Half an hour later, only a few dishes remained on the table. The rest of the space was buried under empty beer glasses, easily over a hundred of them.
Hayakawa Aki and Himeno were flushed bright red, slumped over the table, completely out cold. A thin line of drool ran down from the corners of their mouths. Neither of them could hold their liquor. They had been drunk under the table by Makima.
"By the way, does Pochita want some alcohol?" Cael asked, glancing at the little orange devil in his arms as it gnawed on toast.
"Woof." Pochita shook his head.
"Excuse me, another draft beer. And please clear the empty glasses."
Makima ordered calmly, her expression unchanged, as if she had not just crushed everyone in a drinking contest. There was no sign of intoxication.
Dinner was winding down. Aside from Power and Pochita, almost no one was eating anymore. Most of them were focused on drinking.
Yasuda Yuzuki rested her chin in her hand and observed the group with interest. She enjoyed meeting new people and was skilled at navigating social situations. In any new environment, she could close the distance with strangers naturally.
However, this was her first time meeting Makima. For reasons she could not quite explain, she did not dare to initiate a conversation with her.
As expected of a Devil Hunter who answers directly to the Prime Minister, she thought.
Instead, Yasuda turned to Power, who was still stuffing her face.
"Power, you're impressive. It's rare to see a Fiend who shows so little hostility toward humans."
Power burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! That's because my IQ is insanely high!" She tapped her head with her chopsticks. "Only low IQ Fiends attack humans on sight like animals."
"Oh? So a Fiend's urge to hurt people is related to IQ?" Yasuda folded her hands together. "Then what is your IQ, Power?"
"Hmm..." Power frowned. "Probably 100."
"What a coincidence. Mine is around 100 too. That does not seem very high."
"Is that so?" Power pinched her chin thoughtfully. "Then I remembered wrong. Mine is 120."
Yasuda glanced at Mr. Fu, who had been spacing out. "I recall Mr. Fu's was quite high, right?"
"Oh." Mr. Fu snapped out of his daze. "Mine is 134."
Yasuda covered her mouth and laughed. "Did you memorize that number on purpose?"
"Huh?"
Power looked offended. How was someone else higher than her?
She forced a polite smile. "I remembered wrong again. My IQ should be 500. Or maybe 1000."
"That is impossible." Yasuda chuckled and turned to Cael, who had been sitting idly. "What about you, Cael? What's your IQ?"
"Probably average. Normal intelligence. I can take care of myself, that is good enough," Cael replied lazily.
"Then Miss Makima must have the highest IQ here," Mr. Fu speculated.
Yasuda seized the chance and looked at Makima. "Miss Makima is so busy every day. You seem like the genius type. Do you know your IQ?"
Makima set down her glass, looking mildly troubled. "IQ? I have never tested it."
"Perfect timing then," Cael said, pulling out his phone. "I found an online test based on the WAIS. It looks decent."
"Oh dear, is it alright to test after drinking?" Makima asked softly.
"You look sober as hell," Cael replied.
"Very well. I will try."
Makima took the phone and began answering seriously. She finished in twenty minutes and placed the phone flat on the table. Everyone leaned closer.
"152," Yasuda said with admiration. "That is genius level."
At that moment, Mr. Fu raised his own phone. "While Miss Makima was testing, I took it too."
His result was 128.
"It seems alcohol really does affect the brain," he said with a self deprecating laugh.
"My turn." Power rubbed her hands eagerly and reached for Cael's phone.
The phone slid neatly back into Cael's palm, leaving her grabbing air.
Cael held it firmly and spoke in a solemn tone. "This test is not suitable for you, Power. Your IQ is too high. It exceeds the test limits, so the result would be inaccurate."
"I see." Power nodded seriously. "Since Makima is 152, it is only logical that I am ten times smarter. That makes me 1520."
"Exactly," Cael said without missing a beat.
Makima smiled faintly as she unwrapped a lollipop and placed it in her mouth.
"Everyone, this may dampen the mood, but I have orders from above. Since the main members of Special Division 4 are here, I will relay the message."
The atmosphere instantly tightened.
Cael remained relaxed. No matter how serious it was, it would not fall on a temporary worker like him.
"But Himeno and Hayakawa Aki are completely drunk. Is it alright if they miss this?" Yasuda asked.
"Drunk? I am not... zzz..." Himeno suddenly shot upright as if triggered, then collapsed back into sleep.
"It is fine. I will inform them later."
Makima looked around calmly. "We have obtained new information about the hidden Gun Devil."
The moment she said those words, it felt as if time stopped.
Hearts skipped. Faces stiffened.
Kobeni's teeth chattered, her legs trembling violently. "The Gun Devil?"
Hayakawa Aki's eyes snapped open. She forced herself upright through the haze of alcohol.
"Yes." Makima nodded. "We collected enough Gun Devil pieces during the operation at the hotel. The fragments have begun moving toward the main body."
"Therefore, the selection process for the Gun Devil expedition has begun."
"I... do I have to go?" Kobeni's joy over the free meal vanished. The urge to resign surged within her.
Makima looked at her gently. "Not everyone qualifies. Only Devil Hunters whose strength has been recognized may participate."
"Miss Makima, so that means I can choose not to go, right?" Kobeni asked weakly.
Makima sighed softly. "If you are concerned, you do not have to go. Although your performance against the Snake Devil was impressive."
Bang.
Hayakawa Aki slammed her hand on the table. "I joined Public Safety for this day. I will go."
"Then you must work harder," Makima replied. "Your current achievements are not enough."
She then looked at Cael. "What about you?"
"Not going," Cael said immediately.
The answer caused a brief silence.
If Cael joined the expedition and died in the battle against the Gun Devil, Pochita would have nowhere else to go.
What a shame.
___
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