The two old men had no choice but to finally lower their heads and reluctantly express their stance.
Raiden Saku gave a slight nod, barely maintaining a passable appearance on the surface.
Then, facing the Tri-Commission, Raiden Saku formally declared: “From this day forward, I am the new Raiden Shogun of Inazuma, the new Electro Archon!
Henceforth, I shall rule over all of Inazuma!
Lead all the people of Inazuma!
With supreme dignity and authority!
My elder sister’s honorific title is Ogosho-sama, the Narukami Ogosho God.
My honorific title shall be Ogosho-sama, the Heavenly Center Ogosho God.
To distinguish between us, from now on you shall continue to refer to my elder sister as Shogun-sama, and you may address me as Ogosho-sama.” The Tri-Commission below nodded in acknowledgment, indicating they understood.
Raiden Saku took a few steps forward, standing at a high point.
He gazed into the distance, over the entirety of Inazuma City, over the whole of Narukami Island, over all of Inazuma…
Then, he slowly issued his orders: “Today’s minor disturbance is now considered over.
However, the ripples caused by this small disturbance are not insignificant, and many of the people in Inazuma City have been alarmed.
From now on, the Shogunate shall remain unchanged, with the Tri-Commission jointly administering affairs.
You three commissions must immediately post notices and spread the word, informing the people of Inazuma about the change of the Electro Archon and my ascension as the new Raiden Shogun.
This matter is somewhat sudden and is bound to cause further disturbances.
You are responsible for reassuring the people, guiding them, and preventing panic and chaos among the populace.
At the same time, you must suppress any rumors that are unfavorable to the Shogunate or to me.
Do you understand?” These last four words were ostensibly directed at the Tri-Commission, but in reality, they were a pointed interrogation of Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke.
Standing here at the Tenshukaku, no movement within Inazuma City could escape Raiden Saku’s perception.
He knew full well where the rumors already spreading through the streets and alleys originated.
The two old dogs were sweating profusely, their hearts filled with tension and despair for the future.
It was Kamisato Ayato who first obeyed the command: “Yes, Ogosho-sama, we will certainly handle these matters diligently.” Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke hastily chimed in their agreement.
With the matter settled, Raiden Saku couldn’t be bothered to make things difficult for the three of them any longer.
“Very well, the three of you may rise.
Proceed according to my instructions.” Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke also dared not remain any longer.
Covered in cold sweat, they stumbled to their feet, uttered their farewells, and supported each other as they fled in disarray.
Outside the Tenshukaku, watching Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke scurry away like frightened dogs, Kamisato Ayaka was puzzled and asked her elder brother: “Brother, why are the Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission reacting like this?
And you don’t look too well either?” Wiping the cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve, Kamisato Ayato looked back with lingering fear: “Truly, divine might is like a prison, and serving a ruler is like accompanying a tiger.
Great changes are about to occur in Inazuma, and I don’t know where our Kamisato Clan should go amidst the coming turbulence.
Let’s not overthink it for now.
First, we must handle the immediate tasks.
Ayaka, let’s go.
We’ll talk as we walk back.” After the Tri-Commission returned, they immediately carried out Raiden Saku’s orders.
At least on the surface, they all carried them out diligently.
On the way back to the Kamisato Estate, Kamisato Ayato explained the recent events to his sister.
Despite the Shirasagi Himegimi’s profound composure and graceful demeanor, she was so shocked by the magnitude of the news that she walked the entire journey in a daze, utterly bewildered.
Ayaka didn’t even notice when they had returned to the Kamisato Estate.
Thoma, the Yashiro Commission’s chief retainer who had been maintaining stability at the estate, noticed his young mistress’s distracted and unsettled state when welcoming the clan head and young lady home.
Realizing something major must have occurred, Thoma promptly escorted the Kamisato siblings to the study and inquired about what had happened.
Kamisato Ayato recounted the events once more.
Upon hearing this shocking news, Thoma was greatly astonished: “What!?
The Electro Archon has changed!?
That means the ruler of Inazuma has been replaced!?
The new Electro Archon is actually the former Shogun-sama’s sworn younger brother!” Thoma scratched his head in disbelief: “This is far too sudden!?
The Shogun-sama’s sworn younger brother…
I recall his honorable name is Saku.
But beyond that, I hardly remember anything else about him!
Damn it!
He’s been far too low-profile before – we have virtually no intelligence on him!” Kamisato Ayato took a sip of tea to compose himself: “Not just you, Thoma.
The Kamisato Clan knows practically nothing about this Lord Saku – no, about this Ogosho-sama either.
We only know he has always lived in seclusion, rarely appearing in public, and remains quite mysterious.” Kamisato Ayato hadn’t experienced such complete lack of information in a long time, and he couldn’t help but worry: “This is an unprecedented upheaval.
It’s uncertain how our Kamisato Clan will fare amidst the coming changes.” Kamisato Ayaka had been sitting properly nearby all this while.
Outwardly maintaining her graceful and serene composure.
In truth, her mind was still in disarray, unable to fully process everything.
During the trio’s silence, Kamisato Ayato suddenly remembered something and looked at his sister: “That’s right!
Ayaka, I recall you met Ogosho-sama several times when you were young, correct?” Ayaka was taken aback, then slowly nodded: “Yes.
However, I was quite young at the time and only encountered Lord Saku…
encountered Ogosho-sama a few times.
I don’t know much about the specifics, only that he was a very kind older brother.
Come to think of it, the impression Ogosho-sama gave me back then…
was quite similar to you, brother.” “Eh?
Similar to the clan head?” Thoma groaned: “That means he’s particularly difficult to deal with!?” Kamisato Ayato gave Thoma a “kind” look.
Thoma quickly corrected himself: “No, no, how could we describe Ogosho-sama as difficult to deal with?
It should be…
difficult to serve!
Yes!
Difficult to serve!” “Sigh…
say what you will.” Kamisato Ayato sighed: “It seems we’ll have a challenging lord to work with.
We must proceed with caution from now on.” Ayaka watched her troubled brother and Thoma but kept her true thoughts to herself: Actually, I believe that lord is quite a good person.
This was Ayaka’s private opinion.
After some discussion, Kamisato Ayato stopped overthinking.
In his capacity as Yashiro Commissioner, he began earnestly carrying out the instructions Raiden Saku had previously issued.
Kamisato Ayato assigned tasks to various subordinates of the Yashiro Commission.
Internally, he ordered subordinates to announce throughout Inazuma the Shogun-sama’s abdication and the new Electro Archon’s ascension.
At the same time, he ordered his subordinates to properly promote this Ogosho-sama, guide public discourse, and stabilize the people’s hearts.
Externally, he required subordinates to notify the other six nations about the succession of the Electro Archon, that Inazuma now had a new Shogun and ruler.
The Yashiro Commission handled matters in an orderly and unflustered manner despite the busy circumstances.
However, the Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission were quite different.
On the other side, after Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke left the Tenshukaku, they secretly gathered together to anxiously discuss countermeasures.
The two conspired for a while, cursing Raiden Saku vehemently but failing to devise any effective response.
After all, the matter was already settled – this terrible reality didn’t permit their refusal, much less their resistance.
But if they simply accepted their fate…
Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke thought about Raiden Saku’s attitude toward them…
No, no, this Raiden Saku had never approved of them from the beginning!
Moreover, Raiden Saku had explicitly opposed both the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree, which contradicted their own wishes and interests.
If Raiden Saku were to learn about the things they had done in the past, and what they were currently doing…
The consequences would likely leave them without even a grave to die in!
Not only would they meet such miserable ends, but their families would probably be implicated as well, possibly even completely eradicated!
In that case, all the wealth their families had accumulated over so many years, especially the power they personally held, would vanish completely!
When that time came, they would have nothing left!
Destitute and at others’ mercy!