"You, you!" Hayakawa Aki was so agitated that he almost reached out to grab Fang Mo's collar. "What on earth did you do to Himeno-senpai!?"
"Look how anxious you've become." Fang Mo watched Hayakawa Aki with malicious amusement. "What, do you like her?"
"I do not!" Hayakawa Aki immediately denied without hesitation. "I merely respect Himeno-senpai..."
"Then if you don't like her, why should it matter to you what I do to her?" Fang Mo bluntly said. "It was her own choice to give everything to me. How I treat her is my business. If I'm pleased, I'll let her out for some air. If not, she can be my outlet for releasing stress. What's it to you?"
"You..." Hayakawa Aki visibly became more agitated upon hearing this.
"Poor thing, really." Fang Mo said deliberately. "She saved you because she liked you, yet she ended up in my hands. Now, she can't even die if she wanted to..."
"..." Initially agitated, Hayakawa Aki suddenly seemed to zone out after hearing this. He then sat back down on the couch, his tone gradually becoming calmer. "Forget it... Maybe it's for the best. Anyway, it won't be long before I join Himeno-senpai."
"Oh, I almost forgot about that." Upon hearing Hayakawa Aki's remark, Fang Mo suddenly slapped his forehead. "We still have a contract, right? You're supposed to give everything to me, including the power to defeat the Gun Devil or something..."
"Miss Makima told us about the Gun Devil today." Hayakawa Aki spoke up. "We were initially going to report on Santa Claus, but Miss Makima mentioned the extermination team. The police department has already collected enough pieces of the Gun Devil, and now these pieces are starting to move towards the main body."
"Did she tell you that the Gun Devil has actually been defeated already?" Fang Mo asked.
"Yes, Miss Makima already told me." Hayakawa Aki said, quietly lighting a cigarette for himself. "It sounds incredible, but when you think about it, it's actually quite normal..."
"Do you feel like a clown?" Fang Mo asked. "Your lifelong enemy, the one you've been obsessed with, was actually dead a long time ago. Now, the world's powers are controlling its flesh as a strategic weapon... That means your hatred was meaningless from the start. Yet, because of this false hatred, you've been persisting in seeking revenge, not only risking yourself but also causing Himeno to die protecting you. Don't you think it's foolish?"
"Indeed, it's very foolish."
Hayakawa Aki casually smoked his cigarette: "But I have no way out now, so I chose to join the punitive force. The war against those countries is probably going to start in about three days, right?"
"I've seen foolish people, but I've never seen anyone as foolish as you."
Fang Mo glanced at Hayakawa Aki, also sighing helplessly: "Speaking of which... you don't really think this punitive force is just to fight the Gun Devil, do you?"
"What else then?"
Hayakawa Aki directly retorted.
"What's the Gun Devil anyway?" Fang Mo waved his hand dismissively: "Makima is one of the Four Apocalypse Devils, she can solo the Gun Devil easily, you know?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Hayakawa Aki was stunned: "How could Miss Makima be a Devil? She is a genuine human..."
"Then do I look more like a human or a Devil to you?"
Fang Mo looked at Hayakawa Aki.
"…Hm?"
Hayakawa Aki, hearing this, seemed to start realizing something.
Yes, Fang Mo looked no different from a human, yet he was a Devil. This meant that it was indeed possible for Devils to look just like humans. However, using this example to claim Makima was a Devil, Hayakawa Aki still found it somewhat hard to accept.
"Then... what kind of Devil did you say Miss Makima is?"
Hayakawa Aki couldn't help asking.
"She is the... *cough cough*, she is the Control Devil," Fang Mo stated directly: "I've said before, right? She is the idol of the masses, actually because of her Stand's ability, creating sycophants."
"Creating sycophants, what's that supposed to mean?"
Hayakawa Aki asked.
"It's her 'dominance' ability," Fang Mo spread his hands: "She can control anyone she defeats, the dead, or those who consider themselves inferior to her. Those in control don't even realize they are under control, they just feel affection and admiration for her, treating her like their goddess, zealously fawning over her, crazily licking her boots."
"Wait a second..."
Hayakawa Aki's face suddenly turned a bit strange: "You're not saying..."
"Actually, quite a few people from the Special Division have been controlled by her like this."
Fang Mo, upon seeing the situation, also began to explain with a smile, "Especially those Devils, you just need to ask them a bit, and you'll know. They all think that Makima has done them a great favor, like saving them or something. But if you actually ask in detail, you'll find out they can't mention any specifics because it's all fake. How could this Bitch possibly save anyone? She is purely a malevolent spirit."
"Wait..."
Hayakawa Aki felt his consciousness blur momentarily. Truthfully, he also couldn't remember what favor Makima had actually done for him, and this realization truly scared him: "You... you're not saying that I am also..."
"How could that be?"
Fang Mo said with a smile, "Those controlled by Makima don't have the ability to think for themselves. No matter how much you try to explain, it's useless. They'll just think you're trying to sow discord. Don't overthink it. Makima indeed controls others, but her feelings for you are genuine. This is definitely not one of the three great illusions of life. Yes, she likes you."
"You're lying."
Hayakawa Aki said with effort, holding his forehead, "You just want to say that I'm controlled by Miss Makima. That's impossible. How could Miss Makima... You must be lying."
"Ah, right, right, right."
Fang Mo didn't argue and happily admitted, "It's me lying. I deliberately stirred up trouble between you and Makima. Although Makima kills, deceives, and keeps sycophants, she's a good girl. The two of you are made for each other, okay?"
"I..."
Hayakawa Aki also looked somewhat perplexed, which was inevitable considering the day's overwhelming revelations.
First, he saw 'resurrected' Himeno, then he learned the truth about the Gun Devil, and finally, he heard that Makima was a Devil. His brain was struggling to process it all, unsure of what to believe.
"You must have heard about Angel's story, right?"
At that moment, Fang Mo spoke again, "According to her own words, it was her powers going out of control that killed everyone in the village she was born in, and then Makima saved her, which is why she's despondent. But the actual truth is... Makima controlled the Angel Devil, made her use her powers, which then resulted in the destruction of the village."
"You could try telling her this, her strength is quite formidable, maybe she could regain her memory. Of course, even if her memory returns, it's useless. Makima's dog-training technique is master-level. Even with her memory back, she'll still be under control."
"So..."
Hayakawa Aki looked up at Fang Mo, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Nothing much, just simply fulfilling a contract."
Fang Mo shrugged, "I promised you, to let you kill the Gun Devil, so naturally, I have to achieve this goal... It's just that Makima's side of the execution team seems a bit unreliable. I guess she probably wants to go after me."
"Miss Makima wants to go after you?"
Hayakawa Aki was stunned, suddenly imagining Fang Mo thrashing the Darkness Devil, "Is she... crazy?"
"Either she's gotten too arrogant, or she just can't sit still anymore."
Fang Mo waved his hand nonchalantly, "She said she would crusade against the Gun Devil in three days, which probably means she needs to gather forces to deal with me in three days. I remember she has a Fifth Special Division under her command, which should be composed entirely of weaponized humans. However, you don't need to worry about these. Just focus on shooting with your handgun, and leave the rest to me."
"I... understand."
Hayakawa Aki nodded slightly, a bit perplexed.
He really didn't know what to do at this point. He was supposed to trust Miss Makima, but Fang Mo's words seemed so real, even chillingly so.
In the past, just thinking of Makima's smile would calm Hayakawa Aki's mood, filling him with strength. But now, recalling her smile made him feel like a victim of betrayal, inexplicably filled with bitterness and discomfort.
He wanted to confront Makima about all this, but feared it might be just as Fang Mo had described.
If this last barrier were to be broken, Hayakawa Aki worried he might not be able to accept it, leaving him extremely conflicted.
"By the way, that sword on your back."
In the midst of Hayakawa Aki's anguish, Fang Mo suddenly spoke, "Hand it to me."
Hayakawa Aki remained silent, silently taking the End Sword from behind.
Fang Mo took the End Sword, operated it briefly, and quickly summoned the Eternity Devil, killing it with one strike. Then, with a flash of white light, he sealed another entity into it.
"Here, take it."
After all this, Fang Mo handed the End Sword back to Hayakawa Aki, "Consider it a loan for now. Return it to me with interest after the fight."
"What is this?"
Hayakawa Aki asked instinctively as he received the End Sword.
"This is your Hime," Fang Mo said with a smile. "If you really can't beat them, just shout, and then you can summon a little black... Then you can fight alongside your Hime."
"Himeno-senpai?"
Hayakawa Aki's expression shifted slightly.
"Do you like it?" Fang Mo asked with a smile. "She should obey all your commands now. Just don't use her for anything strange."
"I wouldn't do that."
Hayakawa Aki took a deep breath, then slowly stood up, "Then, I'll take my leave now. I have to go to Hokkaido tomorrow to visit the graves, and we probably won't see each other for a few days. As for the crusade... let's wait and see in three days."
"Oh, then remember to steal some offerings for me." Fang Mo didn't hold him back, simply waving goodbye to Hayakawa Aki.
Soon, three days passed, the day the 'Gun Devil Crusade Team' was officially to be formed. Fang Mo, who had been waiting at home for three days, finally received a call from Makima.