Ren must have passed out at some point after everything was said and done. Because when his eyes opened, he found himself awakening within the Velvet Room. He walked to the bars where Igor, Caroline, and Justice were looking at him. "…Guess I'm here now."

"What a fantastic ploy. Truly capable of a Trickster." Igor always held a smile on his face, but something about this one held pride. "You were able to 'die' and elude the impending doom that was awaiting you."

"Not bad, Inmate." Caroline would be the one to not fully praise Ren. "The evil influence that wanted you dead didn't notice at all."

"Indeed. We had high hopes that you would escape the danger, even if Caroline won't admit it."

"Hey!" Caroline snapped, as she was a little embarrassed that Justine called her out like this.

"Did you manage to recall everything?" Justine asked, ignoring Caroline's outburst.

"I think so…" Ren's memory was still a little hazy, but considering he was able pull this off it was enough.

"It's time to fill in the gaps of your memory, so you can recall how you executed such a plan." Igor said. It was a simple thing for him to do and Ren remembered everything; the plan down to the last detail. How they knew about Akechi planning to betray them from the very beginning, and their plan to use that to figure out the mastermind behind the mental shutdown incidents. The days they didn't go into the Metaverse were days a few of them at a time scouted out the interrogation room. Everything was part of this plan…it was risky, but it paid off in the end.

.

.

[Flashback.]

The group gathered within the hideout. Akechi wasn't called to this meeting, and since he made it clear he wouldn't group up with them unless it was for business, they were easily able to get away with this. "We need to talk about how to get out of this situation." Morgana told the others.

"Futaba's monitoring of Akechi's phone has confirmed it…he did indeed have an ulterior motive." Makoto said.

"It's on a completely different level than just that." Ryuji said.

"Not only was he trying to frame us, but he was the true culprit behind the mental shutdowns…" Makoto shook her head just thinking about it. The real killer was right under their noses the whole time… "His offer to assist us was simply a ploy to frame the Phantom Thieves, and kill Ren. If we go into Sis's Palace as he says, it's likely we'll be met with a large police force."

"I can't believe he wants to kill Ren-senpai…" Kasumi was at a loss. She was familiar with Akechi and they were on friendly terms. But learning that someone you know was a homicidal killer? It truly did shake her to her core. Even more so when his next target was Ren…

"I knew he wasn't to be trusted." Hifumi frowned. She and Akechi had a complex relationship with their rivalry, but it did hurt her too, because prior to all of this…she wanted to consider him a friend. But she had to push that aside because this situation was seriously. "Since Akechi is the one behind the mental shutdowns…that means we've already fought him. He's Black Mask…"

"I can't believe it…" Ann shook her head. "That jerk was just toying with us the whole time! He was just using us too!"

"Is that why you had me stand out, Hifumi-senpai?" Kasumi asked.

Hifumi nodded in response. "Yes. I had a hunch. If he truly was Black Mask, then when he wanted to blackmail us, he would naturally wonder where you are. He never brought it up…but I'm sorry that he truly did know about you the whole time."

"It's okay." Kasumi smiled. "It couldn't be helped. I don't regret joining when I did."

"There's still one thing I don't understand…how can he be Black Mask? We've seen his Persona and his Metaverse attire. Even the way he fights is completely different than when we battled him before." This was the one thing that had Hifumi stumped. They knew that Akechi was Black Mask, but she didn't understand the final piece of the puzzle. Perhaps the key was the way her power always reacted to him. No matter what, she always felt like something was amiss whenever they talked. If he was Black Mask, that would explain why, but still, something was missing…

"To think that he was truly this far gone…now I know what it means to have a chill up my spine." Yusuke shuddered. "Furthermore, he wishes to bring a police force into the Palace."

"If nine of us can enter, it's not impossible a larger group is possible." Ren said. "I don't know how he's going to pull it off, but he probably already has that figured out."

"He may even be able to bring in vehicles or other special pieces of equipment." Makoto said.

"He made us go after Okumura, then once we triggered the chance of heart, he killed him…" Morgana said. It all made sense now that they had the full picture.

"He's the one that killed my father…" Haru's voice was low. She was sitting on the couch and her hand gripped the arm tightly. "And he told us he had seen the true culprit, but it was him the whole time. He's lied to me, destroyed my family…I will never forgive him…" Everyone stared at Haru with solemn looks. Before anyone could say anything, Haru silenced them. "Don't say anything. I already know what I want to do."

"Haru…" Makoto frowned.

"The whole time he was workin' with Makoto's sister, he was really just some homicidal maniac!" Ryuji grunted. "We gotta take him down? Ain't that recording enough to do it?"

"No." Makoto shook her head. "Akechi is merely a tool. His orders come from elsewhere. An unimaginable fiend capable of orchestrating a murder in a police station…"

"Until we find out who that is, we will continue being targeted even if we defeat Akechi." Yusuke added.

"It must be a person of power." Hifumi said. That theory she presented all that time ago was all but fully proved at this point. "I have no doubt it is someone with a lot of political influence. Although, considering the election coming up and all, I'm afraid I have no idea who that could be…" She was aware of the election news because her mother watched it every morning. She caught glimpses of it here and there.

"How do we find out who it is?" Haru's voice was still low and bitter. That was two people she had to deal with; Akechi for killing her father, and the mastermind behind it all for giving the order.

"We'd have to make Akechi say it…but we would likely be eliminated shortly after." Yusuke said, which made him sigh.

"That would be the case no matter what." Makoto had to bring up that possibility. "The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because we're the easy target to pin for his crimes. If he realizes that isn't possible, he could just kill us immediately."

"So we really have no choice but to go along with that bastard's plan? Damn it…!" Ryuji grunted.

"There must be some way out of this…" Kasumi was trying to help and rack her brain for an idea. But she wasn't sure what to do. She felt bad she could present no real ideas, but this situation was a huge bind.

"Of course there is a way out of this!" Hifumi suddenly sprang up. Her voice rose which surprised everyone. "I refuse to lose to him in this scenario. A loss means that everything we've done, everything that I care about is destroyed. We may be cornered, but we aren't finished."

"But if we go into the Palace and do as he suggests, Ren will be arrested and…" Ann began.

"The Palace…?" Futaba was silent the whole time. Honestly, she was still trying to come to terms with the idea that Akechi was most likely the one behind her mother's death. She spoke up when she had a flash of inspiration. "The Palace! Of course! We can use that to our advantage! There's a way to do this…!"

.

.

November 21st.

Ren's conscious was drifting. All he could hear was the sound of an engine and his eyes were closed. Staying awake was a struggle. "I'm exhausted…"

"Hey, are you awake?" Sae questioned. Her voice echoed faintly in Ren's ears. She was probably the only thing keeping him conscious. "Don't fall asleep until we reach our destination." Sae was pivotal to the retrieval of Ren. After she met with Akechi, Alibaba contacted her and explained the situation, so she spirited the now 'deceased' Ren out of the police station, and no one noticed a thing.

"Ok…?" Ren replied, trying to keep himself up.

Eventually things stopped. Sae walked into Leblanc where Sojiro was watching a news segment that just ended. "Sorry I'm late, I had to finish some things at work. Where are they?"

"Upstairs." Sojiro said. "Go on and tell them to come down. I'm gonna fetch him." Sae nodded and went upstairs, while Sojiro went outside.

Everyone gathered downstairs, and this was the first official time they were meeting Sae. "You're…Mako-chan's sister, correct?" Haru asked.

"Makoto told me everything." Sae said. She then turned to Futaba and gave an apologetic bow. "Futaba-chan, I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused you this summer."

"Eh, it's ancient history now." Futaba shrugged it off casually.

"Talk about burying the hatchet. Futaba didn't even hesitate." Ann said with a slight laugh.

"But man, that goddam detective!" Ryuji sucked his teeth. "I knew I was right to hate that guy!"

"Wasn't that for a completely different reason?" Hifumi titled her head.

"It so was." Ann nodded to Hifumi.

The doors to Leblanc opened once more and everyone quickly turned around. "Hey! Look who's here." Sojiro said, standing to the side as Ren walked in, and everyone immediately rushed to him.

"Hey you big bastard…!" Ryuji's voice was filled with relief.

"H-How've you been?" Ann was fighting the urge to tear up. Everything was so tense the last few days, but they finally had a chance to take it easy.

"Ghostly." Ren joked.

"But you're not floating…" Ann replied.

"Can you…?" Haru tilted her head. The two of them completely missed the joke.

"It's a relief to see your face." Makoto felt the same relief as everyone else.

"I'm so happy you're okay…I felt like my heart was going to burst." Kasumi had a hand over her chest, exhaling deeply. If she had to deal with this stress any longer, she had no idea what she would do.

"Still…how'd you pull this off?" Sojiro didn't understand anything that happened. "Isn't this guy considered dead?"

"Technically, yes." Hifumi replied. "Akechi attempted to ensnare us within a nasty trap, but we were able to turn the tables."

"Were you not told anything?" Makoto glanced at Sojiro, then to her sister who was standing behind her. "Sis…?"

"I dropped him off at Leblanc and told Sakura-san to keep him safe." Sae replied. "I didn't have time to explain…"

"She didn't tell me anything…but this was right after he 'died' too. Almost gave me a heart attack." Sojiro said. So, he was filled in on the details of their plan and he understood the gist of it.

"Couldn't you just have said that Akechi was the true culprit at the beginning?" Sae asked Ren. She felt like this situation could have been made so simple if he had.

"Would you have believed me if I did?" Ren glanced at Sae.

"…Okay, you raise a fair point." Sae replied with a curt nod. Their plan did hinge on Sae's trust. "Akechi was credited with the arrest of the Phantom Thieves. Not even I would think he's the culprit…in other words, you left him alone on purpose. That was a bold move."

"You have to make risky moves when it's a do or die situation." Hifumi replied. "…I do lament that the 'do or die' was quite literal in this case."

Sojiro felt like he was being left behind in this conversation. "I can't keep up with this at all…what mistake did Akechi make?"

"He heard the cat talk." Ren replied.

"…I'm sorry, was that supposed to be a joke?" Sojiro stared at the others and they looked so nonchalant about it.

"It's true! Mona-chan can talk!" Haru smiled.

"You surprised?" Morgana said. Although to Sae and Sojiro, it sounded like the regular mewl of a cat.

"That…means he said something just now, right?" Sae blinked.

"But you couldn't understand him, right?" Ann had a cheeky grin. "It was the same for us, too. At first."

"But when you're in the Metaverse, he talks like a normal person." Futaba explained. "Once you hear that and your brain actually realizes he can talk, you start to understand him in reality. It's a change in cognition! Most likely!"

"Thanks to Akechi's lame acting, we figured something was up." Ann then glanced to Hifumi. "And Fumi is reaaaaaally good as sus'ing out people's lies."

Hifumi felt a little sheepish, but smiled all the same. "Akechi can weave a good story, but I saw through every inconsistency."

"And he was none the wiser that we were one step ahead of him the whole time." Yusuke wore a smug grin on his face. From that point on, they explained the details of the plan to Sae and Sojiro; how they used Sae's Palace to trick Akechi into believing he killed Ren, all while pulling Sae in and out of the Metaverse at the same time. "Surely Ren was acting quite cocky by himself in that quiet chamber. I only wish I had the opportunity to see it for myself."

Yusuke knew him too well. Because that's absolutely what Ren was doing when he knew the plan worked. "I'm just glad I didn't die…they sure beat the hell out of me in there though…" Ren was still a little bruised and his head throbbed. He was playing it off, but deep down…it really did hurt in a way that he couldn't explain. It wasn't the first time he felt helpless…but being brutalized in a police station where they threatened his life was on a completely different level.

"Ren…" Kasumi frowned, muttering his name under her breath. The bruises on Ren's face hurt her to see. She could barely look, but she didn't want to look away either. "I suppose the biggest gamble was you, Sae-san. We weren't sure if you would be easily persuaded…"

"True. We couldn't consult you beforehand. It was a make or break plan." Makoto could laugh about it now.

"I'm surprised you managed to convince me in such a short time." Sae said to Ren. "Were you confident you could do it?"

"…Probably? I don't remember. Drugs." Ren rotated his shoulder.

"Fair enough…" Sae figured that was the best answer she'd get from him.

"So…what about the body?" That was Sojiro's biggest concern. If he understood this correctly, even if their plan worked, the lack of a body was a big hole.

"The police never even checked it." Sae replied with a sigh.

"Huh!?" Sojiro could not believe the irresponsibility of the police.

"The corner never even took one look at the scene. They were already prepared to pass his death off as a suicide." Sae explained. "But I also made sure nobody would check the morgue for his body. So, thanks to that, nobody knows he survived."

"There was one tiny loose end…" Hifumi said. "Makoto realized that the Akechi in your Palace would have shown up at some point. You were bound to run into him…however, we are lucky that you were unaware of his true nature."

"…What did you do to him?" Sae glanced at Hifumi.

"We tied him up and locked him in a closet." Ann said with a smile, swinging her legs in her chair. "It was easy since he wasn't a psycho."

"I see…" That was a little extreme, but Sae understood the circumstances.

"I still can't believe what they did to you, though…" Makoto placed a hand on her chest, looking over Ren. "The use of violence and drugs…if you lost consciousness during the interrogation…"

"You would've died…" Kasumi hated to mumble those words.

"We're so glad you made it through…" Haru said with a soft smile.

"It was…" Normally, Ren would say that was a breeze. But just thinking about the police interrogation made his temple hurt. Right where that guy stepped on him. "It was close…" That was as much as he would admit.

"To think they let me interrogate someone meant to die. What a joke…" Sae wistfully shook her head. "But from this point on, I'll do my utmost to help you. You have my word."

Ann let out a huge, content sigh after that. "What's a relief to hear…I feel more reassured with that!"

"I'll help out too." Sojiro said. "But why don't we take a break for now? This old brain is pooped trying to keep up. Also…you can use this place whenever you wanna talk?"

"Are you sure, Boss?" Haru asked.

"Ren can't leave. Plus you won't make much progress if people can hear you from downstairs." He then started to make his way to the back to prep some food. "It's not like this joint is the liveliest in town, so it's not a big loss for me."

"…Thanks." Ren said with a weak grin. They decided to take a quick break with all this talking. Everyone could use the chance to unwind for a little bit. After some time, they began to resume the conversation again.

"So, did you guys actually find out who was behind all this?" Sojiro asked.

"Mhm!" Kasumi nodded while enjoying a cup of coffee. "Akechi-s…Akechi let it slip." She dropped the San. Normally, Kasumi was a very respectful person. But after the stunt Akechi attempted to pull, she couldn't give him that honorific anymore.

"He said 'Shido-san' when he was on the phone." Futaba said.

"Shido…?" Sojiro recognized that name immediately. "Could it be…Masayoshi Shido?"

"Who's that?" Ann asked, clueless.

"A politician." Hifumi explained. "Actually, when I think about it…he's been the one denouncing us since the very…beginning…" Her eyes then widened and the realization struck. It was right in front of her face this whole time. This whole time she strongly theorized the people involved with the mental shutdowns were with the police or in a higher position of power.

"It's certainly possible that Shido is the mastermind." Sae could believe this if it were true. "I don't have any solid evidence, but the circumstances do align for his benefit. First off, he has the most to gain from the psychotic breakdowns. Secondly, as Hifumi mentioned, he has maintained a negative stance against the Phantom Thieves since their rise to fame. If he is behind all this, that would be in stark opposition to his honest image."

"So his current position and popularity is just him benefitting from the mental collapses…" Makoto said. It all lined up.

"We'll make him have a change of heart, no matter what it takes." Haru was very determined about this. She finally had the names of the people responsible for the death of her father. Naturally, this was very personal for her.

"Mom…" Futaba's tone weakened.

"Shido…" Sojiro let out a sigh. This was too ironic. "I had a feeling he was involved in all of this. Just based on the connections I had from my previous job." Everyone turned to Sojiro when he said this. "I think the one who crushed Wakaba's research and confiscated her materials was probably Shido. From the moment Wakba died, I had a hunch he was involved. But there wasn't anything I could do, so I chose to protect Futaba and go into hiding."

This was huge news! The first Futaba was hearing of it too. "Why didn't you say so sooner!?"

"Because you guys definitely would have gone after him if I did. He would've just killed all of you, no doubt. That's what he usually does to people who get in his way." Sojiro replied, shaking his head. "That guy can't sit still unless he crushes anyone who opposes him, no matter how trivial it is."

"What's going to happen to this country if Shido becomes prime minister…? What about the world?" Ann was a little worried. If Shido was willing to go this far just to become prime minister of Japan, who knew how far he would go for even more power.

"The issue is simpler than that. This is nothing more than another selfish adult trying to impose his will on the public." Yusuke said.

"He always said he was going to run for prime minister. Nobody ever believed him, though…" Sojiro said.

"Let's see if he has a Palace." Hifumi suggested. "I would be surprised if he didn't."

Ryuji was on it. He pulled his phone out and spoke to the Nav. "Masayoshi Shido, the guy runnin' for prime minister." And just like that, it was a hit. "Got a hit! Well…it shouldn't be a surprise there was one."

Now they just needed a location. That was the hardest part. "Um. What kind of things go through a politician's head?" Ann asked.

"…We really don't know anything about him, do we?" Kasumi tried to rack her brain for something. "If we assume everything he says on TV is purely to make himself look better, I doubt that would be any help at all."

"I always think of dirty money and shady actions." Futaba said.

"…Try the Diet Building." Hifumi suggested. "It's the biggest place I can think of that a politician would go to. If his goal is to be the prime minister, then…" There was no need for anyone to try, because the moment Hifumi suggested the Diet Building, it was a hit.

"You got a hit!" Ryuji said.

How arrogant must he be to see himself as the ruler of the Diet Building?" Yusuke could not believe this.

"Our next target is the big-shot politician Masayoshi Shido." Ryuji said. "We doing this?"

"Let's do this like we always do!" Morgana said.

"He will be a worthy opponent." Yusuke replied.

"Of course!" Ann nodded.

"We'll get our revenge." Haru said firmly. Her tone was still quite heavy, understandably so.

"We finally make our move on the enemy leader. We won't fail." Hifumi was determined.

"I'm ready!" Kasumi balled her hands into fists and gave a firm nod.

"It's time for payback!" Futaba said.

"Let's take his heart." Ren said.

"Then it's unanimous." Morgana said. Everyone was in agreement.

"We'll have to take care of this before election day, December 18th. That means we need it done by the 17th." Makoto told everyone on the time frame.

"We should hurry before they discover there's no body in the morgue." Yusuke added. It would be best they finish this as soon as they can.

"Should we start tomorrow, then? We can meet at the Diet Building after school." Ann suggested.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me." Ryuji turned to Ren. "What are you gonna do about school? You can't show up if you're supposed to be dead."

"Ms. Kawakami said he went home for family reasons." Ann explained.

"That's what I told the school." Sojiro said.

"This works out perfectly." Hifumi had a smile on her face. She looked very excited to execute their grand plan. "Our plan goes beyond tricking Akechi, you see..."

.

.

Akechi met with Shido in person. The two of them were basking in what they thought was a complete victory. It was only a matter of time until all the loose ends were tied up, but as far as they were concerned, nothing would stop Shido from winning this election. With the death of the SIU Director being labeled as a stroke, that entire department was in disarray. There was nothing that could stop him. "All possible hindrances are now gone. There's no doubt this election is mine."

"And I am bring praised a hero." Akechi was relishing in the public attention he was getting. "A hero who has defeated the Phantom Thieves. Poetic justice at its finest."

"It's already been two and a half years since we met. Those decrepit fools managed to trick me and wrap me up in a scandal, and that's when you approached me, claiming you have special powers. If not for my research in cognition, I would've thought you insane."

"And then I dealt with those in power by making them psychotic, and erased any trace of the scandal." Akechi was very proud of himself for this.

"And my faith in you is precisely why I pulled the plug on that research." Shido said while adjusting his glasses. "I only need you using that power. It'd be troublesome of someone else uncovered how it works.

"Wakaba Isshiki, was it? That researcher. She wouldn't have had to die if she just complied." Akechi's cold was cold and callous. There was not a single regard for human life in it.

"Any suspicions should be snubbed out. Even the smallest doubt must be severed at the root." Shido said firmly. "After all, we had an active Public Prosecutor's Office director on our side until recently."

"Astounding, isn't it? To think the director himself often forged evidence to secure his promotion. He was quite surprised when you confronted him about it. He had no idea who leaked the information. Well, I got that from his Shadow, so technically speaking, he did it himself." Akechi was quite bemused at the situation.

"This country's affairs have become stagnant." Shido shook his head, genuinely disappointed. "The political world is filled with old men who only act to preserve their own self-interest. The general public has forsaken such political affairs and don't even bother. Only ruin awaits us."

"I must agree." Akechi nodded.

"There's no need to be ruined along with those incompetent fools. I will lead this country to its revival." That was Shido's goal. "Those who get in the way must be eliminated at times – that's the correct way to use the Metaverse."

"I think we've had quite a wonderful partnership." Akechi smiled, "I thought when the Phantom Thieves appeared, things might be troublesome."

"But they were just brats when we looked into them. The perfect target to shift blame onto as well." Shido laughed. It was as if fate placed the Phantom Thieves in his path, as a way of further bolstering his popularity in the end. "Their popularity was more than I expected, but that made the negative press flip more effective in the end. Your assistance has been very influential in making my plans proceed smoothly. When I become prime minister, I'll grant whatever wish you want."

"That's right. You rely on me. I'm the sole reason you've made it this far." Akechi thought to himself behind his friendly smile. "You're so close to that victory you desire more than anything else…" "With this most recent case, my name has become known across the country, perhaps even the world. Surely my story will be passed down as a hero, who won against monsters who controlled people's hearts. Perhaps I'll lay low and devote myself to my studies."

This answer amused Shido, even if his expression failed to show it. When he told Akechi he would grant any wish he desired, he had something else in mind. "I suppose someone of your age wouldn't have such debauched desires."

Akechi turned his back to Shido, stroking his chin. "I am thinking about the future, though." "The future where you obtain precisely what you desire…and I, your bastard son, finally bring you down with my own hands. Everything I've done…has been for the sole purpose of destroying my fathe – of destroying you, Masayoshi Shido."