Denji stared at Kang Woo, his mind still reeling from everything that had just happened. "So… mister, your name is Kang Woo?"
Pochita, standing protectively beside Denji, let out a small bark, "Worf! Worf!" acknowledging the man who had abruptly appeared in their lives.
Kang Woo simply nodded, his expression calm. "Yeah, that's my name."
Denji scratched his head, his confusion evident. His life up until now had been a constant struggle for survival, filled with nothing but hardship and chaos. And now, standing in the lobby of a luxurious hotel with this mysterious man, he couldn't quite wrap his head around what was happening.
"So… are we gonna live in this four-star hotel or something?" Denji asked, eyes wide in awe. He had never even imagined being in a place like this. The very idea was beyond his wildest dreams.
Kang Woo didn't hesitate. Without a word, he handed Denji a black briefcase, its weight surprising the boy. Denji opened it cautiously, and his jaw dropped. Neatly stacked inside was one million yen in cash.
"Buy yourself some food, drinks… whatever you need," Kang Woo said casually, as if handing over that much money was no big deal. "I'll be leaving for a while."
Denji blinked in disbelief, still trying to process what he was holding. "O-Okay then. Thank you, Kang Woo—"
Before Denji could finish, Kang Woo swiftly closed the door to the hotel room, leaving Denji and Pochita alone inside. The room was large, elegant, and far beyond anything Denji had ever known. The sheer comfort and luxury of the space left him feeling like he was in a dream.
Meanwhile, Kang Woo walked down the polished hallway, his footsteps echoing as he left the hotel. As he walked, his thoughts shifted, and he glanced down at his own appearance. His clothes—worn, torn, and stained—were far from the image of power he wanted to project.
A sudden realization hit him, and he frowned. "My clothes are shit… I do look like a beggar. Just like Makima and Kishibe said."
Kang Woo then felt something off. He was being watched. But this wasn't the typical feeling of being followed by someone directly—it was more subtle, more pervasive.
Using his Authority of Beholder, he silently scanned his surroundings. Unlike the dramatic stunt he pulled earlier with the giant eye in the sky, this time his scan was stealthy, more refined. As his senses expanded, he quickly picked up on the small details: birds, mice, crows—hundreds of them—all seemingly scattered across the city.
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed. "They're spying on every devil hunter… but now they're focused on me. Isn't that right, Makima?" he muttered, glancing briefly toward the sky.
As if on cue, Kishibe suddenly appeared beside him, walking with his usual calm and deliberate demeanor. "You're a hard man to find, you know?" Kishibe remarked, his voice gruff. "From Kyoto to Tokyo in mere seconds as a dark comet, and you pulled a stunt with that gigantic black eye in the sky. You spooked all of Japan with that one."
Kang Woo smirked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So, now the enemies that were supposed to kill each other are working together to corner me, huh?"
Kishibe shrugged, unbothered by Kang Woo's biting tone. "Nope, I'm here for different business." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I need to talk to you about the blue gallon you sold to Public Safety at a very cheap price."
Kang Woo's smirk didn't falter, but his eyes sharpened. He knew exactly what Kishibe was referring to. The Compound V, though Kishibe didn't say it outright in such a public space. A careful man, indeed.
"And," Kishibe added with a casual glance at Kang Woo's disheveled clothes, "you need a new suit. You're looking more like a beggar than a powerful being right now."
Kang Woo chuckled, running a hand through his messy hair. "Guess you're not wrong about that."
Kang Woo's footsteps echoed as he walked down the hallway, his thoughts briefly shifting to his appearance. With his old, tattered clothes gone, he now donned a sleek, dark outfit—a sharp contrast to his previous, disheveled state. His new attire consisted of a black jacket with high, angular shoulders and fur details on one sleeve, along with matching black pants that gave off an air of sophistication and strength. The look was completed with sturdy boots and an overall design that was both modern and intimidating. His entire form exuded power, and he now looked more like the ruler he knew he was. ( IMG Here )
Kang Woo glanced down at himself and smirked. "Much better."
Just then, Kishibe appeared beside him, as calm as ever, sipping from his flask. "You know, we already prepared clothing for you," Kishibe said casually, his tone never wavering from its usual gruffness.
Kang Woo chuckled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm not your slave, bro. And I'm definitely not going to be tied down with dog food." He was referencing the tight grip the Public Safety Bureau had on those under their control.
Kishibe took another sip, unfazed by Kang Woo's comment. "Alright, suit yourself." He paused, eyeing the freshly dressed Kang Woo before motioning to the restaurant they were heading towards. "Let's get to the real business. We need to talk about how to properly make them."
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed slightly, knowing exactly what Kishibe meant by "them." Though the term 'Supes' wasn't said aloud, it was clear to both men what was being discussed. The blue gallon Kang Woo had provided—Compound V—had caused quite the stir, but he had left without any instructions.
"I'm sure you've figured it out by now," Kang Woo said, his smirk returning.
Kishibe shook his head with a dry chuckle. "No, you didn't. And you're a liar. I call you liar number two."
Kang Woo raised an eyebrow, amused. "Number two?"
Kishibe took another sip from his flask, his gaze steady. "Makima's number one."
Kang Woo shrugged, leaning back in his chair as they settled into the restaurant. "Yeah, sounds about right."
Kang Woo leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he looked at Kishibe. "You're going to have a very low success rate with adults," he said, his tone casual but weighted with meaning. "I'm talking probably close to death in most cases. But I'm sure Aki, that loyal, crazy dog of Makima, would be the first to jump into it. He's so hell-bent on revenge against the Gun Devil that he'd probably test it on himself first, deal with the consequences later."
Kishibe's expression remained neutral, though a flicker of confusion passed through his eyes. "Test what exactly?" he asked, though he had a hunch about what Kang Woo was implying.
Kang Woo, picking his words very carefully, leaned back in his chair, his smirk never fading. He couldn't mention Compound V or Vought outright, not in public, but Kishibe was sharp enough to catch on. "Let's just say it's like cooking," Kang Woo began, swirling his drink. "With the right ingredients, you can get something amazing. But if you try to rush it, especially with people who aren't… compatible, things tend to explode in your face."
Kishibe's eyes narrowed as he processed Kang Woo's vague, yet clear enough explanation. "And by 'exploding,' you mean...?"
Kang Woo chuckled softly. "You get the picture. Kids, on the other hand? They're more flexible, adaptable. Their bodies are still growing, so they tend to handle the process a lot better. But adults? They're a ticking time bomb. Unless you're very, very careful."
Kishibe tilted his head slightly, his usual calm demeanor intact. He took another sip from his flask, considering Kang Woo's words. "So, it's a gamble."
Kang Woo nodded. "A dangerous one. But I'm sure with a little experimentation, you'll figure it out. Just be prepared for some… losses along the way."
Kishibe exhaled slowly, leaning back in his seat. "That's not exactly comforting."
"It's not meant to be," Kang Woo replied, his grin widening. "But I'm sure Makima already has plans for this. You don't need to worry about her losing sleep over a few casualties."
Kishibe didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowing as he weighed Kang Woo's words. "Makima always has a plan," he muttered, more to himself than to Kang Woo. "But this… this is something else."
Kang Woo leaned back slightly, his eyes still gleaming with that sly, knowing look. "However," he continued, "there's another path. Something that doesn't require the full blue gallon method. It's a bit… experimental, but it exists."
Kishibe raised an eyebrow at Kang Woo's cryptic statement, curiosity clear on his face. "What's that?"
Without a word, Kang Woo made a subtle hand gesture, asking Kishibe for a pen and some paper. As usual, Kishibe, always prepared, handed them over without hesitation. Kang Woo began scribbling something down on the paper, his movements deliberate and precise.
After a moment, Kang Woo handed the note back to Kishibe. Scrawled across the page in sharp, bold handwriting were the words Temp V Call it V24 From now on .
Kishibe stared at the writing, not recognizing the terms but understanding the gravity of Kang Woo's suggestion. "What the hell is this?" he asked, though he had a sinking feeling he already knew.
"These," Kang Woo said with a smirk, "are variations of the product. Short-term effects, not permanent like the full batch. They're more manageable, but still, the risk is there. Hasn't been produced yet—not by anyone who knows what they're doing, at least. Just some crazy corporate pharmacy messing around when I raided them." Kang Woo paused for a second, glancing to his left as if taunting someone unseen, then continued. "Injected through the bloodstream. It's more controlled, but you'll still see some of the same results... if you're lucky."
Kishibe stared at the note for a few more moments before looking up at Kang Woo. "You taunt her again, don't you?" he said, his voice lined with amusement. He knew who Kang Woo was directing his silent gesture toward—Makima.
Kang Woo gave him a wide, playful grin and made a thumbs-up with his left hand. "Yup," he said simply, almost too casually.
Unbeknownst to them, far off in the distance, Makima stood on top of a building nearly 100 kilometers away, her calm, calculating gaze locked through a pair of binoculars. Floating beside her was a small orb—the Commandment of Love—its energy swirling in delicate, rhythmic patterns. She had been observing the two men's conversation, watching Kang Woo as he spoke. Her lips curved into a slight smirk as if she had been expecting this all along.
"So… he knows," she muttered under her breath, her voice cold and indifferent. The orb beside her glowed faintly, reacting to her presence.
Makima lowered the binoculars, her expression unreadable. "I should have known my location would be discovered. Hah…" She let out a soft, amused sigh as she leaned against the railing, still keeping her eyes on the direction of Kang Woo and Kishibe's location, her mind already plotting her next move.
Kang Woo materialized beside Makima in an instant via 10 shadows , his presence so sudden that even someone as composed as her flinched. "You're welcome to join us," he said with a sly grin, his voice almost too casual.
Makima, caught off guard for the first time in a long while, reflexively made a pistol gesture with her hand, pointing it straight at Kang Woo's face. "Bang," she said calmly, as if it was a mere formality. A split second later, the glass window of a distant building shattered, the force of her gesture redirecting its destructive power away from Kang Woo.
Unfazed, Kang Woo simply grabbed her hand mid-air and redirected it, causing the destruction to rain elsewhere. "You missed," he teased, his tone light but clearly enjoying the moment.
Makima, still composed but clearly irritated, looked down at her hand, then back at Kang Woo. "You are very annoying," she said, her voice maintaining its usual calm demeanor, though the floating Commandment of Love orb beside her pulsed ever so slightly, a reminder of the penalties she bore.
Kang Woo smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, I see you're much more controlled now when dealing with me. That must mean you've also gotten hit with the penalty for a while." His words were sharp but playful, testing Makima's usual aloofness.
Makima's gaze softened, but only slightly, a rare moment of vulnerability for someone like her. She couldn't show outright anger or hatred—not without facing the consequences of the love-commandment orb swirling beside her. Her grumpiness was subtle but noticeable, an emotion rarely displayed on her otherwise unreadable face.
"You're infuriating," she muttered, her tone holding a rare hint of frustration. But she couldn't be truly mad. That was the irony of her situation—any hidden feelings would be punished, and she knew Kang Woo enjoyed every second of her restraint.
Kang Woo chuckled. "Grumpy? How rare for you." His grin widened as he made a sweeping hand gesture, like he was inviting her to a royal event. "Come now, your highness. Let's join the tea party. You're always the guest of honor, after all."
Makima took Kang Woo's offered hand, and before either could blink, the two were engulfed in shadows. The familiar pull of darkness swallowed them, transporting them instantly to the restaurant where Kishibe had been waiting. The transition was smooth, effortless—a testament to Kang Woo's control over his power.
Makima, her hand still resting in Kang Woo's, glanced around briefly, then back at him. "Darkness to fly like a dark comet… and now instant transportation with shadows? You really are a Maverick, Kang Woo," she remarked, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of envy and curiosity.
Kishibe, sitting at the table with his drink, looked up and couldn't help but mock them both with a wry smile. "Liar number two brought liar number one. And now the wise old man—me, of course—has to sit with two troublemakers."
Makima, her expression unusually relaxed, let out a soft chuckle. "Kang Woo, perhaps we should just kill Kishibe," she teased, her voice light. "Then, when we're done, we can kill each other."
Kang Woo grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Now, wouldn't that be a perfect day? If we could truly kill each other. You have far more lives than a cat with nine, though. It'd be quite the challenge."
Without warning, Kang Woo snapped his fingers, and the Commandment of Love orb that had been floating by Makima's side flickered before vanishing completely.
The moment it disappeared, Makima visibly exhaled, releasing a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Hahhhhhh…" A rare sound escaped her lips—a true sigh of relief. Her posture eased, her face softening in a way that surprised even her. For the first time, Makima felt her emotions freed, no longer bound by the restrictions of the floating orb's penalties.
The entire restaurant seemed to pause in shock. Everyone, from Kishibe to the other patrons, turned to watch Makima, who had always been composed and in control, now in public letting out a genuine sign of emotion.
Kishibe, always one to keep his cool, raised an eyebrow, but his smile was back in place. "Well, isn't that something… Liar number one finally breathing easy. Guess the commandment wasn't as much fun as you thought, huh?"
Makima ignored Kishibe's jab, instead focusing on the new, unfamiliar sensation of having her emotions unshackled. She cast a glance at Kang Woo, a mix of gratitude and annoyance flickering across her usually guarded eyes.
"I won't say thank you," she muttered, her tone half-serious, half-playful.
Kang Woo smirked at Makima's half-serious, half-playful remark, clearly enjoying the moment. "Shouldn't you be plotting revenge on me? After all, I'm the one who stuck it up your ass with that commandment," he teased, his tone daring her.
Makima's expression shifted, a rare sign of genuine irritation flickering in her eyes. She began cracking her knuckles, an ominous smile spreading across her face—part anger, part exhilaration. "You just had to bring that up, didn't you? One day, Kang Woo, we're going to settle this in the arena. I'm going to enjoy it." Her smile was forced but not without its own wicked edge. The thought of a proper duel between them was both infuriating and thrilling to her.
Kang Woo grinned, clearly pleased with the reaction. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it. Nothing like a little business with some bloodshed on the side."
Kishibe, who had been watching the interaction unfold with mild amusement, interrupted with a sigh. "Oy, are we gonna talk about the lovey dovey between liar number one and liar number two, or are we actually going to discuss how to amplify our personnel?" His gruff voice cut through the playful tension, pulling the conversation back to its original purpose.
Kang Woo leaned back in his chair, shrugging. "Right, right. Back to business then." He turned his focus to Kishibe, the playful edge to his voice fading. "Like I mentioned earlier, using those blue gallons on adults is a gamble. Most of them won't survive it, but with the right preparation, you can amplify those who do. And if you want to push further, there's always V24—the temporary version. Less risk, but still… volatile."
Kang Woo leaned back in his chair, smirking as he continued, his tone now shifting to a more serious edge. "However, if any of your personnel have a tumor or cancer, don't you dare inject them with any of it—whether it's the blue gallon or V24. You're not going to amplify the person; instead, you'll end up with the tumor gaining consciousness. And believe me, we don't need a real-life version of Alien: Isolation on our hands while we're already dealing with devils."
Kishibe furrowed his brow at the explanation, clearly disturbed by the thought of an intelligent, self-aware tumor wreaking havoc. "That's... unsettling."
Makima's eyes narrowed with interest, her tone cold but curious. "Those knowledge … where did you know them?"
Kang Woo didn't hesitate. "At Sage Grove Center in America, of course. Before it was destroyed by an incident they called 'The White Devil.' Some kind of spontaneous chaos that erupted and wiped out the facility." His smirk widened slightly, though he masked it with a casual shrug. "I just used the chaos as cover to pull off the greatest heist. While everyone was busy dealing with the destruction, I slipped out with everything I needed."
Damn, I'm good at lying, Kang Woo thought to himself, his inner voice filled with pride. And I'm a huge fan of The Boys series on Amazon, so I'm damn good at making up stories. He kept his exterior calm, though the satisfaction of his crafted tale brought an extra edge of confidence to his demeanor.
What Kang Woo didn't reveal was the truth behind that "White Devil" incident. He was the one who had caused the chaos by summoning Mahoraga, unleashing destruction within the facility. It was the perfect cover for his escape and his acquisition of valuable data, but that part of the story would remain his secret. After all, some things were better left untold, even to allies like Makima and Kishibe.
Makima tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied Kang Woo. She knew there was more to the story, but even she wouldn't press him on it—yet. "I see," she replied coolly, though her interest was piqued. "So, you capitalized on the chaos of that event."
After a moment of thought, Makima added, as if remembering something, "You know about the supremacists, don't you?" She was referencing individuals known for being injected as adults, male and female versions of Stormfront, though she withheld the names. "And there's also Soldier Boy… It surprised me they survived the injection as adults."
Kang Woo raised an eyebrow but remained calm. "That, I don't know much about," he said casually. He scribbled something on a napkin and slid it over to Makima—Frederick Vought. "The grandfather of those crazy pharmacists," he said. "But now, he's just a memorial stone. Gone, and so is his full knowledge. Those who were left behind don't have much of the original substances or knowledge."
He leaned forward slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "But you know, Makima, the most pure form of the blue gallon? The one those so-called experts never managed to fully grasp? That's something different." His words were careful, alluding to things unsaid but not revealing too much.
Makima didn't show it on her face, but her interest was clearly piqued by this new revelation. She glanced at the napkin briefly before tucking it away discreetly. Kang Woo was playing his cards close to his chest, but she knew there was always more beneath the surface with him.
Kishibe, sitting back and sipping from his flask, interrupted the tension with his usual bluntness. "Alright, alright, I get it. But let's get back to the real issue. How do we handle amplifying our personnel with all this, then?"
Kang Woo leaned back in his chair, considering Kishibe's question carefully before offering his response. "Alright, there are three options," he began, his tone measured. "Option one: you inject the blue gallon using the standard method, but—and this is very important—you do it in milliliters. Not a drop more. If you exceed the dosage even slightly, the person's as good as dead. You can also go the slow dosage method, but that takes hours, and even then, the subject could end up with severe side effects. They might survive, but you're looking at long-term consequences like heart disease or worse. Think of A-Train... every time he runs, it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion."
Kishibe raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What's with the supe? What are you getting at?"
Kang Woo grinned knowingly. "You didn't notice, huh? Every time A-Train runs, he's slower, sloppier, and always gasping for air. He's deteriorating, Kishibe. The injections they gave him are destroying his body, bit by bit. That's the kind of risk we're dealing with."
Kishibe nodded slowly, digesting the information while Makima remained silent, processing everything in her usual calm and calculating manner.
"Option two," Kang Woo continued, "you wait for V24. I'm working on getting my hands on it, but who knows how long that will take. The substance is still in the experimental phase, according to the documents I found. It's not readily available yet."
Makima's eyes flickered with interest at the mention of V24, though she remained quiet, her sharp gaze fixed on Kang Woo.
"And then, there's option three," Kang Woo said with a grin. "We become scientists and start making our own version—a pure substance. We're talking about breaking bad, cartel-level operations. Cooking up something even better than the original. We'll need a lab, resources, and time, but the results could be… spectacular."
Makima raised an eyebrow, clearly unfamiliar with the term. "Breaking bad?" she asked.
Kang Woo chuckled, shaking his head. "Forget about that. Basically, with option three, we'd be alchemists. Turning ordinary substances into extraordinary power. But it's risky, and we'd be playing with fire." He paused for a moment before adding, "Or... we could just modify the blue gallon that we already have, since it's basically the blueprint after all."
Kishibe let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "So, it's either inject with precision, wait for the right moment, or start cooking up our own version of this stuff. None of those options sound like a walk in the park."
Kang Woo smirked. "It won't be. But when has anything worth doing ever been easy?"
Makima, after listening in silence, finally spoke. "If we're going to pursue option three, I'll need to know everything you learned from those documents. No more half-measures."
Kang Woo leaned forward slightly, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Makima, about those documents... Well, they're now nothing but flames in the ruins of Sage Grove Center. I read them fast enough, and then I heisted the blue gallon. Let's just say I got out before everything went up in smoke."
Makima raised an eyebrow, unimpressed but intrigued. "Oh, so you're saying you've already got your hands on plenty of it. Since, as you always do, you probably grabbed everything in sight—like the greedy person you are."
Kang Woo chuckled, not denying it, and shifted the topic to his achievement. "That's right. I made sure to grab tons of the stuff , except papers, since, well, I hate them," he added with a playful smirk. "And I'm not stopping there."
Kishibe, who had been following the conversation with his usual calm demeanor, finally interjected. "Wait… what do you mean by that?"
Kang Woo leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk crossing his face. "I'm planning to make those crazy pharmacists go bankrupt. I'll grab what's left of their stock, undercut them, and leave them with nothing. It's not just about the blue gallon, Kishibe. It's about wiping them out of the equation."
Kishibe looked at Kang Woo with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "So, you're not just stealing their formula… you're taking over the entire game?"
Kang Woo leaned in slightly, his smirk never fading. "More like… I'll leave them just enough resources to make V24, then I'll swoop in and grab it all before they even realize what hit them."
Makima, always sharp, chuckled softly and turned to Kishibe. "You know, Kishibe, he's more of an honest evil person than I am."
Kishibe let out a low, amused laugh. "I like honest people. That's why you're still Liar Number 1, Makima. And he's Number 2." Kishibe gestured toward Kang Woo with a nod.
Kang Woo, never one to miss a beat, raised his hand and flashed a casual V sign, signaling victory with an air of nonchalance. "Glad to be part of the ranking system."
Makima rolled her eyes, though her smile didn't fade. It was clear they both understood the deeper game being played, one that involved far more than just blue gallons and Compound V.
Makima leaned back in her chair, an amused glint in her eyes. "If someone wants to die, let them die. But we can use them to further our progress. We employ them, or better yet, experiment on them with the blue gallon. Why waste a resource?"
Kang Woo raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly at her suggestion. "If we start using criminals or people who want to die as test subjects, we're going to end up fighting on three fronts. Devils, crazy shit, and humans. The lines will blur real fast."
Kishibe, taking a long sip from his flask, nodded thoughtfully. "There are some people out there who genuinely want to die. The world's cruel, and sometimes that cruelty presents… opportunities. So, I can't say I disagree."
Kang Woo shrugged, still leaning back in his chair. "Up to you two, but there's one condition. Not Aki or Himeno. They're off-limits."
Makima's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hohhh, someone like you evil incarnate taking an interest in humans? Fascinating."
Kang Woo placed a hand on his chest with exaggerated theatrics. "Oh no, Makima, you've broken my heart. I'm a good person."
Kishibe chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "If you're a good person, then if heaven is real, everyone's up there except for you."
Kang Woo's playful demeanor faded slightly as he turned serious for a moment. "Let's just say those two—Aki and Himeno—they're interesting. I like them."
Makima's interest deepened, her gaze probing for more. "Interesting? In what way?"
Kang Woo's eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and respect. "Aki's got that insane drive, laser-focused on revenge. Himeno? She's... something else entirely. Happy-go-lucky, always drunk, like she's somehow found a way to laugh in the face of this devil-riddled, Supe-infested world. It's crazy, but that kind of reckless optimism is what makes her strong. They've got more potential than they realize. They're not just pawns—they're key pieces on the board."
Kishibe leaned back, raising an eyebrow at Kang Woo's words. He took a long sip from his flask before speaking. "Himeno, huh? A drunk with a smile like that surviving in a world this twisted? Guess you see something the rest of us don't." His voice held a hint of approval, though it was clear Kishibe wasn't entirely convinced. He smirked before adding, "Still, off-limits, huh? You're making things more lively ."
Makima observed silently for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, as if something clicked, her gaze sharpened. "Kishibe," she said suddenly, her voice steady and commanding. "Leave us. I need to speak with Kang Woo. Alone."
Kishibe glanced between them, clearly aware that the tone of the conversation had shifted. He took another sip of his drink, the amusement never leaving his face. "Sure, sure." He stood up slowly, pausing as he reached the door. Before leaving, he threw a glance over his shoulder, smirking as he teased them. "Just don't turn this lovey dovey into a war between nations."