He shouldn't even think about threatening Durandal with violence. Rumor has it that people have tried to do so, but those who attempted violence ultimately found their physical condition worsening.
Even some healthy people's conditions would become dire, and Hiiragi Shinsuke certainly didn't want to suffer in vain.
He thought for a moment, realizing that Durandal had probably come to him because of what she had witnessed in Ritou, because of the experiences of those foreign merchants there.
Thinking this, Hiiragi Shinsuke knew what terms he should offer to secure Durandal's treatment, but... Hiiragi Shinsuke's expression kept changing. If it were the Shuumatsuban, it wouldn't be a big deal, but it was mainly the Tenryou Commission side. If he suddenly made changes to policy, the Kujou Family of the Tenryou Commission would notice.
At that point, if they said a few words about him in the official document presented to the Raiden Shogun, he probably wouldn't have enough lives.
"...It seems you're not going to cherish this opportunity. In that case, I have no reason to stay here any longer."
Seeing Hiiragi Shinsuke's prolonged silence, Durandal gradually lost patience and stood up, ready to leave.
Watching Durandal stand up and prepare to leave, Hiiragi Shinsuke knew that if Durandal left the Tenryou Commission, her future chances of treating him would be zero, no matter what price he paid.
Thinking of the feeling he had just experienced, Hiiragi Shinsuke clenched his fists and stood up.
"Please wait! Miss Durandal. I am willing to make changes to future policies."
Durandal stopped, turned, and saw the determined Hiiragi Shinsuke, asking, "What can you do? What are you capable of doing?"
"The taxes on foreign merchants residing in Ritou have always been within their acceptable range. The reason it has reached this point is because those below have been embezzling funds. I will deal with this problem and change the situation."
"Oh? Deal with it? Change it? Can you deal with it? Can you change it?"
Durandal looked at him curiously. It was impossible for him not to know the situation of the Tenryou Commission's subordinates. Although they were all his subordinates, most of them were already corrupt. Was it too late to make them rectify now?
"I can do it. Please believe me, Miss Durandal."
After making up his mind, as soon as Hiiragi Shinsuke thought about what he was going to do next, he felt both fear and a certain excitement, as if he had returned to his impulsive youth.
He decided to have someone invite the head of the Shuumatsuban to discuss related matters, believing that the Shuumatsuban, which had always wanted to change the status quo, would agree after hearing his proposal.
With the support of the Shuumatsuban, he also had the confidence to make some changes.
"Oh? You're willing? Willing to give up that Mora? You should need that Mora to smooth things over, right?"
"This is a reasonable sacrifice, isn't it? I remember Miss Durandal's consultation fee is determined by one's family status. The feeling I just experienced is something that cannot be experienced no matter how much Mora is spent. To maintain that state, I am willing to give those up."
"Health" is what every wealthy and elderly person desires. As the head of the Tenryou Commission, he had done many things and spent a lot of Mora to maintain his health.
Now there was a way to solve this problem once and for all. Anyway, what he was giving up was just some Mora earned through illicit means. He was already old and might pass away at any time, and the Mora he had accumulated couldn't go with him. He no longer needed to do such things.
"...Interesting."
Durandal turned to face him after hearing Hiiragi Shinsuke's account. Although it was still not very simple, "Health" was too great a temptation for him, enough to make him give up Mora.
But this was not enough. People are very prone to reneging on their promises. What if he got what he wanted but then changed his mind?
Durandal didn't believe that Hiiragi Shinsuke didn't have this thought in his heart. These old guys were shrewd, each one like an old fox.
Fortunately, such things were nothing to Durandal. She had a way to prevent Hiiragi Shinsuke from going back on his word.
Before long, Durandal was personally escorted out of the Tenryou Commission by Hiiragi Shinsuke. He told the guards that in the future, when Durandal came to the Tenryou Commission again, there was no need to report her; she could be allowed to enter directly, and violators would be severely punished.
Back in his room, Hiiragi Shinsuke clenched his fists, feeling his healthy body. He almost couldn't help but laugh.
Considering that his daughter might discover such behavior, he ultimately gave up the idea, took a few deep breaths, and returned to his room to write an invitation letter.
"Deliver this invitation letter to the Shuumatsuban, to the head of the Shuumatsuban."
"Yes!"
Having done all this, Hiiragi Shinsuke let out a long sigh. He looked at the courtyard in a daze, never expecting that he would do such a thing. In the past, he wouldn't even have dared to imagine it.
But he no longer had a chance to go back on his word. He looked at the pattern on his palm. He had truly misjudged things; he hadn't expected that some of the rumors about Durandal were actually true.
Fortunately, what she asked him to do was not to overthrow Inazuma's government, but merely to rectify its corrupt government from within.
So he had not betrayed anyone; he was fighting for the future of Inazuma.
The biggest obstacle to changing all of this was actually Inazuma's leader—the Raiden Shogun.
Fortunately, Durandal didn't go so far as to make him contact the Raiden Shogun; otherwise, even if Durandal could make him young again, he wouldn't agree.
After all, one can only enjoy life when alive. Once dead, there is nothing left, isn't that right?
"Inazuma is about to get lively."
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