Field Work – Shadows in the Daylight - II

Takeda's gaze gleamed. He set his cup down, lowering his voice. "Makima-sama placed a great deal of trust in you. But between us, I'm sure even she didn't expect you to run before you can walk." He leaned in slightly. "There are burdens in managing this branch you won't learn from official briefings. Political pressures, favors owed… It's a delicate balance."

A subtle dread coiled in Hiroshi's stomach. This was it – the test or perhaps the temptation. He kept his eyes wide, impressionable. "I did notice some cases being… put on hold unexpectedly," he ventured. "I wasn't sure why."

Takeda sighed, performing weariness. "Not everything is black-and-white, son. For example, if a prominent corporation quietly asks us to step back from investigating a minor security infraction… maybe that corporation supplies our technology. Maybe they donate generously to officials who oversee our budget." He shrugged as if lamenting a necessary evil. "Sometimes, to protect the agency, we oblige. It isn't right, but it keeps the wheels turning." His eyes bore into Hiroshi. "Do you understand?"

Hiroshi felt Kirlia's psychic presence cooling his mounting anger. Takeda was openly admitting to selling out investigations to cronies – a soft confession to gauge Hiroshi's reaction. If he bristled, Takeda would know he wasn't corruptible. If he eagerly agreed, he might earn a spot in their confidence – or at least alleviate suspicion. Easy, now. Hiroshi forced a conflicted frown.

"I… I suppose I understand the pragmatism," he murmured, feigning reluctance. "Makima-sama probably wouldn't want the branch to make enemies unwisely. But… it's unfortunate, isn't it? Sacrificing justice for politics." He bit his lip, as if troubled but yielding.

Takeda studied him for a long moment. Finally, the Director nodded slowly. "Unfortunate, yes. But sometimes it is necessary. I'm glad you see that." He offered a thin smile that made Hiroshi's skin crawl. "Don't worry, I'll handle those dirty realities. You can keep your hands clean and learn gradually."

The young man ducked his head as if abashed. "Thank you, Director. I will follow your lead."

On the inside, Hiroshi felt both relief and disgust. He had passed the test by appearing suitably pliant. Takeda's guard was ever so slightly lowered now – he thought the Assistant Director was another spineless careerist who could be guided (or manipulated). And every word of Takeda's rationalization was now saved to a secure drive via the hidden bug beneath the desk. Concrete evidence of the Branch Director's complicity and motives.

After leaving Takeda's office, Hiroshi ducked into a quiet records room, heart pounding. The charade had been successful, but draining. He pretended to review archives for a few minutes, giving his hands time to stop trembling with revulsion. Akemi chirped softly at his feet, peering up in concern. Hiroshi mustered a tiny reassuring smile and reached down to pat the Kirlia's head. "I'm okay," he whispered. "It's all going according to plan." She bobbed her head, her ribbons fluttering, though the worry in her eyes remained.

From a shelf nearby, a rustle of papers signaled Angel's presence. The quiet, chestnut-haired agent had been standing there with a file in hand, blending into the shadows. He stepped forward now, voice low. "I heard," Angel said, his lips curving in a rare, wry smirk. "Takeda practically handed you his confession. Bold."

Hiroshi nodded, already pulling a tiny wireless earpiece from his pocket. Angel had been relaying the bug's feed in real time to the rest of the team. "The others?" Hiroshi asked under his breath, slotting the earpiece in.

Angel's eyes flicked up as if considering. "Kishibe's nearly bored – said he's heard better villain monologues in bad movies. Himeno wanted to storm in and knock Takeda's teeth out about halfway through." His tone was deadpan, but Hiroshi caught the ghost of a grin. "Denji had to be physically restrained by Aki when you sounded like you might agree with that slime."

Hiroshi closed his eyes for a beat, picturing Denji bristling in the safehouse while listening. A faint chuckle escaped him. "I'll thank Aki later." Denji's impulsiveness was always a risk – the fiery youngster hated inaction. But Aki, ever the level head, would keep him in check.

Angel touched a finger to his own hidden earpiece. "They know you're safe. Power was disappointed she didn't get to explode anything yet." His expression suggested equal parts exasperation and amusement. "Kobeni asked if she could breathe again."

Hiroshi allowed himself a small, genuine smile at that. The team's concern warmed him, but there was no time to bask. "Back to it," he sighed. He straightened his suit jacket, banishing any lingering trace of fear from his face. The cameras around HQ – some under traitor control – would notice if the new AD looked shaken. "See you this evening, Angel."

Angel nodded and vanished down the hallway, file in hand as camouflage. To any observer, he was just another analyst fetching documents. In reality, he was on his way to quietly plant a fresh round of listening devices in a corridor frequented by the Deputy Director. Every whispered conversation in these halls would soon drift into the team's recorders.

That afternoon, Hiroshi continued his official duties with dutiful focus. He convened a minor meeting about "modernizing the archive database" – a dull subject that had the double benefit of giving Madoka cover to inspect the branch servers. As Hiroshi droned about cloud backups, Madoka sat unobtrusively at a console, quietly plugging in a thumb drive. The bespectacled young man's fingers flew over the keyboard, using Alakazam's duplicated server drives to insert trace programs. By day's end, every email and financial ledger in the building would be siphoned to their off-site storage, ready for combing.

No one noticed anything amiss. To most in Kanto PSIA, Assistant Director Kobayashi was proving a benign non-entity – competent enough, but hardly a threat. Exactly as planned.