10 Lady Nagant

Deep inside the world-renowned prison, Tartarus. 

Several hundred meters beneath the sea level was a prison cell clad in silver ivory. In it were two beautiful individuals staring at each other's eyes.

Makima and Tsutsumi were left alone in the ivory room to discuss the employment and pardon of the fallen hero.

On the other hand, Tengen and the Warden waited outside the metallic door, standing idly while never taking a glimpse at one another.

Silence perpetuated the silver prison cell since the two gorgeous ladies couldn't stop themselves from having a staring contest.

The golden hypnotic irises of Makima gazed deeply at the amethyst-like eyes of the fallen hero. It was an awkward scene that was soon broken by a question from the imprisoned one.

"What does someone like you need from someone like me."

It was a straightforward question. But coupled with Tsutsumi's aloof expression, it almost seemed disrespectful.

Makima maintained a pleasant smile and crossed her legs with amusement veiled in her eyes. However, before answering the question, she was curious about one thing.

"What do you think of me, Tsutsumi-chan?"

While Makima had a delicate appearance, the aura emanating from her body would say otherwise. But her aura would only illustrate her power. 

It doesn't give any information about the kind of person she was.

"You're a monster pretending to be a human."

Tsutsumi's answer, while expected, was incredibly upfront. It made the edges of Makima's lips rise as the one in front of the Control Devil had excellent perception.

But Makima wanted to clear up some misunderstandings. 

"It's not like I'm pretending to be a human."

"I just look like a human."

Tsutsumi's eyes squinted at the gorgeous lady, whose response was unexpected. She thought the monster to deny such allegations, but its priorities were more misaligned than usual.

"You aren't even denying it."

"What's there to deny?"

Makima wasn't bothered about her identity as a Devil or Monster being known. It's not like she was hiding it. Others just never asked her.

"So, what do you want from me?"

Tsutsumi didn't want to waste time chattering with a monster and wanted to start talking about what the h*ll a monster was doing in front of her. 

"Hmm... The answer to that question is simple."

"The Japanese Government made a deal with me to create a new law-enforcement agency."

Tsutsumi looked at Makima as if she was dumbfounded.

"So the government began taking deals from monsters, huh?"

"That is something I'm confident they would do."

The fallen hero shook her head with disappointment apparent all over her face. The corruptness of the hero society couldn't be underestimated. 

"Anyhow... To be pardoned for your crimes, Tsutsumi Kaina."

"You will have to work with the Counter Division."

Tsutsumi furrowed her eyebrows when she heard about getting employed by another government waste management agency.

She was already sick with the Hero Public Safety Commission. Why should she join another one?

"What if I disagree?"

As she uttered such words, Tsutsumi felt the pleasant smile of Makima becoming a bit colder. Her instincts were screaming at her to not test the guillotine of the sharpness of its blade. 

"Tsutsumi Kaina, a brilliant hero who always made the ones around her smile. You were a talented lady, and your quirk was incredibly useful for apprehending villains." 

Tsutsumi's eyes had a tinge of anger after hearing the words of Makima. To speak of her past was akin to stabbing a dragon's Achilles heel. 

"You thrived to be the best a hero could be, and you even dirtied your hands to make the world a bit cleaner. Though, you became lost."

"You might think the peaceful era you find yourself in is fake."

"But in reality, nothing in this world is real. The hopes and dreams of others are but illusions of the mind. Peace will never become long-lasting, and safety will always be a mirage." 

"However, that shouldn't stop you from working for it. As you dirtied your hands, you made the future victims of those bastards continue smiling without encountering a tragedy."

"It's not something to be ashamed of, Lady Nagant."

"Some in this world must be cleansers of its filth. While it might not be as gratifying as the perfect image of heroes, it still doesn't stop them from being one."

As Makima kept uttering sweet words to the lost one, Tsutsumi, otherwise known as Lady Nagant, was slowly convinced by her poisonous words. 

These were things she wanted to hear from someone.

Sadly, she never heard such words. 

Lady Nagant was almost wholly persuaded by Makima, but before she could be entirely convinced. 

Makima dropped her act.

"Unfortunately, these aren't why I want you to work for me."

When she heard such words, Lady Nagant left her trance and returned to the world. After realizing what had happened, she felt humiliated. 

Anger throbbed inside her heart as she wanted to use her quirk and shoot this monster in the head. But upon remembering the sentry guns, she stopped herself from doing something foolish.

"You look angry."

Makima smirked at the fallen hero, who was fuming in anger. 

"You must be amused, huh? Playing with someone else hopes should be delighting for a demon like you."

Lady Nagant gritted her teeth and used the entirety of her mind to stop herself from shooting the bastard. 

"Glad you understand, but don't call me a demon."

"I'm a Devil."

Once Lady Nagant heard Makima's correction, she raised her eyebrows with a questioning face, asking if what Makima had said was true. 

Although, it didn't need Makima's confirmation to understand the truth. The bastard in front of her could only be described as the Devil.

"I didn't know Devils existed in this world."

"Is it a mutation quirk?"

Every unnatural event or being could always be pointed at the existence of quirks. It was the natural reaction of the humans in this Era.

"What do you think?"

Makima continued smirking since she was having fun with their interactions. 

But since she wasn't here to tease the heroine, Makima decided to stop poking Lady Nagant and become honest with her reasonings.

"Do you want to know the truth, Tsutsumi-chan?"

Lady Nagant was forced to whether or not to hear the truth of the Devil. Why does the Devil really want someone like her?

She was weaker than many heroes or villains. Her reputation in the hero society wasn't far and wide. And she also lacked ambitions.

 Curious about the truth, Lady Nagant nodded, prompting Makima to speak of the truth.

"I want a loyal guard dog, Tsutsumi-chan. That is why I am before you."

"I need someone who would only work for me. Someone strong, capable, intelligent, skilled, and determined."

"If you become mine, there's no need to think about the corruptness of this world, the illusions shrouding within it, and its hypocritical or irrational ways."

"You simply need to follow my orders. I'll be responsible with every one of your actions." 

Makima's voice was pleasant and inviting. It was like the song of a siren calling for others in the sea. But Lady Nagant managed to snap back to consciousness.

Cold sweat dripped from her forehead as she almost fell under the Devil's temptation. 

"W-What makes you think I'll accept you as my superior?"

Makima, hearing such words, gave a relaxing grin.

"Oh, don't misunderstand."

"I don't want to be your superior, Lady Nagant."

"I desire to be your Master."

Lady Nagant felt strange as warmth spread throughout her body. She looked at Makima with caution since she was confident that this was the Devil's doing.

"What did you do to me?"

"I am Conquering you, Lady Nagant."

"If you don't become my dog, I'll turn you into one."

"So... Do you want to continue resisting?"

Makima's golden irises glimmered hypnotically. 

Controlling the one before her wouldn't be a problem for Makima. But she didn't find the need to do so. What was before her was already a hound.

She just needed to tame the lost stray to become hers.

Lady Nagant felt the warmth and pleasant feeling wrapping the entirety of her body. Though, she couldn't dare to fall for it. Otherwise, she'll lose herself and become a puppet.

"Okay, okay! I'll become your dog."

"Please stop whatever you're doing to me."

Several seconds passed, and Lady Nagant accepted Makima's proposal. Against Conquest, there was no will or spiritual resolve, only servitude. 

"I'm pleased to have you as my puppy." 

"Don't worry, Tsutsumi-chan."

"As long as you follow my words, I'll treat you the best."

Lady Nagant lowered her head in embarrassment and couldn't look at Makima in the eyes. But before she could continue to wallow, she felt a soft hand rubbing her head.

Her sharp, amethyst-colored eyes looked upward. She soon saw Makima patting her indigo hair with a rare, sincere smile. Such an expression was genuine for the Control Devil. 

To Makima, she had received a good and soon-to-be loyal puppy. And it didn't require her to use Conquest to dominate over the individual's mind.

That's right, even a Devil wants natural loyalty, or perhaps this was her former human side acting up. 

Lady Nagant found the Devil's smile beautiful. It was different from the ones she saw before. But she quickly shook her head of such thoughts and turned aloof.

"What does, eh."

She didn't know the Devil's name, causing Makima to introduce herself.

"It looks like I forgot to introduce myself."

"I am Makima, the Control Devil." 

With Makima's introduction, Lady Nagant stood up from her comfortable white bed and deeply bowed to the crimson-haired beauty.

"I'll be under your command, Master."