In a dystopian future, humanity is governed by a sentient A.I. called The Head, which mandates that every citizen consume a specific "jelly bean" each day. This daily requirement sustains their implanted nano-bioorganisms, crucial for maintaining their connection to The Head. Those who refuse to comply face dire consequences — elimination.
The story unfolds in a disused airport turned refugee camp where a murder of a refugee ignites a chain of events. The immigration guards, witnessing the crime, report it to The Head, which promptly assigns Detective Jan 623 to investigate. Upon arrival at the scene, Jan is joined by a woman named Maria to aid him in unraveling the mystery of the murder. During the investigation, suspicions arise around a refugee named Rana, leading Jan to interrogate her. Through intense questioning, he uncovers that an immigration guard is behind the killing.
Following this revelation, Jan utilizes The Head to scan the guard's retinal cortex, which allows him to glimpse the murder through the guard's eyes. In a shocking turn of events, The Head orders the apprehension of the guard after witnessing the murder footage. After completing his work, Jan leaves the airport in a solar-powered autonomous vehicle, reflecting on the case while indulging in a micro-cigarette outside his home. He is greeted by his wife Ayka and son Zen, and the tranquility is abruptly shattered by a televised broadcast from The Head featuring the convicted guard's public apology and subsequent execution. Concerned for their son, Ayka urges Zen to disconnect from The Head to shield him from the violent spectacle, but Jan reminds her of the strict disconnection limits imposed by The Head.
The following day, Jan decides to re-interview Rana at the refugee center, growing increasingly suspicious of how she possesses knowledge of the murder without having witnessed it herself. With Maria’s assistance, they discover that Rana has neither a connection to The Head nor any telepathic implants. This leads Rana to reveal her true identity as a witch — not a cyber witch, as she clarifies. On his way home, Jan encounters a peculiar red bird, sharing the fleeting moment with Zen before he suddenly falls ill, violently coughing up his nano-bioorganism but miraculously avoiding elimination.
As the plot thickens, Jan attends a festival where Ayka performs. During her performance, he experiences a vivid hallucination that momentarily confuses Ayka with Rana, resulting in a tense moment where Jan almost draws his weapon on her. After the show, they share a quiet, autonomous ride home, but Jan's rest is interrupted by an instinct to wander into the woods at night where he appears to transform into a tiger, frightened back into the car by a wounded animal's cries.
Driven by a need for confrontation, Jan revisits the refugee center to challenge Rana about why he has been experiencing these disturbing visions. Rana insists she is not manipulating him; instead, it's Jan’s own mind that is triggering these episodes. In a dramatic twist, Maria malfunctions and is eliminated by The Head. Fueled with anger, Jan demands the apprehension of Rana for the supposed murder, resulting in another televised execution, which causes Ayka to confess her own hidden truths — she reveals her responsibility in the framing of the immigration guard and the intricate web of manipulation she has spun around Jan.
As the citizens' connection to The Head deteriorates, revealing growing outages, Jan chooses to dress in civilian clothes, embracing individuality over conformity. In a desperate attempt to connect with Zen, he tries to show him a rain shower but fails, leading to a fear-stricken rush when The Head informs him that Zen is in danger. Jan quickly races to find him and discovers Zen perilously perched on the edge of a rooftop. After saving his son, Jan returns to confront Ayka, who confesses to orchestrating everything that has transpired: from murdering the refugee, Rana’s lover, to using The Head to eliminate threats.
Ultimately, Ayka’s ambition unfolds as she reveals herself to be the mastermind of a rebel faction intent on dismantling The Head and restoring humanity's inherent empathy. In a heartbreaking climax, Jan succumbs to his feral instincts, transforming into a white-striped tiger and brutally attacking Ayka. However, the tragedy doesn't end there; Zen, under the weight of shock and grief, fatally shoots Jan with his own gun, leaving a trail of devastation in the wake of their tumultuous lives.
