Pumpkin Scissors Vol. 24 (Kodansha, 2025)

Three years after the cease-fire with the Republic, the Empire is still plagued with famine, disease, and former soldiers turned terrorists. Now, a new battle to fight against these scars left by a seemingly endless war has begun with the creation of the Section Three of the Imperial Army's Intelligence Department. Originally intended as a propaganda tool to placate the public, Section Three, better known as Pumpkin Scissors, is committed to cutting through the thick skin of corruption, removing the rotten core, and bringing justice to the people. After completing her appeal to Anti-Ares over the wire, Lt. Alice has won a life-or-death battle against the scorpion gang's leader. But as the Empire goes on the counterattack, its capital is ravaged by the overwhelming force of the enemy's Iklil al-Akrab tank. Meanwhile Claymore One, a suppression unit from Section One, has begun to storm the Tower of Babel in order to rescue the hostages from around the world held inside. Lieutenant Kerubim has already rescued some of them, and now he's staging negotiations that could determine the fate of the nation. Amid the bullet-torn battlefield, he engages in a war of words with the ambassadors before him, using the patent infringement case to force them into a “secret pact.” But is this enough to save an empire near death?!