1 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:08,130 Angely i demony kruzhili nado mnoj, Angels and demons circle above me, 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:13,670 rassykhali ternii i vechnye puti. through the thorns to the stars. 3 00:00:14,210 --> 00:00:19,410 Ne znaet shast'je tol'ko tot, Only those unable to perceive its call... 4 00:00:20,050 --> 00:00:26,190 kto jevo zova ponjat' ne smog. ...do not know happiness. 5 00:00:26,190 --> 00:00:31,960 Naljubuites', naljubuites'. Watch in awe, watch in awe. 6 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:37,330 Aeria gloris, aeria gloris. 7 00:00:37,670 --> 00:00:43,040 Naljubuites', naljubuites'. Watch in awe, watch in awe. 8 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,110 Aeria gloris, aeria gloris. 9 00:00:48,110 --> 00:00:54,380 I am calling, calling now, 10 00:00:54,720 --> 00:01:00,350 spirits rise and falling. 11 00:01:01,290 --> 00:01:06,090 Soboj ostat'sja dol'she. To remain myself longer. 12 00:01:06,430 --> 00:01:18,000 Calling, calling, in the depths of longing. 13 00:01:18,510 --> 00:01:23,680 Soboj ostat'sja dol'she. To remain myself longer. 14 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,020 Naljubuites', Watch in awe, 15 00:01:26,020 --> 00:01:29,880 aeria gloris. 16 00:01:32,460 --> 00:01:35,220 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Laughing Man Room! 17 00:01:38,930 --> 00:01:42,360 It's a bit of a surprise, isn't it, him showing up again after six years? 18 00:01:44,130 --> 00:01:45,620 It certainly is. 19 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,000 This is no laughing matter, and it's got the blood of Net Master Omba boiling! 20 00:01:50,370 --> 00:01:53,140 Is everybody here a hardcore Laughing Man freak? 21 00:01:55,750 --> 00:01:58,540 Maybe, but none of them have the guts to take the floor. 22 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,380 Oh, don't talk like that. 23 00:02:01,380 --> 00:02:04,110 You'll get hit with a DoS attack... 24 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:20,500 I heard that there's somebody in this chat room... 25 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:23,700 ...who has some interesting things to say about the Laughing Man Incident. 26 00:02:24,410 --> 00:02:25,430 Who is it? 27 00:02:25,780 --> 00:02:28,440 Everyone here, you might say. 28 00:02:29,310 --> 00:02:31,340 Along with some who don't. 29 00:02:31,850 --> 00:02:33,250 What's that supposed to mean? 30 00:02:33,420 --> 00:02:35,280 My point exactly. 31 00:02:43,690 --> 00:02:48,160 Anyway, what's the deal with the Laughing Man dying just as he reappeared? 32 00:02:48,330 --> 00:02:51,560 Man, I thought I could finally become a realtime Laughing Man freak! 33 00:02:51,670 --> 00:02:53,230 Why are you getting so worked up? 34 00:02:53,570 --> 00:02:56,090 Nobody cares about that stuff, not anymore. 35 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:57,600 Talk about stupid... 36 00:02:57,740 --> 00:03:01,700 Speaking of stupid, I think that getup of yours is pretty stupid. 37 00:03:01,780 --> 00:03:05,510 If you don't like it, why don't you suggest a more constructive theme, then? 38 00:03:06,650 --> 00:03:09,220 Okay, then. How about, "What was the reason behind the Laughing Man's... 39 00:03:09,220 --> 00:03:12,710 ...sudden reappearance for this recent failed assassination attempt?" 40 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:16,060 Miss Kanabi, I know! I think it's because the world... 41 00:03:16,060 --> 00:03:18,050 ...is still full of crap and boring as hell, that's why! 42 00:03:18,290 --> 00:03:20,200 We already know that. 43 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,770 My point is that maybe the man behind the incident six years ago... 44 00:03:23,770 --> 00:03:26,860 ...and man behind this latest one are two different people. 45 00:03:27,670 --> 00:03:31,610 "Man," huh? We don't know if the Laughing Man is really a man. 46 00:03:31,670 --> 00:03:32,840 He is a man! 47 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,970 According to information obtained by one of my sources, he's definitely a man. 48 00:03:36,380 --> 00:03:39,550 Besides, if he was a she, why would he call himself the Laughing Man? 49 00:03:39,550 --> 00:03:40,780 Just a minute, please... 50 00:03:41,180 --> 00:03:44,590 Y-You'd notice if you'd go over the data, 51 00:03:44,590 --> 00:03:48,250 but he never actually referred to himself as the Laughing Man. 52 00:03:48,420 --> 00:03:50,630 Whether he did or didn't, he's still a man! 53 00:03:50,630 --> 00:03:53,960 That was a man in the CEO kidnapping footage, no two ways about it! 54 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,330 You sucker! That may have been a prosthetic body. 55 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,620 Wait, we're getting off topic. 56 00:03:58,930 --> 00:04:03,440 Up until now, his criminal style was limited to corporate blackmail. 57 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,430 Doesn't anyone have any opinions on the fact that this is totally different? 58 00:04:06,710 --> 00:04:11,540 And yes, this latest incident also started off with a micromachine-related issue, 59 00:04:11,850 --> 00:04:14,520 but then he suddenly threatened to kill the Superintendent General. 60 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,490 Doesn't that seem a bit too violent for him? 61 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,750 Well, they do say that he started off with little stuff six years ago, 62 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,480 like hacking the cyberbrain of a secretary or family member and sending e-mails. 63 00:04:24,830 --> 00:04:28,190 So you're saying that this Laughing Man is a fake? 64 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:30,190 Don't you think it's a strong possibility? 65 00:04:30,270 --> 00:04:32,360 It's been six years since he vanished. 66 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:35,270 Doesn't anybody think this one was just made up, 67 00:04:35,270 --> 00:04:37,330 using the net's Laughing Man craze as a cover? 68 00:04:38,340 --> 00:04:41,010 But what's your basis for saying... 69 00:04:41,010 --> 00:04:44,310 ...that the Laughing Man's criminal style is corporate blackmail? 70 00:04:44,950 --> 00:04:48,480 Wasn't that initial kidnapping an act of violence? 71 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:52,820 But I don't think he's committed any impulsive crimes since the CEO kidnapping. 72 00:04:53,390 --> 00:04:57,790 Yeah, you're right. I mean, it's just not cool, manipulating a person to kill somebody. 73 00:04:57,930 --> 00:05:01,400 The Laughing Man is a super-class-A hacker, 74 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,760 but he's never once killed anybody. 75 00:05:04,430 --> 00:05:07,430 Damn. It was interesting, but I guess maybe this one was a fake. 76 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:08,830 I guess it's better that way, though. 77 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,710 And so, you've already been stripped of your title of realtime freak. 78 00:05:12,710 --> 00:05:13,970 How sad. 79 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,950 But why do you think that the Laughing Man is cool? 80 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:21,080 Because he is cool, that's why! 81 00:05:21,220 --> 00:05:24,190 Are you trying to tell me he's not cool after he pulled off something like that? 82 00:05:24,190 --> 00:05:27,020 I'm not saying that he isn't cool... 83 00:05:27,420 --> 00:05:30,550 If coolness is determined by your hacker skills, 84 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:35,660 they say the delayed-action virus used in the assassination attempt was a work of art. 85 00:05:36,270 --> 00:05:40,440 It was so sophisticated that the police could only make a vaccine for it... 86 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,470 ...after the security detail's cyberbrains started to manifest symptoms. 87 00:05:45,470 --> 00:05:46,700 That's certainly true. 88 00:05:47,110 --> 00:05:49,170 On top of that, rumor has it that the police weren't even able to obtain... 89 00:05:49,250 --> 00:05:51,770 ...any traces of the virus itself afterwards. 90 00:05:52,180 --> 00:05:53,050 I see... 91 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:54,910 But their suspect died. 92 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,490 Exactly! The guy who made the virus was killed by somebody, 93 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,390 so that means that it was an imposter that appeared and was killed! 94 00:06:02,390 --> 00:06:04,230 Who killed him? And for what reason? 95 00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:07,200 I know that one, too! Because it's a conspiracy by some secret society! 96 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,900 Speaking of which, according to information obtained by one of my sources, 97 00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:13,070 some of the corporations that he blackmailed... 98 00:06:13,070 --> 00:06:16,160 ...apparently had a hitman on the payroll even before this latest incident! 99 00:06:16,510 --> 00:06:19,700 What kind of source? Pork cutlet sauce? Oyster sauce? 100 00:06:20,780 --> 00:06:23,010 Why would the corporations want to kill him themselves? 101 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,670 I'm saying that they've been waiting for a chance to get him! 102 00:06:26,050 --> 00:06:28,780 They wanted revenge for the blackmail or the money demands or something! 103 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,050 And then, with this death threat, he slipped up and left a trail. 104 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,590 Even if that's the case, what's the point in killing an imposter? 105 00:06:34,590 --> 00:06:35,490 He's right. 106 00:06:35,490 --> 00:06:38,090 Even if he was the real thing, it's just not possible... 107 00:06:38,090 --> 00:06:41,060 ...that they could find and kill someone that not even the police could track. 108 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,760 T-That's my point. That doesn't sound like him. 109 00:06:44,330 --> 00:06:47,740 It's just not cool to be tracked down that easily. 110 00:06:47,740 --> 00:06:51,100 In that case, what if he was killed by the real Laughing Man? 111 00:06:51,270 --> 00:06:52,570 No way. 112 00:06:52,570 --> 00:06:55,440 Like the cops said, what makes the most sense is that there were multiple Laughing Men... 113 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,210 ...and there was a dispute in the group. 114 00:06:57,550 --> 00:07:00,570 Which means it's safe to say that we're right back at our first conclusion. 115 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:05,020 Someone other than the Laughing Man from six years ago was responsible for this incident. 116 00:07:05,020 --> 00:07:06,490 L-Let me ask you again... 117 00:07:06,890 --> 00:07:10,450 What's your basis for saying that corporate blackmail is the Laughing Man's criminal style? 118 00:07:10,730 --> 00:07:13,630 Geez, let it go, man! Because anything else wouldn't be cool, that's why! 119 00:07:14,230 --> 00:07:16,890 But stop and think about it for a minute... 120 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,190 Was that first incident really all that cool? 121 00:07:32,210 --> 00:07:36,450 I see. We just can't discuss that topic without looking at the origin. 122 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,190 All right, by way of changing gears, 123 00:07:39,190 --> 00:07:42,180 let's look back at the starting point of the Laughing Man Incident. 124 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:52,560 It's 7:20 on February 3rd, and it's time for Drive Time Weather. 125 00:07:53,300 --> 00:07:56,140 Good luck with your commute, everyone. 126 00:07:56,710 --> 00:08:02,200 Today marks 100 days before the opening of the World's Exposition. 127 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,780 With that in mind, we've come up with the following questionnaire. 128 00:08:07,950 --> 00:08:09,150 The topic is, at the expo... 129 00:08:09,150 --> 00:08:10,580 That's not fair! 130 00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:18,250 Look into that camera and tell them the truth! 131 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:20,990 Stop it. You won't shoot me. 132 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:22,960 Are you sure? 133 00:08:23,630 --> 00:08:25,970 I know we're all probably sick to death of seeing this, but we need to... 134 00:08:25,970 --> 00:08:30,840 ...since this is the only time the man thought to be the real Laughing Man ever showed himself. 135 00:08:33,410 --> 00:08:38,400 Hey, did you see that? The show's fly-in title got tagged with the Laughing Man logo, too. 136 00:08:38,680 --> 00:08:40,150 He sure is thorough, isn't he? 137 00:08:40,650 --> 00:08:42,410 The local weather forecasts, too. 138 00:08:43,450 --> 00:08:47,050 Some rumors say that those graphics were changed after the initial broadcast. 139 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,660 Whatever the case, this was where the Laughing Man incident began. 140 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:53,630 The incident that shook this country six years ago. 141 00:08:59,170 --> 00:09:02,470 You know, looking at this now, he wasn't cool at all. 142 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:04,900 I mean, the gun he was holding was shaking all over the place. 143 00:09:04,970 --> 00:09:08,310 Oh, you don't know anything! What're you talking about?! That's what's so great! 144 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:13,120 But compared to the M.O. in the serial corporate blackmail that followed, 145 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:14,520 it seems totally reckless. 146 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:15,540 No, it's not. 147 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:18,920 Even though he has special-A hacking skills, 148 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,690 he deliberately risked his own neck in this first incident. 149 00:09:21,690 --> 00:09:25,520 This reckless performance was what made us love him. 150 00:09:25,830 --> 00:09:29,730 I'm telling you, he's trying to expose the deception of exploitative corporations. 151 00:09:30,070 --> 00:09:31,230 That's deep... 152 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:33,100 No, he's right. 153 00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:35,500 Even while he was starting something that seemed poorly planned, 154 00:09:35,570 --> 00:09:38,440 he was meticulous enough to hack into all the media beforehand. 155 00:09:38,710 --> 00:09:40,200 That's his appeal. 156 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:44,640 Man, you guys sure are enthusiastic... What is this, "We Love The Laughing Man"? 157 00:09:44,950 --> 00:09:47,610 There were never any messages to that effect, though. 158 00:09:51,950 --> 00:09:54,860 Hot on the heels of Serano, Japan Micro Industries... 159 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,150 ...has apparently been blackmailed by the Laughing Man. 160 00:09:57,660 --> 00:10:02,190 This is incredible! What is that, a huge number of office desks?! 161 00:10:02,260 --> 00:10:04,600 It's the head office of Sagawa Electronics that's being blackmailed this time! 162 00:10:04,970 --> 00:10:09,200 How in the world were all those desks moved up here in a single night?! 163 00:10:09,570 --> 00:10:13,100 It may be safe to say that this is an unprecedented act of corporate terrorism! 164 00:10:13,210 --> 00:10:15,570 This... This the real one, isn't it? 165 00:10:16,380 --> 00:10:18,900 Please call Nanoplant Industries... 166 00:10:20,350 --> 00:10:24,050 Satsuma Meditechs is the most powerful corporation in Kyushu, don't you know? 167 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,280 Why would you go and plant a murder virus in there? 168 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:28,620 I don't know! 169 00:10:28,690 --> 00:10:32,590 Somebody must've hacked the gardening robots last night! 170 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,160 Get us out of here! 171 00:10:36,130 --> 00:10:37,760 Look! Look at that! 172 00:10:39,070 --> 00:10:42,870 You know, I've got a T-shirt with the MicroTel crop circle printed on it. 173 00:10:44,610 --> 00:10:47,940 After that, public funds were allocated to the blackmailed companies... 174 00:10:48,140 --> 00:10:50,630 ...in the fear that their stocks would plummet, and at that instant, 175 00:10:51,010 --> 00:10:54,880 the Laughing Man called an end to his spree and vanished into the shadows of the net. 176 00:10:55,580 --> 00:10:58,890 Remember when Kadoya advertised that there was a Laughing Man logo... 177 00:10:58,890 --> 00:11:02,320 ...inside a bag of their snacks, and there was a quick spike in their stock price? 178 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,260 What about the rumors that in each of the companies, 179 00:11:05,260 --> 00:11:08,230 there were people who secretly made a killing off of their stocks? 180 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:12,820 If you're only judging by that criterion, the Satsuma Meditechs case might be a scam. 181 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:15,300 Is that a case of babe's intuition? 182 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:18,970 In that case, why don't you backtrack the fluctuations... 183 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,010 ...of the other companies' stock prices and compare them to Satsuma's? 184 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:23,580 Now that you mention it, Satsuma was the only company... 185 00:11:23,580 --> 00:11:26,010 ...that didn't get an influx of funds from the government, wasn't it? 186 00:11:27,020 --> 00:11:28,180 Well, I'll be... 187 00:11:29,050 --> 00:11:31,390 Nobody noticed it because all six were making roughly the same amount... 188 00:11:31,390 --> 00:11:33,950 ...at the time he called an end to the crime spree. 189 00:11:34,190 --> 00:11:38,350 Well, even that talk show they set up to discuss the threat was pretty lame. 190 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:41,860 I'd say that it was self-written B.S. put out by the station itself! 191 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:48,460 Looking back like this, even the incident six years ago was full of inconsistencies. 192 00:11:49,340 --> 00:11:52,930 It may be a bit of a stretch to say that everything was carried out by the same perpetrator. 193 00:11:53,010 --> 00:11:55,530 So in the end, should we settle on multiple criminals, then? 194 00:11:55,810 --> 00:11:58,470 There are any number of critics who would point out the difference in ideology... 195 00:11:58,550 --> 00:12:00,980 ...between the initial kidnapping and the subsequent incidents. 196 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,010 Personally, I'm for the "single Laughing Man" theory. 197 00:12:04,890 --> 00:12:06,980 But don't you think that isn't very plausible? 198 00:12:07,590 --> 00:12:09,890 Any speculation now as to whether the same criminal... 199 00:12:09,890 --> 00:12:12,380 ...was behind this incident and the one six years ago is meaningless. 200 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,100 Something tells me that the key to unlocking the Laughing Man mystery... 201 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:19,730 ...is asking ourselves what factor gave rise to both the incident six years ago... 202 00:12:19,970 --> 00:12:23,700 ...and the string of phenomena that occurred immediately after this recent death threat. 203 00:12:24,210 --> 00:12:26,400 Pretty slick, miss! 204 00:12:26,910 --> 00:12:28,400 I think so, too. 205 00:12:29,180 --> 00:12:29,940 And on that note... 206 00:12:31,110 --> 00:12:35,070 Let's examine that question as we look at some old footage that we have in stock. 207 00:12:35,550 --> 00:12:40,510 But before we do, I need to delete the backup cache data that's built up in the server, 208 00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:42,120 so let's take a quick break! 209 00:12:51,270 --> 00:12:55,200 Hey, you remember how that designer named Paul who supposedly came up with that mark... 210 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,460 reported himself to the special investigations unit while the incidents were going on? 211 00:12:58,540 --> 00:13:02,810 He kept saying that the design had been stolen when his database was hacked, right? 212 00:13:02,810 --> 00:13:06,580 But the fact is, his career as a designer took off thanks to this. 213 00:13:06,580 --> 00:13:07,950 I respect the guy, too. 214 00:13:12,990 --> 00:13:14,480 All right, let's rock! 215 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:25,860 Still, why do you suppose this incident became such a big craze at the time? 216 00:13:26,370 --> 00:13:28,570 It's a mystery that you think you understand but you don't, 217 00:13:28,570 --> 00:13:31,560 and a sensation that keeps getting fed to us with amazingly smart timing. 218 00:13:31,810 --> 00:13:33,670 Gee, you do make some valid points sometimes... 219 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,340 The fact that Serano's CEO wasn't cooperative with the investigation is titillating, too. 220 00:13:38,450 --> 00:13:42,040 To this day, he's still suspected of making a secret deal with the Laughing Man. 221 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:45,080 But what really attracted me to this incident the most... 222 00:13:45,420 --> 00:13:50,950 ...was the crusading, "lone-wolf hero" image he demonstrated in the first incident. 223 00:13:51,190 --> 00:13:52,420 Yeah, same here. 224 00:13:52,930 --> 00:13:55,300 This last incident also began during a press conference... 225 00:13:55,300 --> 00:13:57,790 ...that addressed suspicions of the illegal use of Interceptors. 226 00:13:57,870 --> 00:13:59,630 Was that another example of his crusading spirit? 227 00:14:00,170 --> 00:14:04,100 And it was none other than Serano Genomics that developed those Interceptors. 228 00:14:04,570 --> 00:14:06,870 Don't you sense that there's some power behind this? 229 00:14:06,940 --> 00:14:10,250 This is interesting, all right! It's like everyone thinks they're detectives! 230 00:14:10,250 --> 00:14:12,870 No wonder they're all reaching the same conclusion! 231 00:14:13,010 --> 00:14:16,180 What if the Laughing Man turns out to be a program... 232 00:14:16,250 --> 00:14:21,210 ...that the entire micromachine industry wrote and staged to manipulate stock prices? 233 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,750 Where's the fun in that? I know there's really a Laughing Man... 234 00:14:25,060 --> 00:14:27,650 Aren't you just saying that you want there to be one? 235 00:14:27,730 --> 00:14:30,360 According to information obtained by one of my sources, though, 236 00:14:30,430 --> 00:14:32,730 - the financial boost caused by this incident... - Yet another source, huh? 237 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:34,270 ...comes to about 20 trillion yen! 238 00:14:34,340 --> 00:14:37,100 Wouldn't you say that that fact alone says that the Laughing Man needs to exist? 239 00:14:38,610 --> 00:14:42,410 Since none of you are showing any interest in what I'm trying to say, 240 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:47,180 I'll put my best information on the table. Stuff I got from an independent source. 241 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:50,480 The official police statement will say that the recent... 242 00:14:50,550 --> 00:14:55,150 ...multiple, simultaneous assassination attempts were caused by the virus spread by Nanao=A. 243 00:14:55,490 --> 00:14:56,980 It's a complete lie. 244 00:14:59,290 --> 00:15:01,090 What are you basing that on? 245 00:15:01,230 --> 00:15:03,700 Yeah! State your source for that information! 246 00:15:03,770 --> 00:15:05,320 Again with the sources... 247 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,630 Out of curiosity, how many times has J.D. used the word "source" since entering this room? 248 00:15:10,970 --> 00:15:12,600 - Laughed Man: Oh, just let it go! - Mr. Moe: A search shows 38 times. 249 00:15:13,010 --> 00:15:15,070 I'd be interested in hearing that, too. 250 00:15:15,610 --> 00:15:19,640 Well, the truth is... I had hacked into the crime scene when it happened. 251 00:15:19,710 --> 00:15:20,810 Are you serious?! 252 00:15:21,150 --> 00:15:23,620 Are you saying you were trying to assassinate him, too?! 253 00:15:23,620 --> 00:15:24,880 No, it's not like that. 254 00:15:24,950 --> 00:15:29,220 I was just peeping the system because I wanted to see how it would turn out. 255 00:15:29,660 --> 00:15:32,650 That's why I think that the 39 assassins... 256 00:15:32,730 --> 00:15:37,560 ...were also there of their own free will, not because they were being controlled by a virus. 257 00:15:38,100 --> 00:15:40,570 Lots of other hackers like me were there, 258 00:15:41,100 --> 00:15:45,470 and I think some among our audience may have tried to crack their way in, too. 259 00:15:46,010 --> 00:15:48,770 But for some reason, every last one of them failed. 260 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,610 You saw that? 261 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,620 If that's true, it's big news. 262 00:15:57,920 --> 00:15:59,610 You just can't trust anything anymore! 263 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:00,920 Are you kidding?! 264 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,580 I thought about going to the hall that day, too! 265 00:16:05,730 --> 00:16:06,730 Crap! 266 00:16:06,730 --> 00:16:12,030 Hold it. Wouldn't that mean that the real Laughing Man was one of the 39 arrested? 267 00:16:12,270 --> 00:16:13,760 I don't think he was. 268 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:19,360 The people arrested there were copycats, or enthusiastic fans like those of us here. 269 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,500 So you're saying they were there in response to Nanao=A's threat? 270 00:16:24,010 --> 00:16:25,950 That's not quite right, either. 271 00:16:26,010 --> 00:16:28,780 Actually, I have one other piece of information. 272 00:16:28,850 --> 00:16:31,980 After the incident, I was diving in the net, 273 00:16:32,790 --> 00:16:38,490 and I found an authentication server under Nanao's name that he had tampered with. 274 00:16:43,770 --> 00:16:44,960 That's it there. 275 00:16:45,670 --> 00:16:47,160 You're right! 276 00:16:47,570 --> 00:16:51,200 Be careful. It's crawling with attack barriers. 277 00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:56,170 When you dive to level six, you'll find several plans that had been simulated. 278 00:16:56,780 --> 00:16:59,610 It had things like blackmailing major micromachine manufacturers again, 279 00:17:00,180 --> 00:17:03,710 and even methods of targeting cyborg food corporations next time. 280 00:17:04,050 --> 00:17:07,350 What they all have in common is that a modular, 281 00:17:07,420 --> 00:17:10,620 delayed-action virus is the key to success in each plan. 282 00:17:11,060 --> 00:17:15,260 But that brought up one question. 283 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:21,290 The assassination attempt that Nanao actually did carry out isn't one of the simulations. 284 00:17:22,140 --> 00:17:26,400 Why did he suddenly switch over to assassination at the last minute... 285 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,680 ...when he had so meticulously prepared so many other plans? 286 00:17:31,180 --> 00:17:32,650 That's some impressive digging. 287 00:17:32,950 --> 00:17:36,110 This sort of thing is all I do. 288 00:17:36,350 --> 00:17:37,610 Why'd he do it, then? 289 00:17:37,690 --> 00:17:40,480 Are you trying to say that Nanao=A was also a copycat... 290 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,420 ...under the influence of that death threat? 291 00:17:43,090 --> 00:17:47,030 I can't think of any other reason why he would abandon his carefully honed plans... 292 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:51,690 ...and use his wild card, the modular virus, on an unplanned assassination attempt. 293 00:17:51,900 --> 00:17:54,800 Who made the death threat against the Superintendent General, then? 294 00:17:54,870 --> 00:17:56,700 You sure love to read into things... 295 00:17:56,770 --> 00:17:59,430 Let's focus on interpreting just the things that actually happened. 296 00:17:59,510 --> 00:18:03,600 But now that he's shown us that server, his story sounds plausible, doesn't it? 297 00:18:04,010 --> 00:18:05,500 Let me ask you something, then. 298 00:18:05,850 --> 00:18:08,540 In spite of the fact that there were many active crimes committed that day, 299 00:18:08,620 --> 00:18:12,450 why is it that there wasn't a single case of cybercrime aside from Nanao's? 300 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:17,690 Maybe someone only wanted Nanao to commit a crime that day. 301 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,920 It was also decided ahead of time how he would fail. 302 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,530 Which sets up Nanao as the culprit behind the Laughing Man incident, 303 00:18:24,530 --> 00:18:26,860 which shook society six years ago. 304 00:18:27,870 --> 00:18:31,130 Then who is it that's profiting from this scheme? 305 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:35,900 It's not hard to guess. It's got to be the po... po... pol... 306 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:43,980 Hey! 307 00:18:45,150 --> 00:18:48,750 You've been giving a lot of roundabout explanations, 308 00:18:49,220 --> 00:18:51,490 but I think you're on the right track. Don't you? 309 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,890 Did you see my dummy barrier get blown away at the hall that day? 310 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:06,370 W-Wait, you're that lady who pinned down that security guy at the crime scene?! 311 00:19:06,670 --> 00:19:07,830 Well, did you? 312 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,040 Yes, I saw it happen. 313 00:19:10,550 --> 00:19:12,810 That barrier was a nasty piece of work, wasn't it? 314 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,720 Was there anything left of it? Fragments of something? 315 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:16,680 Yes. 316 00:19:19,850 --> 00:19:21,010 Here it is. 317 00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:22,710 Thanks. 318 00:19:22,990 --> 00:19:26,860 Don't mention it. Um, do you mind if I asked you something, too? 319 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:32,330 At first, I thought it was the police themselves who were behind all this. 320 00:19:32,770 --> 00:19:35,040 But that attack barrier was clearly different... 321 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,400 ...from the ones the police had deployed on the perimeter. 322 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,100 I've never seen a barrier like that before. 323 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,140 Was that really the Laugh... 324 00:19:43,750 --> 00:19:45,710 Here's a word of warning in return for the fragment. 325 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:50,350 Knowing too much will get your body in the real world eliminated. 326 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:56,380 Hey, did you get disconnected or something? 327 00:19:57,690 --> 00:19:59,560 No, I'm fine. 328 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,330 I'm sorry, but I think I'll call it a day. 329 00:20:03,770 --> 00:20:06,100 What? But you never finished what you were saying! 330 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:07,800 Sorry I caused all this fuss. 331 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,810 Geez, this place sure got dead all of a sudden. 332 00:20:16,540 --> 00:20:19,210 Let's be realistic. Even if we get worked up in places like this, 333 00:20:19,210 --> 00:20:21,440 it doesn't mean we'll ever get to the truth. 334 00:20:21,750 --> 00:20:26,350 I'm not so sure about that! The real Laughing Man might be watching! 335 00:20:26,490 --> 00:20:29,750 The instant you start thinking that, it's all over. 336 00:20:30,190 --> 00:20:33,530 Or more to the point, this incident is just too complicated. 337 00:20:33,530 --> 00:20:34,960 We'll get bored with it eventually. 338 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,090 I have to wonder if the Laughing Man is just a symbolic phenomenon... 339 00:20:38,530 --> 00:20:43,870 ...that was created by some freak of nature in a corrupt world. 340 00:20:44,210 --> 00:20:48,300 I guess we're already copycats, dancing to his tune like this... 341 00:20:48,380 --> 00:20:51,240 But even if all the incidents were a phenomenon, 342 00:20:51,310 --> 00:20:54,150 I suppose you can't help but sense some sort of common thread... 343 00:20:54,150 --> 00:20:57,810 in the initial kidnapping and the incidents triggered by this death threat six years later, 344 00:20:58,150 --> 00:21:01,280 just like Baby Ruth said. 345 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:07,500 I believe that those two incidents alone were caused by the same talented culprit. 346 00:21:07,860 --> 00:21:12,530 All the others, regardless of the scale, objective, and rationale of their crimes, 347 00:21:12,530 --> 00:21:15,400 were copies that were called into being by the absence of their hero. 348 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,340 Even so, it's still doubtful that the criminal behind those two incidents... 349 00:21:19,340 --> 00:21:22,070 ...who was the motivation for the rest, was himself an original. 350 00:21:22,410 --> 00:21:23,400 Not bad, miss! 351 00:21:24,410 --> 00:21:25,970 Pretty slick! 352 00:21:31,350 --> 00:21:32,440 A forced transfer? 353 00:21:35,460 --> 00:21:36,620 What the...? 354 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:43,830 Aw, why now? 355 00:21:45,430 --> 00:21:48,560 It was just getting good! Can't I stay online a little longer? 356 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:50,270 Aw, no fair! 357 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,850 So that's what happened. What do you think? 358 00:22:09,260 --> 00:22:11,380 Damn... Couldn't trace it. 359 00:22:11,790 --> 00:22:12,730 Hey! 360 00:22:12,790 --> 00:22:14,820 Hm? Did you say something? 361 00:22:15,530 --> 00:22:19,020 Geez, don't tell me you've been diving this whole time! 362 00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:21,790 Damn, that's dangerous! 363 00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:26,370 Come on, I could be asleep and still drive in this part of town. 364 00:22:26,370 --> 00:22:27,270 Anyway, you were saying? 365 00:22:28,410 --> 00:22:30,670 Oh, forget it. I'm not gonna repeat myself. 366 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,480 A phenomenon created by copycats without an original... 367 00:22:37,150 --> 00:22:39,950 Two pieces don't fit the puzzle... 368 00:22:41,290 --> 00:22:42,720 What are you talking about? 369 00:22:43,420 --> 00:22:44,580 Forget it. 370 00:22:44,580 --> 00:22:46,580 371 00:23:16,460 --> 00:23:20,810 She's so cold and human 372 00:23:20,810 --> 00:23:23,710 It's something humans do 373 00:23:23,710 --> 00:23:26,020 She stays so golden solo 374 00:23:26,020 --> 00:23:29,080 She's so number nine 375 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,830 She's incredible math 376 00:23:33,090 --> 00:23:36,110 Just incredible math 377 00:23:36,380 --> 00:23:40,570 And is she really human? 378 00:23:40,570 --> 00:23:43,860 She's just so something new 379 00:23:43,860 --> 00:23:46,110 A waking lithium flower 380 00:23:46,110 --> 00:23:48,970 Just about to bloom 381 00:23:49,060 --> 00:23:51,770 I smell lithium now 382 00:23:52,810 --> 00:23:55,890 Smelling lithium now 383 00:23:57,060 --> 00:24:01,100 How is she when she doesn't surf? 384 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:04,930 How is she when she doesn't surf? 385 00:24:04,930 --> 00:24:07,830 How is she when she doesn't surf? 386 00:24:07,830 --> 00:24:12,030 I wonder what she does when she wakes up? 387 00:24:13,310 --> 00:24:16,600 When she wakes up?