Synopsis
Rune Balot is a destitute teenage prostitute living in Mardock City. She is taken in by Shell, an ambitious casino manager who provides her with everything she desires. Grateful for the false innocence, fabricated past, and new life Shell offers, Balot feels thankful but becomes curious about his history, leading her to investigate his background on a computer. This inquiry proves to be a grave error that drastically alters her fate. Upon discovering her actions, Shell tries to kill her by detonating her vehicle. Because of the high crime rate in Mardock, the Scramble 09 law permits police to use extreme, illegal methods to resurrect crime witnesses. A professor utilizes this provision to save Balot by reconstructing her body with reinforced synthetic fiber. As she regains consciousness, her initial confusion shifts into a desire for vengeance after she learns that Shell was the one who killed her.