"Help me establish my footing? Hahahahaha!" Akio burst into laughter, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. He finally turned to look at Shinsuke's aged face and said, word by word, "Help me? You think you're worthy? What do you even amount to?"
"Akio! You—!" Shinsuke, who had been repeatedly humiliated by Akio, finally lost his composure. As someone who had always held a high position, when had he ever been insulted like this?
"Akio! The Kanjou Commission offering you help is a sign of respect! You, a so-called new god, do you think the people of Inazuma will worship you in the land of the Narukami?" Shinsuke shouted angrily. "Without our support, you're nothing!"
"Father!" Chisato immediately panicked when she heard Shinsuke's words. She had seen Akio in action—his power was far beyond that of any mortal. Akio was a true god!
For a mortal to show such disrespect to a deity, Chisato was terrified, fearing that Akio might strike her father dead with a single blow.
"Old man, you overestimate your importance," Akio said coldly, staring at Shinsuke. "You don't actually think that ants like you can influence a god, do you?"
"Oh, I forgot. You lot were bold enough to deceive the Shogun," Akio sneered. "Wasn't it you who tricked her into issuing the Sakoku Decree?"
"I underestimated you," Akio sighed. "Tiny insects, daring to blind a god's eyes and ears. Ei really hasn't been doing her job well."
"You..." Shinsuke's eyes widened in shock, unsure how Akio knew about these things.
"What about me?" Akio said. "You don't think I became a god through some shady means, do you?"
Whoosh! A chopstick flew through the air, grazing Shinsuke's face before embedding itself deep into the hard wall behind him.
"Ah!" Shinsuke felt a sharp pain on his face and clutched it, screaming in agony.
"Let me tell you something. My status as a god was earned through my own strength," Akio said calmly. "An old fool like you dares to disrespect a god?"
"Commissioner Hiiragi!" Hearing Shinsuke's screams, countless officials rushed in. Seeing Shinsuke's bloodied face, they immediately pointed their weapons at Akio!
"All of you, put your weapons down!" Chisato shouted. Damn it! Daring to point weapons at a god? This was suicide!
Hearing the young lady's command, the officials hesitated, unsure of what to do.
"Arrest him!" Shinsuke, now blinded by pain, roared.
"Who dares?!" Chisato stepped in front of Akio, glaring at all the officials.
On one hand, she wanted to protect Akio; on the other, she wanted to protect the Kanjou Commission. But Chisato had already given up. She knew that after today, the Kanjou Commission was finished.
"It seems that being in a high position for so long has made you forget who you are," Akio said indifferently, looking at the bloodied Shinsuke.
"Originally, that chopstick was aimed at your forehead, but I thought better of it," Akio said calmly. "Killing you outright shouldn't be my job. The god who rules this land is about to return. Handing you over to her for judgment is far more interesting than killing you myself."
"It'll also give me a chance to see Makoto's methods."
"If she's merciful, then I'll skin you alive and scatter your soul to the winds."
Shinsuke stared at Akio, not understanding what he was saying, but he no longer dared to provoke him.
"Do you want to come to the Grand Narukami Shrine with me?" Akio asked Chisato, his voice softening.
"I..." Chisato wanted to, but seeing the chaos in the Kanjou Commission, she shook her head.
"Alright, stay safe. I'll head back now," Akio gently touched Chisato's cheek, and a faint golden light seeped into her body.
"Okay," Chisato looked at Akio with reluctance.
Akio didn't even glance at Shinsuke as he walked out. His overwhelming divine aura forced the Kanjou Commission officials to make way for him.
Only after Akio had flown away did Chisato turn to her father and rush over to check his injuries.
"Get away from me, you traitorous girl!" Shinsuke, now furious, swung his hand to slap Chisato.
But a golden light emanated from Chisato's body, and when Shinsuke's hand struck the light, the powerful recoil shattered his entire arm.
"Ah!!!" An even more agonized scream erupted. Chisato shouted, "Quick, take my father to the doctor!"
The officials immediately carried Shinsuke out.
Chisato watched as the golden light faded into her body. She gently touched the spot on her cheek where Akio had caressed her, her eyes filled with sorrow. She murmured, "Father, antagonizing Akio will only drag the Kanjou Commission and the Hiiragi clan into ruin."
"Daring to provoke a god..." Chisato whispered. "It seems you've truly been blinded by power."
...
"It seems Shinsuke's arm is done for," Akio had anticipated that Shinsuke would try to hit Chisato. Before leaving, he had infused a bit of spatial energy into her body.
If she were in danger, it would automatically protect her, and the recoil would be enough to cripple Shinsuke's arm.
"How foolish," Akio flew swiftly toward the Grand Narukami Shrine and soon arrived.
"Lord Akio! You're back," Kuki Miyuki hurried over as she saw Akio descend from the sky.
"Miyuki, why aren't you resting yet?" Akio asked.
"No, I'm on duty tonight," Miyuki shook her head.
"Lord Akio, have you eaten? Let me make you some noodles," Miyuki offered. It was so late, and she wasn't sure if he was hungry.
"Thank you, Miyuki," Akio said. Although he had eaten at the Kanjou Commission, he couldn't refuse the girl's expectant gaze.
"Hehe, no problem," Miyuki hummed a tune as she headed to the kitchen.
"Akio!" Suddenly, a pink figure emerged from the Grand Narukami Shrine. It was Yae Miko.
"Miko," Akio smiled upon seeing her.
"Hmm~ You smell of blood," Miko approached and asked curiously, "Didn't Saiguu-sama say you went to the Kanjou Commission?"
"I didn't kill anyone. Just gave a disrespectful fool a little lesson," Akio chuckled.
"You're talking about that old man, aren't you? I knew you wouldn't be able to resist punishing him," Miko quickly figured it out.
"I wanted to kill him outright to stop him from ruining Inazuma, but I thought it'd be better to wait for Makoto's return," Akio laughed. "For now, he's crippled. He probably won't be able to do much."
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