Tokyo, Japan.
Unknown Location.
Unknown Time.
In the city of Tokyo, in the middle of the night, the lights of the city make for anyone who watches at distance, a beautiful spectacle when anyone could enjoy. Of all the buildings around, a huge and luxurious casino shining more intensely than any building of the city. Once inside, hundreds of people played without any worry in the place, winning and losing the money they put in each game of poker, blackjack, and even in the jackpot machines. Then sounds of screaming and running steps were heard when a shadow moved around, above everyone who was trying to understand what was happening in the place. The shadow moved around as the security try to found an intruder in the place. The shadow stopped on one of the lights of the place, revealing being a person wearing clothes of 19th-century style and a white mask with black details, carrying a metallic briefcase. He heard a few people pointing to him as the security tried to catch him. He smiled as he wasn't caught by them. It was his plan to caught their attention, he wanted to do a great escapade after all. Moving once again, he headed to his escape point.
-Good, now get running!
-This is our only chance! Try to not get caught.
-I know that!
-Stay calm! You can get away now!
-We'll retrieve the briefcase on our end.
-Got it.
…suspects…not…confirmed…hold…your…positions…
-Hm? What was that…?
-You guys okay? Does something happen? — The man in the black outfit asked.
-Don't worry about us, Joker. Just concentrate on getting away!
-Okay.
Joker moved from the chandeliers and screens to the open area of the upper floor the lights stand at the same level, avoiding get followed by the security guards. Once he set his foot on the open floor, Joker was surrounded by enemies. Looking with a devious smile to one behind him, he started his attack, jumping on the enemy, ripping off his mask from his face, and knocking him away. The enemy halted for a second, then he changed himself to a heinous form. He attacked Joker, who simply dodged his strike and counter with his knife, shooting him after a successful attack, knocking him down.
-Game over.
Joker shot him, killing the heinous monster. After that more enemies appeared.
-More of them!? Joker, be careful.
One of them attacked him, but Joker dodged the attack, and flew to the upper floor, escaping from them.
-Joker, behind you! Go through that door!
-Got it.
He went through the fire exit, going to the staff area, far away from the public.
-I'm here Navi.
-Okay, now hurry! You should be able to get out that way!
-Dude, can he even hear us!?
-Don't worry, I'm picking up everyone's voices. Just… Hm? Wait a sec… — The girl's voice stopped for a moment. — What the- I'm getting a weird reading heading your way!
-What!?
-C'mon! Run!
Joker keeps running, try to get his way out of the casino. Running downstairs, he saw from the corridor window, a security agent searching for him. He hid before the agent could find him.
-Where'd they go!? Damn it! I can't confirm the intruder location.
The agent went away, and Joker kept his way out until he found another agent securing the stairs.
-This is bad! Hide, Joker!
Hiding behind the dumpster he waited the agent looks away to rush to other dumpsters over the corridor. When he got close to the agent, he took his way back when Joker came.
-That's my chance!
He rushes upstairs, but he finds another agent guarding the next stairs in the next corridor.
-Damn, more of them!
-Ugh! How many of them are there!?
-Everything okay? The security level might rise if you take too much time.
-I know, I know! I'm looking for another route. Just hang on.
-Okay…
-Oh, perfect timing… Joker, look up!
Joker looked and saw the guard distracted, at the same time he saw above a metal grid platform he could use.
-Can you use that thing and just fly over there?
-The grappling hooks? Piece of cake!
Joker used his grappling hook and got pulled to the platform. Doing a flip, he landed with mastery.
-All right, go straight from there!
Joker went to the corridor, but a huge group of Shadows stopped him.
-There too many enemies! — He said avoiding making a wrong move. — Navi…
-Even you can't take on this many… Huh!?
-What's wrong Navi?
-Joker! That weird reading from earlier closing in on you too!
Joker walked carefully, preparing himself for an unavoidable battle. Then he noticed a black feminine silhouette walking towards him.
-I'll end this right now.
"Another one!?" Joker thought after the figure revealed herself as a girl with a similar outfit to him, but using black leather shoes, black leggings, a black handleless leotard, and a long black swallowtail coat with golden buttons and a black mask with silver details.
-Joker, it's her! She's the weird reading I've been getting!
-I know that.
She drew her silver rapier, and maneuvering her weapon, she threw at the enemy, hurting him instantly. The enemies rushed towards her, as she dodged while doing gymnastic moves. With a simple move, arching her back, she drew her shotgun and hurt the rest of the guards.
-Wow… — He said surprised.
-My weak self relied on you so much… That ends today. — She said calm walking towards his direction, taking her rapier from the stabbed guard in the process.
-Let's do this, Senpai!
-Of course.
The enemies surrounded both of them, as both Joker and the Mysterious Girl started to fight against them.
-It's been a while since we last fought side by side. But this time, it's my turn to come to your aid, Senpai. Now let's win this!
-True.
-The enemy readings have decreased?
-That's…
The enemies started their move, attacking both Joker and the girl. Dodging, they run towards the sides of the enemy and strike him at the same time, knocking him down. The other enemy tried to strike them, but Joker blocked his attack as the girl struck him back, killing the other enemy. Stabbing the third one, Joker shot him after a successful sequence of attacks using his knife and killing him with a few shots from the girl in black. The last one tried to attack, but the girl knocked him down. Then they attacked without mercy the enemy, killing him.
-I think… that the last of them?
-Maybe.
-I genuinely have no clue what just happened, but I take it you're okay?
-I'm fine. Any news?
-Wait—Bad news! Enemy backup's head your way! You need to book it, right now!
-Please go. I'm going to make it harder for them to track you down… You still have something you need to do as a phantom thief, right?
-Right. — He nodded.
-…Then I won't stop you. Since I'm not a member of the Phantom Thieves, I'm in no position to interfere.
-I know. I'll be going now. Thanks.
-You're welcome. — She said jumping towards a ventilation shaft. — Just… please don't forget the promise we made, okay?
-Okay…
-Joker, you need to get outta there! Go go go!
Joker nodded and went upstairs, going to another corridor. Seeing the security room, he went to the stairs, going to another part of the casino. After reaching there, he stopped, trying to see a way out.
-Something wrong?
-Yeah, the exit. — He answered.
-The exit should be up ahead.
-Hm…
Joker saw a window, with a beautiful mosaic.
-Maybe the window…
-Through there…? — The voice said. — …Nnhg…! That's just how it is. After the commotion, the bottom floor—
-Yeah…
-Hey can you make it!?
-Just watch. — Answered Joker smiling.
-Over there!
Joker stops smiling. He turns to the voice he heard at the exit door.
-There's nowhere to run!
The guards pointed their guns at Joker. He stared at the guards with a smile and climbed up on the rail, stared at them, and then ran to the window. Running on the rail he reached the window, he turned his head and said to the guards.
-See ya!
He jumped through and broke the window, almost flying away.
-What a showoff — Said the girl on the transmission. — You're so reckless, Joker. Do you know that?
-Yes, I know. — He whispered.
Joker smiled. Rolling after he landed on the ground and he turned to the street. Suddenly, various lights are turned on. He knew he was ambushed.
-Enemies, here!? These readings… It can't be! — Said the girl.
-What's wrong.
-An ambush!?
The whole place stays in silence.
-Joker, can you handle this!?
Joker didn't answer.
-Joker! — Said another man on the transmission.
-Capture him!
Running to the right, Joker attempt to escape, going towards the outside stairs of the building, but before he reached the top, he saw a bunch of cops waiting for him. Surprised, he knocked down and he has busted. Before Joker was cuffed, a cop approached him.
-Didn't expect to find some kid. — The cop approached Joker. — You have to thank your teammate for this. — The man grabbed the head of Joker. — You were sold out.
-What…? — He asked, surprised.
-Suspect confirmed! Cuff him!
Unknown Place
Unknown Time
After being registered, Joker was taken to an interrogation room, where he was drugged and tortured for several hours by the police force, to a point he lost consciousness in the process.
-Guess the drug was too strong… — Said the responsible for the interrogation. — Wake him up.
His subordinates threw a bucket of cold water on him. Joker wakes up dizzy due to the drugs affecting his body.
-No dozing off.
Joker noticed he was cuffed, tried to free himself.
-You still don't get it, do you? Give it up!
The interrogator kicked Joker with all his strength, making him short of breath, coughing in pain.
-Come on, cooperate. Or what, you want another shot? — He asked, stepping on Joker's head making him grunt in pain. Joker stared at the camera and the investigator followed his glance. — Huh? What about the camera? Do you think it can be used as video evidence? — He asked, grabbing Joker by his hair.
-As if… I'm sure you… got rid of the recording… already… — Joker said with difficulty.
-So you're not that dumb. Which's good, 'cause we get to take as much time as we NEED! — He answered, throwing Joker's head against the floor and kicking him in sequence. — Obstruction of justice, blackmail, defamation, possession of weapons… — He said the crimes he reading from the clipboard. — Manslaughter too, yeah? Talk about the works. To think that all these crimes were led by a punk like this… And you seemed to be enjoying every second of it… Huh?
"I'm enjoying it…? You think I'm a damn sociopath?" Joker thought with difficulty, trying to push all the fog in his mind away, crying in pain and suffering. "I can't remember anything… My mind is too hazy…"
-What… you…? You tortured… me… Who's… the criminal…?
-…You should know your place.
-With a nod, one of the officers uncuffed Joker, who massaged his wounded wrists.
-Sign here. It's a confession under your name. — Said the official with the document clipboard and a pen in hands, offering to Joker.
-Okay… "Fighting it only gonna make things worse…" — Joker thought while taking the clipboard and the pen.
-Don't expect to walk out of here in one piece.
"That wasn't enough for you…?"
Joker signed his real name on the paper, as he tried to keep awake, for most difficult it was. After that, he was put on a chair.
"Focus. I need to keep my focus…"
Unknown Place
Unknown Time
A businesswoman dressed in a black outfit walked towards the path, going to a specific room. After reaching her destination, she was stopped by a police officer.
-Excuse me, but that's area's off—
-I'm prosecutor Niijima from the Public Prosecutor's Office. — The prosecutor interrupted the detective.
-The Prosecutor's Office? What business do you have here?
-Just let me through; it's urgent. There's something I need to confirm with the suspect.
-Niijima-san, I believe this case is no longer in your jurisdiction. Besides—
-Are you Prosecutor Sae Niijima? — Asked an old detective from the police. She nodded in affirmation. — I just got off the phone with your director. Hurry and get over with it. To be frank, you're being an inconvenience.
Sae heard her phone ring and she attended the call.
-I thought I ordered you to stand by. — The voice on the other line said after a sign. Sae recognized the voice of the SIU director.
-I'm responsible for this case, yet I'm not even being allowed an interrogation!? — She asked upset.
-I'm calling up because I knew you'd bring it up.
-I will not be convinced unless I confirm it for myself. This is MY case.
She heard another sigh.
-Good luck to you then. I won't be expecting much though…
Sae ended the call and put her phone back inside her bag.
-Ah, Prosecutor. I forgot to mention something important. Your time will be cut short. We can't permit you to talk with him for long.
-…
Sae was speechless. She couldn't protest against it.
-It's for your own sake. His methods are unknown. After all, we don't even know if it's safe to simply meet and speak with him.
-…I understand.
Then she entered the room. To her surprise, it was someone she couldn't expect to see there, as well as to be in the poor condition he is after hours of interrogation. She put her bag aside, far away from him.
-…I didn't expect it'd be you, Ren Amamiya.
Joker, after being called by his true name, only gave a crooked smirk to the prosecutor.
-Neither I to see you again, Prosecutor Niijima.
-You'll be answering my questions this time. — She said calmly, then she noticed an empty syringe on the floor. She knew what happened inside that room — Those bastards… — She gets her face close to Ren. — Can you hear me? — Ren nodded in affirmative. — It seems you've been through a lot.
"Don't tell me" Ren thought sarcastically, but he kept his mouth shut.
-Almost anything can happen here… And I can't stop then…
-I know… Being "convinced" like that is not your style after all… — He commented. — My head…
-That's why I need you to answer me honestly. I don't time much time either.
"I know that. Is just a question of time…"
-First, what was your objective all along? Why did you cause such a major incident? — Ren remained silent. — I didn't think it was a prank from the get-go, but I couldn't assemble a case for the prosecution. You should know, after all, you are a defense attorney.
Ren smiled again.
-Yes, I know. Because you don't know how my method works, right?
-Right.
-Of course, you couldn't figure it out… Neither you understand the whole story behind it…
-True. There's no way I could be convinced of such a… "world" just by reading the reports.
-Yes. It's just a fairy tale, right?
-It seems you're coherent. When and where did you find out about that world? How is it even possible to steal another's heart? Now tell me your account of everything… Start from the very beginning.
Ren sighed, putting one of his hands on the head. Suddenly, he saw a butterfly, flying in the room. A mysterious voice could be heard from the butterfly.
… You are held captive. A prisoner of fate to a future that has been sealed in advance. — The voice makes a calm pause. — This is truthy an unjust game… Your chances of winning are almost none. But if my voice is reaching you, there may yet be a possibility open to you… I beg you. Please overcome this game… and save the world… You overcome this game before… always with great success. You can do it… The key to victory lies within the memories of your bonds — The voice made another pause. — The truth that you and your friends grasped. It all began that day… when the game started a few months ago… For the sake of your world's future… as well as your own… you must remember.
The butterfly disappeared. Ren saw himself back to the interrogation room.
-Okay… As you know… I'm a defense attorney way before I'm a Phantom Thief. You should know, this is actually related to my life as a Phantom Thief in a certain way. - He said staring at the woman. - You want to know my story, right? Then you will have it. I'll tell you. Everything…