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From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], sees_group2 (MAILING LIST)
Date: 2019-01-04 11:08
Subject: Unofficial Persons of Interest Investigations
Good morning, everyone.
As we enter the new year, finally free of the legal burdens and scurrilous rumours that have dogged us for much of the last half-decade, we are looking to once again establish a more complete legal framework and continue our work as Shadow Operatives.
In truth, this is an objective we have been working towards for some time, but only recently have we achieved the sort of progress that suggests we are drawing our deal to a close. At this time, we have not reached agreement with the National Public Safety Commission on any kind of official structure for our work, so we are still, at this time, only operating as free agents until there are further developments.
Despite this, Director Hiraga believes, and I agree, that it would be in our best interests to take steps to prepare as best we can for this reunion before it happens, such that we can put our best foot forward as soon as we officially begin.
To that end, as the Kirijo Group is finalizing its takeover of the Madicce group, the Mechatronics Special Projects Team will be launching a full internal investigation into the mechanisms we believe Akira Konoe used to facilitate the 'change of heart epidemic' in 2017.
Alongside this major investigation, we would also like to perform a series of smaller investigations into people with suspected involvement in metanormal activities in recent years, primarily those involving the Phantom Thieves. These investigations are NOT criminal investigations or to be carried out under the presumption of guilt. We are merely aiming to conduct assessments of how much these individuals know about, or have access to, metanormal abilities.
Can all of you please indicate whether you might have availability to participate in these investigations for the coming weeks? We've no formal schedule at this time, so please don't worry about any prior arrangements you may have - we're happy to try and work around you.
Under current conditions, all volunteers will be paid at the standard contingency rate, with hazard pay allocated as necessary, and travel allowances will be made wherever possible.
Thank you,
Mitsuru Kirijo
Head of Operations
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: 2019-01-19 14:22
Subject: Interview with webmaster
Attachments: <20190103_yuukimishima_audio.flac> , <20190103_yuukimishima_transcript.txt>
Mitsuru
I found time last week to visit Yuuki Mishima and had a discussion with him about his recent video and the Phantom Thieves in general. I've attached full audio + transcript, but in summary:
He's a fan of the Phantom Thieves - obviously. He claims the video is part of a personal passion project, with the goal of raising awareness of the Phantom Thieves' actions as well as the crimes of their targets. This doesn't seem to be part of a PR campaign, and he rejected the idea that the Phantom Thieves encouraged him to create the video. He's well into the process of making additional episodes, with twenty planned at the moment, apparently for his own reasons. Whilst we can't rule out the possibility that he's under the influence of a stolen heart, it seems unlikely - we're seeing none of what we'd consider the usual symptoms and this kind of action would be well outside their usual style of operation.
He claimed ignorance when asked, but it's evident that Mishima is aware of the Phantom Thieves' identities, at least in part, but doesn't consider himself to be a part of their group. More like an associate. Given he was classmates with Amamiya and Takamaki, that connection seems obvious to me. He might even be using them to acquire information for his series, although at this stage it would be difficult to verify that.
Additionally, the scanner pinged him as a mid-level type-a latent, which is uncommon but within standard deviation for late teens - and him not being a Persona user lines up with him seemingly not being a member of the Phantom Thieves himself.
Given his videos have no supernatural elements to their creation, and are in essence an entirely mundane attempt to return the Phantom Thieves to the spotlight, this could be a good opportunity to investigate the normality principle at work. As long as we keep an eye on his videos and make sure nothing dangerous gets out, I see no reason we can't just let him keep working at it.
In short: not an immediate threat, not actively engaging in Phantom Thief activities. If we do need to arrest this guy for any reason, local police agents will be able to handle it unassisted.
Akihiko
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Date: 2019-02-16
Subject: Takuto Maruki Interview and Investigation
Miss Kirijo,
I made contact with Dr Takuto Maruki last week as arranged. As you suggested, I made clear that I was approaching in an unofficial capacity and that he was free to leave at any time. He did seem to appreciate the gesture, at least.
He confirmed that he abandoned his work on cognitive psience entirely, although he said Shido wasn't the only reason. Apparently, after Shido cancelled his project funding, he continued to work on his research in an individual capacity for some time, and only stopped because of our not-so-mysterious Phantom Thieves. I am concerned that this individual research didn't come up in the background checks.
Although the Phantom Thieves have gone into hiding, Maruki has remained out of the research scene. He claims to have made little contact with previous colleagues in general, and none in a work capacity, which at least does line up with your surveillance report. He seems satisfied with his life as it is now, and indicated he had no intention of re-entering the field.
Aside from funding, he had no relationship with Shido and no involvement with Fear under Shido's supervision. He did however know enough about Fear to positively identify him as Goro Akechi - apparently something he learned from the Phantom Thieves, although how that came to be, he wouldn't elaborate.
Speaking of the Phantom Thieves, he didn't want to discuss what happened between him and them - a stolen heart is definitely possible, but he doesn't seem to be exhibiting the same kind of symptoms as their other targets. By his own admission, he came into conflict with the Phantom Thieves during January 2017, which would have made him one of the last targets in their first wave. Could be indicative of a change in, or refinement of, their technique? Or a consequence of the general metanormal anomalies at that time, which he seems to have had some involvement in. He didn't seem to know for sure, either.
There is one anomaly of particular interest. The scanner identified him as an active Type-A with a pretty high-level reading (fluctuating a little more than we usually see, but in the 85-90 range), but he claims he doesn't have a Persona any more. He said he hasn't heard his Persona's voice since he was defeated by the Phantom Thieves.
I suspect this is also the Phantom Thieves' influence - given what we know about Personas, it could be a direct consequence of his stolen heart? Without knowing more about how he lost his Persona, I don't feel confident in removing his threat-vector status. Between that and his lack of interest, I can't recommend we try any further to recruit him.
-Yu
P.S. We had this conversation over dinner and drinks at Ippudo. I put this on the company card as a business expense. I'm sure you understand.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Date: 2019-02-19
Subject: I spoke to Toshiro Kasukabe
Attachments: <kasukabe_reform_notes.docx>, <kasukabe_interview_audio.mp3>
Mitsuru, Akihiko,
Under the guise of doing an assignment for university, I was able to arrange a conversation with Toshiro Kasukabe. This was itself really informative, and I've attached some notes you may find of interest, given what you've previously told me about the Kirijo Group's political inclinations.
Anyway, I was able to use his new reform policy as an excuse to talk about his suspected stolen heart. He seemed surprised that I even mentioned the Phantom Thieves, but when I pressed him on whether they ever sent him a calling card and stole his heart, he just said they were inspirational in their own way and a key reason he decided on his current path.
The scanner indicated he's an active Persona user and his reading was in the high seventies. I wonder if he was always a Persona user, and having a Persona is why whatever involvement he had with the Phantom Thieves was different to the group's usual pattern, or if his involvement with the Phantom Thieves was what caused him to awaken his Persona in the first place?
In any case, given his Persona and how he talked about them, I'd say it's almost certain that he's personally familiar with the Phantom Thieves, although whether he's a member of the group or simply an acquaintance is hard to say at this time. He's apparently known to frequent that cafe in Yongen-Jaya, which could have put him in contact with the Phantom Thieves, unless he only started going there after meeting them. I'm guessing that's not something I can investigate without getting 'too close' to the Phantom Thieves themselves, but I'm willing to give it a go if you want.
Regards,
Ken Amada