- Batou is on a mission to investigate a former boxing champion, who is suspected of espionage.
- The Tachikomas are singing a song when Batou ask them if they know the meaning of the lyrics. They give a textbook reply and then say they are being sent to the lab and wave goodbye. Batou frowns.
A female android brings a digital tablet to Batou's office, explaining he has orders requested by the Public Security Department to go undercover and investigate a man named Pavlo Zaitsev. He is to have the case cleared before Aramaki returns from an international conference. Later Togusa discusses the return of the Tachikomas to the lab and Zaitsev. Batou was a fan of Zaitsev, who won a silver medal in the 2024 Paralympic Games and is now a martial arts instructor for the Japanese Self Defense Army. Batou warns Togusa to bring the car (a 1970s era yellow Lancia Stratos) right back to Section 9. They peel out with squealing tires.
On a naval aircraft carrier an instructor is with a group of military men in training gear. The Instructor challenges a large young man to fight and quickly knocks him out, he then taunts the rest of the group. Batou comes out from the rear and gets ready to fight pulling on red sparring gloves and referring to the instructor's silver medal. They spar back and forth and suddenly the Instructor knocks out Batou. Coming to, Zaitsev tells Batou he got him with the "prosthetic blind spot", congratulates his fighting and invites him to his place to hear the details.
In the evening, at Zaitsev's home the two are friendly and Batou looks at the other man's medals and trophies. Zaitsev regrets losing the Paralympic gold medal and says his life changed after that as he missed out on endorsements and acclaim. His wife comes out with a tray of modest snacks and a Russian drink, . Zaitsev is upset at his wife's frugality and wants to take Batou to a local bar. His cell rings and he leaves the room to answer. Batou tries the sweet drink, made from fermented honey. Zaitsev returns and begs off, Batou goes home. Zaitsev then goes to his home office and receives instructions.
At his base office beside the gym, Zaitsev uploads some data into a handheld device. Batou is in the gym training and Zaitsev goes to lunch. He brings a signed pair of boxing gloves to a young lady in another office, she makes him some fresh coffee. Meanwhile, Batou enters Zaitsev's office and goes to the computers, he sees a Sakawa Dummy Barrier and other nice toys. While the girl is making coffee, Zaitsev connects his handheld to a computer and copies some files and makes small talk. Zaitsev then notices a "back hack" and quickly disconnects. Batou hears Zaitsev coming and hides in the ceiling, then listens as Zaitsev talks to his handler in thinly veiled code.
Batou is walking out of the base and Zaitsev pulls up beside him and offers to buy drinks. Zaitsev asks to see pictures of Batou's "family" and sneaks a look at Batou's fake ID. Zaitsev's phone rings again and he leaves, he gives a memory card to a group of men, they check the data, it is corrupted. The men argue, Batou arrives and shoots all the other men. Batou tells Zaitsev if he can beat him again he will let him go. The two men fight, this time Batou blocks the "prostetic blind spot" punch and easily KO's Zaitsev. Zaitsev groggily realizes Batou lost on purpose earlier. The regular police arrive, Batou walks away sadly and runs into Mrs. Zaitsev near the bar. She wonders where her husband is and gives Batou a wrapped bottle of the Russian drink for his "wife".
Back in S-9 locker room Togusa asks an upset Batou what's wrong. Batou throws the wrapped bottle and several tubes of natural oil in the trash and goes to work out on the heavy bag, calling out "stupid son of a bitch" as he works out his anger.
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