In 2024, the infamous 'The Laughing Man Incident' unfolds as Ernest Serano, the CEO of Sereno Genomics, falls victim to a terrorist act. Despite years of fruitless investigation, Detective Yamaguchi, deeply entrenched in the case, reaches out to Togusa from Public Safety Section 9. Tragically, Yamaguchi meets an untimely demise just after this request, leaving a critical void in the investigation. As suspicion swirls around interceptors during a police interview, a chilling message arrives from the enigmatic 'The Laughing Man,' signaling a resurgence in nefarious activities by this elusive hacker.