Sometimes I think about how 999 has Hongou live at the end while the rest of Cradle dies by his hand… Like, he is a vile person. Zero, the people explicitly trying to get revenge on him for Akane's murder, they left him alive. Vulnerable and in the trunk of a car driven by people who hate him, sure, but still alive, even knowing that he'd never regret his actions!!! He showed us that he wouldn't!! Zero gave him the MISSION to confess to his crimes or else deal with the Nonary Game, and he refused to confess, and killed people to avoid the crimes coming to light!!! He decided that he'd rather dig himself deeper than ever repent!!! And then Zero forces him to have his crimes exposed anyways. While ALIVE. While having the blood of the people he killed on his hands, with Zero avoiding getting her hands dirty.