Those present were confused, surprised, or puzzled, while a very few took it as a matter of course.
Some of Inazuma's officials recognized the young man seated on the dais, such as Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka of the Yashiro Commission, Hiiragi Shinsuke of the Kanjou Commission, and Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission.
The most bewildered among them was Hiiragi Shinsuke. Wasn't this the courier who brought Record of Sinking Autumn's Sword to Inazuma back in Ritou? How long had it even been? How had he suddenly ended up sitting to the Shogun's left? Was there any justice left in this world? Was this some kind of joke at my expense?
Yet the moment the Raiden Shogun opened her violet eyes, all their different reactions became one and the same: fear.
What kind of eyes were those? There was clearly no expression on her face, yet through those eyes, everyone could feel the Shogun's anger, disappointment, bewilderment, and a whole host of other negative emotions toward them, making them lower their heads despite themselves.
"Once, I believed that everyone present was a pillar of Inazuma, that the heads of the Tri-Commission were all worthy of their standing at the forefront of Inazuma's distinguished clans. With your assistance, Inazuma could enjoy lasting prosperity and peace, enduring for eternity.
"But I never imagined that while I trusted you, you would fail to live up to that trust. Instead, all three commissions paid lip service to my commands while defying them behind my back, keeping the truth from me and plunging Inazuma into the misery of war, even putting the nation at risk of destruction. Very good. Very good indeed!"
Hearing the Raiden Shogun's words, Hiiragi Shinsuke's legs were already trembling with fright. As the head of the Kanjou Commission, he naturally