As a politician praises the advantages of using cybernetic prosthetics, their life is threatened by hackers. Thankfully, Togusa is nearby and successfully thwarts the assassination attempt. This prompts Batou to launch an investigation into a dubious factory located in the man-made islands of southern Japan. In the meantime, Chief Aramaki receives disturbing news from the other end of the country. Several artificial bodies, which were unlawfully discarded, have been discovered near a village where an anti-cyberization group performs their customary rituals. Shockingly, one of the dumped shells previously housed Major Motoko Kusanagi, who was once the leader of Section 9 before her unexplained disappearance.