Before anything else, he needs information.
"Let's assume I've been living under a rock for last twenty years," Archer says conversationally. "What did I miss?"
Ohgi stares, bewildered by the man's odd demand. "This isn't a five minute talk you're asking for here."
"I've got time."
Ohgi shrugs and begins a story about Britannia's expansionism, Japan setting itself as the arbiter of the world's politics through its near stranglehold on Sakuradite production, the development of Knightmare Frames, how it revolutionized modern warfare and how their deadliness was demonstrated during the invasion of Japan.
He doesn't get far. About ten words in, Archer brazenly asks him "what is Britannia, anyway?"
Ohgi quickly reevaluates how long this is going to take.
The two relocate in an office and sit down over a map, beer bottle in hand. By the time Ohgi finishes his involved lecture about the state of the world, it's early morning.
Ohgi spresses a yawn while Archer thinks over the conversation.
The Darwinian empire of Britannia. Sakuradite, the "philosopher's stone". The perpetual state of global war during the last century. The Honorary Britannian system.
"This is fucked up," he says out loud.
"You're telling me."
"108 wives? No man has that much stamina."
"...Right."
Archer stands. "Thank you, Ohgi Kaname. That helped a lot." He starts for the door but stops before it. "One last question. Don't feel obligated to answer."
"Shoot."
"You seem like a smart, determined young man. Surely you could make a comfortable place for yourself in this country, if you accepted to live a quietly. Yet you poke at the sleeping dragon's snout, begging for it to snatch you up in its maw. Why rebel, Ohgi Kaname? Is it for the flag? For honor?" His face twist in his trademark's smirk. "For justice?"
Ohgi's hands clenches into fists. "How is that any of your business?"
"It isn't." He admits. "Call it interest?"
Ohgi takes a swig before he slowly opens up. " It's a joke, the Honorary Britannian system. You get to do the shittiest job and you can be sure your boss will take a cut on your wages. Even if youcould scrounge up a living that way, someday a petty asshole will take it all away from you because you crossed the street before his car. A dog wouldn't want this life."
"So you'd rather die?"
The terrorist shrugs helplessly."I guess? I try not to think about it. My friends are counting on me and I can't let them down. They're the last ones I have. Even if I know how this will end for all of us, I can't walk away."
"I see. I don't dislike that sort of foolish behaviour."
Ohgi snorts. "Thanks, I guess. If you don't have regular clothes stashed somewhere, ask for Inoue. I'm sure she'll find something your size. Looser pants, too, while she's at it."
"Ha-ha. I am perfectly comfortable with my clothing."
"Sure you are." Ohgi drawls. "Look, I don't know what you plan to do from now on, but the people of the ghettos could use your help. Since I saw you went easy with the Britannians outside, though I swear to you they all deserved to die twice over, I'm not gonna ask you to join our rebellion. But there's tens of thousand of people living with nothing in those ruins and they'll starve if we don't bring them food from somewhere."
Thievery. Not something Archer had stooped to often, but he wasn't opposed to it on principle. "I'll think about it."
Ohgi nodded happily. "In that case, ask Inoue for a burner, too. It's a..."
"I know what it is, thank you."
"Oh. Well, take care, I guess."
"You, as well."
Soon after, Archer reaches the edges of the Shinjuku Ghetto.
A man with no identity, no past, no tie to anyone or anything in this world. Only a wish, to be an ally of justice.
What next?
[]...?
