Unalaq was the first to arrive at the scene, his face displaying a big frown.
Akashi crossed his arms and hugged himself, shivering from the cold as he was topless.
"Korra, do me a favor and light some fire." He asked gently. As the adrenaline wore down, his body was fighting against the cold temperature of the South Pole.
"Sure," Korra extended her hand next to him, and fire lit up above her palm.
"I see that you are fine," Unalaq said, observing Akashi's condition.
"Yeah…" replied Akashi, giving him a deadpan. This man just made a dark spirit, and wasn't here to ask about him.
"Where is that spirit? That attack it did must be powerful enough to damage you both," Unalaq asked, his tone seeming to be tinged with concern.
"Just tell us why the spirit attacked. I'm irrelevant." Akashi demanded.
He was indirectly telling Unalaq that by throwing wrong assumptions, Akashi wouldn't tell him the right thing.
Just trick Korra, go with your plan, and then, he would screw you and your army of waterbenders.
Tenzin and Tonraq arrived.
Unalaq clicked his tongue. "Very well, then. I'll be brief in my statement since people didn't pay attention to my speech during the festival. This festival used to be a way for us to celebrate with spirits. Every year, we're getting away from that. And the spirits are getting angry about our negligence.
"The spirit that just attacked today was just a start. There are more angry spirits. And the only way to stop their anger is by opening a portal to the spirit world that exists in the middle of the Pole."
"But, uncle. It never happened before. So, why now?" Korra asked, as someone who had always lived in the South Pole and attended many festivals. Never before did she see any angry spirit attacking them.
Unalaq smiled, as if she had just asked a silly question.
"Because the longer we wait, the angrier the spirits get." He explained, "And I'm pretty sure that more of them would attack tonight, and even more tomorrow, or after tomorrow."
"But," Tenzin interjected, "My father used to say that for a spirit to attack humans, they need a good reason. And he emphasized that they are intelligent creatures that would get angry for reasonable reasons."
"My reasons are very reasonable," replied Unalaq, frowning at Tenzin.
"Akashi. Take this," Tonraq, Akashi's future father-in-law, handed him his coat. Akashi wore it. Despite gaining muscle mass, the coat felt way too large. But still, it was warming enough.
Tenzin and Unalaq argued for some more time, and Korra looked a bit confused about which side to take.
'At least she's smart enough to ask questions,' thought Akashi, feeling proud of Korra.
Anyways, he had some job to do.
"Uncle Tonraq," Akashi called, "I need to make some bank transfers. Do you guys have a bank here?"
"Yes. There is a bank here." Tonraq said.
"Alright." Akashi lifted his hand and patted Korra. "Anyways, I'm leaving for now."
"Huh? Why? The conversation is getting more interesting," Korra said.
"Just tell me who won later," Akashi replied.
"So, what are you going to do?" she asked.
"Remember. I have businesses to attend to in Republic City. I'll have to contact my people through the bank," he said.
"Alright. I'll meet you by my house." She said.
"Which is?" he asked. "They all look the same, remember."
"Just meet me in the center of the town," Korra rolled her eyes, before looking at the arguing old people.
-x-X-x-
As Akashi went to the bank, he brought the check Hiroshi had given him.
At this point, he didn't need money or anything. But to send a message.
The 40 million wasn't just cash. They were commission money, used as a payment to protect Asami and get rid of the agents on her back.
"What's the reason for your cash out?" asked the bank manager.
"Do you need to state it?" asked Akashi.
"Yes. We need to state it, and the other party will be informed." He said.
Akashi smiled, "The deal we had is done. And I'd like to transfer that money to my bank account."
"The fee would be 3%. Adding the tax to that, the total would be 7%." He said.
"Whatever," Akashi rolled his eyes.
But he felt pain in his heart.
These banks were true thieves.
Maybe, one day, he would end up becoming a bank robber, just to relieve his frustration.
But he was busy with a war and a possible figure that can destroy the world.
'I have already planned how to kill him and knew some tricks. The only thing that matters is time. Well, if Korra and Unalaq used their giant avatar forms, I'd not have a chance without tricks. So, let's try it my way.'
For reference, each giant form was large enough to step on a mountain easily, and could shoot beams that could destroy cities.
-x-X-x-
While Akashi was sitting in the bank, calmly doing his affairs, Korra, her father, uncle, and Tenzin were on their way back to the festival.
However, a couple of dark spirits appeared in their way. And they looked just as furious as the one that had attacked earlier.
Needless to say, they engaged in battle. Korra's father used his skillful waterbending to trap the spirits between ice walls. Korra attacked with her elements. And Tenzin just ran to the spirits and asked them why they were angry.
The ice walls got broken. Korra's attacks did little to no damage. And Tenzin was bitch-slapped across the snow.
Korra's uncle did something, bending a little bit of water and making it dance around the spirits. The special thing about that was how glowing the water was. It felt as if it had a good chi charge with it.
The spirits calmed, as if hypnotized by the glowing water.
And then, the dark aura around them broke into shards. Their color changed. No, even their form changed. They became smaller and emitted light from their bodies. Slowly, they started fading, floating to the sky.
When everyone turned their eyes to Unalaq, the latter just posed, as if he hadn't noticed how they were looking at him.
He then put his hands behind his back and looked at Korra.
"Avatar, if you want to learn more about spirits, I'll be more than happy to be your spiritual mentor," he offered, his tone hinting that he was the one doing her a favor.