Kang Woo's eyes glinted as he scanned the text, a slow grin forming on his lips. Well… that's handy.
Makima noticed immediately, narrowing her eyes at him. "Why are you smiling like that?" "Are you trying to break your promise already?"
Kang Woo reached over and lightly patted her head. "Why so suspicious? Am I really that sus?" he teased, his grin widening.
Makima huffed and gave him a flat look. "If 'sus' means suspicious… then yes. You are very, very suspicious."
Moments later, they arrived at The Roppongi Hills Residence. Kang Woo let Makima take the lead, following as she strode up to the front desk with her usual confident grace.
Makima placed her hands on the polished counter, voice calm and authoritative. "I'd like to book a room at the Private Rooftop Garden."
The receptionist—a polite young woman in a crisp uniform—gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am, but we're completely full tonight. However, there is a room available, though the view is somewhat blocked by another building. Would that be acceptable?"
Makima's eyes narrowed slightly. She reached for her phone, ready to make a few calls to fix this minor inconvenience… but when she patted her coat pocket, her expression froze.
Then she checked her other pocket. And another. And another.
She reached for her wallet next—and her face fell even further when she realized that too was gone. A cold realization washed over her. Oh no…
Images flashed in her mind: latching onto Kang Woo… being dragged into the sky… soaring at insane speeds… Kang Woo flying like a black comet.
My wallet… my phone… Makima thought, a horrified expression creeping over her face. They must have fallen off somewhere. Or worse… ended up at the bottom of the ocean.
Suddenly, a man in a tailored suit stepped up behind Makima, clearing his throat impatiently as he waited his turn at the front desk. Kang Woo lingered a few steps behind her, hands tucked into his coat pockets.
The receptionist's polite smile hardened into a professional mask as she addressed Makima again.
"Ma'am, if you're still looking for your belongings, I kindly suggest you step aside. There are other guests waiting in line."
Makima's jaw tensed. She drew a small breath, regaining a shred of composure. "The Public Safety Bureau will handle the bills,"You can fill out my na—"
But the receptionist cut her off with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but although you look like Makima, you can't possibly be her. The real Makima always arrives with an escort of government security. Besides…" She gave Makima a vaguely pitying look. "From the rumors I've heard, most Public Safety Hunters are… well… not exactly wealthy. If you're a poser—or just a new recruit—I suggest you step aside."
Makima stood there, momentarily speechless, a tremor passing through her jaw. Great. Kang Woo's going to enjoy this. He'll tease me for months…
But when she glanced at Kang Woo, she realized her prediction was completely off.
Instead of looking amused, Kang Woo's expression was twisted with visible annoyance.
He pulled out his sleek black mobile phone and began typing rapidly, his eyes narrowed in focus as glowing runic symbols flickered briefly across the screen—symbols only he could see.
The receptionist, emboldened, opened her mouth again, irritation creeping into her tone.
"Ma'am, can you please get out of—"
BOOM. The entire front desk jolted as something slammed into the marble counter in front of the receptionist. A massive heap of solid gold bars—neatly stacked—glittered under the lobby lights, easily weighing kilograms. Scattered among the gold were clusters of large diamonds and gleaming rubies, sparkling like captured starlight.
Gasps rippled through the lobby. Even the suited guest behind them took a cautious step back, eyes wide.
The receptionist went pale, her words dying in her throat.
Kang Woo stared her down with absolute disdain, his voice low and cutting. "I need to speak with your boss. Now."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Later, inside a private meeting room…
Makima sat beside Kang Woo, twiddling her thumbs in a way wholly unlike her usual cool demeanor. A faint flush touched her cheeks as she glanced over at him. "…Kang Woo… are you upset?"
Kang Woo leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. His eyes were half-lidded but glinting with sharp irritation.". I'm fine, But I don't like being looked down on."
Makima opened her mouth to reply, but the sliding door to the room creaked open.
In stepped an elderly man with a scruffy grey beard and mustache. He wore a crisp suit, a hat perched low over his glasses, and he moved with the slow, slightly cautious gait of a man who'd seen far too many violent days.
Flanking him were several burly guards, their expressions tense. But as the elderly man's eyes fell on Kang Woo, his entire face went pale. Oh shit…
He recognized Kang Woo instantly. It was the same terrifying man he'd encountered a few days ago—when Kang Woo had appeared like a black comet, nearly killing him on the spot while settling Quarter Denji's debt in the most violent, spectacular fashion possible. Not only that, but Kang Woo had yanked away a briefcase filled with ten million yen—and shattered the windows of the debt collector's prized car for good measure.
A hush fell over the room as the guards shifted uneasily.
Suddenly, the elderly yakuza boss—The Debt Collector himself—made a tiny choking sound… and a dark patch of yellow began spreading down the front of his neatly pressed suit pants.
"B-Boss…!" one of the guards blurted out, eyes widening in horror. "Boss… did you just piss yourself?!"
"N-No, I did NOT, you moron!" The Debt Collector barked, his voice going high and shrill. "It's just— I—I must have had too much to drink,— But I, uh, I need to go now—"
He started to turn for the door,
but Kang Woo's voice cracked like a whip across the room. "No. You do NOT."
The Debt Collector froze mid-step.
Kang Woo lifted one finger and pointed firmly at a velvet couch near the low table. "Sit. On. The. Couch. NOW."
The yakuza boss swallowed audibly, glancing helplessly at his guards—who all took an instinctive step back. Finally, with trembling knees, he shuffled over and sat down on the couch, trying (and failing) to act dignified as the faint odor of panic hung in the air.
Just then, the door slid open again, and a new figure strode in.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, muscles pressing against the seams of his dark, military-styled uniform. Short black hair, sharp eyes, and notable sideburns framed a youthful yet fierce face. Over it all hung a large leather trench coat, its edges flaring as he moved.
It was the Debt Collector's grandson—the man who, one day in the future, would become the Katana Man.
"Grandpa," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Why don't we just teach these two clowns a le—"
"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!" the Debt Collector roared, cutting him off so loudly the windows rattled.
His eyes snapped toward his grandson, blazing with terror.
"Don't look at the man in front of you. DON'T. ."
The young man stiffened, blinking in confusion.
Meanwhile, the Debt Collector turned back to Kang Woo, practically bowing from his seat.
"S-sir, we haven't harassed Denji anymore… not since you settled the debt. We agreed. No more trouble until next year!"
Kang Woo leaned forward slightly, his eyes half-lidded, voice smooth and cold.
"I'm not here for that," he said. "I'm buying this building. The entire Roppongi Hills Residence. Under my name—Oh Kang Woo. Paid in full with that fucking gold sitting on your receptionist's desk."
The Debt Collector's eyes widened. For a second, pure greed flickered across his face.
"…Deal," he blurted. "The building's yours."
"NO!" the grandson snapped, stepping forward, fists clenched. "Absolutely not! We put our blood and sweat into this place! We—"
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Listen to your stink-ass grandfather, eh, Katana Man?"
The young man's face contorted with fury. He lunged, swinging his fist straight at Kang Woo's face—
—but Kang Woo merely leaned his head a fraction to the side.
FWOOM!
A massive bolt of blue-white light tore through the air behind him—a Heilig Pfeil arrow, crackling with Quincy power. It blasted past the young man's cheek so close it singed the edge of his hair, then slammed into the wall behind him, utterly demolishing it. Concrete exploded outward. A howling rush of wind and dust filled the room as part of the building crumbled away.
Makima, eyes wide, stared through the smoking hole Kang Woo had just carved into the skyscraper. Beyond it, hovering high in the Tokyo night sky, was a colossal spiritual bow. Its glowing limbs glistened like crystal, and fifteen more blazing Heilig Pfeil arrows hovered in readiness, aimed downward like the judgment of the gods.
Kang Woo lowered his hand, still smirking. His voice was cool as ice. "Take a deep breath,"Calm down… before the next arrow fires."
The grandson stood there, chest heaving, fists trembling. His eyes darted between Kang Woo and the colossal spiritual bow glowing outside, its fifteen Heilig Pfeil arrows poised like a divine execution squad.
"You… you can't expect us to just give it to you," he spat, voice rough with frustration. "What the hell am I supposed to do? How's my grandpa supposed to earn a living now? This place—this was our earnings—our life—"
Beside him, the Debt Collector was already moving forward, a nervous, half-placating smile on his face. He extended his hand toward Kang Woo, offering to seal the deal with a handshake.
"Sir, if it's the building you want, then… let's make it official, yes? A gentleman's agreement—"
But Kang Woo didn't even glance at the offered hand. He waved it away with an impatient flick of his fingers.
"Take the gold downstairs," Kang Woo said flatly. "And get out of here."
The Debt Collector's face fell, but he gave a quick, jerky nod. He seized his grandson's arm and began dragging him toward the door, muttering curses under his breath as he went. The grandson resisted at first, glaring over his shoulder—but one last glance at the giant spiritual bow outside made him think better of it.
Within seconds, they were gone. Makima stood by Kang Woo's side, saying nothing for a moment. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, lingered on the glowing Heilig Pfeil arrows poised in the sky. She could practically feel their deadly force radiating through the broken wall.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze distant.
The same power he used to make that blue rain, she thought. Only this time… it's in an offensive formation.
Kang Woo glanced at her, a sly smirk playing at his lips."Funny, you've already seen my Heilig Pfeil arrows and my Sankt Bogen bow when we first dueled a few days ago outside the public safety branch… but this is the first time you're looking at it like you're staring at some kind of treasure."
Makima let out a short laugh, leaning in closer. she teased. "You bought this whole building for me? Because if so, I'm very willing to accept your gifts."
A short while later, the two of them were seated on the Private Rooftop Garden of the Roppongi Hills Residence. It was dark, the city lights shimmering around them like fallen stars. A cool breeze swept over the skyline. The table between them was loaded with plates: ramen, sashimi, grilled meats, rice dishes, desserts, even a few Western-style courses. Every menu item the place offered seemed to have been ordered.
Makima picked up her chopsticks, studying Kang Woo curiously. "You don't want your ramen?" she asked. "Kobeni said you love ramen. Like it's the first food you've ever eaten in your life."
Kang Woo didn't look up from his black mobile phone. His voice was casual, "I'm not in the mood to eat, Isn't this your event now? I'm just the guy who got kidnapped by you."
Makima narrowed her eyes at him. Slowly, she pushed her chair closer until it scraped against the tiles. She ignored her untouched plates, leaning in to hover right beside him, peering at the dark screen of his phone.
"What are you doing on your phone?" she asked, her tone deceptively sweet. "Don't tell me you're plotting your next escape?"