After the terrorist attack on Synthetica City, the authorities decided to put Kaito in the city's high-security prison. This prison is where they lock up intruders and people who are trying to overthrow the city. Some of the most dangerous revolutionaries are still out there, but Kaito was being taken in, handcuffed, and surrounded by guards. As he sat in the van, his eyes were filled with sadness, but deep inside, he smirked. Everything was going according to his plan.
There's something I didn't tell you from the start. You know that Project Zero was created to bring an end to the main character, but there's more to it. There are different kinds of stories, depending on the genre and the audience. There can be big heroes or villains, but Kaito's only way to achieve his goal within the year is to destroy both the hero and the villain. To defeat the villain, though, he needs the hero's help. And once that's done, he plans to eliminate the hero too.
As Kaito was led through the complex hallways of the high-security prison, he could feel the seriousness of the situation. The place was designed to hold even the most skilled prisoners. At every step, Kaito went through strict inspections—each one tougher than the last. His belongings were taken, examined, and logged carefully. Then came the biometric scans. He stood in a sterile room where sensors and scanners recorded his iris, fingerprints, and DNA. After confirming his identity, Kaito was taken through multiple security checkpoints, each guarded by armed officers and reinforced steel gates. Only after thorough checks were the doors opened.
When he reached the heart of the prison, Kaito was subjected to a full body search. The guards made sure he had no hidden weapons or escape tools. Finally, they gave him a standard prison uniform and led him to his cell, where he would start his time in Synthetica's impenetrable prison.
The next morning, as sunlight peeked through the small window in his cell, Kaito woke up, still thinking about what had happened the day before. He didn't have time to fully gather his thoughts before he heard footsteps in the hall, signaling the arrival of guards.
Kaito sighed, stood up, and prepared himself for another day in prison. The guards, with stern faces, opened his cell and motioned for him to follow. Without saying a word, Kaito trailed behind, his movements watched closely by the guards. Together, they walked through the ever-changing corridors of the prison, passing rows of cells filled with restless inmates.
They eventually reached the communal area where Kaito joined the other prisoners for roll call. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, he stated his inmate number and waited for further orders. While standing there, Kaito noticed a group of prisoners talking, led by someone who seemed important. At that moment, he recalled the information given to him by the merchant he had saved earlier.
"You're looking for information, right?" Mechtron had said in a low voice. "Well, I've got something big for you."
Kaito leaned in, intrigued. "Go on."
"It's about the leader of the Ghost Machine troupe," Mechtron continued. "Word is, the authorities caught them and locked them up in Synthetica's high-security prison."
Kaito blinked in disbelief. "The Ghost Machine troupe… caught?"
"Yeah," Mechtron confirmed. "And it doesn't look like they're letting them go anytime soon. They've got something big on their hands."
Kaito had asked, "How do you get into that prison?"
"Well, to get into the deepest part where they keep the most dangerous prisoners, you'd have to commit a serious crime, like a terrorist attack. But trust me, no one's crazy enough to try that," Mechtron had replied.
Kaito grinned. "Yeah, no one's crazy enough… except me."
And that's how Kaito ended up in this prison. Now, standing in front of him was the leader of the Ghost Machine troupe—the one leading the other inmates in a plan to escape. Kaito wondered how such a powerful figure could get caught so easily. The Ghost Machine had always been able to avoid capture. What had it taken to finally bring them down? That's the first question Kaito wanted to ask.