"I... really?" Hearing Akio's words, Raiden Ei was stunned for a moment, then looked at him nervously. "If Makoto sees this, will she really be angry with me?"
Even though Raiden Ei knew that Raiden Makoto was extremely gentle and had never seen her lose her temper, and even though she knew Makoto wasn't particularly strong in combat, she was still afraid of Makoto's anger. Perhaps this was the natural pressure a sister had over her younger sibling?
"I think she will," Akio nodded. Raiden Makoto cherished everything about Inazuma. As an Archon, she loved her people and her nation deeply.
"But don't worry. Makoto feels a deep sense of guilt toward you. She won't be too angry," Akio comforted the uneasy Raiden Ei.
He reached out and pulled Raiden Ei into his arms. Her body stiffened slightly, but she didn't resist, obediently leaning into his embrace.
Feeling the faint fragrance emanating from Raiden Ei, Akio felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Finally! After two lifetimes, he had finally held Raiden Ei in his arms! A dream come true!
"Ei, I'm not trying to discourage you," Akio said. "Let me tell you something."
"Go ahead," Raiden Ei nodded.
"Do you know that one of the main reasons the Sangonomiya Shrine rebelled against the Shogunate was the Sakoku Decree?" Akio asked. "Watatsumi Island is already barren, and now the land is severely desolate, with no harvests. The Sakoku Decree cut off their connections with the outside world, leaving them unable to even afford food."
"Because of the Sakoku Decree, your will has filled the seas around Inazuma with thunder and storms. Ordinary people don't dare to go out to fish, and the widespread discontent has led to rebellion," Akio explained.
"But! I allowed Inazuma's grain to be sent to Watatsumi Island to sustain their lives!" Raiden Ei looked up, confused. Of course, she knew that mortals needed food to survive. She wasn't trying to starve Watatsumi Island. How could she let the people there go hungry?
"This is exactly why you've been deceived," Akio said. "Ei, do you know how much 30,000 Mora is?"
"No," Raiden Ei shook her head. As the Raiden Shogun, everything she needed was procured by the Tri-Commission and delivered directly to Tenshukaku. She had no idea how much 30,000 Mora was worth.
"This much," Akio waved his hand, and a small pouch of Mora appeared beside them. "Even in Inazuma City, many people's monthly income is only about this much."
"Watatsumi Island's economy is even worse than Inazuma City's. I've looked into it. Most farming families earn only a few thousand Mora, and even the better-off families make no more than 20,000 Mora a month," Akio explained.
"But!" Akio then pulled out a bag of rice, a standard 15-kilogram bag.
"This bag of rice, according to the Kanjou Commission's pricing for Watatsumi Island, costs 30,000 Mora," Akio said. "In Inazuma City, the same bag of rice sells for only 350 Mora."
"Just for rice, the price difference is almost a hundredfold. How can the already impoverished Watatsumi Island afford such prices?" Akio sighed. "And that's just for a basic necessity like rice. We don't even know how outrageous the pricing is for other goods."
"What's the difference between selling at unaffordable prices and letting them starve to death?" Akio asked.
"Destroying the Narukami Shrine's branches and rebelling against the Shogunate are indeed unforgivable crimes," Akio said. "But we should reflect on this. When a nation's people no longer have smiles on their faces, perhaps it's not a mistake. But when the people are driven to rebel because they're starving, then we must realize that this is the nation's greatest failure."
Raiden Ei stared at the bag of Mora and the bag of rice on the ground, silent for a moment. Then, an endless fury surged within her.
As Raiden Ei's anger grew, the sky began to darken, and thunder rumbled. It had been so many years since she had been this furious.
Five hundred years ago, the Tri-Commission had worked tirelessly for the people, eager to give the best of everything to Inazuma's citizens. That's why Raiden Ei had trusted them so deeply, believing their words without question.
But she never expected that, after five hundred years, these people would dare to deceive a god and undermine the nation's foundation?
"Damn them..." Raiden Ei gritted her teeth, her eyes glowing with lightning as Musou Isshin appeared in her hand.
"I'll cut them down!" Raiden Ei roared.
"Ei, don't be hasty," Akio quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her onto his lap so she was facing him.
"I've already been to the Kanjou Commission. That old fool, Hiiragi Shinsuke, is probably lying in bed, groaning in pain," Akio said, waving his hand. "I've ordered the Yashiro Commission to supply Watatsumi Island with rice and grain at normal prices."
"As for the rest, let Makoto handle it," Akio said. "If Makoto is too soft-hearted to deal with these humans harshly, I'll personally skin those parasites alive."
"Alright," Raiden Ei nodded. She looked at Akio, wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head on his chest. At this moment, she felt deeply betrayed—by the Tri-Commission! Her heart ached, but leaning into Akio's embrace seemed to ease the pain a little.
"When Makoto starts purging them, if you decide to act, take me with you," Raiden Ei said. "I'll make them feel the wrath of lightning! I'll reduce them to ashes in an endless storm of thunder!"
"Alright," Akio nodded.
"Lord Akio! Ei Shogun, the sweets are here," Kuki Miyuki walked in. She was slightly surprised to see the Shogun-sama in Akio's arms, but only for a moment.
In Kuki Miyuki's eyes, Akio was omnipotent, incredibly charming, and infinitely gentle! It seemed even the Shogun-sama couldn't resist falling for Lord Akio's tenderness!
"Thank you, Miyuki," Akio nodded.
"Hehe, no problem. Enjoy, I'll go back to work," Kuki Miyuki quickly waved her hand, giving Akio a thumbs-up of approval.
Akio smiled and nodded, acknowledging her praise.
After Kuki Miyuki left, Raiden Ei continued to cling tightly to Akio. Akio said, "Ei, there's your favorite tri-colored dango here."
"And plenty of other sweets. Are you sure you don't want to eat?"
"I'll eat! But let me hold you a little longer," Raiden Ei looked up at Akio. "Akio... I've heard Miko call you that. Can I call you that too?"
"Of course," Akio leaned down and gently kissed her soft lips, smiling.
"Mmm~ Akio~ let me hold you a little longer~ just a little..." Raiden Ei whispered. Her heart was so weary.