The decision regarding Akagi''s handling was conveyed to the Tenmangu Shrine, naturally arousing dissatisfaction among many priests.


    They were capable of suppressing the Dingyuan, and clearly understood the consequences of such actions.


    Yet, blinded by greed, after Tenmangu Shrine''s divine domain absorbed the national destiny represented by the Dingyuan, these priests also reaped benefits.


    With these advantages secured, they naturally were unwilling to "release" the Dingyuan and return its relics to China.


    But now, with two demigods barging in, the entire Tenmangu Shrine was destroyed, its divine domain shattered, and even Sugawara no Michizane, who had been recuperating through slumber, was affected.


    This rendered these greedy priests powerless to resist Akagi''s decision, despite their dissatisfaction.


    Though unable to oppose Akagi, these priests were still scheming, nning to dy the matter as much as possible.


    After all, in their view, a demigod would clearly not focus on this issue for long. The two demigods who hade to cause trouble were likely just venting their anger—they didn''tpletely destroy the Tenmangu Shrine or the Dingyuan Pavilion, nor did they ughter everyone at Tenmangu Shrine, which hardly seemed like true vengeance.


    For now, they only needed to stall until the demigod calmed down and forgot about the issue, at which point everything would return to the way it was.


    As for Akagi''s demand to return the Dingyuan''s relics from the Dingyuan Pavilion, that could be resolved easily—they could just return a few insignificant relics picked randomly from the pavilion to China.


    After all, dismantling all of the Dingyuan''s relics from the entire Dingyuan Pavilion would necessitate taking apart the whole structure, which obviously would take time, wouldn''t it?


    Dissemble a bit today, a bit tomorrow—as for when it would beplete, that''d depend on when Akagi forgot about the matter.


    By then, perhaps Sugawara no Michizane, enshrined at Tenmangu Shrine, would have recovered. In such a case, Tenmangu Shrine wouldn''t fear "a mere" demigod.


    After all, in the priests'' eyes, Sugawara no Michizane was a true deity—demigods were hardly worthy of their notice.


    Back then, when Sugawara no Michizane wreaked havoc in Kyoto as one of Japan''s Four Great Evil Spirits, eventually canonized as the God of Schrship, it was due to his strength—not merely because he was unjustly wronged.


    Moreover, Tenmangu Shrine, since its establishment, had faced intrusions before, but every single time, it relied on Sugawara no Michizane''s divine power to repel the adversary. This had fostered an unbridled sense of arrogance among the priests.


    Evidently, these priests seemed to have forgotten that their deity was in a beaten and half-crippled state, nor did they realize Akagi could summon reinforcements at any moment.


    ——————————————————


    While the priests of Tenmangu Shrine were plotting ways to dy the issue, Akagi, apanied by an Imperial Household Agency attendant, was carefully choosing the regional specialties Chen Yu and Hiromi Jounouchi had requested.


    The Mayor of Fukuoka City followed closely with a fawning and respectful demeanor, introducing various local specialties of Fukuoka with the humility of a zealous shopkeeper passionately promoting goods.


    Akagi paid little attention to the mayor''s enthusiasm and ttery. Whether as a warship or a demigod, Akagi never held mortals in special regard. As for acting friendly, that was merely the mask she wore while beside Chen Yu.


    Once she had selected the needed local specialties and snacks intended for her fellow ship-girls, cing them in her ship equipment, Akagi turned to the Imperial Household Agency attendant and stated, "I''ll leave the aftermath at Tenmangu Shrine to you all. I want to make a trip to Sasebo Naval Base."


    "Sasebo Naval Base? I''ll make the arrangements immediately." The attendant, hearing Akagi''s intention to visit Sasebo Naval Base, was unsurprised given her identity. He merely acknowledged her request before setting off to make preparations.


    Meanwhile, the Mayor of Fukuoka looked at Akagi with a hesitant expression, wanting to interject but unsure of what to say.


    "Themander has a fondness for tea. If Fukuoka''s Yame Gyokuro proves to her liking, I''ll return to purchase more tea leavester," Akagi nced briefly at the mayor and exined before turning to leave.


    Hearing Akagi''s words, the mayor became overjoyed. He quickly bowed to her departing figure and said, "Please rest assured, honored guest. Our Fukuoka City will ensure to provide the finest Yame Gyokuro for you."


    Akagi showed no reaction to this promise, only nodding slightly.


    "My Lady, the car is ready. Are you heading to Sasebo now?" The attendant had prepared the vehicle and, upon seeing Akagi emerge, rushed to her side to inquire.


    Akagi nodded, nced at the sky, and decisively responded, "Let''s leave now. If we hurry, we''ll likely return before nightfall."


    With that, she seated herself in the prepared car.


    The attendant quickly joined her, signaling the driver to depart while respectfully handing Akagi a hastily obtained Sasebo tourist guidebook.


    Sasebo was one of the Four Major Naval Districts of the Former Japanese Navy, once a key military port and naval factoryparable to Kure. As for the other two districts, one was near Tokyo''s Yokosuka, and the other was Kyoto''s Maizuru.


    During Akagi''s days as a warship, she had visited Sasebo Naval Base. It was also where the Yamato Grade''s second vessel, Musashi, was constructed.


    However, Akagi herself had not been built in Sasebo but, instead, along with her sister ship Amagi, at Yokosuka and Kure, respectively. Originally, two additional vessels, Takao and Atago, were nned, but the naval agreements prevented the nned construction of the Amagi Grade battlecruisers and Kaga Grade battleships. Consequently, Amagi and Akagi were converted into aircraft carriers, and the construction ns for Takao and Atago were abandoned.


    Later, the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed Amagi''s dragon bone, resulting in her abandonment, with the Kaga taking her ce. This led to the famous Akagi-Kaga First Carrier Division during World War II.


    Looking down at the Sasebo guidebook in her hands, Akagi became lost in thought. Beside her, the Imperial Household Agency attendant felt uneasy. As Akagi was formerly an aircraft carrier in the Former Japanese Navy who had fought against the United States, he worried she might be displeased upon noticing the US military stationed at Sasebo today.


    But the attendant knew he couldn''t possibly prevent Akagi from visiting Sasebo and could only remain silently apprehensive.


    Akagi detected the attendant''s nervousness but said nothing. She had spotted the mention of the Sasebo US military base in the guidebook and understood the attendant''s concerns, yet she felt no need to exin or address them.


    Whether she''d do anything about the US military base at Sasebo, who could say? It would depend on her mood.