Now, between your illegally modified Deco,
and the way you fabricated a prime access code,
there's no way you're an amateur.
You do this a lot, don't you?
How long are you going to stay quiet?
We've put together a list of denied incidents the Customer Center has handled.
A Love transfer scam, hm? That was definitely you.
A Yurei who can't talk? How convenient.
How about this, then?
Look at this. This so-called "Zero Phenomenon" the public is panicking over...
This was taken in an area where Love values were reset to zero. And that's you, isn't it?
I'm thinking you caused the Zero Phenomenon and made off with the Love.
A Sham Trial
Is Hack the name of that weirdo?
A Sham Trial
E-Excuse me...
W-Wow, you've got pretty fingers.
That explains it.
I see.
Hey, it's the robot that was with the weirdo!
I understand, Pup.
So Hack was taken by the Customer Center, and you got left behind...
So do you guys know where that weirdo Hack is?
Hey! Wait up!
So where are you going?
And hey, about this "Hack"...
Are you that weirdo's friend?
It's none of your business. Go get your Deco fixed.
Wait, how do you even know about that?
And that's none of your business.
So did something happen to that Hack kid?
And hey, you mentioned the Customer Center before. What's that about?
Hack was caught.
Why?
Wait... Did that happen after that weirdo helped me escape?
It's my fault.
Hack... helped you?
Wh-What is it?
Come with me.
Who exactly are you?
A ghost.
Wow, I'm seeing a lot of secret hideouts lately.
He said "Don't touch."
So about Hack...
How did you find that location where I met you?
Huh? Well, I mean...
And who are you to Hack?
I guess you could say... we're friends?
Or maybe not.
What are you doing?!
Ah, sorry!
It's just... Earlier, you said you were a ghost...
What of it?
I mean, you can't touch ghosts, right?
What's he laughing at?
The "ghosts" on this island aren't the restless spirits of the dead.
They are people whose births aren't recognized, let alone their deaths.
What kinda "ghosts" are those?
You know how you need a Deco to live on this island, yes?
It makes switching between reality and the Hyperverse possible.
But to get a Deco, you need to be a registered citizen.
And what if, for whatever reason,
that registration never happened, or details of it got lost or erased?
The result is a not-insignificant number of unregistered citizens.
People outside the system.
Citizens in the shadows, their existence not officially recognized.
I never knew there were people like that.
It isn't simply a case of not knowing. You were never told.
They arrange it so there's no way to find out.
But I can see you.
Right. It's not like the unregistered use some kind of special magic.
And we're not invisible.
This is just what Yurei are.
Hack, too?
By hacking people's Decos, Hack's able to move around town undetected.
Hacking?
I get it. Because my Deco's broken, that didn't work and I was able to see Hack.
Being a Yurei sounds pretty awesome!
What's he saying?
He's asking you to return Hack's device.
Wait, is that...
He thinks there's no way Hack would help you.
That you were just a convenient way to keep the device safe.
Wh-What's with that?
I have to agree.
You finding that location is proof.
Well, I don't have any device, so whatever.
I don't know what you just said, but you're ticking me off!
Your trial will be held shortly in the Customer Center.
Since you're a Yurei, I'm sure you know this,
but given the unrecognized status of unregistered citizens,
the trial will be held in private.
Even so, the jury will be made up of Center employees, and fairness is guaranteed.
I can't believe a kid's responsible for the Zero Phenomenon. What a mess.
We've got our hands full with the game cover story and staff cleaning up all traces of it.
That was a good nap.
Hello. How are you?
Madam 44.
Finn.
Out of all the inventors ever, do you know which is the greatest creator of all time?
It's the "accident," my dear.
Yes, I'm reminded of the time those fine ladies wandered into the misty forest...
Right before I shot that wicked magistrate with an arrow from my golden bow.
Yes, that little "accident" had my heart roaring like a lion. Just like now!
You're in a spot of trouble, aren't you?
I am. And you could call it an "accident."
I must admit, gossip queen or not, I'm impressed you already know.
Underestimate my connections at your peril. This isn't like you, though.
Good thing I already have a lead.
You know where Hack's being held?
Oh, little Hacky isn't just being held...
They're setting the poor child up to take the fall for this "Zero Phenomenon" nonsense.
They're blaming the Zero Phenomenon on Hack?
Yes, as if the child were Phantom Zero.
That's not true!
That weirdo wasn't to blame!
I saw it happen. When the Zero Phenomenon kicked in,
it wasn't Hack who caused it!
You'd need evidence to prove that, my dear.
And you'd need it right away, because the trial is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
What do I do? This is my fault.
They're gonna make that weirdo out to be Phantom Zero because of me. What can I do?
Hey, what'll happen to Hack?
If convicted, Hack will be moved to a correctional facility.
Never to be seen again.
Not happenin'!
I mean, I wanna see that weirdo again. Plus, the kid's innocent.
Hack's not Phantom Zero.
But without any evidence...
What about data from when we got caught in the Zero Phenomenon?
There might be some on here.
So you did have something of Hack's.
Please.
Analyzing this might help us solve the mystery.
Awesome! You're gonna examine it in the Hyperverse, right?
I wanna come, too!
Then, I shall have you do it. And...
I'll make the most picturesque Hyperverse space in all of creation for you to explore.
A what-esque what now?
I don't follow, but it sounds Love-y!
Everything we need is on its way.
Hey, Finn, baby!
Down it goes.
Hank, we don't have much time. We need to start building.
The kid ain't around today?
Looks like somethin' bad's gone down...
So you're going into the Hyperverse? Ya sure that's a good idea?
No. She's going in.
This girl here?! For real?
Yep!
This is some beefy hardware.
You know your stuff, sweetheart.
Don't I, though?
Okay. All set!
Yeah!
I call this the "Spirit of the Storm," also known as...
The SOS!
Love-y!
This should do fine.
Now I just need to decompress the data on this device...
All right, folks, I'll leave you to it.
Bon voyage.
Okay!
Data analysis complete.
Activating Hyperverse.
Let's-a go!
It's so Love-y that you can make a world like this.
Plus, it's totally standalone.
No connections means it's not utilizing any shared data, right?
That's crazy! It puts the "Hyper" in Hyperverse!
Stop muttering to yourself.
You can hear me, yes?
I'm going to set construction prime authorization to the highest level.
Get ready.
Wow!
Okay!
So fast!
What the...
I can't stop!
Simmer down.
This is nothing!
Okay, I'm going to display the data from Hack's device now.
Wow. It's usually only the Customer Center that can produce something this detailed.
You're awesome, Finn!
Skip the flattery.
Use the Timeline to figure out where ground zero for the Phenomenon was.
Right.
What the heck is this tech, though?
This should do it.
There!
I think that's the place.
Okay, now to find it!
What is it? Is there too much data to sort through?
Your Deco's acting up, too.
Yeah. I'm still good, though.
It's the right eye, yes? Be careful.
This is it.
See? This proves Hack didn't do it.
All right, understood.
Now you just need to reproduce the data from when the Zero Phenomenon became active.
Got it!
Is this how it happened?
Well, Hack didn't do it, and it doesn't seem like anyone's making it happen...
Did it just happen naturally?
Okay. Got the record.
We can't be sure it was a natural occurrence yet. There's not enough data.
You think? But who could've done it, then?
There'll be plenty of time to find that out later.
All done.
Right!
As I've just laid out,
the defendant has pilfered Love scores on multiple occasions in the past.
In addition to fabricating scores—
So sleepy...
Continue.
As such, the defendant caused the Zero Phenomenon in order to steal even more Love.
In short, the defendant is Phantom Zero!
Objection!
And you are?
My apologies, your honor.
I know I'm late, but I'm here to represent the defendant.
I'm a defense lawyer.
My name is Belle.
The defendant already declined legal representation. Who arranged this?
Uh, well, it was...
Say it was a human rights group.
It was a cumin whites gloop!
Huh?
Order!
Now, who arranged this?
Human. Rights. Group.
Oh, crap.
I-It was a human rights group.
Now, members of the jury...
I'd like you to look at this.
First, I'd like to submit this data recreation as evidence.
You're looking at the location where the Zero Phenomenon occurred.
And this is it in action.
As you can see, the Zero Phenomenon doesn't appear to be triggered by anyone,
but rather, it is something that occurs naturally.
Now, here is the defendant at that same moment in time.
As you can see, this is a completely different location,
meaning in terms of time and place, there's no way my client could've been responsible!
Hey. Don't forget about the issues with your right eye.
Yes, it's pure coincidence that my client was found at the scene of the Zero Phenomenon.
As you can see, if anything, the defendant was a victim of this strange occurrence.
And this data is irrefutable proof of that!
Don't get worked up. You'll wreck the disguise.
"Zero is a lie. And everything that is not zero is the truth."
These are the words spoken by the Phantom Zero present in the popular video game.
But a game is just that: a game.
In short, the incident this case centers around has nothing to do with Phantom Zero,
who is nothing more than a character in a video game.
However, due to the prosecutor's insistence on there being a connection to Phantom Zero,
a completely innocent person has been held responsible
in a total miscarriage of justice!
Your honor!
Wh-Who are you?
Wait, wasn't she in the video evidence?
What's going on?
What's a child doing in here?
Uh...
What's a child doing in here? What happened?
Nerdy-birdy!
I messed up.
What is that?
Back for more, glitchy-witchy?!
Look! The Zero Phenomenon!
I-It's Phantom Zero!
D-Don't be stupid! This isn't a game!
O-Order!
I-It's Phantom Zero!
See? That's the real Phantom Zero!
What did you say?
No, it doesn't matter right now. This is your chance. Get Hack out of there.
Oh, right.
I'm sending instructions via your Deco. Just follow what they say.
Got it.
Is Finn pullin' a trick or two?
Yeah.
Don't leave me sit-sittin' here all day.
It's time to bail.
Leave it to me.
Upsy-daisy!
I. Love...
Ai!
Should we evacuate?
Piece of cake!
Good. Once you're out of the courtroom, head straight down the hallway.
What's the deal with this robot?
Hey, the defendant's gone!
Was it just a distraction?!
That kid really was Phantom Zero!
It's right at the next corner.
After that, go left.
Get a move on. You've got 20 seconds left.
Hey, wait!
This is a dead end!
Jump down from there.
N-N-N-N-N-N-No way!
Three seconds left. Jump.
Two. One.
Zero!
Please!
We are long-long gone-gone!
Giga! Tera! Peta! Exa!
Zetta! Yotta! Harpo!
I thought I was a goner...
What now, Finn?
Right. You'll be coming up on a cargo terminal.
Sit tight until then.
W-Wait... Is that...
Crap, they found us!
You won't get away, Phantom Zero!
What do we do, Finn?
Finn! Finn!
I don't wanna die!
This is the search unit. A freight cart on the rail has exploded.
The fugitive, Phantom Zero, and the fugitive's accomplice were caught in the explosion.
I repeat...