The Power of Science is Supreme!

"Captain?" Aki subconsciously clenched his fists, backing away. "Why are you—?"

"We anticipated the possibility of the Desire Devil deceiving you from the beginning." The suited man chuckled. "From the moment Himeno told you about the Desire Devil, you were under surveillance."

"Don't blame us for being underhanded. The Desire Devil's heightened caution and perception meant we couldn't track it. We had no choice but to use you to set a trap. And it worked, didn't it?"

"You're certainly confident." Shoko interrupted, no longer the playful, cheerful girl.

Coldness replaced her usual expressions.

She surveyed the Public Safety officers. "You think you can capture me? I'm quite strong now."

"The Desire Devil is one of the weakest. Top-tier prey in Hell. Any Devil could take a bite. The Fox Devil wouldn't lie." The man adjusted his glasses. "It had no reason to lie. After all, it gets a share of you if we capture you. A daily snack, if you will."

"A fox, yet so dim-witted. Have you gotten too comfortable with those peaceful days?" Shoko laughed. Being captured didn't worry her. She could test her progress against them.

She hadn't been idle this year.

"Gas."

A faint, familiar smell filled the air, the source now obvious.

Shoko twirled a lighter. "How long has the Fox Devil been under contract, five years? Ten? It can't possibly comprehend modern realities."

"It's the age of science. Simple creations can yield results far greater than their components."

She hadn't neglected her own strength. Farming energy was efficient, but not a constant. She could develop her abilities.

She'd found an efficient way to combine "ingredients." She couldn't create a massive explosion with raw power, but she could create volatile gas and use a lighter. A small task, yielding a massive result.

She might get caught in the blast, but Devils couldn't die, so who cared?

"A Devil's power stems from fear. If you don't fear my concept, I'll be as weak as you believe." Shoko explained her power source. "And that can be used to my advantage."

"I've been enjoying a book lately. Perhaps you've heard of it? That new horror novel—" Shoko grinned like a villain. " A Good Wish is truly wonderful."

"So..." The man's face darkened. "Any wish, granted but twisted? That book is popular at Public Safety. Some of us are reconsidering wishes now... I see you've benefited from it."

Shoko had enhanced her power, and the world's concept of desire.

When she first arrived, wishes were like Aladdin's lamp, promising good things without cost.

To change that, she wrote a book.

Mixing elements from famous novels, myths, and anime, weaving monkey's paws, corrupted grails, and dark deities, she created a horror masterpiece: A Good Wish.

To spread its influence, she published it online, anonymously, free of charge.

Fame was more important than royalties.

Wishes were no longer solely idealistic dreams. They were also traps with terrible consequences. As that idea spread, people would develop fear alongside desire, strengthening Shoko's power as the Desire Devil.

She wasn't as powerful as true Devils, but she was far stronger than before.

Her combat ability went from 0.5 to… 1!

She'd grown without system upgrades.

That said, she wasn't foolish enough to believe she could defeat all of Public Safety. This was just for her amusement.

She had planned to be captured all along.