"It seems you've forgotten what I told you," Akio glanced at La Signora and said indifferently.
"I… I didn't dare…" La Signora trembled and quickly replied.
"You didn't dare? Hmph…" Akio sneered. "I'll deal with you later."
Then, Akio turned to Kujou Takayuki. With a slight wave of his hand, Kujou Takayuki was lifted into the air. A Subspace Lance pierced through his legs!
"Ahhh!!!" A agonized scream echoed as unbearable pain surged through Kujou Takayuki's body.
"What? Are you feeling the pain now?" Akio mocked, watching Kujou Takayuki writhe in agony with his legs severed.
"Do you know how many families have suffered more than you because of this war you caused?"
"They're just ants! What does their death have to do with me? I only care about maintaining our position!" Kujou Takayuki no longer hid his thoughts. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Akio.
"Mm, you're right," Akio nodded. "You think that as someone in power, you can ignore the struggles of the ants. But have you ever thought that in my eyes, you're also an ant? So I don't care about your life or death either."
In the next moment, one of Kujou Takayuki's arms twisted and snapped.
The unbearable pain almost made Kujou Takayuki pass out, but Akio's Life Energy stimulated his brain, forcing him to feel the excruciating pain at all times.
"Your petty cleverness, thinking you can deceive the gods. In your eyes, even the gods are your pawns, aren't they? What an overreaching mortal," Akio said calmly. "It's a pity that your cleverness has backfired."
"You're wrong. I was just unlucky. I didn't anticipate your arrival," Kujou Takayuki laughed. "If it weren't for you, I would have succeeded."
"Pfft… hahahaha!" Akio burst into laughter. He remembered the game's storyline from his past life. Even without him, the Traveler would have brought Kujou Takayuki down.
Akio's arrival had accelerated Kujou Takayuki's downfall and pushed him toward death. He had to die, and no one could save him.
"I'd like to kill you now, but I'll leave you to the Shogun's judgment. The people of Inazuma deserve an explanation," Akio said with a smile.
"Hahaha! The Shogun will understand me," Kujou Takayuki roared like a madman.
"What are you talking about, my dear Tenryou Commissioner?" Akio mocked. "Understand you? Don't worry, she won't."
"You didn't think you could calmly wait for the Shogun's judgment, did you? Don't delude yourself," Akio waved his hand, and a dense purple energy of death instantly entered Kujou Takayuki's body.
In the next moment, a heart-wrenching pain made Kujou Takayuki's eyes widen. He wanted to scream, but he found he couldn't make a sound.
His skin was covered in purple light patterns, as if it were about to shatter, constantly eroding his entire being.
"This power will continuously erode your body and soul. You'll feel the pain deep in your soul, but it won't kill you quickly," Akio said with a smile. "Letting you die like this would be too merciful. I said I'd root out all those who harmed Inazuma, skin them alive, and pull out their tendons. What you're experiencing now is no less painful than that."
"Someone!" Akio called out.
"Lord Akio!" The Okuzumeshuu outside heard Akio's voice and quickly entered.
"Take Kujou Takayuki to the prison and guard him closely. No one is allowed near him," Akio ordered. "For his three meals a day, if he can't eat normally, force-feed him."
"Before the Shogun judges him, make sure to 'take good care' of him. Understood?" Akio said coldly.
"Yes, Lord Akio!" Saizou understood Akio's meaning and nodded. He called a few Okuzumeshuu members and said, "Take Kujou Takayuki away! Guard him closely!"
As the Okuzumeshuu took Kujou Takayuki away, Kujou Sara completely lost her spirit. She couldn't accept that Kujou Takayuki, who had always been her role model, had betrayed Inazuma.
"Lord Akio, I'd like to go out and clear my mind," Kujou Sara said to Akio.
"Go ahead," Akio nodded. It would be good for her to walk around and think things through. She'd feel better once she sorted out her thoughts.
Kujou Sara nodded and left without even glancing at La Signora. With Akio here, there was nothing she could do.
Once everyone had left, Akio pulled over a chair and sat down. "Now that their matters are settled, it's time to talk about us, Rosalyne."
La Signora, who was standing to the side, trembled. She looked at Akio but couldn't meet his cold gaze, quickly lowering her head again.
"In Liyue, did I not tell you what to do when you came to Inazuma?" Akio picked up a Delusion and played with it as he asked.
"You did. You said to come to you immediately," La Signora nodded.
"Good, you remember," Akio said. "So? Did returning to Zapolyarny Palace make you think you could ignore my orders?"
"When did you arrive in Inazuma?" Akio asked.
"Y-yesterday," La Signora replied.
"Yesterday?" Akio's eyes turned cold. "Come here."
La Signora walked over step by step. She really didn't want to face this man.
"How many of these Delusions do you have left?" Akio asked, holding the Delusion.
"Quite a few," La Signora shook her head. "But they're not with me. We have a Delusion Factory in Inazuma. We've been buying large quantities of Crystal Marrow to produce them."
"Hmm… this is troublesome," Akio said. "How many have already been distributed?"
"A small portion has been sold in Inazuma to anonymous buyers at high prices. Most of them have gone to Watatsumi Island," La Signora didn't dare hide anything. "They want to resist the Shogunate, but due to the Vision Hunt Decree, they don't have enough power to fight back. The Delusions are their best option."
"Their best option?" Akio sneered. Trading life for power, and calling it the best option?
"It seems that when human desires grow too strong, it's not a good thing," Akio said. With a slight squeeze of his hand, the Delusion in his hand shattered, and a purple, evil energy dissipated into the air.
"Tatarigami residue, tsk tsk," Akio felt the power. It was the lingering resentment of a dead god, a form of soul energy that could easily be erased by the Authority of Life and Death.
A/N: Enjoying the story? Read 40+ chapters ahead on Patreon! Your support helps: Patreon.com/nneol