The group were soon at the gates of the final Mystery labyrinth, with their solution weapons and evidence ready to go.

"This Mystery Labyrinth feels different from the previous ones." Shinigami said.

"Probably because we're not looking for a culprit in this one." David said. "All of the others were murders. Here, we're just solving the mysteries surrounding Kanai Ward itself."

"Well…no reason to just stand around talking about it. Let's just get into it." Vector said.

The group soon entered and as they ran through one of its endless hallways, they found themselves in a facsimile of Kanai Ward.

"Kanai Ward? What is going on here?" Jiro asked.

"It must mean the mystery we're trying to solve is strongly connected to Kanai Ward. Honestly, for a final dungeon, this seems pretty fitting." Marcy said.

"By the way, you guys keep calling it the last Mystery Labyrinth. Why?" Shinigami asked.

"I dunno…its just a feeling." David said.

As they reached a multi-intersection, multiple pipes materialized as a door with a lock over it formed.

What was the cause of Amaterasu and Kanai Ward's development?

"That's easy. It was the Homunculus Research." Yuma said as he slashed off the lock. "That's how all of this began."

"Right. The Unified Government wanted to use them for military purposes. An immortal army. So they roped Amaterasu into this." Vector said.

"The ability to make a synthetic human, create an entire human being… And they use it for military purposes." Yuuto remarked, his expression dark. "I'd be lying if I said I was surprised…"

As they continued onward, they were soon stopped by a hooded figure.

"Whoa…a Mystery Phantom? But who would try and stop us this time?" Shuichi asked.

The hood lightened up, revealing a face that shocked the group.

"Yuma?" 9S asked. "You want to hide the truth?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Yuma said quickly.

"Either way, we can't get through until we can beat this guy." Ross said.

"Okie-dokie, here we go!" Pinkie-Pie 2 said as the group drew their weapons.

Reasoning Death Match

MP!Yuma

"Don't go any further. There's nothing up ahead. Let's give up and go home. What I'm looking for doesn't exist. Homunculi are just a fantasy. I was completely wrong."

PinkiePie-2 repelled MP!Yuma's statement!

"Nuh-uh!"

"It's not a fantasy! Homunculi do exist!" Blaze said.

MP!Yuma's shield is broken!

"No they don't! I was completely wrong!" MP!Yuma said.

Homunculus Nutrition Source

Homunculus Experiment Report Memo

Rain Cloud Generating Device

"The homunculi don't exist. Have you even seen a homunculus? Do you have any proof they exist? It's true it was being researched… But that research was canceled. In the end, that research… It was a complete failure. They weren't able to succeed… Homunculi don't exist!"

Perfuma loads 'Homunculus Experiment Report Memo' into their Solution Vine and strikes!

"The answer is in bloom!"

"That is not true! 3 years ago, the UG was successful in creating a Homunculus!" Perfuma said.

"Fubuki's report confirms that." Hermit said.

MP!Yuma takes 20 Damage!

The Mystery Phantom then went and vanished.

MP!Yuma fled!

"So the UG and Amaterasu were competing to make a Homunculus, right?" Mermista asked.

"Yes. But from what we understand, the UG only managed to create one successful experiment." Espio said. "The subject is said to be someone with the world's greatest mind."

"This world's greatest mind. If that's the case…wouldn't it be that Number One guy from the phone?" Yang asked.

"Yes. And as I recall, when I found…that room…I found a written last will and testament from one of the criminals. They clearly listed Number One as being of the greatest minds in the world." Espio said.

"Not to much of a great mind if he ended up fallin' for a bombing." Peacock mentioned.

"Yeah, that was weird. If Number One was really the top detective of the WDO, couldn't he have, I dunno, predicted there was gonna be a bombing and got out of Headquarters before it happened?" Mermista asked.

"Being the best doesn't necessarily mean being perfect." Double D pointed out. "Granted, it is odd, but not implausible."

"But just think about it!" Mermista said. "It woundn't make sense for-"

"Mermista, do you have any actual proof for whatever claim you're about to make?" David asked.

Mermista opened her mouth to say something, only to close it once more, unable to come up with anything.

"This is why you failed the Master Detective exam." Shuichi said. "You're good at finding leads that backup your claims, but only after you make them. A detective finds clues, then comes up with answers. You need to think. We'll find all the clues, then we can see if any of your theories have merit."

"...Yeah, okay." Mermista nodded, subdued.

"Hey, getting off track for a minute, why is this so important to you anyway?" Eddy asked. "Who cares if you're not a Master Detective or not? You did pretty well as a lawyer, ain't that enough?"

"It's not, okay?!" Mermista admitted. "I know I did fine as a lawyer, I know I'm not Master Detective material, and I know I'm not even supposed to be here! But…I gotta prove I can be better at this whole mystery-solving thing!"

"Why?" Yuuto asked. "We have plenty of detectives already."

"Because the first time I tried to play detective, my kingdom got ravaged!" Mermista answered. "Maybe if I had been a bit more serious, if I had actually known what I was doing, then maybe I could've stopped it! I know I haven't been helping since I got here, not in any meaningful way, but…ugh! Why do I even bother?!" the princess yelled to the sky, before she huffed. "I'm never gonna be a Master Detective. Heck, I'm not even a good one. I'm still that dumb, blue-haired kid quoting mystery novels."

The group was quiet for a moment, before Vector spoke up, more gentle than he had been to Mermista since the start.

"Y'know…I never did tell you guys why I took that exam." Vector said. "See, remember when I made that promise to Hartwin, as he was fading away?"

"Yeah…you said you'd find his daughter." David remembered.

"Well, wouldn't you know it, while I was packing to go to the WDO…I found a picture of her." Vector said. "Blonde hair, green eyes, green clothes…any of this starting to sound familiar?"

The group pondered this for a moment, before 9S realized. "That spell he used…Dess. It's the same thing as-!"

"Yeah…his kid was that reaper girl from XDR, Kirika." Vector confirmed. "You can guess why trying to find our reality's version of her would be a problem."

"She's reincarnated…she could be anywhere. Anyone. Hell, anything!" Eddy said.

"Yep. That's why I became a Master Detective. So I can find 'em, and tell 'em how much they meant to their old man." Vector said, turning to look at Mermista. "Look, you've screwed up alot, and I mean, alot. But…you got your reasons for wanting to be a Master Detective. I'd never fault ya for that."

"What's the point in why I'm doing it if I suck at it?" Mermista asked.

"Cause you tried." Vector answered. "Look, we've made it clear you ain't Master Detective material. But…I guess rubbing it in was a bit too much. Sorry about that." the crocodile rubbed his neck. "But…you shouldn't feel bad about that. It sure wasn't easy for me, or the Hardy Boys there." he gestured to David and Shuichi.

"Wait, they struggled with it?" Mermista asked in surprise.

"You kidding? Why'd you think I put together such a weird crew with such stupid roles?"

"...for branding?" Mermista asked.

"Well, that's part of it," he waved off. "But really, it's cause they see things in ways that I can't. Same for Dave and Shuichi. Point is…you can do things that I can't. I can't control water, or rule a kingdom, or…heck, be a lawyer. I'd make a terrible lawyer!" he chuckled, Mermista joining him. "Nobody's gonna blast you for doing your best. So don't get so down if you can't do something, got it?"

"...Yeah." Mermista nodded. "Thanks, Vector."

"You can thank me by paying for the tapes you threw out when we get home." Vector said.

"Yeah. So, what was the deal with those roles?" Mermista asked.

"Oh I was just ripping off old mystery cartoons from the 60s and 70s. Plus it was in the tape that was left with Emo. Get a funny animal sidekick with a catchphrase." Vector said.

"What? You told me that catchphrase was a way to help heal the sick!" Chopper said.

"Yeah. Honestly, I didn't think you'd buy it." Vector said as he chuckled a bit. "Choppy, choppy, cho. Classic."

"Oh my gosh, that's from Scooby Doo! And I'm s'posed t' be a cartoon enthusiast, why didn't I get that sooner?!" Peacock facepalmed with a groan. "Color Gods, I'm loosin' my touch, I tell ya…"

"Anyways…we were talking about Number One-?" Penny started.

"Who cares about some old geezer?!" Shinigami interrupted her. "Let's talk about Kanai Ward's Ultimate Secret!"

"Well, I believe we've gotten everything we can on that front for now…" Double D mused. "Going back to where we left off at that last Reasoning Death Match, the homunculi project does indeed exist."

"We know about the UG research, but we haven't discussed anything about the research done in Kanai Ward." Marcy said as they came to some desks blocking their path with a lock and chain. "Let's get talking about…Project: Homunculus!" she said using the Solution Key to unlock the way.

(Cue: Investigation ~ The Core 2001 - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)

"Right, so, the project was created by the Unified Government and big names like Vegapunk were called in to help manage it. The idea was to make immortal beings capable of living among humans, and Kanai Ward is chock full of them. Even Kurumi and Yakou were homunculi." Mermista recounted.

"But the Homunculi can't come from nothing." Yuuto pointed out. "Where did they get the DNA to make them?"

Chopper thought for a moment before realizing. "The blood test!"

"The blood test?" Princess Twilight asked.

"Kurumi mentioned it. She said a while back, the Peacekeepers forced everyone in Kanai Ward to take a mandatory blood test. They said it was to test for diseases, but…it was for the lab to gather up DNA samples to create Homunculi!" Chopper said.

"So all the Hommunculi in the city were real humans at one point. But where did their real selves go?" Silver asked.

"Huesca said that the project was a failure. That the Homunculi became violent and berserk in sunlight and became zombies when they died. And given how he was seen in the video…I think it's safe to assume all of Kanai Ward was….eaten." Takeshi said.

"Oh, god…" Gohan said, horrified.

"That's right… Homunculi go berserk when in direct contact with sunlight. I think before the city was shrouded in rain, the Homunculi that were created from the original residents of Kanai ward went all Zombie Apocalypse on the city and…" Marcy shivered.

"But how could they not notice what they were?" Mayumi asked.

"Remember the research? It says that Homunculi inherit the memories of their predecessors from the time of DNA extraction. They wouldn't have realized anything was…That's the Blank Week Mystery! During that one week, all of the residents in Kanai Ward…were replaced!" Princess Twilight said.

"And with their memories, they wouldn't have noticed they weren't the originals." Yuma said.

"But Kurumi's grandpa and a few others didn't get replaced." Marcy said.

"She said they managed to get out of the blood test, so when the accident happened, they couldn't be replaced and were labeled as missing instead." 9S said.

"Just as we suspected, everyone in Kanai Ward…is a Homunculus." Hermit said.

"That's why their blood is pink. It's the only thing that can tell a human from one of them." David said.

"Wow, how's that for a twist, amiright?" Peacock said.

"Wait, it couldn't be everyone everyone, right? I know security is tight, but…someone should've seen red blood and made the connection." Penny said. "Someone would've noticed!"

"Someone did. The Unified Government. They were trying to occupy Kanai Ward during the blank week to try and exterminate the defective Homunculi." Blaze said. "But Makoto, he negotiated a deal with them and isolated it. He even created that rain machine so they could live normal lives in Kanai Ward."

"Yeah, but…" Penny started, before Qs swarmed and MP!Yuma appeared once more. "Okay, guess it's time to prove me wrong."

"It's too ridiculous to think they all could be swapped with homunculi… That's nothing but a fantasy!" MP!Yuma declared. "The Blank Week Mystery has nothing to do with the homunculi! Everything you say is wrong!"

"Jeeze Yuma, never thought you had a stubborn streak to ya." Eddy said.

"I-It's not me who's thinking this! …Is it?" Yuma wondered aloud.

"No time for an identity crisis, here he comes!" Charmy said.

(Cue: Clash with Kzinssie- Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven)

Reasoning Death Match

MP!Yuma

"No… You're wrong… They couldn't have been swapped! Impossible! It's a fantasy you made up! All of it… All of it all of it all of it all of it! Everything you say is wrong!

David swings his Solution Wrist Gauntlet to repel MP!Yuma's statement.

"That's not it…"

"No, we're positive that the civilians were swapped for homunculi." David said. "Shuichi, I might need your help backing my claim."

"Right, leave it to me." Shuichi said.

Restricted Area

Defective Homunculus

Homunculus Characteristics

"Residents were swapped with homunculi? That's impossible! Something else caused the Blank Week… Everyone was drugged and knocked out! Every resident fell asleep! So there's a gap in their memories… That's why the memories connect across the week! That's impossible if they were swapped! If they were swapped, they'd be different beings… Their memories would be totally different too… Their memories shouldn't be linked."

Shuichi took the initiative and loaded up the "Homunculus Characteristics" bullet into his Solution Gun.

"That's wrong!"

"Homunculi inherit the memories of the ones their DNA comes from up to the point of extraction. Vivia's notes explain this in detail." Shuichi said.

MP!Yuma takes 30 Damage!

"No! Your reasoning is obviously wrong!" MP!Yuma said.

Homunculus Research

Project: Homunculus

"They can inherit memories? What about the week no one remembers? If memories are kept after swapping, there wouldn't be a gap in their memories. The Blank Week is part of every resident's memories. That proves it! Nobody swapped places with the residents!"

Kaito loads 'Defective Homunculus' into his Solution Gauntlet and punches through MP!Yuma's statement!

"Make way for the Luminary of the Stars!"

"Oh yeah? What about the defects?!" Kaito asked.

"Kaito's right! The Homunculi of Kanai Ward aren't perfect. They go berserk in sunlight and lose all reason and memory. They went berserk the minute they were born, wiping their memories. They attempted to overcome that weakness and failed. Their memories were reset to before the blood test. A whole week passed." Shuichi said. "To them it was like a day. And that…is how the Blank Week Mystery was created."

MP!Yuma takes 50 Damage!

MP!Yuma then started laughing as he once again vanished into a number of Qs.

MP!Yuma fled!

"It's never a good sign when the bad guy laughs after getting beaten…" Marcy remarked.

"So…everyone is a Homunculi. And the originals are all dead. That…that's still a tough pill to swallow." Vector said.

"That's the truth behind the blank week." Yuma said as buildings across the city crumbled.

"So now what? We just gotta find the guy who orchestrated all this, yeah?" Peacock asked.

"We already know who it is, Peacock. You saw him threaten us the minute Marcy turned the generator back on." Mayumi said.

"Yeah, yeah! Makoto!" Peacock said. "He's the biggest bigshot at Amaterasu! Of course he's the one behind all this!"

"Yeah…but…I don't think he's doing this for a completely evil reason." Marcy said.

"Yeah, when Yuma and I met him, he seemed like a nice guy." David said. "I really believed that his love for Kanai Ward and its people were genuine."

"Plus he demanded the machine be turned back on before holding us at gunpoint." Marcy said. "He isolated Kanai Ward too. He's….trying to protect the Homunculi!"

"What? Of course! The isolation was to protect them from the government! He knew about the defects and negotiated a way to keep them safe." Espio said.

"But…why kidnapping all those people and turning them into….meat buns?" Mermista asked.

"The Homunculi have cravings for human flesh. They're the food source to keep the homunculi living." Espio said. "He even created that rain machine to keep sunlight from shining and turning them feral."

"Hahahaah! Now you all…are finally seeing the big picture!" MP!Yuma said as he appeared before them.

"So…how long are you going to put on the act?" David asked as the phantom was struck down by a figure behind it. "I was wondering when you'd pull up….Makoto."

They saw the masked man himself standing behind the fading phantom.

"Why hello there. I've been waiting very patiently for all of you." Makoto said.

"So he's the phantom now? I guess we should have seen it coming." Shinigami said.

"Now….I think I'm about ready to put an end to all of this." Makoto said as he manifested his own solution blade.

"A Solution Blade? How?!" Mermista asked.

"Because this isn't a phantom. This…really is Makoto." David said.

"But how would he even be here? He'd have to use Yuma's Coalescence, and that requires direct contact!" Peacock said.

"He did have contact though." Shuichi said. "It was when Yuma helped him over the pipe in the warehouse holding the rain machine."

"But I'm sure I didn't use it." Yuma said.

"Then…the only other explanation is…he has the same ability." Yaoyorozu said.

"What?!" Yuma said as Makoto lunged at him as they both clashed. "But…that makes no sense! Coalescence is Shinigami's power!"

"No….Coalescense is…Number One's Forensic Forte." Makoto said.

"Number One's…Forensic Forte? But that can't be… If what you're saying is true, then that means there are two facts that must be accepted in order for all of this to make sense." David said.

"Two of them? But we saw Number One get wasted by the bombing." Peacock said.

"No. No, that was likely a body double. The real Number One never showed his face in public." David said.

"But…I can't be Number One. I'm Yuma Kokohead. I'm just a trainee. No way that is fake!" Yuma said.

"It's true. Yuma Kokohead does exist. However, you and him are two entirely different people." Makoto said. "Before you joined this mission, you went and pulled off something…you bought his identity. And surprisingly, the real one still came to Kanai Ward even with all the chaos."

"What? We didn't see anyone who…" Vector said as he thought back to a few facts. Yakou mentioning Yuma being a great cook as well as the behavior at the ramen stand by the chef. "The Ramen Shop guy! Son of a….he's the real Yuma Kokohead!"

"That's why he ran to the back when he saw Yuma!" Eddy said.

"But that still doesn't explain anything. My name is…" Yuma said.

"You made a pact with Shinigami. The price of it being your memories. You only thought your name was Yuma cause you had his letter." Leonora said.

"Shinigami, you knew this whole time, did you?" Shuichi asked.

"Well….uh…" Shinigami said.

"I'll take that as a yes." Shuichi said.

"But if Makoto's got the same power then…." Marcy said. "You….you're the one that got away! The homunculus that the UG created!"

"And he's not just any homunculus…" David started.

Makoto then removed his mask to show his face looking very similar to Yuma's.

"Huh? Why does he have my face?" Yuma asked.

"Yuma… I'm sorry that all of this information is causing quite a shock to you, but… We have to say it. Makoto isn't just any homunculus." David said. "He's…yours."

"Why….why did you do any of this?" Yuma asked.

"I couldn't just stand back and let the Unified Government take control of Kanai Ward. They were going to eradicate all the defects and Kanai Ward with them. But thanks to my negotiation, they saw the benefits of isolation and they wouldn't need to spend a single cent. Plus, it would have been a shame if the UG's inhumane research ever came to light to the public." Makoto said.

"If you wanted to keep it isolated, why get the WDO involved?" Gohan asked.

"It was because of Yomi." 9S said.

"Remember, Yomi was trading military secrets to a number of different factions. For 5 years, 2 before he was replaced by a Homunculus and 3 after. He wouldn't have realized he wasn't the original, so he just kept doing what he always did and that threatened Makoto's plans." Blake said.

"I understand. You needed him gone, but you can't touch him yourself with all the Peacekeepers and public support he had in his pocket. You knew Mr. Hellsmile was committing a crime. You needed him to be caught for it. You cannot reveal how you know!" Double D said. "Enter…the WDO."

"You set things up so we'd fight the Peacekeepers for you, and get Yomi outta your way!" Peacock said.

"Yes. They were defiant when I ended the research into Homunculi. I didn't want to create any additional defects. And I did it all…for the love I have for this place. I can't put it any other words than that." Makoto said.

"So where does that leave us?" Mermista asked.

"You know of my deeds and of my sins. I'm afraid none of you will be leaving. And I'll be replacing Yuma as head of the WDO." Makoto said. "That way, no one will be able to reveal the truth."

"Of course… if he kills us here in the mystery labyrinth, there will be no witnesses." Double D said.

"Now, are you all going to let me save my city the easy way? Or do I have to get violent?" Makoto asked.

"Just what do you think you are? Killing us, replacing Yuma? What'll that make you in the end?" Eddy asked.

"That's a simple answer." Makoto said. "I'm the hero of this tale."

"No… No, that's not quite right." David said.

"Hm?" Makoto asked.

"I'm in the same boat as you are, Makoto. I too sought to create a land where people of all races can live in harmony, as I said before. But even I know that such a goal would end up with blood on my hands in one way or another." David said. "Would that make me a hero? Debatably. But certainly not in the eyes of those that suffered."

"You kidnapped people from all over and killed them for food." Marcy said.

"I had to! The people of Kanai Ward need to eat too. And I never took anyone innocent. Those criminals were all on death row anyway." Makoto said.

"Even so, Makoto, that doesn't make any of it right." Takeshi said.

"So what will you do? Are you going to force your way through and reveal the truth? That will make you no better than me!" Makoto said.

"No. We're gonna go with option C." Mermista said pointing at Makoto. "We're gonna get you to reveal the truth!"

"What?" Makoto asked.

"Mermista is right. These people…deserve to know the truth." David said. "Plus, if you really are doing this for their sake as you claim, then I am more than certain they will listen to you."

"He's right. You should undo Coalescence…and change this city." Yuma said.

"But if he leaves then…" Shinigami said.

"Yeah…the mystery will remain unsolved…and I'll be trapped here. I'm fine with that." Yuma said.

"Wait, won't we be trapped in here too?!" Eddy said. "Not to rain on Yuma - er, Number One's parade, but uh, I'm not fine with that!"

"There's gotta be a way for us to get out of here." Penny said.

"Actually…you don't need to worry about that. This is…another way." Shinigami said as a new door appeared. "The…Emergency Exit…"

"There's an emergency exit? Wait…will anything happen to us?" Vector said.

"Well, no, since we're not bound by a pact. But…when master goes through…our pact is forfeited and his memories before it will return and all memory of me will be gone." Shinigami said.

"So that means he'll forget about us, then." Kaito said.

"I'm okay with that." Yuma said. "You all have helped me so much these past few weeks, but… we all have to move on."

"Well, you were the one that handpicked us for this." David said.

"Besides…just cause your memories are gone doesn't mean our time will be entirely forgotten." Yuuto said. "Whether a sense of deja vu, or a feeling, or even a hazy dream…moments etched into your soul can't be erased entirely."

"You were a heck of a detective, Number One." Eddy saluted. "We should do it again sometime."

Yuma smiled. "I'm really glad I met all of you. Maybe what my body double said was wrong. Emotions are needed for a perfect deduction. There's room for detectives to have feelings."

"Yeah, I mean, look at me. I am so full of emotion, I can't contain it." David said as the group shared a laugh.

"Well, guess we'd better head off." Vector said.

"Hey, Makoto…just ... don't lose yourself to your head too much." Marcy said. "And maybe keep the name too! Just some food for thought."

"...Take care…" Yuma said as they all left the labyrinth behind, together, one last time.

Chapter 5: And Then I Was Gone

END