An investigation team under Shyamalan's orders investigates the ruins of Sawajiri Village, even killing a policeman when Murota and Hayamiya decide to investigate. Birdy saves them from some of the armed men and fights the reconstructed marionette before she gets injured during an encounter with Gomez after defeating the marionette again.

Birdy tracks down the illegal Virtual Reactor Chips purchaser, who is Nataru's father, Mr. Dusk. Dusk reveals he is a member of an Alterian freedom group, and that he helped disguise the escapees. Birdy goes after the nearest, but the escapees kidnap Dusk and interrogate him on the attacks on their number. He is murdered, which angers Nataru and upsets Birdy. Nataru kills another of the escapees, but not before learning Valic killed his father. Birdy promises to catch Dusk's killer.