Makima nodded once, quietly, and stepped out of the car. As she entered the building, a faint chill crawled up her spine—a heavy, gnawing instinct that told her she wouldn't like the way today was about to she forced herself forward anyway. Her life was practically chained to the Japanese government. If Prime Minister Kentaro ever decided to sever their contract… that would be the end of her. So Makima braced herself. She pushed through the polished doors and stepped into a spacious chamber filled with officials seated at a curved board table. Ministers in suits murmured among themselves, papers rustling softly.
At the center, sitting behind an ornate desk, was Prime Minister Kentaro himself.
Makima stood alone before them, the room's focus zeroing in on her like searchlights.
One of the ministers leaned forward, tapping a pen against his folder. "There are rumors, that other nations are also beginning to use devils as weapons. We must ensure devils remain enemies only here in Japan—and not tools of foreign powers."
Makima met his gaze, expression cool and steady. "I can assure you," she said firmly, "neither Vought nor the Soviets will set foot on Japanese soil."
From the row of ministers, Shin Toma, the stern-faced Minister of Defense, leaned forward slightly, folding his arms. "Makima, how's your dog?"
Makima gave the faintest of smiles. "One of them shows promise."
Toma nodded once. "I'm aware. The one called Denji… he's a hybrid, isn't he?"
Makima simply inclined her head, confirming it with a silent nod.
This time it was Prime Minister Kentaro himself who spoke, his voice carrying a quiet authority that silenced the room.
"I've heard there are two main problems regarding your recent performance."
He lifted a sheet of paper and glanced down at it. "One is a rumor about something called the Sevastopol Key."
Makima remained perfectly still, eyes unreadable.
"And the other," Kentaro continued, lowering the paper to look directly at her, "is this alien called Kang Woo. As for the Sevastopol Key—that can be explained after you answer my crucial question."
Kentaro set the page down, fingers steepling in front of his mouth.
"I've heard that you were kidnapped by Kang Woo. Not once—but twice. Mind explaining that?"
Makima took a slow breath, her eyes calm but her mind churning. She chose each word with surgical precision, her voice steady and polite as she wove a careful mixture of truth and lie.
"The first time, … Kang Woo invited me to his home. A place he calls the Citadel. And yes… aliens are real."
A quiet ripple of murmurs ran through the ministers seated around the table. Kentaro raised an eyebrow. "And you can go to his alien home freely? In and out?"
Makima shook her head slightly. "I cannot. And… even Kang Woo cannot, at will."
Kentaro tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Explain."
Makima clasped her hands before her. "His home—this Citadel—is protected by something called the Central Finite Curve. To leave it, you'd need to break through the Curve first, but kang woo somehow bypassed it . That's how we were able to return to Japan."
She lowered her gaze momentarily, as though reflecting on the memory. "You could say… we were flushed out from the Curve."
Kentaro's eyes stayed locked on hers, sharp and assessing. " That means… Kang Woo sacrificed his only route home so that you could return to Japan. Is that correct, Makima?"
Makima met his gaze evenly. "Correct, Prime Minister."
She paused a moment, then continued, her tone measured: "As for the second time… as you're all aware, Kang Woo can fly extremely fast. Like a black comet. In mere seconds, he can reach speeds of at least Mach 10—if not higher, though I might be underestimating."
A few ministers shifted uncomfortably in their seats at the sheer scale of what she described.
Makima's eyes flickered with a subtle glint of pride. "And I… pulled one of my stunts. I latched my control chain onto Kang Woo's leg. It was… difficult. But I managed to get his attention. The result… he stayed in my home that night."
Kentaro raised an eyebrow, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. "And where is Kang Woo now?" he asked.
Makima exhaled softly, her expression growing wry. "Gone. As usual. However… at least I managed to get some results. Enough to start understanding what he is. Because even now… I'm the first person manage to have some progress ."
Kentaro leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "I have a task for you, "First: there's a Primal Devil. The Aging Devil. She's been sighted in Aokigahara Forest. Terminate her."
Makima inclined her head. "Understood regarding the first target."
Kentaro's eyes hardened. "Second: eliminate Kang Woo."
Makima blinked, her composure momentarily cracking. "I understand the first order… but the second… may I ask why?"
Kentaro's gaze turned steely. "An unknown variable must be terminated. I've decided he is a dog that cannot be tamed by anyone—not even you. Therefore, kill the threat before he imposes more trouble."
Makima fell silent. A deep conflict flashed in her eyes. For a fleeting second, she felt something tighten painfully in her chest at the idea of killing Kang Woo.
Then she spoke, her voice low but firm. "I have to refuse the second order, Prime Minister. Kang Woo's unknown power is a valuable asset to us. His body contains something called Zaiphon… and possibly other alien technology that could be exploited."
Kentaro's expression grew cold as steel. " That is not negotiable. Terminate them both—or your contract with me is severed. Which means you'll no longer be able to transfer any harm inflicted upon your body to Japanese citizens. Furthermore… …you will be declared a wanted entity, with a bounty of one billion yen placed on your head. The choice is yours, Makima."
Makima held his gaze, her mind racing. She knew she had only one real option left—negotiate. Even if it meant risking Kang Woo's wrath later.
"I have an answer for your Sevastopol Key, If that question is answered… will the second task be cancelled or nulled?"
Kentaro narrowed his eyes. "Depending on the results."
Makima reached into the pocket of her trenchcoat. She pulled out a small object and set it carefully in the center of the table. A complete cruciform key—the Sevastopol Key.
"I already have the Sevastopol Key, If you're wondering what it opens… it's a vault aboard the sunken Sevastopol submarine. Which, even now, remains a mystery."
Kentaro reached forward, long fingers closing around the cruciform key. He held it up, turning it slowly so that its facets glinted in the fluorescent light. "I've seen this discussed on dark websites,"
Kentaro said, his voice low and thoughtful. "Then it's true… the Sevastopol vault really exists."
He set the key down gently, then fixed Makima with a sharp look. "I can only postpone Kang Woo's execution. You have five days to bring him under your division's command. If you succeed, that task will be nullified."
Makima inclined her head stiffly, though inside her chest twisted with guilt. She'd just betrayed Kang Woo's trust—the man who'd entrusted this very key to her.
"…Understood," she murmured. "I'll take my leave."
Without another word, Makima turned on her heel and walked out, her footsteps echoing in the tense silence of the chamber. Outside, the Tokyo streets bustled with early-morning crowds, but Makima barely saw them as she stepped into the cool air.
Back in the conference room, Kentaro remained seated, fingers drumming the tabletop.
He turned to his left, where Tadashi, an elderly man with deep lines on his face and the steely calm of a veteran politician, sat observing.
Kentaro slid a small slip of paper toward Tadashi. He scribbled quickly: Tadashi—this is a very high risk. What if Makima retaliates before she discovers our trap to leave her to die in the Aokigahara Forest?
Tadashi took the paper, his expression unreadable. He read it, then took out his own pen and scribbled a reply beneath Kentaro's words: You have nothing to fear, Kentaro. Makima without her contract is nothing more than a normal Control Devil. Besides, we managed to bluff her into revealing her secrets. We never expected her to hand over the Sevastopol Key itself.
Tadashi slid the note back across the table, his eyes cool and calculating. Kentaro read it, lips pressed into a thin line, his mind already turning to the dangerous days ahead.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
At the edge of Aokigahara Forest, barely five meters before the dark entrance beneath a canopy of tangled trees, a group of Devil Hunters stood gathered. Some wore the familiar badges of Tokyo Special Division 4, their faces drawn tight with tension as they checked weapons and radios.
Denji glanced around at the serious faces, then raised a hand as if in class. "So… what the hell are we doing here? And why's everybody acting like they've already shit their pants?"
Arai wiped sweat from his brow, trying to look braver than he felt. "There's been sightings of a Primal Devil in this forest. You should be scared, man—it's like… top of the food chain stuff."
Himeno exhaled a stream of smoke, her lighter flicking shut. She gave a wry, crooked grin. "… if I die today, at least I won't have to pay off my debts."
Aki shot her a sidelong glare. "Himeno-senpai… those debts are mostly your own fault. . Sometimes kang woo's just… crazy."
Before Himeno could retort, the sound of tires crunching gravel drew everyone's eyes to the road. A sleek black sedan rolled to a stop. The door opened, and Kishibe stepped out, the wind ruffling his grizzled hair as he slammed the door shut. He surveyed the group with sharp eyes, scarred features as hard as stone.
"Any sightings of the Aging Devil yet?" Kishibe asked without preamble, voice gruff. "Because if this thing really is a Primal Devil, the catastrophe could be on the level of the Gun Devil incident—or worse."
Before anyone could answer, Power suddenly puffed up her chest beside Denji and declared, "I beat it. That's right! I managed to beat it! You all should praise me!"
Everyone just stared at her in dead silence, faces blank.
Kishibe's eyes shifted slowly toward Aki. "Are these the two troublemakers you keep telling me about?"
Aki rubbed his temple and let out a tired sigh. "Yes. Denji and Power. Both of them are nothing but trouble. Denji's a hybrid, and Power's a blood fiend. But… Makima-san says they're useful. If they don't obey orders or start causing problems, I've been authorized to execute them on the spot."
Denji snapped his head around, eyes wide. "Hey! We can hear you, you know!"
Power crossed her arms, scoffing. "Humans. Full of rules and no sense of order!"
Aki shot them both a flat look, his patience clearly running thin. "Hey. You two. Where are the honorifics?"
Denji pouted, crossing his arms. "I didn't get paid after fighting the Bat Devil."
Power tossed her hair. "Humans are fools and not worthy of such pleasantries!"
Aki exhaled sharply, digging into his pocket like a tired babysitter. He pulled out a handful of candies and bubblegum and dangled them in front of the two idiots .
Instantly, Denji's eyes lit up. "Hayakawa-senpai!" he chirped obediently, grabbing the sweets.
Power sniffed haughtily but finally muttered, "Yes, Senpai," as she snatched a piece of bubblegum for herself.
Suddenly, another black sedan rolled up to the roadside. The door swung open, and Makima stepped out gracefully, her long coat catching the breeze.
"Anyone have reports on the current situation?" makima asked, cool and professional.
Aki quickly stepped forward. "I do, Makima-san. There's been no confirmed sighting of the Aging Devil yet. But many suspect it's hiding inside Aokigahara Forest."
Makima's eyes flicked toward the dark line of trees. The same place… she thought. Where I felt that shockwave days ago. Like a meteor impact.
Kishibe crossed his arms, a sly smirk creeping over his face. "Shouldn't you be with Kang Woo right now? I heard you suddenly got dragged into the sky with him. Having a lovestruck incident, were you?"
Makima opened her mouth—then, without thinking, shot back: "And you're still a drunkard, Kishibe. I guess Quanxi really is going to leave you forever."
A dead silence fell over the group.
Arai leaned over to Aki and whispered, eyes wide, "Did… did Makima-san just joke?"
Aki, looking utterly exhausted, muttered back, "Ever since Kang Woo showed up… it's like everyone's becoming a little bit stupid. Even Makima-san."
Power just stood there, jaw dropping open, staring like a fish. Did… Makima just joke?
Even Denji was stunned into silence, mouth half open mid-chew of gum.
Makima blinked, realizing what she'd just said. Her face twitched. "Damn you, Kang Woo! . You and your alien infection… it's starting to infect me! I'm going to turn into a… a tsundere!"
Kishibe barked a laugh. "Ooh, a tsundere, huh? The stoic Makima… leader of Public Safety… becoming more human?"
Makima glared murderously. "Shut up, Kishibe. Focus on the mission."