In Narukami Island, at the Tenshukaku.
Before the abode of the Raiden Shogun, someone repeatedly wailed.
"Lord Shogun... your old minister is wronged..."
"Wuwuwu..."
One person's head was wrapped in bandages, swollen into a round ball.
They knelt before the Tenshukaku, crying like a child.
"My lord, please be reasonable, and a little quieter."
The Gatekeeping Kamisato Ayaka's face darkened.
In front of the Raiden Shogun's abode, are you here to mourn the dead?
But this person held high status and power, so they could only persuade.
"Reasonable?!"
The man, whose head was wrapped into a ball, suddenly looked up.
"Don't you see how badly I'm injured?!"
He roared, then slumped to the ground and wept again.
"Wuwuwu... Even the Lord Shogun never beat me!"
He cried with all his might.
"..."
The Gatekeeping Kamisato instinctively took a step back.
You look so energetic, yet you claim to be severely injured...
Suddenly, a path parted amidst the samurai.
A man of extraordinary bearing and stern expression approached.
The current head of the Yashiro Commission, the patriarch of the Kamisato clan.
Kamisato Ayato.
He strode forward, looking at the man on the ground in surprise.
Pointing at him, he took a long moment to recognize him.
Only then, through the thick bandages, did he identify him as Hiiragi Shinsuke.
"Lord Kanjou Commissioner, what is this..."
"How could you be in such a pitiful state?!"
Although the Lord Shogun was not one to stand on ceremony,
your appearance is a bit too exaggerated!
"Cough cough."
Hiiragi Shinsuke raised his head, his eyes flickering.
He had adopted this appearance specifically to lodge a formal complaint.
To pressure the Yashiro Commission.
Kamisato Ayato nodded subtly.
Then, with a grave expression, he said:
"Lord Shogun, you must bring justice to the two Commissions!"
"That Yashiro Commission, they are almost...!"
Just then, a light chuckle was heard.
"Heh, what about my Yashiro Commission?"
Everyone froze, looking into the distance.
Far below the endless stairs of the Tenshukaku, a figure approached.
Though alone, they remained calm and composed.
The current head of the Yashiro Commission, Kamisato Ayaka.
Kamisato Ayato's eyes gleamed, and he said with a forced smile,
"I wondered who it was, so it's the head of the Yashiro Commission."
"The Lord Shogun did not seem to have summoned you!"
This damned Kamisato boy.
He must have caught wind of this and come to disrupt things again.
He exchanged a look with Hiiragi Shinsuke, and nodded with a cold smile.
Let's see how you struggle this time!
"Such commotion before the Raiden Shogun's abode..."
Kamisato Ayato walked slowly, murmuring softly.
His gaze gradually turned cold as he swept across the samurai.
"..."
These elite samurai actually felt a chill down their spines.
They instinctively parted to make way.
"A bunch of losers!"
Kamisato Ayato's face darkened, and he said coldly.
Kamisato Ayato glanced at Hiiragi Shinsuke and smiled playfully,
"My lord, it wasn't like this at the festival before."
"Did you perhaps fall down the mountain when you came down?"
Hiiragi Shinsuke let out a cold snort and said grimly,
"You have a glib tongue. The Lord Shogun will decide."
"We'll see who can protect your Kamisato clan then!"
At this moment, a Kamisato Ayaka emerged from the Tenshukaku.
"My lords."
All eyes turned to him.
"What does the Lord Shogun say?"
Kamisato Ayato asked quickly.
The Kamisato Ayaka nodded slightly and said solemnly,
"The Lord Shogun wishes to see you."
"Please come in."
Kamisato Ayato and Hiiragi Shinsuke exchanged glances.
Excellent, the initial objective has been achieved.
As long as we step through this door...
The fate of the Yashiro Commission will be in your hands!
The large gate slowly opened.
"Lead the way."
Kamisato Ayato's expression was calm as he stepped into the Tenshukaku.
Since he dared to come here, he was already prepared.
"Hmph, still putting up a front."
Kamisato Ayato and Hiiragi Shinsuke sneered.
The conflict at the festival was something the Yashiro Commission could not deny.
It even involved foreign envoys.
While pursuing the ominous witch for the Lord Shogun.
They even pursued her to the festival hosted by the Yashiro Commission.
Do you dare say the Kamisato clan had nothing to do with it?
Once the charge of incompetence was leveled, the Lord Shogun would be angered.
The need for evidence would be secondary.
Tonight, the Kamisato clan would be utterly ruined!
...
Guided by the Kamisato Ayaka, they passed through corridors.
Kamisato Ayato remained silent, his heart beating faster.
The Raiden Shogun's oppressive aura grew stronger.
How should he handle this next?
If he could barely get by, it would be fine.
But what if he failed...
When a god's wrath descends, someone must pay the price.
At best, he, the head of the Yashiro Commission, would be replaced.
At worst, he would lose his life, or even implicate his family.
The ruin of his family was thus inevitable.
"Hoo."
Kamisato Ayato took a deep breath.
A gentle and elegant figure flashed in his mind.
He had once sworn to protect his sister and make her happy.
But this time...
...
The road tonight was exceptionally long.
But all paths eventually lead to an end.
"Lord Shogun, I have brought them."
The Kamisato Ayaka bowed and retreated.
"Lord Shogun!"
Kamisato Ayato shouted excitedly.
"Wuwuwu!"
After entering the Tenshukaku, Hiiragi Shinsuke lay on a stretcher.
His appearance was tragic, his breathing weak.
He looked as though he could die at any moment.
"..."
Kamisato Ayato looked up.
At the end of his gaze, all things were silent.
Everything lay dormant beneath the divine radiance.
A figure stood still.
It was the most noble and esteemed being in this world.
And the deity who, in countless legends, slew numerous Archons and founded the nation of Inazuma.
The Electro Archon, the Raiden Shogun.
"You have arrived."
The figure, shrouded in purple, turned and said calmly.
"Lord Shogun!"
The three commissioners bowed in unison.
The opportunity to meet a god was rare, even for them.
It was not an exaggeration to say it was stressful.
Moreover, for some reason.
Today, the Raiden Shogun...
seemed completely different from her usual demeanor.
If one had to describe it, it was as if she had gained a touch of warmth.
And her oppressive aura had become even more formidable!
For a moment, no one dared to speak first.
"Now that you have awakened me, state your business directly."
The Raiden Shogun paid no mind to their unusual state.
She merely caressed the fox mask in her hand, her voice urging them.
It seemed she had other matters awaiting her?
"..."
Kamisato Ayato's heart skipped a beat.
He couldn't see clearly from this angle.
But the mask somehow felt familiar.
??
"Lord Shogun, we have submitted the memorial in advance."
Kamisato Ayato said cautiously.
Hiiragi Shinsuke secretly opened his eyes and looked at him.
They both nodded slightly.
The memorial submitted had been carefully worded.
Its contents naturally detailed today's events.
The twisted facts were enough to put the Yashiro Commission in a difficult position!
"Mm."
The Raiden Shogun nodded, her voice devoid of emotion.
It's done!
Kamisato Ayato and Hiiragi Shinsuke looked at Kamisato Ayaka.
Their gazes were self-explanatory.
The Yashiro Commission was about to face a terrible fate!
Next, they only needed to await the god's wrath.
And perhaps propose the Vision Hunt Decree and initiate war.
It was a flawless plan!
"..."
Kamisato Ayato's mind raced through all possible scenarios.
The Yashiro Commission had no right to question the content of the memorial.
But he could roughly guess.
If he were to be held accountable, he would explain it like this.
Then he would present that piece of evidence to stall.
Finally, he would buy himself some time.
If necessary, he would ask the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine to intervene...
After a long silence, so profound it was maddening.
"Lord Shogun?"
Kamisato Ayato could not help but cautiously probe.
Why do you keep touching that mask!
"That memorial?"
The Raiden Shogun finally moved her hand away from the mask.
"That's right, it's that memorial!"
Kamisato Ayato and Hiiragi Shinsuke's eyes lit up.
They could already see the god's wrath descending, and the Yashiro Commission falling into ruin.
Then there would be no more obstacles!
Both of them couldn't help but laugh.
"I burned it."
Kamisato Ayato and Hiiragi Shinsuke immediately flattered and smiled.
"Ha, worthy of being the Lord Shogun!"
"What a wise decision!"
"..."
"..."
"?"
The scene suddenly fell silent again.
The two exchanged glances.
Wait, what did the Lord Shogun just say?
Kamisato Ayato looked up in astonishment.
He had already prepared for the worst, even to die as atonement!
This sudden turn of events left him momentarily stunned.
For the first time, Kamisato Ayaka gave up thinking.
Kamisato Ayato said unwillingly,
"Lord Shogun, then how should the Yashiro Commission be dealt with..."
However, before he could finish speaking,
a cold snort was heard.
"Ridiculous."
Kamisato Ayato quickly knelt on the ground, trembling.
His mind went blank, and he was utterly stunned.
What the hell was going on?
The Lord Shogun hadn't even looked at the memorial!
"If there is nothing else, you may leave."
The Raiden Shogun waved her hand, as if annoyed.
"But Lord Shogun, the war against Yashiori Island from Watatsumi Island!"
"Not urgent, someone is handling it."
"?"
The three commissioners suspected they had misheard.
The Raiden Shogun was acting very strangely today!
"Lord Shogun, the conflict at the festival..."
"Lack of martial skill, it's not their fault for being beaten."
"??"
Lord Shogun, whose side are you on!
"Then the envoy from the Tsaritsa..."
"It was just a spar, it's lucky he wasn't killed."
"If the Ice Queen has any questions, she can spar with me."
"???"
Is this going to be okay if it reaches the Ice Queen's ears!
"Then the Yashiro Commission's festival..."
Hearing this, the Raiden Shogun's calm expression changed slightly.
The two reignited their hope.
They were indeed going to punish the Yashiro Commission!
"Mm, the fireworks were quite beautiful."
"?????"
Everyone was stunned.
"Then, regarding the traitor Qin Yu of the Tenryou Commission..."
Hearing this, the Raiden Shogun's calm expression shifted.
One hand couldn't help but reach out to touch the fox mask again.