You're certain it was a Factory prison van?
I'm positive. And Miho and the others weren't working a case last night.
What's Zaizen started?
Amon... How much did you learn about Zaizen at headquarters?
His objectives, I mean.
It isn't about Witch hunts using Orbo?
That's only half of it.
His real objective is to use Orbo to let ordinary humans hunt Witches.
Zaizen has put that project into action.
Now that you mention it, there's been a sudden spike in Factory activity.
You've been looking into this?
I've had my eye on them.
But there's one thing I don't understand.
Why is headquarters afraid of that?
I wouldn't think that using normal humans to hunt Witches...
...goes against Solomon's ideology.
You're planning to stake them out?
We need to find out whether or not the Factory has started...
...using Orbo that can be used by humans.
I see.
Where are you going?
To try to get confirmation. If anything happens, call me.
You're in no position to order me around...
Don't worry. I'll be sure to call you.
Man, what am I gonna do about this guy?
"August 30th."
"At long last, the truth lies before us."
"This tiny mutation is the Devil's true form."
"October 5th."
"I fear I may have been committing a grave mistake."
"God had already left us."
I wonder what was written here?
What was he doing with Juliano?
It's morning already?
I feel like it'll disappear...
...the instant I look away.
I just kept counting...
...all the many traces of loneliness...
...that I'd vomited up.
In this time that seems so dry,
...my heart is thrashing around and drowning.
It takes those lies that make my head spin...
...and tears them to pieces.
And the place I lose my way in...
...is a dim, hazy world.
Apparently, there was an intensive genetic research program...
...being conducted at Solomon HQ's research facility at one point.
At Solomon?
But there's been a huge boom in genetic research...
...all over the world these past few years, right?
It's hardly surprising that an organization with Solomon's financial muscle got involved, too.
Only if their goal was the same as other research agencies.
What do you mean?
Apparently, Solomon succeeded in mapping the human genome...
...more than five years before any other research agency.
However, the research project was disbanded right afterwards...
...without their findings ever being published.
It was an action by Solomon, right?
I can understand why they wouldn't go public,
...but why was the project itself suddenly aborted?
See what I mean? Strange, huh?
Think it's related to Orbo?
Yes! That's what I thought, too.
So what you're saying is that headquarters attacked us...
...because they don't approve of Orbo development, Michael?
It's not like I have any hard evidence,
...but after digging around here and there, I have to come to that conclusion.
But what makes them hate the very idea of Orbo?
Beats me.
But if you think about it, we ourselves don't know anything about Orbo.
Now that you mention it, you have a point.
Say...
No, forget it.
I just...
I was thinking that if it really was HQ that attacked us,
...that means we're using something that they'll go to extreme lengths to make us stop using.
Stop that, you're freaking me out.
Right?
Hey! How long are you going to stay in bed, you juvenile delinquent?!
Good morning.
I'd hardly call this morning! Do you know what time it is?!
- Oh, no. I overslept. - Where's the boss?
- Boss? - You two were out until all hours, right?
I know all about it.
I don't know.
Is that the truth?
I don't know.
Darn it, we've got clients coming in soon!
Hirata! Go check at the International Center!
You really don't know?
I don't know!
International Center
So she burned the guy's hair off?
She sure did!
If she's not wearing her glasses, she'll set just about anything on fire!
Considering that he's your big brother, this geezer's pretty cool, Amon.
Who are you calling a geezer?
Well, go ahead and continue last night's little heart-to-heart.
I'll get out of your hair.
Buh-bye!
See you, Yurika!
You, me, and Robin oughta have a barbecue...
Looks like this is getting even more complicated than I thought.
For the time being, the Japan branch isn't showing any overt activity.
Seeing which way the wind blows, hm?
In any case, they're bound to show some activity soon enough.
If anything happens, contact me immediately.
Yes, sir. Also, according to the intelligence division's report,
...the source of the system intrusion the other day was definitely the STN-J.
I see.
What would you like us to do?
I'll deal with it. But keep them under close surveillance.
Understood, sir.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Not at all, sir.
From what you told me,
...am I to understand that the damage was caused by a sort of mismatch?
Yes, sir.
We believe that there is a rejection between the character of the test subject...
...and lingering traces of Witch individuality present in the Orbo,
...resulting in the manifestation of the symptoms we have seen.
Is there any way to confirm this?
Not if we don't get a little more clinical data.
You're saying that we should continue human testing?
They aren't the same as Witches.
But sir...
At any rate, I'll restrict Orbo usage to known safe levels for the time being.
Even with that, our results ought to be enough to shut up that bunch that's raising a stink.
Y- Yes, sir.
If you'll excuse me...
I suppose I shouldn't waste any time in dealing with this matter, either.
Do you still hate Dad?
Our father?
I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't bitter,
...but I suppose you can't hold a grudge for years against a man you've never seen.
I'd forgotten all about him until you brought him up.
Your mother, then?
She's a complete stranger to me, but she seemed like a really nice lady.
Even if she was a Seed.
Is it because your father... the man your mother chose to be your father... was a Witch?
She was...
She was always kind to me.
The life of a Seed never seemed that bad to me.
Even if my real father wasn't there, it was enough so long as she was with me.
But I was wrong.
That little incident, huh?
That woman, she...
Mother awakened as a Witch for him right in front of my eyes.
I couldn't get through to her anymore.
And that's why you hate your mother... no, Witches.
I doubt you'd understand.
You wouldn't understand the fear that her blood that's lying dormant inside of me...
...could suddenly awaken at any moment, just like hers did.
Because I'm human?
Witches, Seeds, whatever you call 'em, keep showing up at my door for some reason,
...but they don't look any different from humans to me.
Besides, I have Dad's blood in me, same as you.
It's not just a question of saying, "That person's a Witch," or, "That guy isn't," right?
Your mother chose Dad.
Doesn't that show how much she loved him?
So, what are you going to do about the girl?
Hey, YOU were the one who asked me to help her.
I thought you'd finally realized that.
The situation has changed since then.
What situation?
She... There's a secret that Robin knows that we don't.
A secret, huh?
That was the trail they sent you to follow?
But I get the feeling that Robin herself doesn't know what that secret is.
Just as I thought...
Why the hesitation?
Robin is being chased by Solomon and she doesn't know why.
To hunt her, I have to know. I have to know the truth.
And if you find out, will you be able to hunt her?
The way she is now, you're no match for Robin.
I know that!
But I have to find the answer.
Get going.
Robin's too much for me to handle now.
I'm giving her back to you.
H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?!
You're tailing Amon, right?
Wrong answer.
I guess you can't trust a lawyer's intuition, either.
Hey, don't talk like that!
Where are you going, then?
The Factory.
Factory?
What do you wanna do? Want out?
Nah, hit it.
I'm heading home. How about you, Ms. Karasuma?
I'm going to do a little more digging.
I'll see if the police know anything.
I don't think it'll do any good.
Just in case.
Well, if you say so. Good night.
Later, Michael.
Yeah.
I guess...
I guess I'll go ask about that picture...
Nagira might have gone over there to do some digging, too...
Nagira?
If you use your Craft, you could incinerate me before I could shoot.
Amon...
I can't believe you'd do something this illegal. This organization of yours is...
It's not my organization.
You saved me back then.
That may have been a mistake.
You think I'm a Witch?
That's what headquarters believes.
What do you believe, Amon?
I was ordered by someone at Solomon headquarters to hunt you.
By the most influential hunter trainer at Solomon.
By the man who raised you, Juliano Colegli.
He was the one who ordered the hunt!
You're lying...
It's no lie.
The Father gave me the order in firm, unwavering words.
"Robin has gained dangerous power through the Craft Arcanum."
"She must be hunted."
That can't be... The Father would never...
That's...
Amon, that was you?
If I hadn't read this letter that day, I might not have saved you.
I can read it?
Father... But this is a...
A confession written to one who is about to die.
At first, I couldn't understand, either.
What is written in there is a jumbled mix of fear and love.
And regret.
Juliano is afraid of me? But why?
How could he be afraid of me?
When I stood across from him at headquarters,
...I was filled with an indescribable feeling that something didn't add up.
What could explain the discrepancy between what is in that letter...
...and the priest who coldly spelled out the reason for your hunt?
The Arcanum gave you dangerous power?
I'll admit that in the letter, the Father was afraid of something.
But on the contrary, I got the impression that his fear was directed at your very existence.
My existence?
To see for myself where the Father's true intentions lay,
...I began to pursue Toudou's tracks... your past.
That Toudou man has something to do with my past?
Amon, if you can't have faith in me... If you think that I'm a dangerous Witch...
Go ahead.
I have faith in your heart, Amon.
I suppose this is my answer.
Your answer, Amon?
What is it?
Amon? They're on the move.
They just left the gate.
I see.
Follow them. I'll meet up with you soon.
Did something happen?
It's the Factory.
The Factory?
An assault team just left.
You coming?
A minute ago, one of the vans went off in another direction.
The one we're following seems to be tailing a bike.
I wonder if they'll keep going towards the coast?
Our location is...
Hunting Witches without using hunters? That's what Zaizen is trying to do?
Solomon HQ is nervous about his activities, as well.
Without using hunters...
But that would mean that hunters won't be...
No way! Sakaki?!
Why are they after Sakaki?!
Oh, crap!
Robin?
Sakaki? Why is the Factory after a hunter?
Ow...
Amon...!
Wait.
Why did you let them go?
We know where they came from.
Plus, they seemed to be having some problems.
And on top of that...
Oh, no! I forgot!
Hey there.
Nagira? What are you...
I guess this means you two came to an understanding.
Are you okay?
Crap... What the hell was that all about?
That was a Factory assault team.
That's my point! Why would the Factory attack me?!
Hey, I don't know, either!
Huh? Dojima? What are you doing?
Amon? And Robin, too?
What's going on?!
I'll explain later.
The real question is, why would the Factory attack you?
Karasuma?
Sakaki, where's Karasuma?
She said she was gonna leave a little after I did.
Just how far back do I need to go?
Tell me.
It's all so vivid that it hurts.
The truth is, nothing can be shared,
...so I never looked back.
...all those promises...
...inside me eventually...
...gave up on that light from some other time,
...like the light of a morning you can't return to.