Makima clasped her hands behind her back, letting the wind lift her hem and hair.
The thin white blouse clung tight to her skin; under the eaveside streetlight one could even glimpse faint hints of flesh through it.
Dashing and alluring at once.
It was hard to imagine those two styles living in the same person, but Su Tang was used to it by now.
Facing the woman's quiet gaze, Su Tang chuckled. "Is Miss Makima waiting here specifically for me?"
"Mhm." Makima nodded. "About what just happened… thank you."
"What just happened?" Su Tang was puzzled for a second, then realized she meant the hug. He smiled. "It was just a game. No need to dwell on it, Miss Makima. And there's no need to wait here just to tell me."
He thought she was standing here to say exactly that—but apparently not.
Makima slowly shook her head and walked toward him.
One step, two.
The distance between them shrank—from over a meter, to half a meter, to barely more than ten centimeters.
When Su Tang could almost feel the slight rhythm of her breath against his face, Makima stopped, slid a hand into her pocket.
"Please close your eyes for a moment, Su Tang-kun. I have a gift for you."
Makima smiled softly as she spoke.
Su Tang blinked.
At this range he could see her faintly trembling lashes, those calm and mysterious pupils, that skin so delicate it seemed it would yield to a touch—yet he couldn't read what her expression meant.
Which was normal.
Makima was, by nature, someone one could not read.
The longer he knew her, the clearer one truth became to him—when you think you've figured this woman out, it's often only because she allowed you to.
He smiled, gathered up the thoughts that bubbled up, and, meeting her gaze, slowly lowered his lids.
"I suddenly find myself curious what kind of surprise Miss Makima will give me."
No sooner had he joked than he felt something placed in his hand. He squeezed lightly—it was semi-soft, not hard.
"You can open your eyes."
Makima's voice sounded in front of him.
That was it?
A bit puzzled, Su Tang looked down at his left hand—there lay something wrapped in oiled paper… chocolate?
Emmm.
He looked twice more, and when he was sure he wasn't mistaken, he lifted his head and smiled at Makima. "Thank you, Miss Makima. I'll take this chocolate home and share it with Denko and Power tomorrow. They'll probably both love this new—"
"Su Tang-kun can flip it over."
Makima tilted her head slightly and cut in.
Interrupted, Su Tang arched a brow.
He had thought the surprise was simply that—maybe the chocolate was some fancy brand. It seemed there was more to it.
He took the piece in his right hand, turned it over, and looked down.
Hmm… nothing special.
Just a chubby little pig stamped on it.
Hm? Wait!
That little pig stamp!
Su Tang's pupils shrank sharply.
Only now did he pay attention to the chocolate's shape. One, two, three, four, five… eight edges in all!
Octagonal! Chocolate! Pig stamp!
All the elements were there!
Wasn't this the very product engraved by the Pig Talisman in the original Jackie Chan Adventures animation?
He hadn't expected to encounter it now, here, in this way.
Only…
Su Tang frowned, just about to speak, when Makima's voice came.
"Su Tang-kun is so engrossed—seems you're quite satisfied with my gift?"
Though a question grammatically, her tone was declarative.
She had clearly settled the matter in her mind.
Su Tang looked up.
He looked at Makima—the woman still smiling in the night wind, eyes bright, as if they could speak, quietly watching him.
"It's surprise enough that Miss Makima would give me a gift at all." Su Tang smiled. "Even if it's just a piece of chocolate, I'll keep it carefully."
Makima cocked her head, propped her chin lightly with a hand, and watched him in silence.
Su Tang watched her in silence too.
He was keeping his eyes constantly rinsed with fiery qi, which made his pupils glow a faint gold similar to Makima's.
Faint, but eye-catching in the dark.
After about ten seconds—or fifteen—
Makima spoke.
"Su Tang-kun doesn't recognize it?"
"I don't know much about chocolate brands. I've only heard of Dove—but Miss Makima probably hasn't." Su Tang toyed with the piggy chocolate. "Is this dark? Or white? You must know the brand, Miss Makima?"
"Perhaps."
Makima gave a noncommittal answer.
After two seconds' silence, she added, "I'm going on a business trip to Kyoto next Monday. Could you come with me to visit this chocolate factory over the weekend?"
"Mm…" Su Tang propped his chin with a hand, pondered, then shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I promised Denko I'd teach her math this weekend. She's diligent—always pestering me to study—so I probably won't have time."
"The chocolates this factory makes are sweet and soft, perfectly roasted, and the little pig engraving on top is very popular with kids. Are you sure you don't want to come, Su Tang-kun? You could bring some back for Denko."
Faced with her second invitation, Su Tang showed a regretful look and apologized. "I appreciate how thoughtful you're being, Miss Makima, but this week is really bad timing. Next time—when I'm free—I'll definitely go."
Makima fell silent again.
That uncomfortable feeling rose in Su Tang's head once more.
He sighed inwardly, shook his head, and had just rinsed his mind with fiery qi when he heard Makima's flat, forceful voice.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the second time you've turned me down."
"I didn't expect Miss Makima, busy as you are, to remember such a small thing." As if not seeing the depth in her gaze, Su Tang smiled lightly. "If you count when I refused to debut as a hero, yes—this makes twice."
"Very well… I understand."
Makima nodded and turned away.
Her black coat flapped loud in the air, along with a voice that receded with her steps.
"It's getting late. Head back early, Su Tang-kun—don't keep Denko waiting."
Su Tang kept his faint smile, watching her leave.
Until that flame-orange hair disappeared into the dark.
—
The weekend was a full one for Denko.
By her count, she burned through five oral arithmetic workbooks and was already touching on negative numbers.
Worth celebrating—maybe in another half month she'd crack the "chickens and rabbits in the same cage" problem.
At the stove making breakfast, Su Tang listened to Denko and Power bickering outside and thought as much.
Then his eyes drifted to the chocolate sitting atop the cupboard.
His smile slowly faded.
Just as he'd told Makima, he spent the weekend at home with Denko and Power and didn't go out.
Naturally, he didn't go to that chocolate factory either.
First, he couldn't read Makima's meaning—did she know about the talismans or was she only guessing? He couldn't leave a trail now.
Second—and most important—
The talisman tracker hadn't lit red.
What did that mean? It meant the Pig Talisman hadn't reached its birth time yet.
If the Righteous Qi wouldn't allow it, then even if the talisman was lying right next to him, he probably couldn't take it. Accidents would surely happen in the snatching.
Of course, that assumed neither the black qi nor the Holy Lord interfered.
If they did disrupt the Righteous Qi, Su Tang believed he might manage to get it.
But so what?
Getting a talisman only pushed the Holy Lord's resurrection one step further; the benefit to Su Tang was minuscule. This wasn't the Dog or Horse talisman—just eye beams.
Once the Holy Lord gathered all twelve, their contract ended at his revival—Su Tang had no idea what future he'd face then.
Look at Valmont in the cartoon—a cautionary tale.
So Su Tang would drag things out whenever he could. Unless a dragon head's pupil lit up and the contract compelled him to seize a talisman, he wouldn't act on his own.
And the Holy Lord showed no sign of waking.
Maybe the last spell had hurt him too badly—nearly a week had passed and the Holy Lord hadn't opened his eyes.
Which was fine—life was freer that way.
Turning off the flame, he carried out fried eggs and noodles and called, as usual,
"Breakfast."
The two, tangled together on the sofa, sprang up and ran over, not even bothering with slippers.
Tapping her chopsticks, Power stared at the eggs in Su Tang's hand and shouted, "Quick, quick, quick—I've had two days of vegetables and my mouth's gone bland enough to grow a bird!"
"Lousy woman, maybe the eggs are mine and the noodles are yours. Yesterday Su Tang said he'd feed my brain!" Denko taunted, smug.
"Quit it, you two." Seeing where this was heading, Su Tang tamped down the sparks.
"Slurp…"
Inhaling a whole noodle, Denko bit into the egg and sighed. "It's Monday again—time to patrol."
"Which street?" Su Tang asked.
"Street 23—kinda remote." Denko thought and shook her head.
"Perfect, I have business there too. Let's head out together."
"Eh! You too, Mr. Su Tang!" Denko was excited.
"Mhm—meeting someone there," Su Tang nodded.
"Right, Aki and Himeno-senpai are on that street too," Denko added. "I think Miss Makima arranged it in the patrol schedule. Street 23 is big—two people can't cover it."
"Makima? Didn't she go to Kyoto?"
"She did, I think," Denko scratched her head. "The schedule was sent to our phones last night."
Su Tang nodded.
He swallowed the last bite and stood. "Time's about up. Let's go."
—
An hour later.
Su Tang walked into a large warehouse—and immediately saw the woman with blonde hair and red serpent eyes.
Akane Sawatari.
Indeed, the person he was here to see on Street 23 was the devil hunter Valmont had hired at a high price, effectively the Black Hand's operational lead in Tokyo.
"You said on the phone you wanted my help?"
Su Tang asked.
"Yes," Sawatari nodded. "I've made some preparations and plan to hunt a devil to make our first name for the Black Hand."
"Preparations?"
Su Tang arched a brow, looking as two people stepped out of the shadows.
A black-haired middle-aged man in a dark coat, weathered face. And a short white-haired figure wearing thick glasses.
"These two are the help I found."
Sawatari introduced them.
Well then.
Seeing the two come stand behind her, Su Tang had to admit—money had indeed bought commitment.
Valmont had found a gem.
With a wry smile, Su Tang said, "All right—what do you want from me?"
"You work for Public Safety, right? We want to trail you. If there's a relatively weak devil, give us leave to take it down. Of course, all trophies go to Public Safety."
"Mm… not impossible." Su Tang recalled Street 23 was large—Aki's four would struggle to cover it alone. A few more hands would help.
So he nodded. "Fine. Stay behind me. I'll inform Aki."
…
Meanwhile—
On the No. 3 rail line from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Makima sat quietly with a Public Safety staffer.
Scenery outside the window rushed by; chatter filled the car.
Makima rested her head on the seatback, shifting for comfort.
Her hand slid into her collar and drew out a pendant—she held it in sunlight and gazed at it.
The staffer beside her glanced and recognized an octagonal stone. One side was engraved with a figure.
Lifelike—it seemed to be…
A dog?
Looked very cu—
"Bang—!"
The smile that had just blossomed froze at his lips.
Blood and a bullet—together with that gunshot—fixed his life in that moment forever.
Voices in the car vanished in an instant.
People stared, trembling, at the two who had appeared—and at the two guns.
One pointed at the staffer; one at Makima.
White smoke curled from both muzzles.
One man looked at Makima's lowered head, took out a radio, and said:
"Unit C reporting: target deceased."
…
"Unit C reporting: target deceased."
"Eh? What was that?" Denko looked around curiously. The sound seemed to come from the woman Mr. Su Tang had brought?
What was her name… Akane Sawatari, right.
"You even recruited—"
Su Tang heard it too. He frowned, turned to speak—
And didn't.
Because he saw a black hole.
A flash of fire.
And then the crack of thunder.
"Bang—!!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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