Meanwhile, in America—inside the gleaming spire of Vought Tower in New York City.
Madelyn Stillwell sat at her desk, teeth digging into her thumbnail, eyes narrowed at the glowing screens scattered across her office. Footage flickered across the monitors: blurred images of Homelander, the so-called strongest superhero on Earth, crumpled on a Tokyo street, coughing up half-digested supper while the surrounding crowd stared in shock.
A single name blinked on the analysis report beside the footage: Oh Kang Woo.
Madelyn's eyes were bloodshot. Kang Woo… contracts with multiple devils. That explains some of it. But—
She reread the reports, skimming through the redacted lines from the Vought Intelligence Service.
—one of his devil contracts is already straining, but he has several. And somehow, he can punch really, really fast. Probably made a contract with the Speed Devil. But speed alone isn't enough… he'd need strength as well.
Her mind clicked sharply into place, pupils constricting.
Don't tell me… Kang Woo's made a contract with a Primal Devil.
The thought slithered cold and unwelcome through her chest.
Suddenly, the office door burst open. Klara Risinger—Stormfront—strode in as if she owned the place, a wide smirk on her lips, eyes sparkling with barely contained mischief and arrogance. Her leather coat fluttered around her boots, crisp and black.
"You seem to be in big trouble, Madelyn," Stormfront purred, leaning one elbow against the doorframe.
Madelyn shot her a cold glare. "What do you want, supremacist?"
(Since the Nazi Devil had long since been consumed by the Chainsaw Devil, its concept erased from memory, few people even remembered why the insult stung so sharply.)
Stormfront's eyes flashed dangerously. "Watch your tone, Vought dog."
But then she shifted, her voice smoothing into a calm, calculating tone. "Calm down, Madelyn. I'm not here to fight. In fact, I'm here to offer you a solution to your… recent failures."
Madelyn raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. "Oh? And what kind of 'solution' could someone like you possibly offer me?"
Stormfront's smirk returned, more confident this time. "It's simple. Edgar doesn't realize the potential Japan holds once they surrender fully to Ame—"
But Madelyn cut her off sharply. "Edgar already warned me. No more supes on Japanese soil. and Vought personnel involved there. Not as long as Makima is alive."
Madelyn's expression tightened, frustration creeping into her voice. "And I don't even know why, either. Why Edgar's so afraid of her."
She exhaled harshly. "I have a job, Klara. Senior Vice President of Hero Management. Any more stunts like this—and Edgar will fire me. And then I am truly fucked. Verstehst du das, eh, supremacist?"
Suddenly, Stormfront snapped her fingers. A man in a sleek black suit appeared in the doorway, his expression blank. Without a word, he strode in and dumped a heavy stack of paper files onto Madelyn's desk.
Madelyn stared at the mountain of documents, suspicion flickering in her eyes. She grabbed the top file and began to skim through the pages. Her eyes widened, the color draining from her face as she read further.
Slowly, she looked up and locked eyes with Stormfront, her voice low and guarded. "This… this is blackmail material against the Japanese government. I don't even have contacts that close to the Prime Minister. You're the one with dirt everywhere. Why don't you handle this yourself Klara?"
Stormfront gave a cool, satisfied smile, leaning closer over the desk. "Call it a friendly gesture. A… sign of good faith. you've always wanted intel on those secret devil contracts you've been so desperate to understand. And… it's for the good of the company, of course."
She paused, looking almost thoughtful for a moment. Meanwhile, in the back of her mind, Stormfront was practically trembling with vicious glee. This time, there won't be any escape, Kishibe. Your life is mine to take.
Keeping her tone measured, she reached into her coat and pulled out a single folded paper, sliding it discreetly across the desk to Madelyn.
Madelyn hesitated, then unfolded the page and read the hastily scrawled words:
Makima is a devil herself—the Control Devil. She has one weakness: sever her contract with the Prime Minister of Japan, Kentaro. Do that, and she'll fall for good. Burn this paper after reading. Makima has eyes everywhere. She can borrow mice and birds to hear and see.
Madelyn glanced up sharply, her mind racing, as Stormfront gave a tight, deadly smile.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Tokyo, 6:30 AM.
In Makima's apartment, pale morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, casting warm streaks across the neat room. Makima slowly blinked awake, feeling the lingering ache of exhaustion in her limbs.
She glanced to her side—and saw the space next to her on the bed was empty. Kang Woo was gone.
Makima sat up, rubbing her eyes. The floor was spotless, the blue glow of Reishi completely gone.
Turning her head, she noticed her lamp table. There, neatly placed, were her phone and wallet. She reached for them, pausing as the faint scent of saltwater hit her nose—a trace of the ocean where they'd fallen during her wild flight trying to latch onto Kang Woo's black comet.
Makima's lips curled into a soft, private smile. She slipped her phone into her pocket, knowing full well who had gone to the trouble of retrieving her things from the sea.
She opened her wallet—and froze. Nestled inside was a small, gleaming Quincy cross, i
Beside it was a note in Kang Woo's careful handwriting:
Wear it on your wrist. The Quincy cross will suit you well.
Makima stared at the cross for a long moment, her fingers lightly brushing its smooth surface. Then, slowly, she closed the wallet, her expression unreadable—but a quiet warmth flickered in her a moment, she slipped the Quincy cross onto her left wrist like a delicate bracelet.
She rose from the bed, padding barefoot across the polished floor, and picked up the TV remote. Settling herself on the couch, she pressed the power button and began flicking through channels.
Finally, her eyes caught on a broadcast: Seven on Seven.
A cheerful, polished reporter appeared on screen, her hair perfectly styled, smile bright enough to blind.
"Good morning, everyone! We have an incredible show for you today. Homelander himself—and The Seven—are here as special guests! Today, we're celebrating the anniversary of the world's most prestigious university for young supes: Godolkin University!
Godolkin, where dreams come true! The place where heroes are trained, scouted, and launched into stardom! Stay tuned—we'll have thrilling interviews, live demonstrations, and a special reveal you won't want to miss. Because remember, folks… America runs on heroes!"
The camera panned across excited crowds waving banners, young women squealing at glimpses of Homelander, while Godolkin students strutted past, their capes and suits bright under the morning sun.
Makima narrowed her eyes slightly, scanning every detail on the screen. She studied the background, searching for any hint of foreign presence. But there was nothing. No Soviet insignia, hidden figures , even suspicious movements near the campus grounds.
After a few moments, she clicked off the TV. A thoughtful frown crept onto her face.
The Sevastopol key auction Kang Woo tried to orchestrate… has failed. Vought must have tightened the net around it—even on the dark web. They're stronger than we thought.
Makima sank deeper into the couch, her gaze turning distant.
Suddenly, her phone lit up with a buzz. She blinked, glancing down at the glowing screen.
A long list of missed calls stared back at her. Dozens of them. Most were from Aki and Denji. But one name stood out immediately: the Prime Minister of Japan.
Makima's eyes narrowed slightly. She let out a slow breath, then thumbed through her contacts and dialed Aki first.
The phone rang only once before Aki's voice came through, sharp with concern. "Makima-san! Are you all right? I've been trying to reach you all morning. The calls kept dropping—or you didn't answer…"
Makima tilted her head, her tone edged with dry humor. "I managed to survive one of my… trips with Kang Woo. That's all you need to know for now."
A faint sigh slipped through the line from Aki, part relief, part exasperation.
Makima continued, her voice suddenly all business. "Also, Aki—I need a ride."
"Yes, Makima-san. I'm on my way," Aki replied without hesitation.
Makima ended the call and set her phone down beside her on the couch. She rose smoothly, slipping on her sleek black trench coat. In one hand, she carried a paper coffee cup, steam wafting up into the cool morning air.
Moments later, she stepped out onto the bustling streets of Tokyo.
Almost as soon as she emerged from her building, a black sedan pulled up to the curb.
Makima's eyes flicked to the vehicle, recognizing it instantly. She walked over, opened the passenger door, and slid gracefully inside.
"Thank you, Aki-kun," she said, fastening her seatbelt. "Now… on to HQ."
Aki gave a small nod, his face impassive. He stepped on the gas, merging the car smoothly into the flow of Tokyo traffic.
As the city rushed past the windows, Aki spoke up, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Makima-san… why do you have such high hopes for Denji?"
Makima paused for a moment, considering her answer. Her eyes softened slightly, though her voice remained cool and measured. "Every devil has a name from birth, Aki-kun. But their power depends entirely on the fear tied to that name. For instance… a Coffee Devil might resurface someday—but it would be weak. Not many people fear coffee."
She took a small sip of her drink, then continued.
"But a Train Devil… or a Car Devil? Those could grow powerful. People fear dying in crashes, being crushed, the violent chaos of metal and speed. As for Denji… I believe he can truly become the Chainsaw Devil. And if he does… he'll be a very interesting asset in the future."
Aki's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel as the city rolled by outside. "Denji is childish ,"He has no place with us. Even now, he's out there trying to befriend devils."
Makima tilted her head, watching him closely. "I think you need to stop lying to yourself, Aki-kun. I'm aware you've become softer with Denji. Living together in your apartment has changed things."
Aki's lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes stayed cool and distant. "Nothing's changed about me,. I'm still the same Aki. A devil hunter who hates devils."
Makima's gaze drifted out the window for a moment before she spoke again. "By the way… as everyone expected a massive payday from the auction Kang Woo conducted—but the plan failed. The university didn't take the bait. So… how are our personnel handling that disappointment?"
Aki exhaled, leaning back slightly in his seat. "Himeno immediately started crying, Apparently, she somehow took on more debt in advance… expecting the payout."
Makima's lips twitched, as though amused.
Aki continued. "Denji and Power… they're just being themselves. They either don't care or don't even understand enough to care. As for Arai and Kobeni… they just nodded and accepted it. Figured it's not their time to get rich."
Makima gave a faint smile, then tilted her head slightly. "What about you, Aki-kun? What was your reaction?"
Aki's eyes stayed fixed on the road as he drove, his voice quiet but firm. "I still haven't avenged my family. I haven't killed the Gun Devil. So even if I got billions of yen or nothing at all… I'd still be working as a Public Safety Devil Hunter."
Makima nodded approvingly. "That's a good decision."
Aki hesitated, then ventured, "Makima-san… can I ask something? Would it be possible to recruit Kang Woo into Public Safety? This is just my personal opinion… but even if he never teaches us his Zaiphon knowledge, his unknown abilities could be incredibly useful. Maybe… they'd even prevent casualties in the future."
Makima let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "If I could figure out where he's going to appear next, maybe,. "He's more like a wild alien than a human. One moment he's opening portals with a portal pistol… the next, he's flying at Mach speed across the sky. And then he just disappears without a trace—which, as you already know, is his favorite trick."
Moments later, they pulled up near the HQ entrance. Aki shifted the car into park and glanced at Makima. "Makima-san… we're here."