"Akio, I won't walk you any further," Kamisato Ayaka said reluctantly as they reached the edge of the forest.
"Alright, Ayaka, you head back now. Be careful on your way," Akio nodded. With Ayaka's strength and the Blazing Stones, there was no one in Chinju Forest who could harm her.
After parting ways with Kamisato Ayaka, Akio leaped through the trees and soon arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine. There, the Raiden Shogun was already waiting for him.
"Shogun, you're here?" Akio asked with a smile.
"Akio," the Raiden Shogun nodded and walked over.
"Ei told me about what you two did yesterday. I want the same," the Raiden Shogun said. She wasn't going to let Raiden Ei get more from Akio than she did.
"Yae Miko also told me that only by doing those things can we truly be together."
"..." Akio was speechless. Yae Miko, you're really good at stirring the pot, aren't you?
"Alright then, Shogun. I'll teach you all about it tonight," Akio nodded. He wasn't one to shy away from such things.
---
About two or three days later, Sayu completed her task and arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Lord Akio! These are Kujou Takayuki's letters and some ledgers," Sayu said, pulling out a thick stack of documents from her Vision. "I'm not sure which ones are useful, so I took everything I could find."
"Wow!" Akio took the documents and flipped through them. They were all letters and ledgers detailing the Tenryou Commission's secret dealings with the Fatui and their illicit income.
"You did well, Sayu," Akio said, ruffling Sayu's small head.
Sayu usually didn't like people touching her head, but Akio's touch felt warm, as if a comforting energy was flowing from her head into her body, making her feel cozy and relaxed.
"Alright, Sayu, you've grown taller," Akio said with a smile.
"Huh?" Sayu quickly looked down and noticed that her pants were indeed a bit shorter. She compared herself to Akio and realized she had actually grown taller.
"This is amazing!" Sayu said excitedly, then looked at Akio with a bright smile. "Lord Akio, if you have any more tasks like this, please give them to me! Sayu doesn't need any other reward, just to grow taller."
"Hahaha! Alright," Akio laughed. For him, this was an easy task. By infusing a bit of Life Energy into Sayu's body, he could make her grow taller without any side effects. It would also heal any past injuries she had, leaving no scars.
"Then, Lord Akio, Sayu will take her leave now," Sayu said happily, then ran out of the Grand Narukami Shrine, probably heading off to find a tree to nap in.
Watching Sayu leave, Akio couldn't help but smile. He then took the evidence and walked into the shrine's office.
"Yae, Saiguu, take a look at this," Akio said, handing Kujou Takayuki's official reports and ledgers to Yae Miko.
"What's this?" Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu asked curiously as they opened the documents.
"Evidence I had someone retrieve from Kujou Takayuki. Tsk… the head of the Tenryou Commission, daring to conceal such major issues and even collude with the Fatui," Akio said calmly.
"Hmph…" As they read through the documents, Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu's expressions grew darker. Kujou Takayuki's actions were nothing short of treason.
"Akio, what do you plan to do?" Yae Miko asked.
"What do I plan to do? Of course, show this to Makoto," Akio said. "And then let Kujou Sara see what the man she once admired has been up to."
"Hmm…" Yae Miko thought for a moment. "Makoto is usually gentle. What if she doesn't execute Kujou Takayuki…"
"Kujou Takayuki's actions have already threatened the foundation of the nation," Kitsune Saiguu said, waving her hand. "Makoto won't hesitate in this matter. Her kindness is only for those who care for Inazuma."
"Then let's head to Tenshukaku," Akio nodded.
"Let's go!" Kitsune Saiguu and Yae Miko agreed, and the three of them made their way to Tenshukaku.
---
Inside Tenshukaku, Raiden Makoto looked at the official reports in her hands, her gentle face now filled with anger.
"Deceiving the throne! Shaking the foundation of the nation! This Kujou Takayuki! How dare he!" She slammed the reports on the table, her voice filled with fury.
"Sara, take a look for yourself," Akio said, gesturing to the reports as he looked at Kujou Sara, who was standing nearby.
"What is this…" Kujou Sara gritted her teeth and took the reports, reading them carefully.
"See, Sara? He even dared to conceal reports meant for the Shogun. What else wouldn't he do?" Akio asked.
After reading the reports, Kujou Sara's face darkened.
She never imagined that the man she respected the most, her adoptive father, would actually commit such treasonous acts.
The Resistance, the Vision Hunt Decree, Sangonomiya Kokomi—he didn't mention any of it! The soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield were nothing but a joke to him…
"So? I've brought you the evidence you wanted to see, Sara. You're not going to deny reality, are you?" Akio asked calmly.
"Damn it…" Kujou Sara clenched the evidence tightly, her eyes red with anger.
"Betrayal is unforgivable! Even if he's my adoptive father, that's no excuse for treason!" Kujou Sara said furiously. "I'll confront him face to face!"
With that, Kujou Sara quickly bowed and left.
"Tsk, I'll go with her," Akio said, watching Kujou Sara's reaction. He shook his head and followed her.
"Notify the Okuzumeshuu! Head to the Tenryou Commission and arrest Kujou Takayuki!" Raiden Makoto called for an Okuzumeshuu member. "If anyone resists, you are permitted to kill on the spot!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!" The Okuzumeshuu were the Raiden Shogun's most loyal guards. They answered directly to the Shogun, and no matter who it was, if the Shogun gave the order, they would carry it out without hesitation.
Moreover, the Okuzumeshuu were the most elite soldiers, each possessing extraordinary skills. No ordinary soldier could stand against them, and no one dared to resist when the Okuzumeshuu took action.
Akio walked beside Kujou Sara as she hurried along. The entire way, she was thinking about how to confront him! She couldn't understand why her adoptive father, who had already reached the pinnacle of power in Inazuma, would commit such treasonous acts.
"I must ask him what he's trying to achieve! Then bring him to justice!" Kujou Sara was absolutely loyal and righteous. Even if it was her adoptive father, if he broke the law, he would be punished!
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