Haruto, what do you think that is? It's looking this way, isn't it?
Huh? You're right.
But aren't the eyes closed?
Haruto?
Hey, Takigawa. Did you find them?
I caught them at the scrap yard.
We're heading back now.
All right. Bring them to the relay point for now.
Okay.
Hey, what are you doing?!
You!
Let go of Haruto!
You little brat!
What the hell are you doing!
What are you doing to Naoki!
Watch out! Let go of me!
Hey, let go!
Haruto? Haruto!
What's wrong? You're bleeding.
Hey, Haruto!
Takigawa, what happened?
We're on our way.
- We're getting out of here. - But Haruto's...
I'm sorry, but this child's already dead.
What? He's dead? What do you mean dead...
Let's go.
Haruto.
You can have that.
I can't see what's in front of me.
There.
Thank you...very much.
Yeah.
Aniki!
Aniki.
I don't see the other boy.
We're pulling out for now.
This morning at around 6:00,
there was an accident at an intersection near Sasahara, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture.
Two bodies were found inside the vehicle.
A DNA analysis of the body
Meishun University
Dept. of Forensic Medicine
that had been thrown into the passenger seat
revealed that it was Kuzuhara Zenji, 62 years old.
Kuzuhara, that member of the House of Representatives?
- Yes. - Who's that?
He's a former police bureaucrat
who tried to cover up a hit-and-run by a diplomat and
tried to make a big time politician's son's forced sex with a high school girl
look like it never happened. He's scumbag Kuzuhara.
He's a scumbag all right. But I don't know him at all.
But it's quite a well-known...
It's okay. Doctor only needs to know about science
She doesn't care about the worldly affairs.
Yes, that's just fine for the doctor.
I don't quite like the way that sounds.
And so, why are we being called in for a car accident?
You'll find out when you see the body.
This is the body thought to be that of Kuzuhara Zenji.
- "Thought to be"? - Yes. The body is thought to be him.
Don't be surprised. I've never seen anything like this either.
It feels like I hear that every time.
This is unprecedented.
- Okay, okay. - Please let us see it.
Kuzuhara Zenji, 62 years old.
...or so the body is thought to be.
No, but this is...
He's a boy, isn't he?
What does this mean?
That boy's DNA perfectly matched that of Kuzuhara Zenji.
Any possibility of a mistake in the analysis?
The Crime Lab said they re-analyzed numerous times.
Chief, this can't possibly be...
Yes, that's highly possible.
It's hard to believe, but I can't think of anything else.
Science fiction became reality?
Hey, let me in on it too. What's going on?
It means they're two separate entities with the exact same DNA sequence.
Huh?
Since their age is different, they're not identical twins.
Huh?
- You still don't get it? - Huh?
There is only one possible conclusion.
Clone.
That would be unprecedented.
Although I don't know.
Pulse of the Goddess
Pandora's Fruit
Scientific Crime Investigation File
By clone, you mean that clone, right?
Yes. It's that thing you often see in movies.
It refers to entities that are exactly the same genetically.
A copy of a human, right?
Not only humans. Clones of animals and plants exist as well.
Singled-celled organisms that multiply by cell division -
for example, euglena and paramecium - are clones too.
That's if they multiply by asexual reproduction.
I thought they were microorganisms, but they're clones, huh?
No, they're microorganisms. They're just not artificially cloned.
- Huh? - What?
Okuda, calm down.
Judging from the fact that the boy and Kuzuhara's ages are different,
it was probably somatic cell cloning.
A somatic cell clone is created by
extracting the nucleus of somatic cells from skin, for example, and
and transferring that to an unfertilized egg.
This clone will have the same genetic makeup as the donor of the somatic cell.
In other words, if you think of the 62-year old Kuzuhara as the original,
the clone that was created using his somatic cells
is this boy.
Is something like that really possible?
Technologically, it's possible.
In 1996, the cloned sheep Dolly was born in Scotland, and
in 2018, a cloned monkey was created in China.
But creating human clones
is forbidden world-wide because it affects human dignity.
It's a line that must not be crossed.
But the fact that it exists means that
someone made it secretly, right?
I know, right? For what purpose was it made?
According to the autopsy results, the boy had signs of recent surgery.
One of his kidneys had been removed.
Kidney?
Also, a microchip was implanted in the back of his hand.
Microchip?
There seemed to be some kind of information in there, but
it had been encrypted by a strong security system.
Maybe he was being managed by this chip.
You know, how it happens a lot in sci-fi movies.
Making clones for the purpose of organ transplant and managing them on a farm or something.
It's scary, isn't it?
The chip got implanted without his knowledge, right?
But making clones and managing them is...
I believe Lyden Group is probably behind this.
Lyden Group?
The person who caused the accident has been identified as Takigawa Jin, 38.
From information on this guy, we found out the identity of his associate.
Endo Kazuma, 40 years old.
These are the two who abducted the doctor
and murdered Kuryu-san.
These guys, huh?
There were binding marks from duct tape on the boy's mouth and limbs.
I think Takigawa may have been trying to abduct the boy.
But while attempting to do that, he got into an accident.
Yes. But there's one thing that's mystifying.
There was a bite mark on the back of Takigawa's hand, but
when it was checked out, it didn't match that of the dead boy.
From the overall size and the shape of the canine area,
it's thought to be that of a boy of the same age.
Which means there was one more boy in the car.
Where did that boy go?
Finding the whereabouts of that boy may be the key to solving this case.
Hasebe-san and Okuda-san, please look into Kuzuhara.
Doctor and I will go see that man.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Didn't I hear that the investigation was terminated?
We're here today on another matter.
Another matter?
It's about clones.
Clone?
What are you talking about?
A human body with the same DNA sequence as Kuzuhara-san was found.
A kidney had been removed from that body.
According to his medical record, Kuzuhara-san has been
seeing a doctor for a chronic kidney disease for the past 3 years.
But 2 weeks ago,
we heard that a donor was suddenly found and he got a kidney transplant.
Isn't that donor Kuzuhara-san's clone?
Back in Kuzuhara Zenji's days with the Foreign Intelligence Department of the Security Bureau,
rumor has it that he quashed Lyden Group's problem with a drug.
It wouldn't be surprising if
he delegated Lyden Group to make a clone for his organ transplant.
Together with the dead boy, this man's body was found.
Takigawa Jin.
He's the guy who was at Kuryu Sensei's murder scene.
The other one is Endo Kazuma.
You're the one who gave orders to these two, right?
Aren't you behind this case too?
That's quite an interesting story.
But unfortunately, that's not true.
Kuzuhara Sensei received his organ donation though official channels.
Official channels?
Are you talking about the Lyden Group?
I'm sorry, but I can't discuss the details with you.
In the first place, something like a clone can't exist.
In regards to the boy who died,
wasn't there a mistake in the DNA analysis?
Boy?
I never said a word about a "boy."
Anyway, that's all I have to say.
I'll have to ask you to leave.
Thanks for the bad tea.
After the genetic correctional system, it's the human clone now, huh?
You folks at the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office have quite an imagination.
A word of advice from me.
Why don't you direct that imagination to something else?
What will happen if I stick my neck further in someone else's business...
...to something like that.
We know you're behind this.
We'll do whatever it takes to get the evidence.
I see.
We won't let you get away next time.
I'm looking forward to it.
Hello.
Has the boy been found?
Not yet.
We can't let this project fall through too after the Pax Project.
You have to do whatever it takes to get the boy.
- I understand. - Also...
the guys from the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office got wind of it.
Be careful.
There's nothing here, but bear with me.
- Go ahead and sit down. - Okay.
- What's your name, kid? - It's Naoki.
Naoki-kun, huh? You're safe here, so sit back and relax.
Okay.
Make yourself at home.
But it's boring, isn't it?
Did I have anything?
- What will you do with this, huh? - What is that?
It's a maze. Have you ever done it?
Oh... Maze is a game where you head from the entrance to the exit.
From the entrance to the exit...
See this entrance here?
You're going to be looking for a path from here to the exit.
If you take the wrong path, you'll end up at a dead end.
Wanna give it a try?
Yes.
Then here.
It's me. I got one boy in my custody.
Boy? You don't mean the boy from that facility, do you?
Yes, that one.
The boy had run away from that place.
No one saw you, right?
Yeah.
In any case, please stay hidden for a while.
I'll keep in touch.
Yeah, okay.
Is that fun?
Yeah, but it's hard.
Oh, it's a dead end again.
Let me know if there's anything you want.
Sawada too, huh? Ours also stubbornly denied knowing anything.
It's clear that he knows.
It's like a gag order's been imposed, isn't it?
Anything on the other boy?
We checked the surveillance camera footage from the area around the accident site, but found nothing.
I wonder if the other boy is also a clone.
- I think that's highly possible. - Which means
there may be other clones too, right?
So they're managing a number of them.
That's outrageous.
Anyway, let's check to see if there are other instances of suspicious organ transplants.
Hello.
What? The identity's been revealed?
Whose?
What's going on?
I don't understand it either.
Earlier, I got a call from the crime lab that did the DNA analysis
saying that there was a mix-up with the specimen.
What? A mix up?
Yes. After redoing the analysis one more time,
they said it was a match for a boy who was reported missing a few months ago.
"Kakei Akito"
- He's a totally different person. - That's what I said too.
The body got processed promptly as Kakei Akito.
So what happened to the boy's body?
It was transported somewhere, along with the microchip, the evidence.
What is going on here?
There's no doubt that boy is a clone of Kuzuhara.
So why?
Takigawa Jin kidnapped Kakei Akito.
In the process, he got into an accident.
That's all.
That's all? What about the other boy?
He didn't exist from the beginning.
That's the conclusion drawn by the police.
It means this is it for us.
This is clearly a cover-up tactic.
Are you going to allow this to happen? The Lyden Group is behind this.
I've told you already.
Lyden Group is not subject to investigation.
But this something even you...
I can't allow it!
- How can I allow it? - Then...
Kohiruimaki.
Back off.
If you'll excuse me.
Your look says you're not convinced.
Katsuragi-san.
Kuzuhara is a former police bureaucrat and an active member of the Diet.
Someone higher up than us must've made a move.
Does this mean the First Division is backing off too?
Since their influence is now inside the police organization,
it would be impossible to continue the investigation.
That would be the same thing as taking part in the cover-up, isn't it?
That's why I came to see you.
From here on out, the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office is the only one who can move.
Find the evidence no matter what.
We will continue the investigation.
- Eh? Then... - We'll see it through the end.
However, we'll be acting unofficially from now on, so
we need to be even more careful than before.
Chief.
Okki, there's no way Kohhi would back off.
Well, isn't this normal working condition for us?
I'm going to do it. I'll crush the Lyden Group.
I can't let them get away for making clones just for the sake of organ transplants.
- I'm glad we have you on our side. - For me, no matter what the reason,
I can't approve of human cloning.
Why do you sit on my jacket!
Just don't mind it!
Isn't it okay if it doesn't get abused?
In a sci-fi movie, there's a story of a husband who clones his dead wife.
But wouldn't that be ignoring the human rights of the clone?
Ah~ That's true.
Now that you mention it, that's right.
Because it means he manipulated
his wife's life just to fill the void in his heart.
That's true.
Why didn't I notice that? What a shock.
Can't we stop talking about that already?
No, we can't. I always thought it was a good movie.
It was totally for Daniel's self-satisfaction.
Daniel's despicable for bringing his wife back to life for his selfish reason.
Don't you think so, Chief?
Oh, Daniel is the name of the actor who plays the main character...
Okuda! You go buy some chilled baumkuchen cake at a faraway convenience store.
Why a faraway convenience store?
They don't have it around here.
Okuda-san.
A clone is not a resurrection of the dead.
They may look the same, but they are not the same person.
It's meaningless if it's not that person.
Yeah, that's right.
I know, right?
Stop talking about a stupid movie.
Why are you picking on me? I'm just saying that clones have a lot of...
Just go!
Go buy chilled baumkuchen at a faraway convenience store.
No.
...or rather, what's a chilled baumkuchen in the first place?
- I've never heard of it. - It's baumkuchen that's
moist and tastes better when it's chilled.
Science is constantly making advances!
There's always the promise of great strides in the future!
That's supposed to be my line!
But I wanted to say it.
Sera, it's about time to brush you teeth.
No, I still wanna play. I wanna play!
I'll read you a book before you go to sleep so go brush your teeth.
- Aren't you so lucky. - Okay~.
Thanks.
Are you okay?
I'm not okay. I wanted to read her the book.
I'm not talking about the book.
Daddy, finish it up for me!
You haven't even brushed it by yourself yet.
It's time for Daddy.
Doctor, you don't need to worry.
As always...
I'll keep believing in Ami and... in the progress of science.
Okay.
Sera, did you brush your teeth properly by yourself?
The actor named Daniel something
was really cool.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
It was such a good movie. Why were you late?
Sorry. I got caught in a torrential rain on the way over.
But it just started raining now.
It's a localized downpour.
Thunderclouds suddenly developed and there was a burst of rain over a small area.
I just happened to be right under it.
Thanks.
What is it?
Hey, you two there.
What a downpour, huh?
Come have a drink until it lets up.
100 yen sour cocktails until 5:00. Chance time.
- Yes, but... - Come in, come in.
Shall we?
Come on in, Miss.
Okay? Since it's chance time.
Mister, you're soaking wet. Two for Table No. 1!
What shall we order?
On a prefectural highway in Sasahara, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture,
a passenger car traveling straight ahead steered in the wrong direction
and crashed into a construction site by the roadside.
Due to this accident, the driver of the car,
Takigawa Jin-san, 38, unemployed, of Sumida-ku, Tokyo,
and the passenger in the car, Kakei Akito-kun...
Did you see the news?
Yes. Apparently, there was a cover-up within the police department.
We're better off thinking that we can't even trust the police anymore.
No, not all of them are corrupt.
Maybe...
Eh? Do you have someone in mind?
- Self-satisfaction? - Yeah.
That he's "despicable for bringing his wife back to life for his selfish reason.“
But she was talking about a movie, right? It's not like she was talking about you.
I know. But still...
I don't consider it self-satisfaction.
I'm sure Ami-chan would like to see Sera-chan too,
and I'd do the same thing if it happened to my wife.
- You don't have a wife. - I'm talking about if I had one.
Hey, hey, hey! - Over here.
- Enjoy. - Thank you.
I did a lot of research, but
as might be expected, making human clones is unheard of in Japan.
But I think a certain individual is involved in this cover-up.
A certain individual?
H's a former official at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,
and is currently Ly...
...den Group, Japan Branch's advisor, Tsubaki Bunji.
Within the group, he's known as Chairman.
Tsubaki Bunji.
It's said that he covered up the drug issue 11 years ago
and went to work for the Japan Branch after that.
He has connections to powerful people like politicians, wealthy people,
and senior officials at the National Police Agency,
Kuzuhara Zenji was his junior in college.
There's the connection.
With a big cover-up like this going on,
I'm pretty sure Tsubaki is behind this.
And the one who's said to be this Tsubaki's right hand man is
the Japan Branch manager, Sawada Katsuya.
Sawada.
Where did the boy go?
We don't know yet. But we do have a clue.
There was a journalist who had been repeatedly contacting employees and researchers
at the Japan Branch under the pretext of gathering information for a story.
We checked him out and found that he was a man named Koriyama Ryo.
This man apparently even went to Infa Transport to gather information.
We believe it's this Koriyama who's hiding the boy.
However, we haven't found out where he's hiding yet.
We don't have much time until the party.
You have to bring him back without fail.
Let's go back once and
share the information with Hasebe-san and Okuda-san.
Okay. In any case, we have to find the boy soon.
- What are you after? - Who are you?
I'm not a suspicious guy.
I have information about the boy you're looking for.
- Freelance journalist? - Yes.
I've been following Lyden Group for a while now.
In that process,
I learned of the existence of a department called the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office.
Looks like you probed pretty deeply in your last investigation of Lyden Group.
I thought you guys were plenty trustworthy.
- And that's why you approached us? - So, what's the information?
There's been a rumor for a while that the Japan Branch
is operating a facility that's supposedly an orphanage.
At that place,
it seems they're isolating and raising children who have no place to go.
What are they doing that for?
To provide organs to powerful entities like politicians and wealthy people.
However, I haven't been able to locate the actual place.
And so I was keeping my eye on a company called Infa Transport.
Infa Transport?
It's a subsidiary that's taking on the logistics of Lyden Group.
If I looked into Infa Transport,
I thought I'd be sure to find some movement relevant to that facility.
I noticed that Infa Transport's truck
occasionally takes a suspicious route,
and I was staking out at that location.
I think that location's
probably a relay point to bring something into the facility.
Soon after, it was approached by another truck.
Hey, 2 escaped from the facility! Looks like they got into a truck.
- Have you seen them? - No.
Let's go find them.
Have you found them?
Just find them!
If I stayed here and followed the truck that came and made contact,
I thought I might be able to get to the facility.
But I found myself wanting to help those boys.
Let go of Haruto!
By the time I caught up, the car was already wrecked by the accident.
But when I looked inside the car, one boy was still alive.
I took the boy under my protection right away.
Where is that boy now?
In a hotel nearby.
How did you find out about that facility?
- I got a tip from an informant. - Informant?
He's a guy who originally worked for the Japan Branch
and has now been demoted to Infa Transport.
But even he, the employee,
doesn't seem to know the location of the facility.
Infa Transport
IWASAKI KOSUKE
He's a man you can trust.
He's saying he'd be willing to meet you guys.
Even if I got my information together and published an article,
it's just going to end up getting quashed.
Won't you lend me a hand?
But first, let us verify if you're telling us the truth or not.
Will you let us meet that boy?
Is this boy...
This is Naoki-kun. He doesn't seem to know his last name.
Who are you? Did you come to catch me?
No, they didn't. These people are my friends.
May I?
Are you sure you didn't come to catch me?
We want to help you.
These people are on our side. You can put your mind at ease.
But aren't the teachers mad?
Eh?
Because we came out on our own.
There's no need to worry about it. You don't have to go back there anymore.
Really?
Yeah.
If you need anything, call me here.
Gathering evidence is our top priority for now.
Let's publicize it when the time is right.
Until then, please take care of Naoki-kun.
All right.
From the way Naoki-kun appeared and the back of his hand,
there's no doubt he's a clone.
Is something wrong?
It's nothing.
Please tell me.
When I look at that boy, I'm reminded.
Of the time I created
the Prometheus virus.
Of the time I crossed the line I shouldn't have crossed.
The Prometheus virus and Naoki-kun are...
Different.
I know that.
But somewhere in my mind,
I'm thinking that maybe he shouldn't exist.
I'm sorry. I'm not thinking straight.
He's alive now.
Even if his existence is forbidden,
he has a right to live
as a human being.
I know.
I know, but still...
In any case, our first priority is to protect his life.
Let's get Naoki-kun's DNA analyzed tomorrow.
I'll go pick up Sera from daycare.
Looks like you're looking into the Lyden Group, huh?
It's a dead end again. I can't find the exit at all.
Is it that hard?
Yeah. Does this..
really have an exit?
Yes, it does. There's definitely an exit.
Maybe you can't solve it because you're hungry.
I'll go buy something. What do you want to eat?
Anything.
What kind of food do you usually eat?
All kinds.
All kinds like what? Don't you have any favorites?
The menu is decided by the day of the week, so nothing in particular...
Oh. I like Friday's white square thing the best.
What is that? Bread? Or mochi (rice cake)?
I don't know.
But Sensei said we should only eat food that's good for our brain and body,
so I think it's that kind of food.
I see.
Okay, I'll go buy something tasty for you.
Wait a while.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
If something happens, I'll call right away.
- What is that? - Eh?
Ah, that's right. You wouldn't know a cell phone, huh?
Then have you ever used a phone?
You know, something like this.
I know about phones.
I've seen Sensei use it.
Oh yeah? Then...
Have you ever seen money?
- Money? - Yeah. You've never seen it, have you?
If anything happens, I'll call you on this phone.
Okay.
Make sure you never open the door for anyone.
Okay.
One each of regular and special.
One each. Got it. One moment please.
Oh, excuse me. Please leave the wasabi out of the special one.
Special without wasabi. Is that it?
Yes.
Naoki, get out of there right now.
Oji-san?
Listen carefully. Do you see the card on the table?
Eh?
Yeah.
There's an address on the back of it. Take that and the money and go to the first floor.
Where you get there, tell the man in uniform that you want to take a taxi.
After than, you just need to show that card to the driver.
But what about you, Oji-san?
I'll be fine. You just get out of there now.
Oji-san, what's wrong?
Oji-san! Oji-san!
Oji-san?
You must be Naoki.
It's a hotel key card.
It's 603. This way!
Are you staying with us?
Man in uniform. Taxi. Give card.
Uniform. Taxi. Card.
- What the hell are you doing? - I'm sorry.
He should still be nearby. Look for him!
Yes, sir!
Damn brat...
Hey, hey! You see a kid about 10 years old?
- No, I haven't. - You're useless!
What an annoying guest.
Give it back.
Hey.
Hey!
I'm sorry! He got away.
Did you find something?
Sera, eat one at a time.
I am.
Oh, who could it be?
It's too late to be Saegusa-kun.
Who is it?
Their real objective
may not be just organ transplant.
Shall we get rid of him?
Wait until the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office makes contact.
Listen. You guys go all the way.
Stop checking into Tsubaki any further.
I'm not on anyone's side.
You're alive.
That's everything, and that's good enough.