On the morning of the next day, the life of Hirashi Kenji as Public Safety's most important asset began. After being escorted from the special confinement room and completing his supervised visit with his controlled family, he was brought back to the Public Safety Department's Secret Training Facility, located in a remote, restricted area.
This training facility was a massive building disguised from the outside. Inside, it was filled with hallways with heavy, dull metallic walls, high ceilings, and concrete floors marked with battle scars. There were no windows, no natural light, and no warmth. It was specifically designed to handle battles involving supernatural power and the most dangerous experiments—an ideal location for forging the perfect weapon.
As soon as he entered through the door, Kishibe appeared. He was an old man with a face full of wrinkles, a beard, and empty eyes that seemed to have seen too much of the world. He was the "Strongest Devil Hunter" in the Public Safety Department. Kishibe wore a bulletproof vest over his uniform and looked extremely displeased to have this job.
The Training Begins
Kishibe: "Kid, I hate training brats like you. This is your first session. I'll only use a kitchen knife. Tell me when you're ready."
Kishibe immediately walked to a corner of the room and sat down. Once seated, he opened his long black coat, pulled out a bottle of alcohol, and took a sip.
Kenji: (Frowning in confusion) "Huh? When are we going to start training, sir?"
Kenji, confused, walked to the opposite corner and sat down, waiting for Kishibe to finish his drink. Just as he turned his back to sit on the floor, Kishibe suddenly threw the kitchen knife in his hand swiftly. His head was still tilted back, drinking from the bottle. The knife shot straight towards Kenji's head at high speed.
Kenji: (His face showing panic) "Woah!"
The kitchen knife struck Kenji directly in the center of his forehead with precise accuracy. The force of the impact sent his body reeling backward to the floor, instantly still.
Kishibe: (Slowly putting the bottle down and standing up) "Pathetic... Still slower than I thought."
Kishibe slowly walked toward him and quickly brought his hand forward, slapping Kenji's face once more while he was still on the floor.
Kishibe:"Prey shouldn't trust what a hunter says." Lesson one is over... We'll start again tomorrow.
Kishibe looked down at Kenji, who was lying in his own blood, with blank eyes, before turning back to pick up the bottle of alcohol he had been sipping.
Kishibe: (Taking a large gulp of liquor, then speaking detachedly without looking back) "Remember, kid... The sane Devil Hunters die faster than the insane ones."
Makima's Intervention
Suddenly, the sharp sound of high heels clicking on the metal floor rang out rhythmically. Makima stepped into the vast hall with a calm and flawless demeanor. She wore her neat uniform and bore a slight, subtle smile that utterly mismatched the violence before her.
She stood next to Kishibe, not looking at him, but her eyes were fixed on Kenji's slowly recovering body.
Makima: (Her voice smooth but authoritative) "Kishibe-san, the training is complete. Perfectly."
Then, a controlled Healing Devil, which resembled a pale-faced human with glowing hands, followed Makima.
Makima:"Heal him."
The Devil knelt beside Kenji. It placed its glowing hands on the wound on Kenji's forehead, and a faint green light shone. Kenji's regeneration instantly accelerated. The wound sealed shut, and the bruises on his face vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only traces of dried blood.
Kishibe watched the scene out of the corner of his eye. He showed no emotion, simply raising his bottle for another sip.
Makima: (Turning to Kishibe) "We must keep our asset in the most perfect condition. Especially... the perfect weapon. For tomorrow, please double the intensity."
Kenji, now fully recovered, stood amidst his own spilled blood, with Makima and Kishibe standing over him, effectively serving as the absolute arbiters of his fate.