Sanjuan Wolf Team.
This ninja team belongs only to County Head Morimura. There are five people in total. They are runaway ninjas from different villages. Their setup is:
One elite Upper Ninja, one Upper Ninja, and three Middle Ninjas.
For a remote county town, this is an extremely exaggerated team setup.
Thanks to the Sanjuan Wolf Team, the area under County Head Morimura is very safe. Ordinary bandits and robbers are killed without even getting a chance to fight back.
This is one of the few good things.
However, being killed by bandits and being forced to death by taxes isn't really any different.
The reason these five desperate people are willing to follow County Head Morimura is simply because they value two things:
Money and a future.
Money: County Head Morimura gives them a large salary every month, along with beautiful women and fine wine. Plus, they rarely have dangerous missions.
After all, what danger could there be in a remote county town?
The value is much higher than running away from the law, earning a small bounty, and worrying about being hunted down.
As for a future, they believe that Morimura's career won't stop at being just a small county head.
County Head Morimura takes the wealth he steals from the people and keeps only a small part for himself to enjoy and to pay his men. The vast majority is secretly sent to the Land of Water Daimyo's mansion.
Being so "understanding" means that getting promoted and transferred to a prosperous town is only a matter of time.
By following Master Morimura, they'll live a life of luxury and gain power sooner or later.
Sanjuan Wolf glanced back at the carriage, at a box of gold and silver jewels, and four beautiful women of different styles, and smiled:
"Looks like the master is about to get promoted. Such generosity... Let's hope the kid from Snowfall Village doesn't disappoint."
"Boss, are you worried those two samurai kids were just bragging?"
Sanjuan Wolf shrugged: "Who knows? With the narrow view of samurai, what do they know about strong people?"
Everyone laughed.
Ninjas looking down on samurai is already politically correct.
This time, they're going to test Linto's true ability.
Old Fourth asked: "But boss, what if the kid from Snowfall Village isn't willing to accept Master Morimura's kindness?"
"Not accept it?"
Sanjuan Wolf patted the box on the carriage.
"What is this?"
"Gold and silver jewels," Old Fourth said.
"No, this is the face the county head is giving him."
Sanjuan Wolf then patted the ninja sword at his waist: "What is this?"
"The county head's face?"
"You learn quickly."
Sanjuan Wolf patted Old Fourth on the back of the head and shook his head, saying: "A sword is just a sword, but it's the county head's sword.
If County Head Morimura gives him face, it would be best if he accepts it.
If he feels he can't handle it, he can admit his mistake, pay some money, and obediently leave Snowfall Village, and that's fine too.
But if he doesn't appreciate the favor..."
Sanjuan Wolf smiled.
The other four team members also smiled.
Their swords haven't seen blood in a while.
The group of five rode in a carriage and slowly drove towards Snowfall Village. By the time they arrived, it was the afternoon of the fifth day, near dinner time. Smoke rose from the chimneys of every house.
Because Linto had driven away the tax-collecting samurai, the villagers had recovered the grain they had paid as tax. They had rarely had a few full meals recently. The once poor little village had a bit more warmth than usual.
"Whoa—"
Old Fifth pulled the reins, stopping the carriage.
Sanjuan Wolf got out and took a deep breath.
The desolate scent of a remote village in winter made his nose uncomfortable.
Sanjuan Wolf spat on the ground: "Is this it? Where are the people? Old Third, make some noise and invite that 'expert' out."
"Okay."
Old Third was a quiet man. He took a step forward and made hand signs.
"Fire Release: Mythical Fire Flower Technique!"
He spewed out fireballs like the seeds of a mythical flower, hitting a house. With a series of loud crashes, the house was set on fire.
Screams came from inside. A family ran out in a panic, only to be met by Old Third with his sword drawn.
"Go back."
Old Third threatened coldly.
The family didn't want to be killed, so they had to retreat back into the house.
The fire grew bigger and bigger, attracting the attention of other villagers. Someone cried out—
"Fire! Fire!"
The peaceful atmosphere was shattered in an instant.
Sanjuan Wolf smiled.
He had always liked excitement. It looked much better this way.
Villagers gathered to try to put out the fire, but they were all kicked to the ground by Sanjuan Wolf's four brothers. The villagers listened to the screams coming from inside the burning house, their scalps tingling and their legs shaking.
"Hello, everyone."
Sanjuan Wolf sat on the carriage, smiling and greeting the villagers:
"My name is Sanjuan Wolf. I am County Head's most loyal guard. Some time ago, two samurai were attacked in your village. It is said that a strong person was behind it.
County Head Morimura loves talent and has decided to overlook the matter and invite him back to the county head's mansion to be his guest.
May I ask, which one is he?"
As he said that, he gave Old Fourth a look.
Old Fourth opened the wooden box. The gold and silver jewels glittered in the firelight. He then pulled back the curtain, revealing two beautiful women from a foreign land, graceful and charming.
The villagers of Snowfall Village had never seen such a sight before. They were blinded by the gold and silver jewels. They really wanted to get closer to take a look.
But a loud crash, the sound of the house collapsing in flames, brought them back to their senses and reminded them that the five men in front of them, who called themselves the county head's guards, were silent killers who had burned a family.
The old village head stood up timidly: "M-Master, if you're looking for Doctor Lin, he has gone out. I don't know when he will be back."
"Are you sure he's gone out?"
"Yes..."
The old village head knew that Linto had come to ask Blade Gramps to make a sword. The sword wasn't ready yet, so Linto couldn't have left.
"Not here, huh?"
Sanjuan Wolf shrugged: "Then we'll just have to stay in your village for a couple of days. Okay, let's put the first thing aside for now and wait for that 'Doctor Lin' to come back. Everyone, let's talk about the second thing."
"T-the second thing?"
"Don't worry, it's nothing big."
Sanjuan Wolf leaned against the carriage and said: "You didn't pay your heating tax last month. The treasurer asked me to come and remind you."
When the villagers heard this, their hearts that had been hanging in the air were slightly relieved.
After they got back the heating tax last month, they had indeed been able to have a few full meals.
But the people of Snowfall Village had been poor for too long. They couldn't possibly have eaten it all. Each family still had some grain left, enough to make up for last month's tax.
Just as the villagers were about to go home to get the grain, they suddenly heard a scream.
A kunai pierced a villager's shoulder. Everyone turned to look in the direction the kunai had come from. Sanjuan Wolf was standing straight with his hand outstretched: "I don't like it when people leave while I'm talking. It's very disrespectful."
"Master, what... what else do you want?" The village head lowered his head deeply.
"Don't be afraid. We are under the county head. We follow the rules. I'll explain them to you one by one."
Sanjuan Wolf held up a finger:
"Because of this small amount of tax, you made us take a trip. Shouldn't you pay for our travel expenses?"
"You paid less tax, so shouldn't there be a late fee?"
"You refused to pay and even watched as the tax-collecting samurai were injured. Shouldn't there be a fine?"
"Finally, since we're here, we might as well collect this month's heating tax together. Last month, this month, travel expenses, late fees, and fines, all added up..."
Sanjuan Wolf held out his hand:
"Five times."
He smiled kindly: "If you all give us five times the heating tax today, then this matter will be over."
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