Devastating New Face Part 1 is the first chapter of the Black Lagoon spinoff series Eda Initial Stage. It was originally released on April 19, 2022.
Plot[]
Eda, dressed in her nun outfit, is seen talking to Rico about some information regarding weapon caches when she thinks that she has seen someone who she saw in a previous mission. The story then switches to Eda's past beginning with her first mission abroad as a CIA agent in Central America. Eda arrives in the unspecified country and takes a taxi, realizing that she is being followed. Accordingly, she checks her notes to see how to handle the situation, reading that local police and counter intelligence would be following her but not actually engaging with her, so she stayed to her plan. Unfortunately, her taxi gets blocked by several cars and some men tell her to get out, irking her.
At a house with the men, Eda sits in a chair calmly claiming that she is merely a diplomat, but the men's leader states that he knows she is a trafficker and has her shirt undressed, telling her that she would be in the building until she talked. Meanwhile at a CIA office, an agent named Ruggles is called for by another agent, telling him to go pick up the new recruit (Eda), saying that she was picked up by some men claiming to be secret police. Back at the house, Eda kicks the man in the face and uses her excellent combat skills to disarm and knock out the other men. Soon, Ruggles arrives on the scene, realizing that it was Eda who took down the men, remarking that he could not believe that a Harvard graduate like her could pull that off. Eda responds that she tried peaceful means, and Ruggles commends her feat.
Going to Ruggles's car, Ruggles tells Eda that she should have joined special operations instead of being a case agent, but Eda responds that she feels more comfortable doing intelligence work instead of punching and shooting people. At the CIA office, a superior talks to Eda and informs her that the men did not know about her affiliation and would not mess with her again. Afterward, Eda begins her transfer with Ruggles bringing her to the hotel where she is staying at. Upon entering her room, a man (with other henchmen) tries to attack her but Eda swiftly dodges his arm and uses the men's own weapons against them. Lying on the ground, one of the men pulls out a revolver and prepares to fire, but Eda disarms him and takes the gun, seeing that he will not wake up.
Later after the men's belongings are taken and their bodies are put elsewhere, Ruggles drives the mentally tired Eda to see an informant of theirs, Enrique Gasol. Ruggles tells the suspicious Enrique that he will have to help Eda with experience, but Enrique initially refuses. Ruggles tells him about her accomplishment of fighting off several secret police with ease, surprising the young boy. Ruggles then informs Eda that Enrique is with the North Gulf Cartel, saying that his brother was the original informant but got killed. Finally, Ruggles tells Eda that Enrique will give her info on the smuggling routes to smuggle weapons and funds to places where the CIA headquarters cannot immediately reach. At a restaurant, Ruggles and Eda sit while the former tells Eda that Enrique spent six months to become the cartel's right-hand man using the claim that he was avenging his brother.
Elsewhere, Enrique talks to himself, saying to his brother that the Americans are underestimating him. Continuing their conversation, Eda wonders what Ruggles meant by "privileges" as an American, and he specifies that she could be arrested anywhere and she would be freed due to her diplomatic affiliation, especially one with the CIA. Not totally convinced, Eda replies that she heard about an officer in 1978 in Beirut being killed after being captured, making Ruggles tell her not to interrupt someone when they are talking. In turn, Eda remarks to herself that he should not bring up dubious claims. When Ruggles derogatorily refers to her Harvard background, Eda rhetorically asks if he has something against Harvard graduates. The angered Ruggles confirms, but Eda proclaims in seriousness that she joined the CIA to defend the honor of the U.S.A., making him burst into laughter, having to calm down while remarking that he has not laughed like that in a long time.
Ruggles bids her goodbye and says that he will see her the next day, leaving Eda alone. Standing in the city, Eda thinks to herself that she got a job in the wrong place due to her demanding boss and her bratty informant.