The following contains spoilers for Golden Kamuy, Season 4, Episode 4, "Spoiled Rich Kid," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Episode 4 of Golden Kamuy provides an interesting detour that further illustrates just how meticulous Tsurumi is. The story may highlight Koito's past and show his history with Tsurumi, but it best serves as an account of Tsurumi's Machiavellian ways and the effects they may have moving forward. As Koito comes to question his past, will his alliance begin to falter?

The end of Episode 3 planted the seed that Koito had grown suspicious about something, offering only the clue of Ogata using the Russian phrase "barchonok" -- akin to "spoiled rich kid" -- in the Season 3 finale. Instead of thrusting viewers right into the goings-on of Tsurumi at Abashiri, Episode 4 hops back in time. Like the other soldiers of the 7th Division, Koito's personal backstory comes in tandem with the realization that Tsurumi has always been, and may always be, one step ahead of everyone.

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A Master At Getting What He Wants

On multiple occasions, Golden Kamuy has shown just how meticulous Tsurumi can be. He led people to believe that Ogata's father, a decorated and well-respected Lieutenant General, had died by ritual suicide following the loss of his second son, Hanazawa, at the Battle of 203 Hill. In reality, he'd been murdered by Ogata for being made to feel inferior, and Tsurumi used his death to stir dissent within the Japanese army. While Ogata killed his half-brother of his own accord, it was obvious that Hanazawa's great sense of justice would've posed a huge obstacle to whatever Tsurumi would be working toward, so it's not ridiculous to believe that Tsurumi wouldn't have also made the call. Tsurumi also manipulated Tsukishima into joining the 7th Division by lying to Tsukishima about the death of his former love, Igogusa. Like Tsukishima, Koito was manipulated into becoming a pawn.

Koito is only 14 when he first meets Tsurumi. He's riding his motorcycle when he recklessly plows through a stranger, only to yell back at them. To Koito's surprise, the stranger -- Tsurumi -- chases him down on foot and reprimands him. Koito is shocked and remarks that nobody ever scolds him. He ends up offering to take Tsurumi to his destination in apology for his rude behavior. At the cemetery, Koito takes a moment to pray at his older brother's grave. He confides to Tsurumi that he believes he should have died instead of his brother and that, ever since his death, their father has barely acknowledged Koito, let alone scolded him. After this, the two split the Tsukisappu anpan that Tsurumi brought to eat. Years later, Tsurumi would use this confession to his advantage.

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At 16, Koito is kidnapped while living in Hakodate. Tsurumi ends up being the one called in by the army to help return him, due in part to being a member of a special team in Tsukisappu, and for his fluency in Russian -- a carryover from his time as a spy. His actions during the rescue might appear to simply be trademarks of an expert tactician who knows his enemy, but there is always a hidden agenda when it comes to Tokushirou Tsurumi. As the race to save Koito continues, it becomes clear that something is awry. Koito's father resigns himself to the fact that his remaining son will have to die in order to avoid a Russian attack that could cost the lives of countless Japanese citizens.

In the same way that Tsurumi took advantage of Tsukishima's grief for nine years just to gain a loyal and skilled pawn, Tsurumi ultimately uses Koito and his father's relationship to secure Koito's place at his side. The backstories of other 7th Division soldiers laid the groundwork; however, the visual clues of the Tsukisappu fed to Koito by his supposed Russian captors, the knowing glances both Tsukishima and Ogata give him following the rescue, the hateful glance Ogata gives Koito in passing following the latter's joining of the officer academy, and the added fact that both of Tsukishima and Ogata speak Russian undeniably confirms that they were the captors and that it was all orchestrated by Tsurumi.

Tsurumi may not have yet made a present appearance this season, but both Episodes 3 and 4 show how wide-ranging his influence is regardless. As Ariko and Kikuta try to inch their way back to his side, will Koito connect all the dots in time? Tsurumi has already lost Ogata, and losing Koito could very well create enough of a hiccup in his plans to give Sugimoto and Asirpa the upper hand.