After breakfast, Akio prepared to take Lumine and Paimon to Watatsumi Island.
"Traveling takes too much time. How about I fly you there?" Akio asked Lumine.
"Sure," Lumine nodded.
With Lumine's consent, Akio wrapped his arm around her slender waist, grabbed Paimon, and held her in his arms. He glanced in a certain direction, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, before transforming into a streak of light and flying toward Watatsumi Island.
In the depths of the forest, a figure clenched their teeth, watching as Akio flew away with Lumine in his arms.
"Ah! Akio, you're so fast!" Paimon, clutching her little crown tightly, shouted in Akio's arms.
"..." Akio was speechless. He really didn't want to deal with this annoying little creature right now.
Lumine, on the other hand, seemed to think of something, her face flushing slightly.
With Akio's incredible speed, they quickly arrived at Watatsumi Island.
Descending from the sky with Lumine and Paimon, Akio startled the soldiers guarding the Sangonomiya Shrine. When they saw Akio's face, the soldiers who had participated in the battle and been suppressed by Akio immediately recognized him, their expressions changing drastically.
"The Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven!" Panic spread among the soldiers in an instant.
Akio didn't say a word, leading Lumine and Paimon into the Sangonomiya Shrine. None of the soldiers dared to stop him.
Pushing open the doors of the Sangonomiya Shrine, Akio walked in with Lumine. Using his spatial powers, he sensed the location of Kokomi's office and headed straight for it.
Kokomi was busy handling official documents, among which was a list of names—people who supported the war. They constantly urged the Resistance to continue fighting against the Shogunate, much to Kokomi's frustration. What made it worse was that these people all possessed Delusions.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Kokomi frowned, as no one in the Sangonomiya Shrine would barge into her office without permission.
When she saw the face of the person who entered, Kokomi's expression changed dramatically. It was Akio, with Lumine and Paimon following behind him.
Kokomi quickly stood up, pressing the list of names under a pile of documents, and forced a smile. "Lord Akio, what brings you here in person?"
"I heard from Lumine that there's been an anomaly in Enkanomiya," Akio said. "This time, I'll accompany Lumine there."
Kokomi looked at Lumine, who nodded. This made Kokomi feel a bit relieved. If Akio was going along, there was a good chance Lumine could bring back the Bloodbranch Coral.
But the next moment, her face turned pale again, her relief replaced by panic.
With a wave of his hand, Akio summoned the document and the list of names Kokomi had been looking at into his hands.
"Lord Akio..." Kokomi tried to explain, but Akio cut her off.
"Shh..." Akio signaled for Kokomi to be silent as he flipped through the mission report and the list of names with interest.
"Huh? What's going on?" Lumine asked curiously, looking at Akio.
"Tsk, I remember being quite lenient with Watatsumi Island, didn't I? I had the Yashiro Commission continue to provide you with affordable food and daily necessities. I've been more than generous, haven't I?" Akio asked Kokomi, then handed the document to Lumine.
After reading the list, Lumine's expression also darkened. While everyone was working toward peace, Watatsumi Island was...
"Lord Akio, please let me explain," Kokomi pleaded.
"No need for explanations," Akio waved his hand, cutting her off. He threw the list and the document back at Kokomi. "I'll give you a choice. Kill everyone on this list. When Lumine and I return from Enkanomiya, I want to see every single one of their heads."
"Don't try to deceive a god's vision. If I come back and find that you haven't done this or even one person is missing, then Watatsumi Island has no reason to exist," Akio said coldly. "I don't think you want to witness my power."
"I've given you many chances to change, but you've disappointed me time and time again," Akio said icily.
Kokomi's face turned pale, and she looked at Lumine with pleading eyes.
Lumine could only shrug helplessly. Not only did she have no authority to interfere in Inazuma's internal affairs, but even if she did, she wouldn't side with Watatsumi Island against Akio.
After all, Lumine had been interacting with Akio all this time, and in her heart, Akio's position was far higher than Watatsumi Island's.
Paimon felt the same way.
"Open the passage to Enkanomiya for us," Akio commanded, not giving Kokomi any time to think.
"Yes, Lord Akio," Kokomi nodded, her spirit broken. "Lord Akio, Lumine, Paimon, this way."
They walked to the massive whirlpool in front of the Sangonomiya Shrine. Kokomi's hands glowed with blue energy as she shot a beam into the whirlpool. In an instant, a massive vortex gate opened.
"Let's go, Lumine," Akio said, wrapping his arms around Lumine and Paimon before jumping into the vortex, their figures disappearing in an instant.
Seeing the three of them enter Enkanomiya, Kokomi sighed. How could she bring herself to kill these people? But if she didn't, she was truly afraid that Akio would destroy Watatsumi Island. A god on par with the Raiden Shogun—destroying Watatsumi Island would be easy for him, wouldn't it?
She knew Akio was forcing her to make a choice, and she also knew she didn't dare to gamble on whether Akio would destroy Watatsumi Island.
After much deliberation, Kokomi finally hardened her heart. She couldn't risk the fate of all of Watatsumi Island. She summoned the soldiers.
"Your Excellency!" The soldier saluted.
"Take some men and come with me to arrest everyone on this list," Kokomi decided to handle this personally. If even one person was let go due to personal bias, the entire Watatsumi Island would be doomed.
"Huh?" The soldier was confused. "What crime have they committed?"
"Conspiracy to rebel, inciting war, and possessing Delusions—all capital offenses," Kokomi said coldly, her eyes sharp.
"Yes!" The soldier, seeing Kokomi like this for the first time, shivered and immediately gathered dozens of soldiers. Even Gorou heard the commotion and rushed over.
"Your Excellency, do they really deserve such a severe punishment? Do they have to be killed?" Gorou anxiously tried to plead for mercy.
"Gorou, there's no room for negotiation," Kokomi said calmly, looking at him.
"I... I understand," Gorou, seeing Kokomi's resolve, said no more. He was steadfast in carrying out every decision Kokomi made.
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