"Something to drink?"
Makima poured him tea and sat in her chair.
Su Tang looked at the steaming cup and twitched a corner of his mouth.
Nice—pour the tea, then ask what he wants.
Mandatory choice?
He didn't sweat the small stuff.
His gaze drifted over her desk.
Last time… it was this desk.
He'd somehow been forced under it—thankfully Power and Denji-ko hadn't the brainpower, or you'd have gotten a doujin scenario.
"Mr. Su Tang…?"
Makima's voice tugged him back.
"Sorry," he smiled. "Bit much happened today. Zoned out for a second."
"I understand. You dispatched two devils this morning and protected hundreds of civilians."
She smiled and handed him a form. "Regarding your hunter application, I've approved and stamped it. You are now a formally registered civilian devil hunter."
"Thank you."
He accepted it, sincerely.
He'd heard the process. It was a pain: verify contracted devil, mental state, still human or not… normally three to five business days.
Not red tape—there had been cases of devil-coerced entrants joining and slaughtering everyone.
His was under half a day, and not even self-filed. No question Makima had smoothed it.
He owed her.
"As for the bounties, given timing, risk, and other factors, a preliminary figure of one million yen. Will that do?"
"It will." He nodded.
A fair price. Neither devil had been strong.
If the Fox Devil could swallow it, it was around that watershed—below elite-class.
Yes—the giant fox head Aki had summoned after the fight was part of the Fox Devil.
Not all devils were hostile to humans; some contracted with Public Safety.
The Fox Devil was famous—almost Public Safety's signature partner.
It took the form of a giant fox, usually demanding a body part in trade, and allowed the contractor to summon parts of its body by making a gesture and calling the onomatopoeic "knock."
Summon a paw to strike a devil; summon the head to gulp down a standard-size devil in one bite.
Few could summon the head—it was a face-judge.
Only handsome men qualified.
Tsk. Even devils agree Aki is handsome.
He studied the form—and heard Makima again.
"Su Tang-kun's clinic was destroyed. Any thoughts about your next work?"
"Not yet. Do you have a recommendation?"
He knew she had a plan if she asked.
"Yes. Have you considered making your debut?"
Her golden irises ringed with mysterious patterns watched him.
Remembering the Holy Lord's warning, he looked away to avoid eye contact.
"Debut?" He was puzzled. "Perhaps you don't know—I studied medicine, not media—"
She noticed him dodge and smiled faintly.
She said, "Have you considered—devils grow stronger with human fear. Wherever devils appear, they grow more destructive from nearby fear. But what if nearby folk were less afraid?"
"Oh?" He grew interested.
"If people had someone to believe in, to rely on—when devils strike, their first thought wouldn't be terror, but the coming of what they believe in."
She took her time, giving him space to think. Then:
"Therefore—this world needs a hero."
He roughly understood.
She had a way of opening his eyes.
"But if it's building a hero, why not pick from Public Safety?"
"I'm starting to believe you didn't graduate in media." She smiled. "Tokyo doesn't want a Public Safety hero. They want someone closer to them—a hero from ordinary people. A guard, a teacher, a doctor…"
Why would that be?
He didn't fully get it. But across professions, he trusted pros.
"So you're asking me to…?"
"I'd like you to be that hero."
He frowned.
Seeing it, she continued: "You're not Public Safety, but this morning drew great heat. The rescued praised you in interviews."
"The base in the people exists; the heat exists. Our follow-ups will be easier. What you need to do is simpler—just keep practicing medicine."
"Keep practicing medicine?"
"Mm. On behalf of Division 4, I'll fund a new psychiatric clinic for you, structured as a partnership—call it a Division 4 Designated Cooperative Medical Unit. Division 4 personnel with mental or psychological issues will come to you first."
This…
He was tempted.
Both clinic and partnership fit his expectations.
But…
He pondered, then asked, "And my private life? I don't want it disturbed."
"Rest assured—only Division 4 will know your true identity. Publicly, you can act in the new form you used this morning. I doubt anyone will connect that look with you now."
This woman.
He lowered his lids, looking down at the form.
Everything—planned to the hilt.
And each piece precisely what he needed.
Total control, flawless calculation… was this really human?
What devil had she contracted?
"How about it, have you decided?"
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