So he has everything?
Yes, Mythos was faster at securing admin access than we were.
It seems Unit 8 didn't stop him in time because the USDF interfered.
The USDF systems were taken over by Logos.
It's MIAC's responsibility for not immediately reporting the compromise!
Now, stop. This is hardly the time to play the blame game.
The greater problem is that
even our civilian systems have been taken over.
This is the reason so many devices have been hijacked by admin privilege overrides.
The freeware, Liko.
As you all know,
it's a popular app than can be installed on any computer.
If you installed a legally gray-zone patch available
on the Internet to expand its functionality,
your device was effectively taken over.
Without your knowledge.
A back-door app...
Logos was using it to find more potential patsies?
Then whoever developed and distributed Liko was...
Probably Logos, or rather, Mythos.
Yes, the likelihood is high.
Also, Liko has morphed into a completely different program:
Benu, a program for control as well as surveillance.
Because concealing its existence is no longer necessary?
It's taken over more than seventy percent of civilian computers.
Do you think Mythos is a minor, after all?
They need disciplining.
What?
Disciplining?
For us adults to uphold common decency, we need to discipline naughty children!
In response to an increase in heinous crimes,
a new movement is picking up steam in police and security forces around the world.
This is the story of the services performed by ACTIVE in Japan.
File 12: For Whom Does Order Exist?
Baths
With the impure as his father and mother,
Tomohisa — Current Status: Missing Emiri — Current Status: Suicide
how can the infant hope to become a human?
Delete File and All Related Data
All data pertaining to the selected individual will be deleted, including backup data. Do you want to proceed? Delete
Tonight, a child of God will be born...
All right, next...
Next?
How did this happen?
Weren't our emergency measures ironclad?!
Your Finance Ministry skimped on the security allocation to keep the opposition happy!
We didn't—
I said to save the blame game for later!
Prime Minister!
Yes?
Why do you have the Defense Ministry and the police with you?
At any rate, it's a saving grace that our lifeline
and communications infrastructure are still intact.
But the fact that we can't even reboot the stock market without Mythos's permission...
Chief Cabinet Secretary...
Y-Yes, sir?
The US has informed us that their carrier strike group is en route.
We've denied the terrorist attack by Logos,
but it's only a matter of time...
Chairman Sasaki of the finance alliance and Diet member Ishikawa from
the local Diet caucus request an audience.
I don't have time for that right now!
We can barely travel or do anything with our money,
and the TV and radio are still off-line.
Yet there's no explanation from the government!
This goes far beyond simple lack of accountability on their part!
This is your chance to stand with us, the opposition,
and return power to the hands of the people!
Sorry to make you all stay overnight.
Well, it's a state of emergency.
All the other divisions seem to be barely keeping up with safeguarding their own.
It's the least we can do.
Thank God the supermarket's still open.
Should we go buy a change of clothes later?
Boss?
I thought you went to headquarters with Sena...
Did you forget something?
Um, I'm her sister.
Oh, Hinata-san.
Did you need something from our boss?
Well, there's this thing on my laptop.
It used to be so fun...
I hope this will be our final conversation.
My parents should be in Poland.
I can't get in touch with them.
Anyway, about Mythos's real name and location...
Oh, come on!
If we could at least reach his parents...
It'll take time. They're overseas.
Rin...
Oh, is something wrong, Inagi-kun?
There was an inter-partisan meeting.
Anyway, have you heard?
Heard what?
It appears the prime minister has made a major decision.
The SAT has issued orders to the USDF.
What's going on?
They have shoot-to-kill orders for Mythos, Logos's self-proclaimed leader,
as a terrorist jeopardizing national security.
Shoot to kill?
A minor?
Should Mythos be killed,
Administrator Access Rights Mythos Chief Cabinet Secretary
administrator access goes to the next in line, the chief cabinet secretary.
Given the security risks, I guess they're between a rock and a hard place.
That Mythos is a minor will be buried,
in accordance with the Specified Secrets Protection Bill.
Boss?
If that's the law and there's a directive...
What's going on here?
Director General...
Inagi-sensei, someone from the Diet office is looking for you.
Oh, thank you for letting me know.
Director General Kaidou, about what we were discussing just now—
Chief,
Mythos has made contact.
That's why I came back here from the prime minister's residence.
What does he want?
To talk to Bird, AKA Hachijou.
Huh?!
Did they run a trace?
He routed the request through overseas servers,
so it'll be hard to trace.
We also received word from Funasaka-san's Kichijouji group.
Something from Logos was on Hinata-san's laptop.
Got it.
Okay, I'm putting it up.
The system you are using is under Logos control.
Please be aware that you will not be able
to perform any tasks not authorized by Logos...
Isn't this Benu, the hijacked version of Liko?
That's not the only thing, though.
A notice from Liko-chan is still showing up.
What did you ask Liko-chan to do?
I just asked her to collect data for my paper...
Something isn't right.
Well, Bird messed around with Hinata-san's laptop, right?
It's possible that
this laptop escaped the Logos takeover due to its being used for the holograms.
A blind spot?
Everything Portal
Fruit of Tragedy
But I doubt the data has much to do with Logos.
National Public Safety Commission Police Headquarters
Mythos?
Very well.
Hello?
Hi. I guess your real name is Hachijou Tomoki?
Why the sudden call?
It's to come up with the ultimate plan.
Will that be fun?
It will.
I'm wondering if our past MO is for the best.
Up to now,
was there anyone with whom you felt you could talk as equals?
I can have you released right now.
In return...
You want to rebuild society?
Yes.
Let's split admin rights to do that.
One, seven, four, two, eight,
nine, two, zero, seven, five,
What's going on?
three, three, four, two, three,
nine, eight, seven, two, zero.
I understand how you feel.
Well, later, then.
All right, I'll let the government know.
That was a Vernam cipher, right?
Well done.
Does Mythos intend to initiate a deal using that information?
Now that he even controls everyone's savings,
I doubt the government can refuse.
This wasn't part of the original plan, was it?
There's no need to take such a roundabout route.
Right. I wasn't expecting this, personally.
This is a surprise!
I guess I need to return a surprise in kind.
Shinjuku Station
Mythos must have used
the cipher to tell Hachijou the admin-access password.
If the access is shared,
even if one's taken out, the other can retaliate.
Can you decrypt it?
Not without knowing the random number key.
Sena-kun, where's the command vehicle?
It's been repaired. It's back in Kichijouji.
Railway Usage Permissions
But the railways have been restricted, so we can only use air routes.
Denied
Um, boss...
Yes?
About the prime minister...
Oh, the director general said they just wanted his advice.
Our tasks remain confirming Mythos's identity and bringing him in.
Yes.
But how do we figure out who he is?
It's Funasaka-san!
They found out who Mythos is.
What?!
Huh?
Please tell us more!
This is Yamabuki.
Apparently, Hinata-san's Liko was gathering data.
Yes, I understand.
They're locating his hiding place now.
Funasaka-san?
Looks like he bailed from this hideout.
Is there another safe house,
or is he here somewhere?
Wait a minute.
He's evidently made contact asking the government to negotiate.
Well?
Have you prepared a flight for me yet?
We still need a little more time for fueling.
We also want air-traffic control systems to be fully restored.
Are you trying to buy time?
You'd better not try to pull anything.
I've made appropriate countermeasures.
I see!
Our guess would be
the missiles you used back in the poker incident.
Hey, minor. Been a while.
It's me! Remember?
Sorry I barged in like that back then.
I was kind of on-edge.
You!
I thought you might be the guy from the bath...
Well, I had kinda guessed based on the route you used,
but anyway...
Mythos, your game ends here!
Impossible!
Even if you figured out who I am,
how did you locate that ship?
You told Hachijou lots of things, didn't you?
Huh?
Hachijou sold you out with regard to your planned escape route.
He brokered a deal before you did.
Huh? What do you—
You've been betrayed.
Lies!
That's impossible, after I've come this far!
He's Bird!
He'd never...
You're smart, so I'll assume you know what happens next.
Then, I'll go ahead with the protocol.
This is the police!
Power down the Willwear, and you'll—
Are you sure you want to go that route?
I'll blow up all the buildings around here.
Fire.
Huh?
Damn it!
You're not getting away!
You specifically targeted this location!
Yeah, we're smart, too.
We jammed all the networks and analog lines we could think of.
That Wear of yours isn't linked to anything now.
In other words, it's a standalone unit!
Huh?
You're completely isolated. Get it?
Isolated?
After being expelled from the system known as Japan, I'm isolated now?
How ironic.
I won't let that happen!
I'll get out of here, and exercise system-admin privileges.
And when I do, the one enslaved
will be you.
Sitrep?
Not good.
Oscar II's pinned him down,
but Mythos's Wear has a higher MTQ,
so bringing him in won't be easy.
If Mythos leaves the area where Oscar III and Kyoukai-san are jamming communications,
he may exercise admin privileges
and take out our system.
Is it really that cult leader who's Mythos?
Yes, there's no question.
Um, I was living overseas when it all happened,
so I don't really know the details...
About the Fruit of Tragedy?
Right.
It's nothing good.
A cult committed mass suicide,
taking many innocent lives.
The cult's leader was a boy of only five
whose parents instigated the mass suicide.
And that boy is Mythos, from Logos?
If I can just get out of the jamming area...
Not gonna happen!
Don't be stupid! My Wear is more powerful!
So, that Willwear
is the one being developed for military use in the EU.
But our pilots have more training!
Its specs so surpass ours, that may not make a difference.
Crap!
Oscar I, set Elf Sigma unit.
Chief,
Mythos may cause our system to shut down.
I need you to buy time.
Government agencies and the Willwear Association
are jointly trying to access Orochi.
Oh, they're going to reset the password?
Yes, so in the meantime,
we need Mythos to stay within the jamming area.
Use analog radio to communicate.
Bastard, get off your high horse!
You're just scum who has a few years on me.
Shut up!
Don't poke fun at adults—
What are you doing?!
You let him escape the jamming area!
I can now exercise admin privileges again.
I won't let you!
Wh-What?
Crap!
He's getting away!
Oscar VI is landing a kick!
Oops...
There!
I see...
You absolutely insist on fighting me, then?
How much longer until we regain admin access?
Unfortunately, there are many layers of protection.
Not even Unit 8 can last forever against him.
Defense Minister...
Sir?
I still can't find it.
Looks like he used his admin privileges
to delete his family registry and a lot of other info.
Even information about his family?
Yes.
So we only have the data Hinata asked Liko-chan to get...
He attracted unwanted attention wherever he went,
so he didn't attend elementary school.
I wonder if he's self-funding through investment.
I see... He had a little sister.
Could you refrain from interfering further?
It's not as if I want to hurt anyone.
I'm just trying to rule
the country that expelled me.
Your lives will not be changed.
Of course they'd be changed!
This isn't a dictatorship!
See some sense, will you?
You're the ones who made me see sense.
Police did nothing. You have no right to talk!
Based on Liko's data, he changed his surname several times.
His sister moved overseas to escape negative publicity,
but he wasn't allowed to follow her.
Why not?
Some of his cultists were scattered overseas,
so it was deemed too dangerous to let him go.
I see. So all this time, he's been trapped in Japanese society.
However...
It's no use.
Unit 8's gear is no match for mine.
Listen, Mythos...
We're partners living in the same country.
Don't you think we should observe the rules?
That is meaningless talk.
I need no partners.
Well... It's about time to get rid of you all.
You're lying.
You wanted Hachijou, AKA Bird, to be your partner.
You wanted someone to talk to. Am I wrong?
I also thought, at first, that I didn't need any partners,
so I understand...
You want friends, don't you?
Don't sound so pleased with yourself.
A-Akatsuki Revised, activate!
Take that, and that, and that, and that, and that—
A fiasco!
Not this way!
Crap, the jamming's down!
We didn't plan for this!
You cannot overpower me, either.
Chief, what's the status on the password-reset effort?!
Still waiting to hear. Can't you manage to keep him there?
I've won—
These markers are USDF's...
...special ops.
Slasher platoons, this is 01.
Report positions, over.
This is 21.
All men are in firing position, over.
Unit 8,
USDF now has jurisdiction in this operation.
Retreat.
We haven't received any such order.
Until we do, abandoning our directive to take the target into custody
would be a violation of our duty.
Then we'll just carry out our directive.
Command vehicle, what should we do?
The brass is in disarray, and we can't get through.
I suggest a temporary retreat.
No, we're staying.
If we just stand by and watch him die,
we can't call ourselves cops!
Um, they're going to attack for real.
I really don't want to die.
Right?
So, Mythos, it's time to power down your Wear!
As someone who shared the bath with you,
I don't want to see you die!
Stop projecting your feelings on—
You had good memories there, didn't you?
It's none of your business!
Cut the crap already!
To be honest, I want to beat you up before arresting—
If you insist on obstructing our operation,
we will neutralize you, as per protocol.
We're acting per protocol here, too.
Hey! Is death your ultimate goal?!
I have Bird.
As long as he's alive, it doesn't matter.
You're still holding on to that?!
Communications Restored
You Have Mail
Extracting
A message from Bird?
Hi, Mythos.
I have been utterly disappointed by
your need for partners.
We will never see each other again.
Goodbye.
I...
Boss, can I use that intel now?
That?
Okay, I grant permission.
Um, we'd like Tomohisa-san, AKA Mythos-san, to hear something.
Your sister is probably alive.
Huh?
We found evidence among the information Liko collected.
She seems to have changed citizenships and such.
But if a reunion is possible, we recommend not throwing your life away.
Well, that was a close call the other day, huh?
If the government hadn't managed to
reset the password before he surrendered...
The USDF might have shot him.
Liko's totally back!
Oh, she's really back!
Oh, Liko-chan's okay now?
Yeah, Mythos was pretty straightforward in his testimony about fixing her.
Can we really trust him?
Why not?
From his point of view, Liko was meant to be one-time use,
but she gave him the information he most wanted.
He's no longer alone.
If this has become a symbol of hope for Mythos,
I suppose he wouldn't booby trap it.
Actually, about Hachijou...
He went off somewhere after passing through Singapore?
Yeah. What do we do about him now?
His release was an extra-legal measure, so we can't touch him now.
But if he ever comes back, I'll knock him out cold!
That's how I choose to think of it.
We have plenty of cases to go around.
We shouldn't get too hung up on him.
Right.
So, about the wrap party for our good work...
I found a restaurant. It's a Chinese place.
All right, then!
Tonight, for once, let's...
...party 'til dawn?
I may come along, for once.
I guess I can't say no.
Other than Kazari, the minor, the rest of us can party 'til dawn.
No, I'll take the last train home.
Huh?
I have to take out the non-combustibles in the morning.
I... I see.
I'm not convinced, but whatever.
Let's party!
Yeah!
Oh, by the way, I just turned twenty.
Huh?
Kazari-kun,
why didn't you report such an important event?
Okay, we'll be celebrating Asami's birthday today, too.
Huh?
Er... Are you all okay with that?
Yeah!
Happy Birthday!