As civilization advances, individuals may have the opportunity to convert their bodies into machines, elevating both their physical and technological abilities while blurring the boundaries between the two. Yet, this significant technological leap also presents a new channel for criminals to engage in dangerous offenses. To counter this, Japan has instituted an autonomous police faction called Section 9 that combats creative criminal activity. Daisuke Aramaki and Motoko Kusanagi preside over Section 9 and successfully handle criminal activity until investigating "The Laughing Man," an extremely skilled hacker, presents a special and challenging dilemma. Despite the team's ardent pursuit of the hacker and following their path of destruction throughout Japan, the case remains elusive.