Sako stared at the new drink, then at "Kenshi." The recognition of a true friend's face – or what he believed was one – eroded his remaining defenses. With a trembling exhale, Sako began to speak, voice hushed and broken. "I… I messed up, Kenshi. I did things I— I never thought I would. God…" He raked a hand through his hair. "There are people in my agency – bad people. But they made it seem… justified at first. For Japan's security, they said. Then it became about money, favors… threats."
He took a desperate gulp of his drink. "I leaked documents. Buried reports. People got… hurt. Killed." Sako's face crumpled as a tear slid down his cheek. "Do you remember Officer Kinoshita? My kouhai from a few years back?"
Hiroshi nodded, recalling from the team's records that Kinoshita was one of the honest PSIA officers killed in a "delayed raid" not long ago. "I remember. Nice guy," Hiroshi said quietly. In truth, he remembered attending Kinoshita's funeral undercover, watching his family weep – all while suspecting traitors like Sako had a hand in it.
Now Sako confirmed it: "He's dead… because of me." The dam broke. Words came tumbling out between ragged breaths. "I knew the raid was compromised. I knew and I didn't warn him. They told me to stall the team… I-I filed a false report that the intel was incomplete. By the time they went in—" He squeezed his eyes shut. "The ambush… Kinoshita and the others never had a chance. And those bastards, Takeda and Mori, they just laughed after, like it was a game. I can still hear them laughing." Sako's voice cracked with anguish.
Hiroshi's hand curled into a fist beneath the counter. Hearing it confirmed – the betrayal that cost brave men their lives – made his blood burn. But he forced himself to remain in character, radiating compassion. He placed a firm grip on Sako's shoulder to steady the shaking man. "My god… I'm so sorry," he said, voice thick as if in shock. "You couldn't have known they'd… That's awful."
Sako hiccuped a sob. "I wanted to come forward, to tell the Internal Affairs or someone. But it was too late. I'm in so deep. They'd brand me a traitor too. Maybe I deserve it…" His head hung in shame.
Hiroshi glanced around. No one else was near. Quietly, he slid a slim recording device deeper inside his jacket pocket, ensuring it caught every word. It was risky – such a recording might never see a courtroom given how it was obtained – but the intelligence value was immense. His team could use this to map the conspirators' hierarchy and even confront Sako later to flip him as a witness.
He gently probed for more. "These people… Takeda and Mori, you said? They're running everything?"
Sako gave a jerky nod. "Takeda's at the top in our branch. Mori, Kitamura, several section heads – all in on it. They get orders from outside sometimes… some businessman or foreigners, I don't know. I'm not high enough to meet those." He sniffed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "I only talked directly with Chief Mori and that snake Itagaki from Tech Division. They'd tell me what to do."
Hiroshi's mind raced. Itagaki – that was the tech chief who leaked research to Shijō Conglomerate, flagged in their investigation. Good, another link confirmed. "Have you ever met any of the outside contacts? Anyone at all?" he asked softly.
Sako's brow furrowed in concentration. The drug and alcohol made his thoughts slow. "No… just passed files through drops or to couriers. Except… there was one time." He lowered his voice further, as if even here he feared being overheard. "A foreigner approached me after a conference once, knew everything about me. Called himself Jackal."
Hiroshi had to fight not to stiffen in surprise. Jackal – the rogue Western intelligence broker known to be involved. Sako kept talking, oblivious to Hiroshi's heightened attention. "Jackal gave me a phone, told me to use it if I ever needed 'direct help.' I never did. Too scared. Mori would've killed me if I spoke to outsiders without approval. I… I threw the phone in the river." He laughed bitterly. "Didn't trust him either. One devil at a time, right?"
Hiroshi nodded slowly. This was crucial intel: Jackal had personally tried to recruit in the branch. That could help Makima and Yoshimura later track that operative's trail. But for now, Hiroshi refocused on Sako's personal torment. The man was staring into his empty glass, eyes haunted.
"What am I gonna do, Kenshi?" Sako whispered, voice small and lost. "If this all comes out… I'm finished. My life's ruined. Maybe I deserve it, but my family—" He broke off, shuddering.
Hiroshi felt a pang of actual pity mingled with contempt. Sako had chosen cowardice and greed over integrity, and innocent people paid the price. Yet in this moment, he was a human being crushed by guilt. That guilt was a weapon Hiroshi intended to use fully.
He tightened his arm around Sako in a brotherly half-hug. "Listen to me," he murmured, leaning close. "You made mistakes, but you're not beyond saving. If the truth comes out… maybe you come clean. Testify against those higher-ups. It might be risky, but it could be the only way to make this right."
Sako looked at him with wide, terrified eyes. "Testify? They'd never let me live to see a courtroom." He swallowed hard, throat bobbing. "Those people… they have hitmen, foreign assassins on speed dial. I… I don't think I have the courage."
Hiroshi gave him a gentle shake. "Then find it, Sako. You're better than them – at least you still feel something. Those monsters you follow, they don't feel anything." The words came out with more force than intended, a slice of Hiroshi's true anger slipping in. He softened his tone. "If you can't fight back for yourself, do it for Kinoshita. For the people you feel you've wronged."
Sako's face crumpled again. He covered it with his hands. "Kinoshita… oh god… I'm sorry," he moaned into his palms. His shoulders shook as years of pent-up remorse poured out in drunken tears.