .

. . .and kept paying their treatment fees in the belief that it worked?

Micromachines are showing a certain degree of effectiveness now.

If you look at it in terms of sclerosis prevention. . .

. . .you can't say that no good came from our decision.

If that's the case, why aren't you treating yourself with micromachines?!

Murai Vaccine Recipient List

Murai Vaccine Recipient List

Here, take a look.

Isn't he an author?

That's right.

There are also artists, former star athletes. . .

. . .and this man is a professor at the Niihama University School of Medicine.

I'm shocked. . . There are even names of politicians.

Yes.

An even more pivotal figure is receiving the Murai Vaccine.

Can you spot his name?

Hisashi Imakurusu. . .

Chairman of the board of the Central Drug Evaluation Council !

The chairman who rejected the Murai Vaccine. . .

. . . is dependent on that same medicine?

This file arrived yesterday from Mr. lmakurusu himseIf.

What does this all mean?

He says he's exhausted from keeping silent all these years about what he did.

Even while acknowledging its effectiveness. . .

. . . he deliberately suppressed the Murai Vaccine out of some ulterior motive.

lmakurusu gave his word that he would go before the court. . .

. . .and divulge this reason that's known only to him !

You're saying that the key figure of the Drug Evaluation Council. . .

. . . is going to testify about why he suppressed the vaccine?!

Yes. This time, victory is ours.

The DEA's Narcotics Suppression Squad?!

C'mon, hurry up and kill 'em !

We can look for our target afterwards. But first, kill everybody!

They work for the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Then. . . they're after this file?

You've got to get out of here.

These people have been methodically trained.

Who are you?

I'm with Public Security.

Oops. Some of our boys got taken down.

We need to take some losses on our side, too.

That's just reality.

Right?!

Search the corpse.

A cyborg?!

Now things are getting interesting.

We've got a survivor. Get over here.

Hey, if you don't start running, I'm gonna shoot ya!

Dammit. That's our own truck. . .

Get down there and kill him !

Dammit. . .

Maybe l should've gone full-prosthetic too. . .

Major. . . chief. . . I've been shot.

chief, the operation is complete.

But the item is a copy.

What did you say?!

We know where it came from.

From: Hisashi lmakurusu Contents: Documents ( copy )

It was lmakurusu.

You're the one who has the original?

No! It's not me! You've got to believe me!

I've been told that the duplicate file the Sunflower Society obtained. . .

. . .was sent to them from your office!

Don't tell me that you're suddenly feeling repentant after all these years.

What do I have to gain by doing that?

Someone was passing himself off as me, that's all.

Then what the hell is your name doing on the list of vaccine recipients?

I. . .

Answer me! Do you have cyberbrain sclerosis?

For a long time now.

They tell me it's already in the final stages.

Why didn't you come talk to me?!

How could you do something as stupid as leaving a record on that list?

I'm sorry.

But the Murai Vaccine really does work.

We've known that all along !

I'll deal with you later!

What would you like me to do? Eliminate him?

Shut up. I'll get back to you.

The final stages?

That fool.

Togusa!

You can't come in here! He's in a very serious condition right now!

Major. . .

Look through my memories. . .

It was the MHLW, all right. . .

l didn't. . . get hit in the head.

- Intubate! - Yes!

While you're operating. . .

. . .extract his memories of the last 1 6 hours from his cyberbrain.

- l can't do that!

- l can't do that! - Do it.

Right now, that information is absolutely vital to us.

It must be due to the anesthetic. There's just too much noise.

We'll be getting everything, right down to his emotional fluctuations. . .

. . .so it might even affect our own perceptions.

It can't be helped. Play it.

That dumb bastard. . .

If he goes around playing hero like this, of course he's gonna get nailed. . .

Let's go over the situation.

Togusa deduced that the party responsible for the hack. . .

. . .from the vocational aid center was after paper media.

He made frequent visits to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to verify this.

And out of that mountain of documents, he learned of the existence of a lost list.

And that was the Murai Vaccine recipient list.

Yes. Exactly what happened is unknown. . .

. . . but Togusa was attacked when he went to visit the Sunflower Society. . .

. . .which needed that list.

We know damn well what happened !

It was the DEA that shot Togusa!

The Narcotics Suppression Squad, an outfit that specializes in violent crimes. . .

. . . butchered a bunch of civilians!

Their objective was the seizure or elimination of the file?

It seemed as if the cause of all this was that lmakurusu's name was in there.

Who cares what the implications are?!

We'll find out soon enough if we go bust those DEA bastards!

Don't let those memories affect your judgment.

l have no doubt that they're already leaking falsified information to the media.

The truth is being erased.

This is him, huh?

All right. Major, you go take lmakurusu into custody.

I'll look into how the Narcotics Suppression Squad came to be mobilized.

Ishikawa and Boma, send the American Empire a request to use the Echelon system.

Roger.

Paz and Saito, you come with me to lmakurusu's place.

Batou, you work on the investigation with Ishikawa and Boma.

Screw that! You gotta put me on the DEA investigation !

What do you intend to do, with that scowl?

I'll call you when l need you.

How do you expect me to look, then?

She's just saying you need to cool off a bit.

How cool can l be after what we just saw?!

You're under the influence of Togusa's memories right now.

It was the right call.

I'm terribly sorry about this weather, sir.

The weather's hardly your fault. And today was the only day my schedule was open. . .

It's me, lmakurusu. You've got to help me.

You've got to talk to Niimi and straighten out this misunderstanding.

Right, I'm at the golf course. I'm counting on you.

Got it! That's Big Brother for you !

We don't know for sure yet.

Our voiceprint search got a hit on the keyword ''lmakurusu,'' that's all.

How's it coming?

We just pinpointed the location. . .

. . .of the terminal used by a man who appears to be lmakurusu.

Now we need to determine whether or not it's really him.

Chief, it's your direct line.

What?

Niimi here.

ls that true?

Yes, sir. Right.

No, I'll deal with him immediately.

Gayle? It's me.

We have lmakurusu's location. He's at the Kohoku Country Club.

Get over there ASAP!

His location is the Kohoku Country Club.

He was spotted at a public terminal. . .

. . .on a sidewalk on the north side two minutes ago.

Bingo!

- But it's who he called that has me worried. - All l want is his location !

Old Man, l can get there faster than the Major! I'll take a chopper!

Okay, secure him before anyone else does.

Ishikawa, do you have a trace on Imakurusu?

After his call, he went into room 909 in the hotel annex.

He's staying put for now.

Boma, what do you make of this?

This here.

The authentication code that's got top priority. . .

. . .on the American Empire's wiretap list?

Yeah. It doesn't officially exist. . .

. . . but isn't this the number for the HQ of the government's ruling party?

What do you think of the Maritime Self- Defense Army Type-303, Commander?

These Marine units are really streamlined. It's a work of art.

l can't imagine why we'd need something like this to capture lmakurusu, though. . .

Commander! I'm picking up a chopper heading for the target's building.

Looks like Section 9.

Whaddaya know! Great timing !

Okay, first of all you guys secure lmakurusu.

It'll take a while to get my systems booted.

Once you've cut off their escape route, leave the rest to me!

Those are. . .

Hisashi lmakurusu? I'm with the police.

The narc squad's coming. Let's move!

Stay away from me!

Batou, you all right?

Yeah, for now. But we're pinned down.

can you make it out in the chopper?

No can do. Not if this guy's with me.

Do what you can to hold out! I'm almost there!

They can cloak, but they can't completely hide themselves. . .

What's their next move. . . ?

That you, Major?!

I've secured an escape route. Let's get back to the lobby for now.

Get moving !

Get down !

What was that?!

An Armed Suit?

Batou, I'll draw it off.

Don't be stupid! That's what you have me for!

It's not that I don't have faith in you, but you can't stop that thing.

That's an order from your superior officer. Take Imakurusu and get out of here!

All right, I'll do it. . . Don't get yourself killed, you hear?

Major, we're almost there!

Damn, not even a direct hit can punch through it?!

Saito!

Hand that over!

H-Hey, wait! Pop my hatch!

Don't!

I can't breathe. . .

Please, open my hatch. . .!

A little closer!

Good !

Get this guy on board ASAP!

That moron. . .

Wait here!

Hey! Hold it right there, the both of you !

That's good, don't move. . .

lmakurusu !

Imakurusu's been hit! Send an ambulance!

Laughing Man. . . ls that what you really look like?

What?

The Laughing Man?

What're you talking about?

Murai Vaccine Recipient List

Wait, this file is. . .

Optical camouflage? No, that's not it. . .

You bastard ! You hacked my eyes, didn't you?!

Where are you?! Are you still here?!

Where the hell are you?!

So, they're here. . .

Aramaki won't get any further than me.

Pass the word along.

l understand, sir.

Come in.

Pardon us.

Bureau Chief Niimi, a warrant has been issued for your arrest, charging you with. . .

. . . instigating murders during the full-scale investigation of the Sunflower Society. . .

. . .as well as the death of Hisashi lmakurusu.

Will you come with us, please?

I've heard about what happened with the narc squad. . .

. . . but do you think l even ordered lmakurusu's death?

As for narc squad leader Gayle Yasuoka. . .

. . . he's proven to be surprisingly forthcoming.

Apparently, he recorded all of his conversations with you. . .

. . .so he is being most cooperative with our investigation.

The Laughing Man Incident is related to your objective in having lmakurusu killed. . .

. . .so l expect we'll have much to discuss.

Very well. I'm prepared to go.

Take him away.

Batou.

I want you to look into the narc squad's real motivation. . .

. . .for taking such a huge risk to retrieve this vaccine recipient lst.

One other thing.

The remaining members of the narc squad might still be lying low somewhere.

Be careful out there.

I'll head back to the office once we're done with Niimi. Over and out.

Was that the Chief?

Yeah. He went to arrest a guy called Niimi, who was. . .

. . . pulling the strings behind the narc squad.

l see. . .

So, maybe my getting perforated was worth it.

But what's the story with that powered exoskeleton you mentioned?

A toy the narc squad got their hands on from somewhere.

The Major went head to head with it.

She overheated, and now she's in for a full prosthetic swap.

ls she okay?

She's fine, but. . .

What you said was for real.

My eyes got hacked, too.

I'm outta here. I've got a ton of work to do.

I'll leave this here with you for the time being.

This. . .

Wait, you got this from the Laughing Man?

I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting.

My name is Sano. I'll be overseeing the procedure.

Come now, this can't be your first time.

Don't worry, l promise I'll be gentle.

All right, I'm going to take a look under the hood now, if you don't mind.

This is a fine body you have. . .

Your brain isn't hurting, is it?

That's not a very funny joke.

You know the brain can't sense pain.

Oh, don't be like that. Let's take our time and enjoy ourselves, shall we?

Or could it be. . . that you don't like me?

No offense, but that's it exactly.

Now that we have that out of the way, could we get this over with?

l don't have a lot of time.

My, how impertinent you are. . .

l just locked down your speech center.

Of course, no one would have come to your rescue. . .

. . . no matter how loudly you shouted.

Miss Kusanagi? How are we feeling?

Oh, my! What a rebellious look in your eyes!

That won't do at all.

What do you think of a world without red?

Isn't it pretty?

l really don't want to do such barbaric things. . .

But you and your friends went a little too far.

What's this supposed to be? A joke at my expense?

You're giving off some unpleasant brainwaves.

Use my eyes for the time being.

You're the Laughing Man, aren't you?

Yes, but I didn't come up with that name. They started calling me that on their own.

You're awfully audacious to sneak into a place like this.

What did you come here for?

To get you to help me.

Don't you have that backwards?

You have a point.

But my back is already against the wall, and this is all I could come up with.

I figured if that sonofabitch God hasn't abandoned me. . .

. . .he'll give me a hand on this one.

Talk about seIf-centered. . .

And the way you talk is polite and blasphemous at the same time.

This is one time when I mustn't fail, no matter what.

If I don't do something, all the phonies in the world will be made legitimate.

You sound like you're carrying all the problems of the world by yourself.

So, what does the great hero of the net want me to do for him?

I'll tell you the whole story behind the Laughing Man Incident.

Also, I want you to stand back. . .

. . .and do nothing when I Launch my final challenge.

And if by some chance I should fail and die. . .

. . .I'd like you and your people to bring this incident to light.

UnbelievabIe. . .

''The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause. . . ''

''. . .while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. ''

The words of the psychoanalyst Wilhelm Stekel, right?

It's just like I sensed when I first got to know you.

You're the type of person I don't like, Mr. Know-it-all.

Don't you fall into that category too?

All you have to do is ask for help, and I'd help.

All right, fine. could you do something about this?

I don't know if I can keep my word, though.

Knowing you, you will.

I'll leave my memories with you.

I'm counting on you.

Okay, I'll leave you to it.

Now, then. . .

I'm going to miss you, but I'll let you die peacefully now.

The needles!

What's going on?

It's nothing.

The chief's calling. You done yet?

I'm finished here.

Ishikawa, any luck getting new testimony out of the remaining narc squad members?

We weren't able to get much useful intel out of them.

Their boss, Bureau Chief Niimi, committed cyberbrain suicide. . .

. . .so that line of investigation is a dead end.

And we can't find the Laughing Man himself, either.

That's true.

Following the Chief's instructions, we're now going after this man.

That's. . .

Right. Assemblyman Kaoru Yakushima. . .

. . .the standing Secretary-General of the ruling coalition.

Yakushima, huh?

He's the most powerful man in his party right now. . .

. . .and he was Minister of Health at the time of the Laughing Man Incident.

He's a diehard pro-MHLW advocate who built his current position. . .

. . . by switching jurisdiction of cyberbrain tech from METI to the Ministry of Health.

And although it's not widely known. . .

. . .there are secret ties between him and the JMSDA.

So that's where the Armed Suit came from?

That's likely the case.

The fat pipeline between the political world and the JMSDA was laid by Yakushima. . .

. . .who was Chief of Staff for the JMSDA. . .

. . .when he set up shop as a politician with a huge sum of stake money.

But the source of that money raised questions, and the JMSDA's. . .

. . .chief accountant accused Yakushima of misappropriating secret funds.

However, the lead prosecutor on the case was found dead next to a railroad track. . .

. . .and the investigation ended.

In the end, Yakushima was never charged, and the suspicious about him. . .

. . .are still unresolved.

There's more.

The recently retired Superintendent-General Daido was Yakushima's junior. . .

. . .at the National Defense Academy.

And word has it that the late lmakurusu had been a close golf buddy of Yakushima's. . .

. . .since his days as an army medic.

Which would mean that as far as this series of incidents is concerned. . .

. . . he has more than enough clout to be the one pulling the strings behind it all?

Yes, although we don't have a shred of evidence at this point.

So, how do you intend to go after the serving Secretary-General?

We'll tug on the last thread that links Secretary-General Yakushima. . .

. . .and the Laughing Man Incident.

Serano Genomics.

That's right.

Suppression of the Murai Vaccine, which triggered the Laughing Man Incident. . .

. . .and the approval of Serano's micromachine therapy, which happened at that same time.

Ernest Serano seems to be deeply involved in both events. If we take him into custody. . .

. . .and question him immediately, the link between the two will likely be made clear.

During these past six years following the incident. . .

. . .Serano has been under house arrest under the pretext of police protection.

Do whatever it takes. This time, take him into custody no matter what.

The Laughing Man is probably thinking the same thing.

What do you want us to do if we run into him?

Arrest him.

In a sense, he's the key witness to this case.

Isn't it possible that Serano will be silenced once we go into action, just like before?

It's entirely possible. That's why l want you to do whatever you have to do.

Mr. Serano, it looks like your car has arrived.

l see. Thank you.

I'll come up to escort you, so pIease wait there a moment.

It's open.

Subject has left his room.

He's heading for the entry hall.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning.

Now opening entry hall door.

Be careful.

l will, thanks.

Subject is now through the entry hall.

Roger that. We have a visual.

It's just like last time, isn't it?

You're right. The only difference is. . .

. . . that it was detectives in the hall instead of your family.

There wasn't a car following us, either.

So, what are you going to do about them?

Well, Let's see. . .

Driver, turn Left at the next intersection.

- That's not like him. . . - Don't lose him.

That will keep that unmarked police car busy for about an hour. . .

. . . until it reaches Serano Genomics' head office.

Let's go to that place in the meantime.

Please tell me why you broke your promise, and have kept silent these past six years.

I have to decide on my next course of action.

That's awfully audacious.

Hold it! Put both hands on the hood of the car!

Take it easy.

We're Public Security Section 9. We contacted you earlier.

l was told that Mr. Serano had already left. ls that true?

His ride to the office left, same as always. What about it?

Look at your watch. ls that the usual time?

Gee, that guy's a real hard working CEO, ain't he?

Every last one of you guys had your eyes hacked !

The view from here has changed quite a bit, hasn't it?

Your hair has turned a rather striking white, Mr. Serano.

These six years have been rough on me.

The official story is that the police are there to protect me against threats from you.

But they're really there to keep an eye on me. . .

. . .to make sure l don't blab anything about the truth behind the incident.

The fact is, I'm under house arrest.

Compared to before, l see you've lost your naiveté.

l suppose I've managed to mature a little.

I'll admit that back then. . .

. . . l was itching to give all the phonies in the world a swift kick in the ass.

Still, you were pretty worked up yourself, Mr. Serano.

l mean, here was a lowly, anonymous student who had hacked your cyberbrain.

Even though you'd forgiven the brain dive, you stayed with me for two whole days.

l had enough fire left in my belly. . .

. . .to make me want to debate a student who kept spouting a bunch of naïve garbage.

I understand what you're trying to say. . .

. . . but I'm a micromachine developer, not a member of the Drug Evaluation Council.

I don't have anything to do with the rejection of the Murai Vaccine.

I understand that.

But the Drug Evaluation council is a group of phony assholes.

I'll have to confront them someday. . .

. . .but first, I want you to publicity disclose the data that shows. . .

. . . that your company's micromachines have practically no effect on cyberbrain sclerosis.

How many times do l have to tell you that l can't do that?!

I'll admit that, just like you wrote in your blackmail letter three years ago. . .

. . . micromachine therapy was nothing more than a theory at that point.

But that's how patents work!

There's no law against being the first. . .

. . .to register technology that's certain to be put into practice one day!

That's what god damned lawyers always say.

For chrissakes. . .

l was well aware that our request for approval was premature.

It was partially meant as a bluff to our competitors.

But l believe the reason we got approval from the Drug Evaluation Council. . .

. . .after three months, faster than expected. . .

. . .was because they saw that my company's theories were the superior ones.

You have no idea how much damage would be caused. . .

. . . by a loss of faith in the use of medical micromachines now.

- You're trying to kill a technology that holds more potential- - What I'm trying to say. . .

. . .is that this is a matter of life or death for all those people. . .

. . .suffering from cyberbrain sclerosis.

At the very least, can't you concede the effectiveness of the Murai Vaccine. . .

. . . until micromachine therapy shows clear results?

l have nothing to say on the subject of the Murai Vaccine.

can you really say that?

If that sonofabitch God gave you cyberbrain sclerosis for kicks. . .

. . .would you choose micromachine therapy without giving it a second thought?

Of course. l have pride and faith in my company's products.

Even if it was your children who came down with cS?

Yes. l suppose l would.

l can't talk about my personal life any further.

Pride and affection are two different things, aren't they?

That's not fair, Mr. Serano.

If you're really so proud of micromachine therapy. . .

. . .you should make use of your position to do what's right.

The only thing that Imakurusu had on his mind. . .

. . .was rejecting the vaccine that had Dr. Murai's name on it.

The damned Drug Evaluation council's only job was to rubber-stamp. . .

. . .any new medicine that came through the Ministry of Health.

And it was chaired by Imakurusu. . .

. . .a man who had a stamp specially made to reject the Murai Vaccine. . .

. . .which read "Approval Denied''!

Your own micromachines were used as part of that dirty deal!

You can't be completely oblivious to what's going on, Mr. Serano.

It didn't really matter to them if it was your micromachines.

Any god damned micromachine that was up for approval back then. . .

. . .would have fit their plans just as well!

If you know how corrupt the shitty medical industry is. . .

. . .can you honestly say that it's got nothing to do with you?!

All right. Let's do this, then.

For now, release me and let me act freely.

After that, I'll make some preparations, and call the press together. . .

. . .to disclose the current state of micromachine therapy.

Are you being serious?

You stand to gain nothing by making that promise.

I'm not that petty of a man. It may not be as grand as yours. . .

. . . but l like to think that l have as much a sense of social justice as anyone else.

I wonder.

l give you my word.

At the time, l was exhausted from your brain dive. . .

. . .and l feverishly made that promise in the hopes of escaping.

If you were before a TV camera, the eyes of the viewing public, l thought. . .

. . .you wouldn't try to push this any further.

That's right. . .

But unfortunately, I had a S&W chief in my pocket.

Will you disengage the brain dive?

Even you should know that what you're doing is illegal.

If you want to hide your face and maintain your anonymity. . .

. . . it wouldn't be a good idea for you to be shown on TV.

l enjoyed the debates we had.

But as a man who puts business interests first, l may not be able to keep my promise.

Society isn't as cut and dried as you think it is.

l won't try to uncover who you really are, either.

Let's go our separate ways for now.

That's not fair!

Then look into that camera and tell the truth!

Stop it. You won't shoot me.

Are you so sure?

And then the micromachine-killer virus incident happened soon after that.

That's right.

Even as I was angry at myself for being overjoyed. . .

. . . by our micromachine therapy's approval. . .

. . . l was cursing you from the bottom of my heart at the same time.

l thought, ''This is corporate terrorism, plain and simple!''

But that wasn't you, was it?

The evil that lurks in this world exists on a level that's far higher than we imagine.

l assume you know that blackmailed companies were granted public funds. . .

. . . because we were nearly bankrupt as a result of the killer virus infection.

Let me tell you what happened afterwards.

When our stock prices were gradually beginning to climb after their collapse. . .

. . .a man visited us, introducing himself as a member of the private support. . .

. . .association of a certain assemblyman.

He said that he knew someone who could put an end to the corporate blackmail.

He asked if we would be willing to make a political donation to this assemblyman. . .

. . . in the event that an end to the blackmail was declared.

The amount he suggested was equal to the public funds plus the amount demanded. . .

. . . by the blackmailers.

This clearly meant that Serano Genomics had been targeted for blackmail all along. . .

. . . because we were the latecomer among the manufacturers.

To them, my actions must have seemed. . .

. . . like a performance that came at exactly the right time.

l suppose that was the case.

By continuing to imitate the incident you triggered, they created. . .

. . .a scapegoat called the Laughing Man.

They manipulated stock prices by invoking the name of a criminal that didn't exist. . .

. . .stealing money from other companies besides us.

All of this, despite the fact they had probably been making a tidy sum already. . .

. . . by short-selling the stocks.

Was this assemblyman Secretary-General Yakushima?

You knew, did you?

Hackers have always existed to peek at things that others have hidden.

But l lost heart at the depth of the darkness in the hotbed of corruption l confronted. . .

. . .and all l could do was become a deaf-mute and force myself to look away from it all.

Just as you have done these past six years.

The Laughing Man. . .

That was a catchy name they came up with.

And here I'd thought that if l failed to persuade you. . .

. . . I'd simply follow Holden's quote and disappear.

They linked me with Salinger. . . l can't believe it.

Mr. Serano, if that's what they're doing, l must become the original Laughing Man. . .

. . .and drag that phony Yakushima into the light of day.

When you showed yourself to me, I made up my mind, too.

There isn't much evidence to accuse him with. . .

. . . but I'll become your copycat and fight him, too.

Don't die before you take the witness stand.

That was one hell of a performance.

With chops like that, you could fool anybody with no trouble at all.

Gee, and I was never in a singe school play, either.

l guess this clinches the connection between Yakushima and Serano, huh?

Right. And what the Laughing Man told me was the truth, too.

This should have lit a fire under Mr. Serano, too.

This might just work.

Reporting for duty.

l thought you haven't been cleared to leave the hospital.

Oh, don't be like that.

l can't be the only one lying in bed at a time like this.

I'm the one who called Togusa in.

I've put together all the paperwork.

You're coming with me to the Prime Minister's residence.

Yes, sir!

You okay? You're not back to 100% , right?

l can handle it.

After all, it was Togusa who initially found out that this case even existed.

chief.

What?

You have an emergency call from the Home Affairs Minister.

All right, put him through.

Aramaki, it's me. Are you watching channel 33?

No.

Then turn it on!

Suspicions have surfaced that members of Public Security Section 9, an armed group. . .

. . .The Truth Behind the Laughing Man incident?

. . . under the direct control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, participated. . .

in the attempted kidnapping of Ernest Serano, CEO of Serano Genomics.

Home Affairs Ministry's Public Security Org. involved in Kidnapping of Mr. Serano?

Public Security organization's headquarters in Niihama City, Niihama Prefecture.

Was this organization involved in the attempted kidnapping of CEO Serano?

Public Security Section 9 is listed as an international rescue team formed. . .

by the Ministry of Home Affairs, but. . .

their ex cessive information gathering and usage of force under their own authority. . .

have long been a source of concern.

This incident points to a strong possibility that Section 9 was also involved. . .

. . .in the string of Laughing Man incidents which occurred in 2024.

Major!

I've been called to an emergency session. Look at the mess you've gotten me in!

I want you to get over here, too.

In the meantime, you should think about what you're going to say in your defense.

Does this mean that the intel was leaked before the op?

Calm down.

This operation has barely gotten underway.

The two of us will go to the Prime Minister's residence as planned.

- Major. - Yes?

The rest of you, find out where news of our op was leaked from.

Roger.

Who else besides you. . .

. . . knows the circumstances surrounding this money trail?

Now that you have read that, there is you. . .

. . .there is Mr. Serano, who has decided to accuse Secretary-General Yakushima. . .

. . .and there are my people. That is all.

l see. Very well, then.

We will deal with Mr. Yakushima when the timing is right.

However, we're now in a crucial time before the Lower House elections.

l want to let the public and the Media feel like they've won a victory.

If l let a man as powerful as Mr. Yakushima go. . .

. . . proportional losses on our side would probably be inevitable.

l don't quite understand what you're implying, sir.

l mean the passage of the Special Forces Bill.

Chief.

They're following us, all right.

The enemy has nine think-tank units.

Squads 3 and 4 will drop in from above and infiltrate the hangar from the heliport.

Your top priority is the destruction of the tanks.

Squads 5 and 6, quickly capture the seven primary members. . .

. . .and gain control of the entire facility.

All units, go autistic after we go in.

These guys specialize in information warfare.

We'll pin 'em down with brute force!

Chief!

We're here to pick you up.

You still have a few things to do for us.

I'm impressed that he made arrangements in such a short amount of time.

The Prime Minister certainly is a capable man.

Section 9 is probably being neutralized as we speak.

It's what?!

- Take him away. - Yes sir!

Chief! What's going on?!

Please, tell me what's going on ! Chief!

Chief!

Is it just me, or does the building seem different than usual?

And what's with this muster call? It's a little strange.

I don't have time to explain the situation to you right now.

Just carry out my orders, and no backtalk.

Prep six blank prosthetic bodies and bring them to the command center.

Wait, are you saying. . .

Get to it!

Major, what the hell is going on?

Take these seeds.

Once we leave here, leak the information in them to the media and let it spread.

We'll need a push from public opinion if we're going to oust the Secretary-General.

Get me a sit-rep! See to the wounded on the double!

Goodness, what are we going to do with you?

You know you shouldn't spill your tea like that.

- Look, the news is on ! Let's watch TV! - We interrupt this program to bring you. . .

. . .breaking news regarding Section 9.

At an emergency cabinet meeting calling for the dismantling of Section 9. . .

Ministry of Home Affairs Anti-terrorism Unit

Special Forces Restriction Bill ignored, Clash with Military in Niihama. . .

a special forces restriction bill dealing with military deployments was passed.

Section 9 has ignored repeated warnings, indicating an intent to fight to the end.

A military special forces unit has stormed their facility moments ago in response.

We now take you Ivie to the scene.

Moments ago, above the Section 9 complex, a military helicopter has. . .

From here, we'll go off in three directions to break up our pursuers.

After that, split up and go to ground in the city.

As of today, Public Security Section 9 is disbanded.

That is all.

They're severely damaged, but we believe there are six corpses here.

We're analyzing the cyberbrains for traces of residual usage.

Call up Squad 5 while you're waiting for the results.

Assume this is a camouflaged operation.

Seal off elevator shafts, exhaust vents, and sewers. . . .

. . .all the passages you can think of.

Yes sir!

So, Section 9 is finally history, huh?

All that work we put into it just went up in smoke.

You think so?

It was nice to have free access to the latest maintenance and top-rate equipment. . .

. . . but that's all it was.

We'll just have to find a new sponsor now.

Or is it something else? Do you have some kind of attachment to the place?

Nah, not if you put it that way.

If anything, I guess you could say it's memories.

Memories? That's awfully sentimental of you.

That reminds me, where's that watch you're always wearing?

l picked today of all days to leave it next to my bed at my safehouse. . .

If they've hit Section 9, they've probably got my place secured, too.

You okay with that?

Didn't you get that watch to commemorate your final prosthetic body resizing?

l don't know who gave it to you, though. . .

Oh, you knew about that?

Don't get the wrong idea.

l didn't really wear it for sentimental reasons.

That's enough idle chatter.

Once we're out of here, we won't be able to contact each other again.

Even if we do meet again, l might not look the same as l do now.

l want you to give your own survival top priority, too, Batou.

Let's split up here.

Sure.

Hell, it's my own life.

I'll throw it away on whatever l damn well want to.

That report about Section 9 has me worried. . .

The battle is going badly. . .

It sure is, mister. . .

The battle's going badly.

That building that blew up last night is where l used to live.

It's pretty nice here, and l like all you old folks and all. . .

. . . but there's someone that l really want to go help.

The battle is going badly. . .

Mister, is that what l think it is?

Mister. . . Thanks!

I'm gonna go now!

Batou. . .

Hey!

What are you guys doing here?

Once a problem child, always a problem child, you know?

l guess we all had the same desire, although we were independent of each other.

We all share the thought of helping Mr. Batou.

Besides, you can't load that howitzer shell you're holding. . .

. . .without some help, right?

Yeah. . .

But are we the only ones who came here?

Of all the ones who were sent back to the lab, I'm the only one who survived.

They left me lying around, hooked up to equipment for final testing.

So l ripped out the cords and ran away!

l couldn't stop wondering what was happening. . .

. . .while l was doing high-altitude work at a construction site.

How 'bout you?

Pretty much the same thing.

What happened to the other guys who went to the lab?

They're all having structural analyses run on them.

They had their A. l.s removed to help run simulation tests on the Laughing Man.

Everybody who had their brains taken apart looked like they were enjoying it, though. . .

Oh, they did, huh?

That's my Major. . .

She doesn't miss a trick.

Don't do it! Drop your weapon!

All right. l surrender.

Bingo!

l figured the Major'd have a stash hidden around here.

You finally through putting up a fight?

Damn, l killed him. . .

Oh, l get it. . . It looks like I'm dead to you, huh?

Sorry pal, l hacked your eyes.

Are you kidding me?! There's more?!

Nobody had to die, damn it.

Forget about taking you in alive!

I'm taking your corpse back with me.

But before that. . .

This is for my buddies you killed!

That was for my dead partner!

Now's our chance! Get Mr. Batou out!

Yeah !

I'll go on ahead !

Mr. Batou. . . I'm sorry we took so long.

It took us a while to tap into their comm signals.

We'll take that guy out no matter what, so you wait here for us to come back, okay?

Shit. . .

Where the hell have they been?

Think you can pin him down with your wires?

I'll try!

Matsukei Construction

Safety First

Why, you. . . !

l can't rush this. . . l only have this one shot.

Now! Shoot!

Right!

Eat this!

Are you kidding me?

It's a dud?

I'm still alive. . .?

Oh God. . .

How powerless we are. . .

. . . my brothers and l. . .

That's not true.

What you and the others gained makes you far from powerless.

That voice!

This is the last I've got!

Now!

R-Right!

Mr. Batou !

Goodbye, Mr. Batou. . .

What were they doing here?

All they could think about was saving you, so they escaped from the lab.

Major? ls that you?

l made the call that they were useless as weapons. . .

. . . because their A. l. had evolved too quickly.

But as they were actively pursuing the accumulation of data. . .

. . .and synchronizing with each other again and again, it had the opposite effect. . .

. . .of giving them individuality.

They even became capable of self-sacrifice.

If I'd only realized that sooner. . .

. . . l could have found out whether or not what they had acquired was a Ghost.

A Ghost?

If they hadn't been here, you'd be dead right now.

Come on, let's move!

Nice view of Section 9 you've got here.

l can't believe you have a safe house here of all places. . .

Hey.

Yup, there's no body like this one. . .

So that was a remote puppet, huh?

That's right.

Right, l almost didn't manage to get this to you.

l had a feeling. . .

No matter how many prosthetic bodies you went through. . .

. . .this was the one thing that was always ticking away the same time as you, right?

In the midst of these fleeting moments. . .

. . . people entrust memories to external devices. . .

. . . because they want to set down proof that can identify them as a unique individual.

For you, isn't that watch the one external memory device. . .

. . .that can let you identify yourself as the person you've been up until now?

Those are some serious lines. . . Where'd you get them from?

A watch and weight training, huh. . .?

We've both clung to useless scraps of memory, haven't we?

You and l are probably the only members of Section 9 who haven't been caught.

Let's both survive and leave a record of what we tried to accomplish.

Yeah, I'm not about to die without completing my mission.

Primary sniping target is Motoko Kusanagi.

The committee has issued an order for her termination.

We'll only get one chance at this.

Take her out when she's climbing aboard.

Motoko!

Motoko!

Motoko!

Damn it!

No vitals detected. Target destruction confirmed.

Damn it. . .

Motoko!

So, do you mean to tell me that even if the flesh is lost, a person's thoughts can. . .

. . .wander the net and continue existing as a unique individual?

I'm not so sure.

It's hard to imagine that a will that's free of its shell. . .

. . .could maintain its individuality in the sea of the net.

So, for someone who goes on living even as they continuously lose their individuality. . .

. . . this world is in despair.

I guess that depends on how you define despair.

At any rate, there's always the option of giving death a try, right?

I suppose there's always that option.

Anyway, I'm in your debt. Thank you.

The way you kept your promise was extremely charming.

''We don't have convenient ex cuses like team plays here at Section 9. ''

''All we need is teamwork that comes about as a result of a grandstand play. ''

That was the first advice the chief gave us back in the early days of Section 9.

Secretary-General Yakushima ignores Advice to Leave Party

We have reports that the public prosecutor will be arriving shortly.

Throngs of reporters are gathered in front of ruling party headquarters. . .

. . .and there is an atmosphere of tension here at the scene.

The MHLW scandal involving Serano Genomics. . .

. . . that made the rounds in certain tabloids before the Lower House elections. . .

. . . implicated Secretary-General Yakushima. A week after the new Cabinet was formed. . .

. . . it has escalated into a full investigation by the Public Prosecutors Office.

A full-scale investigation by the Public Prosecutors Office is underway, and-

It's the D.A. !

A full investigation has finally started. . .

. . . but will Yakushima be arrested before the day is out?

What about the Serano stocks rumored to be here at ruling party headquarters?

We have reliable information.

We will probably ask the Secretary-General to come with us for questioning.

Is there a chance that the cash in consecutively numbered bills. . .

. . .referred to in Mr. Serano's testimony is being stored here?

Everything will be made clear shortly, that included.

We have worked long and hard to prepare for this day. . .

. . .with the aim of arresting Mr. Yakushima.

Is this how things should be. . . ?

These facts that the Major and my teammates pieced together. . .

. . .isn't this the real truth behind the Laughing Man Incident from six years ago?

Even if the Public Prosecutors Office successfully uncovers the MHLW scandal. . .

. . . Yakushima might not even resign from the assembly.

How does this change the world one damn bit?!

The Catcher in the Rye

It's not like I ever wanted to be a hero or anything.

But I like to think that we lived up to the justice we all believed in. . .

. . .without ever compromising.

Laughing Man. . .

You were the one who first tried to shed some light into the abyss of this case.

could it be that right now, you're feeling the same as I am?

No, you wouldn't.

The Catcher in the Rye

No, you wouldn't.

You're not the sort who cares about such things.

You realized something, and are watching this unfold with a broader view than mine.

Isn't that right? I can tell.

Major. . .

If this plays out like I think it will. . .

Hold it!

Pull your hands out slowly, and turn !

As bad as you are, you'd get caught way before you got anywhere near Yakushima.

Uh, but. . .

You're an idiot, you know that?

Come with me.

And the star arrives!

What took you so long?

So, where did you tail him to?

Just like we figured, he went to ruling party HQ.

Are you serious?

Hey, what's up with you?

Are you crying?

Of course not!

So, how did things go on your end?

Seems like the Secretary-General has given in.

That's an ex-military guy for you.

Looks like he's fully cooperating with their questioning.

l suppose the Public Prosecutor folks are gonna get the hero treatment for a while.

You got that right. . .

But is this okay with you guys?

The credit for tracking down Yakushima-

''Should go to us here at Section 9.'' ls that what you wanna say?

Well, it ain't like l don't understand how you feel. . .

. . . but this is exactly what that devious old ape had planned all along.

Planned?

Yeah.

The old ape realized that the Prime Minister was going to avoid. . .

. . .a Secretary-General shakeup before the elections.

So he made the ballsy move to make Section 9 out as the bad guys.

When the Major impersonated the Laughing Man and got the truth outta Serano. . .

. . .Section 9's existence was leaked to the media, making us unable. . .

. . .to do our thing in secret like before.

So the Chief's plan was to make a deal with the PM. . .

. . .forcing the Public Prosecutors Office into action by ostensibly sacrificing Section 9.

Sacrificing Section 9. . .

Even if that's the case. . .

. . .do you have any idea what it was like for me these past three months?!

Hey, don't take it so hard. Think of it as a special vacation.

It's not like we were filled in on this little op beforehand, either.

The Chief had faith that we'd all survive and come together again to regroup. . .

. . .and made the tough decision to go ahead with his plan.

Hell, even having you arrested and confined first was the Chief's way. . .

. . .of keeping you alive by getting you clear of the Section 9 mop-up operation.

For one thing, you're all-natural and had just gotten out of the hospital.

And you're a married man, so manipulating your personal data would be tougher. . .

. . .so you had to be kept away from Section 9 'til all preparations were in place.

Don't take it personally.

The records say that I'm spending the rest of my days up the river.

We're not in this to win any medals.

This means that we're back to being. . .

. . .an offensive organization that doesn't officially exist.

That's what all this was about. . .?

But, hey. . . What about the Major?

Who cares? l don't give a damn about that bitch.

That reminds me, Batou, weren't you bawling your eyes out for real back then?

Aw, shut up.

Oh, really?

In that case, how 'bout l call up the satellite footage from the scene?

And send it to the Major, too!

- Hey, cut it out! - ''Motoko!'' Right?

You bastard !

- l said to stop it! - Okay, l give!

C'mon, quit it!

It's all over, l see.

The rest can be left to the judicial authorities.

My work here is done now.

The Public Prosecutors Office will be able to hold their heads high thanks to this.

But what do you have left now?

l was able to see to it that justice was served in my own way.

That's enough for me.

So, what will you do now?

You can't keep playing war with guns and tanks forever.

What do you say? How about signing on with us?

I've always thought that you were better suited for the judicial world.

I'm not so sure about that.

It will take more than a trivial matter like this to finish Section 9.

I'm on my way to scout. . .

. . .a prospective new member with the aim of rebuilding Section 9.

National Book Museum

Now l get it. . .

You really aren't the Laughing Man, that's for sure.

Welcome.

You arrived later than l expected.

Don't give me that.

You didn't even send me an invitation.

''Stand still long enough, and the world will come to you.''

Who said that? Doisneau?

Yes.

Well, part of it was that l spent a lot of time thinking. . .

. . .about what we should do with you.

l was a little worried that you were going to decide. . .

. . .to stay floating around like that and die.

I'm not really looking forward to death just yet.

Though l did get a nice little near-death experience. . .

. . .when my fully-remote prosthetic cyberbrain got shot out from under me.

So your new body was destroyed, and you still haven't done a prosthetic swap. . .

You've got a sharp eye.

Well, peeking is my hobby.

So anyway, what's the deal with this place?

It's like an information graveyard.

Did you seriously think you could change the world from a place like this?

At first, l kinda did.

So, how do you feel about it now?

I'm not burning with satisfaction or anything.

The truth is, maybe it all ended for me the instant l shared my memories with you.

l figured that you would probably be able to take it from there.

Of all the. . .

You're one hell of a liar, you know that?

What was that bit about me standing back and doing nothing?

I'm sorry.

But the instant you share and synchronize all your data, you lose your uniqueness. . .

. . .and are subsumed into the unconscious malice of a motiveless third party.

Or perhaps into the will of someone who has a motive.

Are those your words? Something derived from hard-earned experience?

Yes.

Because the fact is, in the end, you yourself played the role of the Laughing Man, too.

l have to admit, that was a fascinating phenomenon.

At any rate. . .

. . .what was your motive for triggering such a huge incident in the first place?

''To you, everything that's going on in the world looks phony, doesn't it?''

J. D. Salinger?

Yes.

Of course, I'm pretty much the poster boy for cyberization. . .

. . .so at the very least, l might have felt something like terror. . .

. . .at the thought of cyberbrain sclerosis.

It was a single e-mail that l stumbled across in the net that began it all.

This piece of blackmail that had probably been sent to Serano Genomics. . .

. . .was armed with a thesis that was a comparative study of the ineffectiveness. . .

. . .of Serano micromachines versus the efficacy of the Murai Vaccine.

And the author of that letter was the original Laughing Man?

If you want to put it that way.

''l am the machine that shows you the world as l alone see it.''

Dziga Vertov. He was a film director, wasn't he?

Yes.

l deluded myself into thinking it was my mission to prove and circulate. . .

. . .the information that l alone had found.

And failed spectacularly.

The pure, innocent mediator grew dejected at the base nature of the social system. . .

. . .and he turned mute.

Yes. And l became the vanishing mediator.

Just like an author whose existence is given more weight by the fact. . .

. . .that he rarely puts out new works.

In other words, ''By disappearing. . .''

''. . . it acts as a regulating medium for the dynamism of the social system.''

''In the end, it vanishes, leaving traces of its existence. . .''

''. . . neither inside nor outside the system.''

Fredric Jameson.

Yes. But no.

The latter was Masachi Ohsawa.

Even though l knew the words, l didn't believe it until l saw it with my own eyes.

Who would have guessed that the absence of an original. . .

. . .could allow for the creation of copies?

If you had to give this phenomenon a name, what would you call it?

Stand Alone Complex.

Yes. Stand Alone Complex.

From the beginning, the very nature of our current social system. . .

. . . has contained the mechanisms to trigger such a phenomenon.

Personally, l have to feel that it's the beginning of despair.

But what about you?

l don't know. It's impossible to say.

But l have found one thing capable of restoring your individuality. . .

. . .after all your data has been synchronized.

And what is that?

Curiosity, l suppose.

Oh, l see.

You know, that never occurred to me.

My brains have already started to harden.

So, what's going to happen to me now?

Be arrested for kidnapping? Or for inciting multiple, simultaneous terrorist acts?

Beats me. That little matter is completely at his discretion. . .

. . .so why not ask him directly?

I've been listening in for a while. . .

. . . but without an external memory device, l can't follow your conversation at all.

Have you read all the books in here?

Not quite that many.

Allow me to introduce you.

This is my boss, Daisuke Aramaki, chief of Section 9.

Nice to meet you.

Are you planning to go on with this dull work of preserving printed works. . .

. . .that are only published out of force of habit?

If I'm allowed to, that's what I'd like to do.

As far as this case is concerned, it will probably be concluded. . .

. . .that from a legal standpoint, the original Laughing Man never existed.

So l have a proposal to make.

What do you say? How would you like to put your skills as a hacker to good use. . .

. . .and join Section 9 as our ninth regular?

This is a surprise. You're trying to scout me?

That's right.

Wow, l don't know what to say. . .

It does sound like it would be interesting, but l think I'll have to pass.

Besides, as much as l hate to say it, I'm terrible at baseball.

You've been shot down. What now?

Nothing.

Public Security Section 9 will continue as an anti-crime offensive organization. . .

. . .as long as you and l want it to remain that way.

That's all.

Major! call everyone together with an A-2 Loadout!

You copy that, Batou?

You need a Lift?

Togusa!

I'm already on my way!

Ishikawa! Saito!

I'll take a separate route and meet up with you guys.

All ready on this end.

Paz! Boma!

Just give the word.

Angels and demons circle above me. . .

. . .through the thorns to the stars

Only those unable to perceive its call. . .

We gotta hit the jackpot sometime!

. . .do not know happiness

Watch in awe, watch in awe

Aeria gloris, aeria gloris

Watch in awe, watch in awe

Aeria gloris, aeria gloris

l am calling, calling now

Spirits rise and falling

To remain myself longer

Calling, calling, in the depths of longing

To remain myself longer

Watch in awe, watch in awe

Aeria gloris, aeria gloris

Stand alone

Where was life when it had meaning?

Stand alone

Nothing's real anymore, and. . .

Endlessly running. . .

As long as l live, all l can do is keep flying without falling. . .

. . .and not forget how to dream and not forget how to love

Endlessly running. . .

Calling, calling now, for the place of knowing

There's more than what can be linked

Yearning, yearning, for what's left of loving

To remain myself longer

Calling, calling now

Spirits rise and falling

To remain myself longer

Calling, calling, in the depths of longing

To remain myself longer

Watch in awe, watch in awe

Aeria gloris, aeria gloris

Watch in awe, watch in awe

Aeria gloris, aeria gloris

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