The woman's smile was as gentle as ever.
Especially paired with those golden irises—mysterious and splendid—one couldn't help wanting to sink into them at a glance.
Su Tang blinked and averted his eyes.
His fiery chi was being borrowed by the Holy Lord to cast spells right now, so he had to be extra careful.
"Yeah, long time no see," Su Tang sighed, walked over to the desk at the side, pulled out a chair and sat, then smiled. "Miss Makima has become even more beautiful."
"If all the rookies in Division 4 could keep an optimism like yours, perhaps I wouldn't have to worry so much."
Makima sat down as well, reached out to pour Su Tang a cup of tea, and asked, "What would you like to drink?"
Looking at the teacup pushed over by those slender hands, Su Tang laughed inwardly.
Same familiar recipe, same familiar taste.
Well, though he didn't know how long he'd been inside the Eternity Devil's body, from the outside it was no more than a second.
He lifted the cup, blew on it lightly, took a small sip, and said, "I wouldn't put it like that. I think this batch of rookies is pretty good. Each has shortcomings, but each also has strengths. Arai's strength needs work, but he's full of drive. Kobeni is timid by nature yet highly capable. With a little training, given time, they'll surely be able to hold up the sky."
"Su Tang-kun rates them highly." Tilting her head, Makima smiled softly at him. "But I only hope they can return safe from every mission."
"Speaking of that," Su Tang set down the cup and smiled, "I didn't let you down. I kept the promise I made this morning and brought all five of them back whole."
"Su Tang-kun's strength is certainly trustworthy." Makima nodded. "Arai's report said the operation was completed pretty much by you alone, so in terms of the bonus I'll do my best to apply for the highest tier for you."
"Thanks." Su Tang didn't stand on ceremony—Division 4 had a big budget—so he accepted it outright.
Still, from the time he came out of the Eternity Devil's body, to giving Kobeni a gastric lavage, to coming to see Makima in the office, it had been only a little over an hour, yet Arai had already filed his report. Public Safety's efficiency was something else.
Had he known, he wouldn't have needed to come.
Oh—no, there was one more matter.
"Miss Makima, do you know if there's some secret about Denko's body?" Su Tang looked at the woman's profile. "The Eternity Devil would rather form a contract to let the five of us go than give up Denko's heart."
"This is my first time seeing something like that." A thoughtful look crossed Makima's face. "But I have a few guesses. For specifics, I'll have to take a trip to Kyoto next week to consult some materials before I can answer you."
While she spoke, Su Tang watched her micro-expressions.
Nothing unusual—not like she was faking.
Could it be she really didn't know?
Su Tang couldn't quite get a read on her. Facing this woman always gave him the feeling of searching for a needle in the sea.
"By the way, I heard from Arai that you took Kobeni away?"
Makima asked.
Su Tang nodded and explained, "Kobeni accidentally swallowed fragments that fell off the metal shield. She needed an immediate gastric lavage to remove them. It was a simple minor procedure; I already did it for her at my hospital. She should be resting now."
"Mm." Makima acknowledged without probing further. Instead, she took an envelope from a drawer and handed it to Su Tang. "Speaking of the hospital, I want to arrange psychological screenings for the Division 4 rookies over the next two days. The dossiers and forms are inside. I'll trouble you with it these days."
"No trouble—it's part of my job." Smiling, Su Tang accepted the envelope. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back and prepare what's needed."
"All right." Makima nodded, then added, "Also, if you're free this week, I'd like to host a welcome party so everyone in Division 4 can meet and get to know each other."
"A welcome party?"
Su Tang repeated the words, not taking it too seriously—assuming it was a Public Safety tradition—then nodded. "Sure. I should be free anytime."
"Mm. Once I finalize the time and place, I'll let you know in advance."
With that, after saying goodbye to Makima, Su Tang turned and left with the envelope.
Only when the sound of his footsteps faded in the corridor did Makima stand and walk to a cabinet at the side.
Inside sat an object—the golden shield Su Tang had smashed with a single punch inside the Eternity Devil.
She gazed at the dent in the center of the shield. One could still faintly make out its former shape.
As if recalling something, Makima murmured:
"An octagon…"
By the time Su Tang returned to the hospital, Power and Denko had come back as well.
As expected, the two were once again brawling—apparently over a dispute about pectoral muscles and terms.
"Despicable human! You betrayed the great me, you—mmph!"
Power denounced Denko with great indignation, then got sat on—face and all—by Denko, pinned under her and unable to move.
"Eh? Mr. Su Tang, you're back!"
Seeing the figure at the door, Denko called out in delight.
Then, with a bit of hesitation, she wiggled her hips—paying no mind to Power's frantic slaps against her body underneath—and stammered, "Um… even though I didn't get that stone talisman in the end, I still made some contribution. Mr. Su Tang, would you, uh, let me touch half of—"
"No."
Veins popped on Su Tang's forehead. Ever since Denko had gotten to cop a feel last time, she'd grown bolder and bolder. He'd even discovered a few missing articles of clothing lately—then found them in Denko's room.
Fortunately, there was nothing weird on them. Denko's explanation was that seeing how tired he was, she wanted to help by doing what she could.
Hah. As someone who'd been through adolescence, Su Tang saw through that flimsy excuse at a glance.
He didn't press it, just took the clothes back and lectured her a bit.
Once the kid got a little older, she'd naturally move past this phase.
"Oh… okay…"
Flatly rejected, Denko lowered her head in dejection—and pressed her butt down a little further.
"Mm-mm! Mmph!"
Power bellowed unintelligibly.
"You… forget it." Su Tang shook his head, softening. "From now on, my clothes are your responsibility to wash. Note: only wash them—no doing anything weird! Otherwise I'll take back this privilege!"
"I promise I won't do anything weird!"
Denko's drooping head snapped up at once, stars lighting her eyes. "Yay!"
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