Denji froze when he heard Makima's cold words.
He instinctively wanted to say something to refute her, to make her change her mind.
But the words caught in his throat, and nothing came out.
Because it wasn't that Makima was being cruel—it was simply how the Anti-Devil Division treated devils.
Once a devil under their control showed signs of losing control, all Devil Hunters would immediately treat them as enemies and make them their top priority for extermination.
This rule didn't only apply to the Yamai sisters.
It also applied to the Blood Devil Power.
And even to Denji himself, as a Weapon Devil.
This was the Anti-Devil Division's stance toward devils.
"But who in the Anti-Devil Division can defeat Yuzuru and Kaguya?" Denji asked. "Makima, you should know their combat power. In the past month, they've defeated more devils than all the members of the Anti-Devil Division combined. If we truly become their enemies, we won't stand a chance."
"First, Denji, you need to understand one thing." Makima raised a finger. "It's not that we want to become their enemies. It's that they pose a threat to humanity, and we must protect ourselves."
Then Makima raised a second finger.
"Secondly, their combat power is indeed formidable. As you said, there's no one in the Anti-Devil Division who can directly defeat them. But there's no such thing as knightly spirit between us and devils. If we can't win in direct combat, we'll use other methods."
The Yamai sisters' strength was already well known to the world, even before they joined the Anti-Devil Division of Japan's Public Safety Bureau.
Whether it was the countless economic losses caused by the tornado, the forests and mountains destroyed by the aftermath of their battles, or the island they sunk into the Pacific Ocean, their power was constantly on display.
Their raw strength, in this world, not only surpassed humans but even most devils had no power to match them.
And after they joined the Anti-Devil Division and became Makima's subordinates, Makima kept a close watch on their actions, trying to analyze the full extent of their abilities.
After a month of observation, Makima had concluded that, unsurprisingly, the Yamai sisters didn't just have control over wind.
They could summon chains and spears with unknown materials as weapons. When attacked, they also had a transparent shield that surrounded them in all directions, blocking damage.
The limit of their shield was still unknown, as in the month Makima had been observing them, she had yet to see any devil manage to break through it.
Even in the battle against the Sword Devil a few days ago, they were able to withstand the deadly attacks of the fast and sharp Sword Devil.
That shield had extreme resistance to physical attacks.
Even if the strongest Devil Hunters in the Anti-Devil Division were brought in, there would be no chance of winning against them.
"So, I'm planning to assign the task of eliminating them to you."
Makima looked at Denji and said coldly, "If they really intend to harm humanity, I want you to exterminate them."
"Me?"
Denji pointed at himself in shock. "Makima, when I fought them before, I didn't even touch the edges of their clothes before getting completely wrecked. Even if I've improved, there's no way I'm at a level where I can beat them."
Denji's ability was to transform into Chainsaw Man, a Weapon Devil.
And that power came from the Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, with whom he had a contract.
As a feared god of death in hell, a walking disaster that devils avoided, Pochita was the only devil born from the concept of a chainsaw with the ability to completely devour other devils, making it exceptionally strong.
Moreover, its rank was unusually high, even surpassing Makima, the Control Devil of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
If anyone could defeat the Yamai sisters, besides the few devils from hell who had never been defeated since their birth, it would be the Chainsaw Devil.
However, the current Denji, with his current ability as Chainsaw Man, was nowhere near even one percent of Pochita's full strength.
With his current level, it was impossible for him to defeat the Yamai sisters.
"But I'm not asking you to defeat them in direct combat."
In response to Denji's objection, Makima didn't argue but instead said, "You're one of the people they trust most in the Anti-Devil Division. As long as you attack them when they're unprepared, even the current Denji can eliminate them."
"Makima..." Denji's eyes widened. "You mean...?"
"You're asking me to betray them?" Denji's voice was shaky.
"If they decide to betray the Anti-Devil Division, then we must strike first, right?"
The Yamai sisters were indeed very strong, but they were not invincible.
If direct combat won't work, then use other means.
For example, an ambush.
The Yamai sisters couldn't be on guard all the time, and their shields weren't always active.
As long as they were unprepared, say, when they were sleeping, you could strike a deadly blow and easily eliminate them.
"Makima..." Denji hung his head. "I don't want to do this."
"Denji, are you disobeying my orders?" Makima raised her eyebrow. "I remember when you joined the Anti-Devil Division, I said that disobedient dogs have no place here, right?"
"We can't take risks. As soon as they show any signs of threatening humanity, we must eliminate any potential danger in its infancy. This is the purpose of the Anti-Devil Division."
"So... if I can convince them not to destroy Tokyo, then the Anti-Devil Division won't need to act against them, right?"
"Of course." Makima looked at him deeply. "Do you have a plan?"
"I want to talk to them first."
"And if the talks break down?"
"If the talks break down, I'll take responsibility."
Makima smiled.
If the talks really fail, it wouldn't be easy to kill the Yamai sisters, who had become suspicious of Denji.
And once Denji attacked them, it would be a full-fledged breakup.
At that point, they would surely carry out their promise and destroy Tokyo.
Denji's actions had now bound Tokyo's fate to his own.
He was courageous but reckless.
But Makima didn't say anything more.
"People make mistakes in life. It's inevitable."
Makima glanced at Denji and resumed reviewing the documents on her desk. "If you want to try, I won't stop you."
"Thank you! Makima!"
Upon hearing his superior's approval, Denji's eyes immediately brightened.
But the responsibility didn't disappear—it simply shifted to Makima.
"Makima, what are you going to do?" Denji couldn't help but ask.
"If choosing any of them will only bring disaster..."
Makima's voice grew a bit darker.
"Then, we'll leave none of them."