After parting ways with Lumine and Paimon, Akira thought for a moment, packed up some food, and flew straight toward the Kanjou Commission.
At the Kanjou Commission, Akira pushed open the office door and saw Hiiragi Chisato slumped over her desk, her shoulders trembling.
It was obvious-she was crying.
Hearing the door open, Chisato quickly composed herself and looked up.
"Who... Lord Akira!"
"Why have you come here, my lord?"
She hurriedly wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and came over to lead Akira to the sofa by the hand.
"Please wait, Lord Akira. I'll brew you some-"
Before she could finish her sentence, Akira suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Chisato froze.
It was the first time Akira had taken the initiative to hold her.
She stared at him, stunned.
Seeing the tear-streaked beauty before him, Akira leaned down and kissed her.
"Mmh..."
Chisato slowly closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, memories of every moment they had spent together flashing through her mind.
After a long while, they parted.
Chisato pulled him back into another kiss.
Well, well.
Seeing Chisato kiss him so passionately, Akira didn't hesitate anymore-he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
Time passed.
As Chisato lay breathless in his embrace, Akira said softly,
"Chisato, eat something first."
"Alright~"
Her stomach was a little empty anyway. She sat down and opened the meal Akio had packed for her.
"You eat too, Lord Akira," Chisato said.
"No need. I just ate," he replied.
"Mhm."
Chisato nodded and didn't push further. As the lady of the Hiiragi clan, her table manners were nothing if not elegant.
"Lord Akira, about my father..." She spoke gently as she ate. "I know... he deserved it."
"These past few days acting as the acting commissioner, I uncovered a mountain of evidence against him. Every single charge was shocking."
"Charging 600,000 Mora for travel permits for foreign visitors from overseas, imposing a 45% trade tax on foreign merchants in Ritou, even selling exported grain to Watatsumi Island at sky-high prices..."
"Every single act-was worthy of the death penalty."
I know there was no way he could've escaped execution, but I just couldn't understand-how could money and power corrupt someone so completely? He used to be a clean, justice-loving official..."
"In such a short time, he changed completely-inside and out, rotten to the core," she said, voice filled with sorrow.
"It's hard to believe he truly sank to such disgusting, irredeemable depths."
"As a government official, personally trusted by the Shogun herself... shouldn't he have upheld excellence in every way?"
Chisato sighed.
"I lost my mother at a young age. My father never remarried. And now that he's gone, the rest of the clan-uncles, elders-they're all eyeing the commissioner's seat."
Her voice trembled with uncertainty.
"Lord Akira... I feel like I have no one left to rely on..."
"Who says that?"
Who says that?
Akira pinched her cheek gently.
"From now on, I'll be your pillar. No one will dare touch you again."
"Chisato, be mine."
His voice was calm but direct.
"I'll stand behind you as your strongest support."
Chisato couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she dove into Akira's arms, nodding over and over.
"Lord Akira! I accept! I've been waiting for this moment for so long!"
She may have been the daughter of a noble clan, but in the end, she was still just a young woman. These past days had drained her spirit, and Akira's words were like sunlight mending her wounded soul.
"But just now you mentioned... someone in the Hiiragi clan is eyeing your position?" Akira asked.
"Mhm. A few have already come to me," Chisato nodded. "Even some of the heads of branch families under the Hiiragi clan asked me to voluntarily resign from the position and recommend them to replace me."
"They even threatened to jointly petition the Tenshukaku."
Chisato scoffed. As if she would be intimidated -she was personally appointed by the Shogun.
"Tch tch tch... classic bottom feeders."
Akira clicked his tongue.
"Trash like that exists in every world."
"Here's what we'll do-give me a list of everyone who approached you."
Akira's eyes shimmered with killing intent.
"Anyone who dared try to pressure you... I'll deal with them personally."
Another round of purging. There were always people-and always talent to fill the gaps. Kill the rot and bring in the new.
"Understood."
Chisato nodded and stood up, grabbing pen and paper. She began writing out names.
Akira glanced at the list and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, well. That's a lot of names."
Aside from some relatives from the Hiiragi clan, the majority were from other families under the Kanjou Commission-eight or nine in total.
"These people... they're parasites."
Akira's tone was flat.
"Inazuma doesn't need parasites. They've made no contribution to the nation-so there's no need for them to continue existing."
Chisato nodded. These people probably wouldn't be around much longer anyway.
"Do you want me to gather evidence on them?" she asked.
"No need."
Akira waved the list.
"This is enough. Sometimes, the judgment of a god doesn't require proof.
"But from now on, stop calling me Lord Akira. Just call me by my name."
He smiled.
"You're my woman now-no need for formalities."
"A-Akira..."
Chisato nodded, though the name still felt a little awkward on her tongue.
Since she wasn't in the best mood, Akira stayed by her side until evening.
He had planned to leave, but she suddenly stopped him.
"Akira... tonight, I want to serve you. To fulfill my duty... as a woman. Is that okay?"
Her gaze was warm and tender, her face flushed, and her voice trembled with nervous sincerity.
Seeing her soft features and the emotion in her eyes, Akira said nothing.
Instead, he scooped her up in a bridal carry and, to her startled yelp, carried her toward her room.
"Mmh..."
With a muffled cry of pain, Hiiragi Chisato finally gave all of herself to Akira.
From this moment forward, he would be her only support in this world.