Public Security Extermination Devil Division 1 Training Base.
It was no surprise that Otonashi Chiya came here at night—he intended to engage in sparring sessions with the team members and exchange insights.
This time, he didn't just focus on dodging; instead, he actively attacked and countered.
Of course, he only used minimal force, ensuring he didn't injure anyone too seriously.
At this moment, his opponent's face was already bruised and swollen, but the man still bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance!"
After all, minor injuries like these were nothing to Public Security Devil Hunters, who frequently danced on the edge of death. The true value of these training sessions lay in the experience gained.
"Thank you for your guidance."
Chiya also responded politely.
During the break, the female members of Division 1 gathered together for a chat.
"This new Vice Captain is really something. Handsome, easygoing… I wonder if he has a girlfriend?"
"Forget it. Someone like him is probably already taken."
"But speaking of which, Captain Kishibe was actually quite a looker when he was younger."
"Really? Well, judging by how he looks now, he must have been decent when he was younger. Too bad he's old now."
However, just as they were chatting, an unexpected voice suddenly interrupted from behind them—the last voice they wanted to hear.
"What do you mean, old?"
They turned around to see Kishibe standing there, expressionless.
At this point in the timeline, Kishibe was already around fifty years old. His chin and temples were covered in stubble, and the wrinkles on his face were quite noticeable. A stitched scar ran from the corner of his left mouth, and both ears were pierced. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and imposing.
His sudden appearance sent the women into a panic, nearly scaring the soul out of them.
"No, no! We didn't say anything!"
"Really! We said nothing at all!"
"…."
Their flustered expressions already betrayed them.
They simply hadn't expected Kishibe to show up. After all, he rarely came to the training base.
But Kishibe wasn't a petty man. He couldn't deny that he was indeed getting older.
"Captain Kishibe."
Noticing his arrival, Chiya respectfully greeted him.
"Otonashi, as Vice Captain, I came to inform you that tomorrow we have an important mission. Get everyone ready in advance—you'll be leading the team."
Kishibe's voice was deep and devoid of emotion.
[Ding! Achievement unlocked: 'First Encounter with Kishibe.' Attribute Point +1!]
"Yes." Chiya responded.
Meeting Captain Kishibe for the first time, he could definitely feel the pressure radiating from him.
"Pick nine members to go with you. The mission target, unless something changes, is a devil that has consumed a piece of the Gun Devil's flesh. Don't take this lightly, and do your best to avoid casualties."
After finishing, Kishibe took out a flask from his coat, took a swig, and walked away.
By this point, everyone had understood the gravity of the situation, and many members immediately volunteered to join the mission.
Even knowing the mission would be extremely dangerous, none of them hesitated.
Many of Tokyo's Public Security Devil Hunters, like Aki, had joined out of a desire for revenge against the Gun Devil.
They were all victims of the massacre caused by the Gun Devil, having lost their loved ones and surviving by chance. From that moment on, revenge became their sole purpose in life.
"In that case, there are nine slots—first come, first served."
Chiya decided not to handpick the strongest members and instead let them volunteer.
He didn't see the need to form a team of elite members—having too many powerhouses would only increase the risk of them 'stealing kills.' And he wasn't about to let that affect his attribute gains.
In less than five seconds, he had already chosen nine teammates.
"They've all been victims of the Gun Devil, turning to Public Security Devil Hunting out of anger and hatred. Though this dangerous profession isn't exactly a good thing, their rage has given them a reason to keep living."
At that moment, Chiya began communicating with the Wrath Devil in his mind.
"What you see are only those who have survived. Countless others fell into despair after losing their loved ones, unable to recover. Many even took their own lives."
"At least these people are still alive and have a chance to keep living."
Now that he had taken on the role of Vice Captain, he would fulfill his duty, doing his best to prevent unnecessary deaths.
Public Security Devil Hunters suffered high casualty rates mainly due to their frequent high-difficulty missions. If he was present and could swiftly eliminate devils, then sacrifices could be minimized.
However, the Wrath Devil remained unmoved. "So, in the end, it's still not a good thing?"
"Don't see things in such a black-and-white manner. The real villain here is the Gun Devil. It's the one that caused all this anger and suffering. That anger has both positive and negative sides, and isn't that where your value as the Wrath Devil lies?"
Otonashi Chiya patiently tried to reason with it. "Isn't it better that they're still alive rather than falling into despair or taking their own lives?"
But the Wrath Devil coldly replied, "No need to convince me. I don't want to hear it."
"…Forget it." Chiya sighed, realizing that this devil was quite stubborn.
Perhaps logical arguments were difficult for a devil to comprehend. When the time came, letting the Wrath Devil witness certain events firsthand would be the best way to make it understand.
—
At 9 PM, Chiya left the training base and returned home.
Tonight was a bit different—Pochita was the one who opened the door for him. The little dog leaped up, bit the doorknob, and used its own weight to press it down, unlocking the door.
Chiya caught Pochita as it dangled from the doorknob, letting it settle into his hands.
"Ah, I see. Denji is probably studying with kobeni. Thanks, Pochita."
He smiled as he spoke to the little devil dog.
"Woof!"
Pochita responded with a cheerful expression.
Chiya then quietly walked over to Denji's room and saw that he was diligently studying with kobeni.
Not wanting to disturb them, he quietly stepped back out.
A few minutes later, kobeni emerged from the room.
"Well… I should be heading home now. That's all for today."
She spoke with a shy expression—she had always been easily flustered when interacting with others.
"Hmm, about two hours… I'll just round it up to 5,000 yen."
As he spoke, Chiya handed her a 5,000-yen bill.
"Thank you so much!"
Kobeni was pleasantly surprised—he was not only generous but even paid her extra.
"Oh, right!"
She suddenly remembered something she needed to report. "Denji may lack knowledge, but she's very eager to learn and picks up things quickly—she's a very smart and good kid!"
In reality, Denji had bribed her with a bag of snacks, asking her to say nice things about him in front of Chiya.