Ghost in the Shell Arise - Border 1: Ghost Pain

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Surprised they gave us permission to exhume the body.

They had better. They complicated our investigation enough by burying him to begin with.

True enough. They tossed him into this military cemetery without much fanfare.

It's expensive to dispose of a prosthetic body that can be reused.

Thanks to that, we can recover his cyberbrain.

The others are late.

The engineers are drawing straws back at HQ.

Apparently, connecting to a dead criminal's cyberbrain is too "creepy" for them.

We don't know he's a criminal yet.

What's next, Chief?

We'll check the contents here then take it back to headquarters.

What are you waiting for? Put the thing down already!

I'm sorry, sir!

Don't open that coffin!

We received this from your unit.

Are you with the military?

I'm Aramaki, Public Security Section 9.

We're investigating Lieutenant Colonel Mamuro's murder...

and are seizing his cyberbrain and prosthetic body as evidence.

He was suspected of taking bribes so we'll be looking into that as well.

Public Security has no right to ransack this place.

We'll bury him again when the case is closed.

And how do I know you won't fabricate evidence or pull a cover-up?

The military is in the midst of its first major shakeup since the war.

They would raise far too much suspicion if this case was only given an internal investigation.

If Mamuro was still with us today, I'm sure he would say the same thing.

You knew the Lieutenant Colonel?

I did. Back when I was an Army man, at least.

There's not a soldier in the world as squeaky-clean as that man was.

What's your name and unit?

Major Motoko Kusanagi, I'm from Unit 501.

From 501? Then you were his subordinate.

Go ahead and open it.

And you, what's your own rank and Division?

Investigations Section. It's defunct.

And just as a warning, they sold off whatever wouldn't fit in the coffin to a junk shop.

Someone replaced his body!

Get down!

Finally back on base, you naughty girl.

Why did you authorise Public Security to get involved?

Because I can't dismiss the possibility that Mamuro was corrupt, I had no choice.

Regardless, Unit 501 should be investigating this!

Not according to the higher-ups. They told us to stay out of it.

Somebody set a trap inside his coffin, you know?

Ignore it.

We need to find his cyberbrain to know the truth!

This is no time to kick a hornet's nest.

Do you really believe he was taking dirty money?

Regardless of what I may believe, he was mugged downtown.

Certainly not an honorable death, but when the alternative is indictment, you might say he got lucky.

Unfortunately, thanks to him, our letters of recommendation are on hold.

So try concentrating on your work for now.

What work?

Now you're playing dumb, are you? I asked you to analyze a piece of infected hardware.

I just got back to Japan today. Wait until tomorrow to scold me?

Well, if you say so.

I'll do the assignment.

But in return, I want access to direct debit and leave to go off-base.

You're quite a problem child.

I just want to find out who set the trap, that's all.

Fair enough. Since Mamuro can't take care of you, I will.

It means a lot, Kurutsu.

And don't forget, you still have a meeting with the top brass.

Giichi Mamuro, member of a special unit of the Ground Self Defence Army,

was murdered on the fifth of this month.

--Niihama police say the investigation into his possible corruption is ongoing.

--Lieutenant Colonel Mamuro was suspected of taking large bribes...

... while serving as a security official in Harimadara's heavy industry--

Access any records of his activity on the day of his death

and all surveillance camera data.

He's being tailed.

Scan anyone who travelled the same route as number 4 before time of death.

There's three people...

And a fourth one.

Three men and a mobile land mine were following him before he died?

"Funds transferred."

What is this?

Any pain?

No, none at all. Not right now, at least.

It's seems to be similar to the phantom pain cyborgs experience,

but you're the one person that wouldn't apply to.

Could be a bad contact in your nervous components.

Any other abnormalities?

Not one.

We should do a full-body checkup to be safe.

Maybe a little later. I have a meeting to attend to today.

Goodness, I believe you've got a guest.

Says they're Public Security Section 9.

Tell them I'm not here.

As both a Special Cyborg and a recognized wizard-class programmer, new regulations

apply to you under the revised Weapons Act. This is a difficult situation.

The Prosthetics Maintenance Rule is now quite far-reaching. It applies to all ownership of assets

to issuing approved identification, possessing cash or opening a bank account.

I understand the law but in Lt. Col. Mamuro's letter

on my reclassification, he guaranteed my financial autonomy.

If the accusations against him are true, he'll be dishonorably discharged.

In which case, all documents will be void.

How long do you expect me to endure a position

where I have to file paperwork every single time I open my wallet?

The cost of prosthetic bodies far exceeds

standard health insurance payouts.

The government guarantees your right to life. The least you can do in return is perform your duty.

This consent form covers your new monitoring and custody rules.

Make an effort to understand your circumstances.

Japan did spend a ludicrous amoumt of money

promoting cyborg development during the war, you know.

Perhaps, they conveniently made you government property to help foot the bill?

There were large deposits made to Mamuro's accounts.

But after his murder, as you may guess, all of that money was mysteriously withdrawn.

What do you want?

Well, Major Kusanagi, I've taken a careful good look at your records. I'm quite pleased.

I'd like you to work with Public Security as a special consultant.

I believe you're quite skilled in solving cybercrimes, correct?

I request that you find the missing money and analyze the coffin records.

It's an official investigation so you'll be given leave to go off-base.

And the pay?

I'll give you the regular consulting rate and you'll be paid as a civilian, of course.

That will be an issue, you know.

A soldier known for his integrity being shot to death and accused of taking bribes is a bigger issue.

--Hey, wait!

--How dare you?

Tomorrow morning, I'll send you a liaison who will double as your bodyguard.

Thinks she knows anything?

She might know even less than us.

If she wants to be free, she'll have to start searching for the truth.

Still don't want us to investigate?

You know, if you make one wrong move, our entire unit could get dissolved.

Public Security offered me a job.

And you accepted?

I'd like your help.

If you can't do this on your own, you're done for either way.

If this go sour, no one will be able to protect you anymore.

I'm not here to be protected and that's not what I'm trying to do either!

I'm trying to make the most of my opportunities!

I'll grant permission for you to use Server 6.

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