Hiroshi sat in his office, observing the sun rays as they broke through the window and landed on his face.
Usually, such hot rays would annoy him and force him to close the window.
But today, his mind was somewhere else, just like every other day ever since Asami left Republic City.
He had thought that he would have more peace, knowing that she wasn't in this city, that she was within Akashi's protection.
But he was wrong.
It didn't bring him any ease at all.
What if Akashi did something that would force the Dai Lee to kill his daughter?
No, Akashi wasn't that stupid.
But mistakes happen.
"Sir…"
A secretary entered his office.
"Yes," he replied.
"We've got a notification. Someone took 40 million from the company account." She said, "The bank is trying to confirm. Did you make a deal with Mr. Akashi? He says the reason is because it's done."
Hiroshi's eyes lit up, "Yes. Confirm it. We had a deal between our companies."
"Very well, sir," she nodded before leaving, talking to bank staff through the phone.
Hiroshi closed the door.
"Yes!"
He clenched his fists and cheered. Some may think that he went crazy for losing that much money. But if Akashi took the money, in the South Pole from all places — a place without much to spend money on — It meant that he was sending him a message.
'I got rid of the agents on your daughter's back.' That's what he meant.
The look of despair he had worn for the last five months got replaced by a lively glare.
'Very well. The Earth Queen thought that she could blackmail me,' he smirked, 'Little does she know that my secret is of no importance. Though she was after Amon, she didn't consider me. And now, she'll lose the war before it started. Though, it pains my heart to see all of those planes go to waste, so be it. I've already heard through my devices that she's planning to do an all-out attack on the base of the revolution. Hehehe.'
What the Earth Kingdom part didn't know was that Hiroshi had explosions in the weapons he had given them. And they could be activated with a simple radio wave command.
Needless to say, now that his daughter was safe, Hiroshi's only option to survive was to destroy the Earth Queen.
After all, even if she defeated Amon, she'd never stop blackmailing him. Akashi was right when he told him that.
-x-X-x-
At the same time, Akashi stared at the excited Korra, who just explained to him what happened, and how two dark spirits were tamed by her uncle easily, through using waterbending.
"Hmm… spirits bending, did he call it?" Akashi asked.
"Yes, it seems." Korra replied, "You just change your Chi to become a positive energy, and the spirit will sense it and lose its dark energy."
"Hmmm… Interesting." Akashi muttered.
He thought about one of the airbending sub skill-trees he had been offered in the past. Spirit projection and spirits bending were both forms.
To bend spiritual energy would be useful against spirits, that's for sure.
But in order to learn that skill tree, Akashi assumed that he would have to spend 5 skill points on Airbending. And then, he would use one point to unlock Spirits bending. And then, because the time interval is tight, he would use some points on that as well.
For the record, he has 3 skill points left. And he was here to take down Unalaq during his dark Avatar's state, kill steal or something.
But if he wanted a better chance to achieve so, he would need more points in Wavesbending, so that they may penetrate any spiritual armor he may have.
'Nah, I'll skip. I'll just raise wavesbending, and bend my Chi through air. I mean, Korra just gave a hint. Focus on positive energy.'
"And how do you do that?" Akashi asked.
"Just concentrate on your chi, and focus on good memories." Korra explained.
Currently, both of them were at her parents' house. Akashi wasn't welcome to spend the night for obvious reasons, though.
Akashi nodded to himself.
"That's something." Akashi stretched his arms up.
"By the way, I won't be available in the coming morning," Korra said.
Akashi complained, "Oh, come on! We've just arrived here."
Putting her hand on his cheek, she smiled and said, "After being done with the dark spirits phenomenon, I promise I'll spend more time with you."
Akashi understood that her uncle would try to open the portal to the spirits world. And then, he would have to convince her to open the North Pole portal, and possibly, restore the balance by freeing the Dark Spirit.
'I don't remember much. But he kidnapped someone she liked in canon to force her to release Vatuu.' Akashi thought, 'It could be one of Tenzin's kids. After all, Korra wouldn't want to follow her uncle's demands after she finds out he would put her father to death row.'
He nodded, "Please, come back safe."
Korra chuckled.
Soon, her mother got in and called her.
Akashi had to excuse himself and leave the ice house.
Stretching his arms, he walked to the nearest motel here.
On his way, he noticed that people were treating him as if he was a hero after showing that performance against the dark spirit.
He just smiled at them and waved his hand. But, it was nice to see people treat him well and give him free things.
He even got to stay at the motel for free.
But, it was obvious why. With Akashi staying at it, people inside would feel safer with him around. Even native people who owned houses stayed at the same motel Akashi was at, afraid of another spirit's attack.
The next day, in the morning, the sun didn't rise. Though night's darkness got a bit less, the morning didn't come.
In this part of the planet, the night lasts 6 months. So does the morning.
The deeper one gets in the South Pole, the darker it gets.
Everyone could notice a massive pillar of light, hitting the sky.
Then, Polar lights filled the sky. If one had a good sight, one could see spirits dancing around the lights.
'Looks like they don't need lamps at night anymore.' He thought, looking through the window. 'Korra did open the portal after all.'
Akashi got out of the window and flew to the sky, not concerned that someone may see him.
He then looked in the direction of the ocean.
Yep, just as he had expected. There was a massive fleet coming.