Thoma regretted it now. He regretted it deeply.
In the past, he had always been able to use his wit and cleverness to get along with everyone.
But today, Ellin had taught him a harsh lesson.
He knew perfectly well why Hiiragi Shinsuke had dared to provoke Ellin.
When someone spent too long in a position of power, status and authority inevitably went to their head.
Did Hiiragi Shinsuke know how strong Ellin was? Of course he did.
Then why had he dared to provoke her? Because he considered himself one of the Tri-Commission's leaders, a man of lofty status!
Hiiragi Shinsuke had headed the Kanjou Commission for a very long time. He had dealt with countless people far stronger than himself, but they had either been wary of his position or needed something from him.
Over time, the status and authority the Kanjou Commission afforded him had led him to believe that his position made him exceptionally distinguished.
He had the Electro Archon backing him. He headed the Kanjou Commission! No matter how powerful others were, they still had to show him respect.
The most obvious example in the game was La Signora. After both the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon chose not to take issue with her, she somehow developed the delusion that even gods had to respect her status as Snezhnaya's envoy.
That delusion had led her to brazenly threaten the Raiden Shogun even after losing the Duel Before the Throne, only to be killed by a single slash of the Shogun's blade.
La Signora and Hiiragi Shinsuke were very much alike. The privileges their status afforded them had inflated their egos, making them think everyone feared them.
In truth, people respected the master behind him. Without that master, he was nothing.
There was a second