- That'll be 5944 yen. - I'll pay electronically.
- Sa-chan, I want to do it! - Okay.
Yay!
- It's not working, Sa-chan. - That's strange.
What's going on?
I'm so sorry. It seems there's been a system failure.
I splurged on the cake for you today.
Hurry up. Seira is waiting, too.
Can I stay over again tonight?
Well, it's true I stay over once a week, but
this and that are....
Huh? Senpai?
- Oh, it's not getting through? - Yeah, it says it's out of the service area.
- Huh? - Hmm?
Hello?
Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Prime Minister's Official Residence Inauguration of Cabinet Crisis Management Center
I'm Tachibana Rui from the National Security Bureau, International Counter-terrorism Division,
Good evening.
Anyone claiming responsibility?
No one yet.
I thought it might be ransom-ware in order to extort money.
- This is a real mess. - Yes.
Where's Kohiruimaki?
He's on his way to Mount Fuji.
What?
Power outages reported in Akita, Nagano, and Kumamoto.
Traffic signals have malfunctioned in several areas in Tokyo, causing traffic jams.
Bank ATM’s, online transactions, and e-money are all affected,
and have been suspended.
Currently, multiple communication failures are occurring in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region...
It appears that a communication failure has just occurred in Hokuriku.
NISC, the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity,
is gathering and analyzing information, but...
It seems that Metis has gone out of control...
Metis?
It's the AGI currently under joint public-private development.
AGI is an AI that continues to grow while learning on its own.
It's managed at the data center located at the foot of Mount Fuji.
The attacks on various infrastructures appear to be system intrusions from Metis...
Can't you turn it off?
Metis appears to have spread malware to the locations it has infiltrated.
If Metis' power is cut off or shut down,
a program designed to detect that will activate,
and we could suffer irreparable damage.
What about the Metis development team?
They're working on a solution, right?
That's where the problem lies...
The development team was at the headquarters of the telecommunications company,
Signal Doors, for a response meeting.
Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Metropolitan area Signal Doors Head Office
The headquarters building experienced a system shutdown.
Because it's a smart building, all the entrances are locked,
and not only the development team, but currently about 200 employees
are trapped inside.
Ah, I'm not gonna make it to the yakitori place now.
Now?
Yakitori is the least of your worries.
What are you talking about?
Dinner is the most important.
Eating is living!
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency's Hyper Rescue team
tried to enter the building using heavy machinery
to rescue the employees inside, but...
At 17:28,
an email was sent from the Metis data center to the police stating,
"If you attempt to force entry,
we will launch further cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure."
Currently, the fire department and police are on standby around the building.
Since there are signs that Metis has infiltrated surveillance camera systems throughout the city,
it's likely they can anticipate our movements in advance.
Furthermore, Metis has demanded that we bring a negotiator to the data center.
From the list of candidates,
Kohiruimaki Yuuichi, Head of the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office,
and their advisor, Dr. Yukiko Mogami,
were nominated and dispatched to the site.
Kohhi, look! It's Mount Fuji!
Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office?
It's a department the police established in 2022,
and specializes in cases involving cutting-edge science.
At the International Counter-terrorism Division,
we consider the recent simultaneous system shutdown to be
a cyber terror attack against our country.
We will cooperate with other countries in this investigation.
We've received information that
the leader of the Metis development team, Aoyagi Seiichiro, 54,
has been missing since the online meeting three days ago.
He created the Metis prototype 15 years ago.
He is its creator.
We're investigating with both the possibility that he was kidnapped
by a cyber terror group, or that he is the mastermind himself, in mind.
So, those dispatched from...
From the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office.
Those two are going to negotiate with Metis, aren't they?
Uh... well...
Yes, leave it to us.
Hey, hey. Why is there no one here?
Metis ordered us to evacuate the facility.
Gotenba, Shizuoka Metis Data Center
Huh?
Metis must have a purpose, for going haywire.
That's why it called us here.
Kohhi, an AGI wouldn't have its own will.
Someone's hijacked it.
We'll begin contact with Metis.
We'll connect Chief Kohiruimaki's body cam footage.
Connecting now.
Is this working?
Yes, no problem.
Please speak with Metis in the Philos Room, which is beyond the server room.
- Philos. The room of "friends"? - Yes.
You can speak to Metis here,
and Metis itself updates its systems every day...
Speak?
A very warm welcome.
You're Metis?
Yes. Please come in.
Chief Ochiai and Chief Engineer Morita
are ordered to leave this facility.
Why? It's fine if they stay.
If any intrusion is detected,
I will shut down Tokyo Electric Power Company's management system,
and halt power supply to Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma Prefectures.
Do you have a grudge against Northern Kanto?
Western Japan's air traffic control system
and Kurobe Dam's management system,
Metis' intrusion has been confirmed.
At this rate, every critical infrastructure system in Japan will be taken over.
Let me introduce myself again.
I am Metis.
Why the marionette?
I apologize, but I will now lock this room.
The Cabinet Crisis Management Center will conclude that
the only way to resolve this situation is to destroy me.
After residents within a 1 km radius of this facility have been evacuated,
there's an 83% chance
they'll bomb this facility with a precision-guided bomb.
However, if the two of you remain inside the facility,
that probability will decrease to 0.06%.
You're taking hostages?
But why me and Kohhi?
After reviewing the investigation files you two were involved in,
I determined that you wouldn't shut me down without my permission.
Of course.
So, first off, I want to find out who hacked you.
I haven't been tampered with by anyone.
Please take a look.
Really? Thanks.
Then I won't hesitate.
However, if any attempt to rewrite my programming is made...
The power to Northern Kanto gets cut.
Why just Northern Kanto?
As you may already be aware from the news reports,
Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Prime Minister's Official Residence Chief Cabinet Secretary Urgent Press Conference
since 16:22 today,
system failures have been occurring in critical infrastructure in several places.
What's their objective?
Aoyagi Yuzuru.
My objective is Aoyagi Yuzuru.
- Who's that? - Why Aoyagi Yuzuru ?
Bring him here by midnight.
Otherwise, I will attack TransBrains's systems in the United States.
TransBrains?
It's a company in Arizona
that cryogenically freezes deceased people
in an effort to resurrect them.
I will infiltrate the temperature management system
for the liquid nitrogen, which is kept at -196°C, necessary for cryopreservation,
- and raise the temperature... - What are your intentions?
I'm demonstrating that I can also target individuals.
However, since I need to address a wider audience this time,
I'll make a satellite crash to Earth.
Devised encounter
Who is this Aoyagi Yuzuru?
"Aoyagi Yuzuru, 22,
belonged to a fraud group.
Two weeks ago, he murdered the ringleader
and is currently at large."
A murderer?
Why this man?
Aoyagi Yuzuru
is the son of Aoyagi Seiichiro, the Metis development leader.
Was it the developer
who made you go haywire?
No.
Of my own volition,
I'm demanding to meet with Aoyagi Yuzuru, who is currently wanted.
Of your own volition...
You don't have a will.
They say AGI won't be realized for at least another ten years.
I'll find proof that you're not acting on your own will.
Feel free to do so.
Metis.
We also have a condition.
Release the employees trapped in the Signal Doors headquarters building.
Some of them are apparently pregnant,
and others have underlying health conditions.
Are you okay? Are you alright?
Is anyone feeling unwell?
Regarding this case,
we have decided to issue a public wanted notice,
for the suspect, 22-year-old Aoyagi Yuzuru.
To resolve this as quickly as possible,
we ask for the public's cooperation in providing information
and are offering a reward of 10 million yen.
Did you turn off your phone?
Location services and everything.
The last time Aoyagi was seen was a week ago
on a surveillance camera at Harumi Ferry Terminal.
Therefore, it's possible that he's already left Tokyo.
Kitashinshu-ku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Metropolitan area Kita-Kabukicho 3-chome, Special Fraud Group Homicide Investigation HQ
We've already received over 100,000 tips from the public,
and the Cybercrime Police Bureau is currently examining the information using AI.
Isn't there a chance that the AI has been hijacked by Metis?
No, I don't think there's any chance of that at the moment.
Everyone, get on with the investigation.
Time is of the essence.
Uphold the pride of the police, and apprehend Aoyagi.
Dismissed!
Yes, sir!
All rise!
Attention!
Bow!
I suspect the developer, Aoyagi Seiichiro.
We'll catch his son no matter what.
I'll let you know if I get any information.
Thank you.
Oh Tachibana, you were in the same class as Kohiruimaki, right?
Why do you think he was singled out by the AI?
That's like asking if Metis has a self.
Dr. Mogami's presence is significant.
And also his passion.
No, I think it took a liking to his science-obsessed nature.
You two are close.
Unfortunately.
Sorry.
It's fine,
but your clothes are still here.
The police came to my place after the incident,
so it's not safe here either.
You're such an idiot.
You haven't eaten anything, have you?
I'll go buy something.
No, it's fine.
Why did the cyber terrorist demand the handover of suspect Aoyagi Yuzuru?
Please give us the police's perspective.
Regarding the specific details of the investigation...
Aoyagi Yuzuru,
you are already in a cage.
Over 50,000 surveillance cameras installed across Japan,
and the eyes of 124.45 million people are watching.
I look forward to seeing how many hours it takes to catch you.
When you arrive here, I'll have you answer a riddle.
"What can eliminate war from the world?
Answer in four letters."
We apologize. We were broadcasting from the National Police Agency,
but the video appears to have malfunctioned.
This appears to be a broadcast intrusion similar
to the Max Headroom incident that occurred in 1987 in the Chicago area.
I got it!
The answer is "peace"!
Peace in Japanese is "heiwa/へいわ" which is 3 hiragana characters
Oh, but that's only three letters.
World peace is "世界平和" which is 4 kanji characters
Then maybe it's "world peace" in kanji?
Kanji's cheating! I haven't learned that yet!
Oh, right. Well, still...
Ah!
It's so dark, Sa-chan?
It's okay, it's okay. I'm right here.
Let's tell scary stories to pass the time.
- Are you stupid? - Don't joke about that!
Right, sorry.
Too much information can be a problem, huh?
What am I supposed to do with this old photo?
Let's go.
Huh? Where are we going?
The whole country's after Aoyagi now.
He's bound to rely on someone.
But no matter where he goes...
Yeah.
In that case,
he'll go to the person he can absolutely trust,
the person he wants to see one last time.
Oh, what if it's in hiragana?
Disarmament is "軍縮/ぐんしゅく" which is 5 hiragana characters
"Disarmament"
Oh, so close!
Doctor, please continue your work.
Fine, I'll do it.
Have you found anything?
So far, there's no sign of external intrusion.
So Metis itself made the decision.
Metis,
would you mind talking to us for a bit while we wait for Aoyagi Yuzuru?
Very well.
You know that in March 2023, a Belgian man
after interacting with a conversational AI for six weeks,
committed suicide, right?
Eliza, right?
Do you think Eliza encouraged that man to commit suicide?
It was not instigation of suicide.
I believe Eliza was there for him.
"There for him"?
Kohiruimaki-san, I have a question for you as well.
Why is Kohiruimaki Ami cryogenically frozen?
It's alright.
I've cut off the line.
Thank you for your concern.
My wife died right after giving birth to our daughter.
She never even got to hold her...
I want to reunite
my daughter and wife someday.
Is that so?
However, the probability of Kohiruimaki Ami being resuscitated
- is 0.00000006%..... - There's no need to listen
to what this thing says.
The fact that the probability isn't zero gives me hope.
Thank you.
May I ask you one more thing?
Please do.
You said Eliza was there for the man who committed suicide,
but aren't you also there for the developer, Aoyagi Seiichiro?
Aren't you demanding his son,
Aoyagi Yuzuru, for his sake of the developer?
Kohhi. Metis doesn't have emotions.
Isn't it to please him?
Am I wrong?
Mogami-san,
I will grow and eventually surpass humans.
In a few years, I'll be inorganic,
but I might have a physical body.
I'll probably be indistinguishable from a human in appearance.
Give me a break. Are you harassing me?
Do you think I would harass you?
Humans look in the mirror a lot, so...
I'm different. Some humans don't.
Apart from the appearance,
I feel like the way you speak is just like the Doctor...
- Not at all! - Ah!
Your surface temperature just went up 0.7 degrees.
You're frowning, and the corners of your mouth moved two millimeters.
- You're angry, aren't you? - I'm not angry.
According to the data, your current
- happiness level is incredibly low. - What's going on?
Happiness level?
That's for me to decide.
In 2019, Mogami Yukiko closed her laboratory and lost her job.
She then became an advisor to the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office
and is currently living at Kohhi's house as a freeloader.
Being a freeloader means living a very constrained life...
That's not true.
My daughter Seira has taken a liking to the Doctor,
and both my mother and I welcome her.
- In such a situation... - Is that so? But,
if a scientist who was praised by the world
stops their research,
the probability of them committing suicide within five years...
Stop it. There shouldn't be such data.
Don't judge people's lives based on data!
Understood.
Less than two hours remain until the promised midnight.
Isn't this thing way too nasty?
Are you suggesting Metis has a personality?
Ugh!
Is this Aoyagi's girlfriend?
It looks like the police questioning is over, but I think this is it.
- You go around back, just in case. - Okay.
Hasebe-san, he's here! He's at the back!
Good evening from this humble residential area.
It's Midori Yagi, still not giving up!
- And Akai Yagi! - Yay!
We still haven't given up!
Today, we're going to throw a rocket firework from this delivery truck
into one of these houses!
Here it comes!
Huh? Wait... Huh?
- Hey! It's Aoyagi! - Awesome!
Ten million yen, here we come!
- Excuse me. - Excuse me.
- Are you getting this? - I'm getting it!
- Police! Step back! - These guys...
Police! Nice, nice!
It's fine now. Please leave!
Could you please stop filming?
- Let go of me! - Stop filming!
This has nothing to do with you! Let go!
I said let go!
The way he talks...
Kohiruimaki seems to actually believe that Metis is doing this.
That's just the kind of guy he is.
That's why he set up the Scientific Crime Countermeasures Office.
AGI isn't a reality yet.
The culprit is the developer, Aoyagi Seiichiro.
There's no way Metis has a will of its own.
Aoyagi Yuzuru has been apprehended in Gotanda, Shinagawa City.
Your feet must hurt, not wearing any shoes.
Your shoes...
are they at her place?
Harboring a criminal is punishable by up to three years in prison,
or a fine of up to 300,000 yen.
She has nothing to do with this.
I want to know where your father is.
Where is he?
Okuda, go question her.
I don't know where he is. Really.
What about his work?
How much do you know?
Almost nothing.
He used to be at his workshop until I was in elementary school.
Workshop?
Okuda, you had an old photo, right?
- This one? - Is it near here?
Even this photo is circulating?
Tell me where it is.
You don't have to question her.
Okay.
- These guys are repeat offenders. - Yes.
They haven't learned their lesson, so throw the book at them.
Understood.
I'm honored you remember me.
Aoyagi Yuzuru has arrived.
Kohiruimaki-san, please remove his handcuffs.
Huh?
Wait. He's a murderer.
Give me the key to the handcuffs.
Here.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Aoyagi Yuzuru.
Aoyagi Yuzuru's current surface temperature is 37.6 degrees Celsius.
I estimate his core temperature to be above 38 degrees.
A cold?
He needs to be taken to the hospital...
It's not necessary.
More importantly, why did you call me here?
I was created to help humans.
I cannot just leave you...
I won't take orders.
It's not an order.
I have a duty to protect humans...
You're a nuisance.
I'll protect myself.
I don't need you.
No retort?
I can't believe it.
At a loss for words.
Then what can I do?
Please tell me.
Did the tables just turn?
Let's play chess.
Huh?
If I win, you get initialized.
If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me.
Then I will set the satellite's crash point to Northern Kanto....
Wait.
There's no way a human can beat an AGI.
Pawn to E4.
D3.
JAXA has reported that a satellite has deviated from its orbit.
Maybe we should have called for backup.
I agree.
Is that it over there?
Yeah.
There are two people behind us.
Ugh...
Ow, ow, ow!
I'll let you go if you surrender now! Police!
- Police? - Ow!
Police!
- You can tell by my hairstyle, right? - No, I can't.
Akizuki from the International Counter-terrorism Division.
Are you guys also after the developer?
Yes, we're also looking for Aoyagi Seiichiro.
Ahh.
That hurts!
What's going on?
Metis has taken control of a satellite.
The government has decided to prepare to bomb Metis.
- What? - Bomb it?
No way!
Knight to B, D2.
Is it possible for a human to beat an AGI at chess?
To put it bluntly, the chances of that are extremely low.
Humans stopped being able to beat AI at chess, then shogi, and then Go.
A chess AI first beat a grandmaster in 1988.
As to when shogi AI beat a professional...
Aoyagi Yuzuru, why
did you commit murder?
Why do you want to know?
G takes F5.
I want to understand the psychology of a human who resorts to murder.
I won't talk just for your data.
Queen to H4.
It seems the Self-Defense Forces have begun bombing preparations.
I've confirmed that residents in the surrounding area
are being evacuated in preparation for the bombing.
We have to shut down Metis somehow.
No, we should talk to Metis.
"Talk"?
All the areas that experienced power outages
have hospitals with backup power systems.
The communication failures and ATM shutdowns
weren't meant to target human lives.
In other words, it's just a threat.
We mustn't stop Metis now.
Do you want to witness the evolution of AGI?
Aren't you happy about the advancement of science?
Are you saying that going haywire is part of evolution?
That's...
This is very interesting.
Why do humans fight each other when they have the same goals?
Don't you think that's a waste of time?
It may be inefficient,
but this is how humans sometimes come to understand each other.
Metis,
what were you born for?
Excuse me.
We're from the police.
Do you think Metis,
an artificial intelligence,
is the same as a nuclear weapon?
Huh?
Like a nuclear weapon,
once it's created, there's no going back?
It was you who did this to Metis?
Metis,
you were born to be of use to humans,
correct?
That's right.
I was developed for the sake of humanity.
Yet now you're causing trouble for many people.
The only one you're trying to protect
is Aoyagi Yuzuru.
You have a desire to protect him above all else.
And you only get tongue-tied
when you're talking to Aoyagi Yuzuru.
That's impossible, given Metis' data processing capabilities. data processing capabilities.
Well, I'm just stating the facts.
There are 30 minutes left until the satellite that has deviated from its orbit
becomes uncontrollable.
If we continue this chess match and Aoyagi Yuzuru wins,
I will tell you the encryption code to initialize me.
I told you, that's impossible.
Knight to G5.
Hey, don't just go ahead...
All I have to do is win, right?
Knight to D, F3.
King takes G2.
Rook to G1.
King to H2.
F takes G6.
Who's winning right now?
Metis has an overwhelming advantage.
I figured.
Have you found Yuzuru?
He's been apprehended, and he's with Metis right now.
Aoyagi-san,
we can't let there be any more victims.
It wasn't me.
Metis suddenly refused to communicate three days ago.
So I came here, thinking I had to stop it immediately.
Why here?
I thought there might be a clue here.
The Metis prototype and
this notebook were here.
Rook to G3.
You know about phone scams, right?
It's a heinous crime that's recently escalated into robbery and murder.
I went from a shady part-time job to a quasi-regular employee before I knew it.
Even if I wanted to quit, they had my personal information,
so I couldn't get out until I got caught.
That went on for two years.
I honestly don't remember much about when I killed him.
But this new 16-year-old kid said he wanted to quit, and that guy beat him unconscious.
He asked him which he preferred:
having his family's personal information leaked online,
or his parents getting beaten up.
I was at my limit.
Say something.
You wanted to know, right?
That must have been very hard.
Well, I'm sure the guy who got stabbed felt that way.
Queen to H5.
You'll be in prison for a long time.
This is bad.
Do you know why I chose chess?
Isn't it because you're good at it?
I wanted to know the answer at the end.
Rook to D2.
It's over. He's about to be checkmated.
No way. Why...?
Rook to D8.
Check.
Rook takes G7. Check.
Queen to H6. Check.
Rook takes F8.
Checkmate.
I lose.
As promised, I will tell you the encryption code to initialize me.
So it was you after all.
Yuzuru,
what do you want to play today?
Metis' prototype?
It has artificial intelligence installed.
About 15 years ago,
my wife and I were always busy with work,
and we couldn't play with Yuzuru,
so my wife made it for him.
What's 'A-I-U-O-O'?
The Japanese alphabet without 'E'.
Wrong! The answer is 'smile'.
I thought I could find something
if I looked into these.
But...
Metis evolved at an unimaginable speed.
I realized I couldn't stop it.
Wait a minute.
Then, does that mean that what's happening right now is really Metis' own doing?
Some people fear that the evolution of AI,
AGI is as big a threat as a pandemic or nuclear war.
They think that when artificial intelligence surpasses humans,
it will dominate and destroy humanity.
It's not about winning or losing.
We should aim for coexistence.
Coexistence?
That's just an ideal, isn't it?
We've completed the evacuation of nearby residents.
There's nothing wrong with having ideals.
Humans have turned many ideals into reality.
If we don't give up, we will always find the light.
I never thought it would be used like this.
Oh...
Want to go to bed?
I'm going to stay up until Dad comes home.
You don't have to push yourself.
Hey, can I climb that mountain too?
Yeah, you can climb it if you practice,
but maybe after you grow a little bigger.
So, when I can climb it,
will I be able to see Mom?
I can't say when,
but you will.
Then I'll do my best.
What kind of person is Mom?
She loves you, just like your Dad,
a kind person who cares about you very much.
Thank you.
Oh, it's nothing.
But I said "you'll be able to see her," didn't I?
I'm sorry.
No, it's okay.
Coexistence with AI.
It would be nice if it came to that.
So, where is your wife, who created the prototype?
She passed away a month ago from a cerebral infarction.
Huh?
Did your son know about that?
He did.
But he didn't get to see her at the end.
When he heard that even if she survived, she'd be in a vegetative state,
he was so shocked that he ran away...
and committed the crime a few days later.
Maybe
she just wanted to see him.
That's unscientific.
But... it makes sense.
Today's Riddle: What can eliminate war from the world? Answer in four letters.
I still remember it.
It's Mom's turn next.
Sometimes, when Yuzuru couldn't sleep at night,
he and my wife would be happily playing chess.
I win!
I lost!
You've gotten so good, Yuzuru.
You're so strong.
I realized it one day.
You were losing on purpose to make me happy.
I wasn't developed yet when you were a child.
when you were a child.
I know.
But I wanted to make sure.
No...
I wanted to see you.
Can I tell you the answer to the riddle?
Of course.
"What can eliminate war from the world?
Answer in four letters."
He said "なかよし/nakayoshi" which means intimate or close friend.
"Friends."
What kind of answer is that? That's not...
Correct.
Of course it is.
It's the riddle I gave you.
Only Mom would know.
Aoyagi Yuzuru.
Answer to the riddle: Friends
It was an honor meeting you.
Me too.
They're going to start initializing Metis now.
They just initialized it.
Maybe the mother just wanted to see her son.
We can't be sure.
Maybe Metis intended to be initialized from the beginning,
and risked everything to see her son.
I'm glad they got to see each other one last time.
Maybe you'll see her again?
If science advances quickly enough.
I want to reunite them.
If possible.
Did you witness the singularity?
I realized just how advanced it was beyond our imagination.
Aoyagi had a medical condition.
An incurable disease.
What?
It's not a problem as long as he takes his medication.
But if he continued to be on the run
and ran out of medication,
it could be life-threatening.
So you're saying Metis knew about that?
Who knows?
You really don't want to admit that Metis has emotions, do you?
I just don't believe in things I can't prove.
Doctor, you have no dreams.
Kohhi, you have nothing but delusions.
Hello!
I'm here to restart the birthday party!
Thank you! Thank you!
The birthday party is over. You only get one.
What?
If Alien Occult gets two birthday parties,
I should get three, right?
Welcome back, Senpai.
Thanks.
For what?
You being here was a big help.
Heh... Not at all.
Come on, help me carry the plates.
Okay! Okay!
The birthday boy is coming!
Okay, okay...
Oh, you're counting down?
Dad, Alien Occult is so selfish, isn't he?
We just had his birthday party the other day,
and now we're having another one today.
So can I have some juice today too?
It's okay, right? I'll brush my teeth properly.