"By the way, I also have something to say about the Tenryou Commission," Akio said.
"The Tenryou Commission? What's wrong with them?" Raiden Makoto asked. "Isn't Kujou Sara the general of the Tenryou Commission? I see her as a loyal and upright soldier."
"She is indeed loyal, but that doesn't mean everyone else is," Akio said with a faint smile, then called out, "Sara, come in for a moment."
The next moment, Kujou Sara pushed open the doors of Tenshukaku and walked in. "Lord Akio, what are your orders?"
"Come, sit here," Akio beckoned.
"Yes," Kujou Sara quickly walked over and sat down stiffly.
Under the gaze of the three Shoguns, Kujou Sara felt as if needles were pricking her back, making her uneasy.
"Sara, don't be nervous. I called you in just to ask you a few things," Akio reassured her.
"Lord Akio, please go ahead," Kujou Sara nodded.
"If I remember correctly, Sara, you're the adopted daughter of Kujou Takayuki, right?" Akio asked.
"Yes, Lord Akio. I was once a homeless tengu, and it was Lord Takayuki who took me in and raised me," Kujou Sara nodded.
"What do you think of Kujou Takayuki?" Akio asked.
"The head of the clan?" Kujou Sara pondered for a moment before saying, "Since I was young, Lord Takayuki has taught me to be loyal to the Shogun and to work hard for the future of Inazuma. Although he's strict, he's my role model!"
"Oh… is that so?" Akio's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Then what do you think of the Tenryou Commission?"
"The Tenryou Commission is my only support. I will do everything in my power to defend the honor of my family," Kujou Sara said.
"Then let me ask you one last question. If the Tenryou Commission—or, to be precise, the Kujou Clan—betrayed the Shogun and betrayed Inazuma, what would you do?" Akio asked calmly.
"The Tenryou Commission is loyal to the Shogun and to Inazuma. They would never rebel," Kujou Sara replied without hesitation.
"Answer my question directly. If such a situation really occurred, what would you do?" Akio pressed.
"I would bring anyone who betrays the Shogun to justice! No matter who it is! Loyalty to the Shogun is the only creed I live by," Kujou Sara said firmly.
"Good," Akio nodded, and the three Shoguns also nodded in satisfaction.
"Lord Akio, why are you asking this?" Kujou Sara asked, puzzled.
"Although you may not want to believe it, I have to tell you that Kujou Takayuki has altered official documents, colluded with the Fatui, and oppressed the people of Inazuma. In short, he has betrayed the Shogun and Inazuma," Akio said calmly, taking a sip of tea.
"Boom…" Akio's words exploded like a bomb in Kujou Sara's ears. She stared at Akio, shaking her head in disbelief.
"No… that's impossible?" Kujou Sara couldn't believe it. The man who had always taught her to be loyal to the Shogun and to Inazuma, the man she had looked up to as a role model—how could he be like this?
"Do you have any evidence, Lord Akio?" Kujou Sara asked, staring at him.
"Evidence? There's plenty," Akio said. "Go investigate it yourself. Here's a hint: his official documents and his correspondence are all places you can find evidence."
"…" Kujou Sara was stunned. He wanted her to investigate it herself?
"You may leave, Sara. Look into it carefully. I'll leave the matter of the Tenryou Commission to you," Akio said. "If you handle this well, you might even save it from destruction."
"I understand, Lord Akio," Kujou Sara said, looking utterly dejected. Akio's words had struck a heavy blow to her worldview. After bowing to the three Shoguns, she slowly exited Tenshukaku.
"Akio, how did you know about the Tenryou Commission's actions?" Raiden Ei asked curiously.
"When I was in Liyue, I met the Eighth Fatui Harbinger, La Signora. That woman offended me, so I taught her a lesson, and she confessed most of their plans," Akio explained. "After leaving Liyue, her next stop was Inazuma. She wanted to take the Electro Gnosis from you and send it back to Snezhnaya."
"I see," Raiden Makoto nodded, sighing. Inazuma was truly plagued by internal and external troubles!
After that, Akio stayed with Raiden Makoto and the others to discuss some matters. He took the Narukami Decree stamped with the Narukami Seal and flew out of Tenshukaku, heading straight for Ritou.
At the Hiiragi Estate in Ritou, Hiiragi Shinsuke was currently lying in bed, furious. Half of his face and one arm were wrapped in bandages, and even the slightest movement caused excruciating pain.
"Bastard! Bastard!" He smashed everything in the room to pieces, cursing loudly.
"Father! What are you doing?" Hiiragi Chisato rushed in, exasperated.
"You ungrateful girl!" Hiiragi Shinsuke was seething with rage. If it weren't for her, would his arm be crippled?
Hiiragi Chisato sighed. "I've told you many times! Lord Akio is a true god! He possesses divine power beyond mortal comprehension. Why did you have to provoke him?"
"Do you really think he obtained the position of god through underhanded means?" Hiiragi Chisato frowned.
"I've told you so many times! When Lord Akio saved me that day, the power he displayed was beyond anything a mortal could match. Even the Kairagi, who could easily kill Vision bearers, were crushed like ants in his hands. You…" Hiiragi Chisato couldn't understand how her father had become so arrogant and blind.
"And, Father! When I was young, I remember you were a good commissioner who loved the people. You worked late every night!" Hiiragi Chisato choked back tears. She already knew about her father's misdeeds, but she couldn't understand why he had done them!
"I used to beg you to rest, but you always said that if you didn't finish your work, the people of Inazuma would suffer and go hungry. Back then, many people tried to bribe you, but you wouldn't even meet them. You even warned me never to accept bribes. You were such a clean and upright official back then! Why have you been blinded by money now?"
"Have you forgotten your original intentions? Have you forgotten the lessons you taught me? Or have you truly been blinded by greed?" Hiiragi Chisato cried out. "You were once so heroic, solving all the people's problems with a wave of your hand! But now… why? Why have you become like this…?"
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