Chapter 24: Wolfpack

Wolfpack Squad.

A ninja team solely under Magistrate Senmura's command. A total of five people, all were rogue ninjas who had fled from various villages. The team configuration was, one elite jonin, one jonin, and three chunin.

For a remote county, this was an extremely exaggerated personnel setup.

Relying on the Wolfpack Squad, Magistrate Senmura's jurisdiction was extremely safe, ordinary bandits and robbers didn't even have a chance to fight back before being slaughtered.

This was one of the few advantages.

However, whether being killed by bandits or being forced to death by taxes, there wasn't much difference.

These five desperadoes were willing to follow Magistrate Senmura for just two things.

Money and prospects.

As for money, Magistrate Senmura gave them a large salary every month, beauties, fine wine, all available, and missions rarely involved danger.

After all, what danger could there be in a remote county?

The cost-effectiveness was far greater than risking their lives all over the world, earning a bit of bounty money while constantly fearing being hunted down.

And for prospects, they believed Senmura's political path wouldn't stop at being a mere county magistrate.

Only a small portion of the wealth Senmura squeezed from the people was used for himself and paying his subordinates. The vast majority was secretly sent to the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Water.

Such "good sense" made promotion and transfer to a prosperous city only a matter of time.

Following Lord Senmura, eating and drinking well and grasping power was inevitable.

The leader of the Wolfpack glanced back at the carriage, a chest full of gold and silver jewelry, and four beautiful women, each with her own charm, and smiled, "Looks like the lord is about to get promoted. Such a grand gesture… Let's hope that brat from Snowy Village doesn't disappoint."

"Boss, you sure those two samurai weren't just bragging?"

The leader shrugged, "Who knows? With a samurai's vision, what the hell do they know about true strength?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Ninjas looking down on samurai had long become political correctness.

Their trip this time was just to test Ryosuke's capabilities.

Fourth Brother asked, "But Boss, what if that brat from Snowy Village doesn't want to accept Lord Senmura's kindness?"

"Doesn't accept?"

The Wolfpack leader patted the chest on the carriage.

"What's this?"

"Gold and silver jewelry," Fourth Brother said.

"No. This is the face that Magistrate Senmura is extending."

He then patted the ninja blade at his waist, "What's this?"

"Magistrate's face?"

"Learning quick, aren't you?"

The leader gave Fourth Brother a slap on the back of the head and shook his head, "A sword is a sword. But, this one is the magistrate's sword."

"If he accepts Magistrate Senmura's goodwill, then all the better."

"If he feels unworthy, bows his head, pays some money, and obediently leaves Snowy Village, that's also fine.

"But if he doesn't know what's good for him…"

The Wolfpack leader revealed a smile.

The remaining four team members also grinned.

Their blades hadn't tasted blood in quite a while.

The five of them sat in the carriage, slowly riding toward Snowy Village. When they arrived, it was already the fifth day in the afternoon, nearing dinnertime. Smoke rose from every household's chimney.

Because Ryosuke had driven away the tax-collecting samurai, the villagers had recovered their tax grain. Lately, they had eaten a few full meals, a rare luxury. The once-impoverished village now had a touch more warmth than before.

"Whoa,"

Fifth Brother tugged the reins and stopped the carriage.

The leader stepped down and took a deep breath.

That bleak scent unique to rural winter made his nose quite uncomfortable.

He spat a mouthful of saliva onto the ground, "This damn place? Where's everyone? Third Brother, make some noise and 'invite' that so-called 'expert' out."

"Alright."

Third Brother was a silent man. He stepped forward, forming hand signs.

"Fire Style, Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"

He spat out fireballs like phoenix flower seeds, crashing toward a house. A series of booming sounds erupted, the house was set on fire.

Screams came from inside. A family scrambled out in panic, only to face Third Brother's drawn blade.

"Get back in."

Third Brother coldly threatened.

The family didn't want to be cut down, so they had no choice but to retreat back inside.

The flames grew larger and larger, drawing the attention of other villagers. Someone cried out,

"Fire! There's a fire!"

The peaceful atmosphere was shattered in an instant.

The Wolfpack leader smiled.

He'd always liked lively scenes since childhood. This felt much better.

Villagers rushed in trying to put out the fire, only to be kicked to the ground by the Wolfpack members. Listening to the screams coming from the burning house made the villagers' scalps tingle and legs tremble.

"Hello, everyone."

The Wolfpack leader sat on the carriage and greeted the villagers with a smile, "My name is Sawamura. I'm the most loyal guard of Magistrate Senmura. Not long ago, two samurai were attacked in your village. It's said a powerful individual was behind it."

"Magistrate Senmura greatly values talent and has decided to forgive the past and invite him to the county seat as an honored guest."

"So, may I ask, who might that be?"

As he spoke, he gave Fourth Brother a look.

Fourth Brother opened the wooden chest. Under the firelight, gold and silver jewelry shone dazzlingly. He then lifted the curtain, revealing two foreign beauties, graceful and alluring.

The villagers of Snowy Village had never seen such a scene before. Their eyes were nearly blinded by the treasure. Many wanted to go over and take a closer look.

But then, boom, the burning house collapsed with a thunderous crash, snapping them back to reality.

They remembered, the five people before them, claiming to be the magistrate's guards, were ruthless killers who had just burned a family alive without a word.

The old village chief nervously stepped forward, "L-Lord, if you're looking for Doctor Ryosuke… he went out. We don't know when he'll return."

"You're sure he's out?"

"Yes…"

The old chief knew Ryosuke had come to get a blade forged by the blacksmith. The blade wasn't ready, Ryosuke couldn't have left.

"Oh well."

The leader shrugged. "Then I guess we'll have to stay in your village a couple days. Fine. Let's put the first matter aside and talk about the second matter."

"S-second matter?"

"Don't worry, it's not a big deal."

The Wolfpack leader leaned on the carriage and said, "Your village didn't pay the heating tax last month. The magistrate's accountant asked me to come collect it."

Upon hearing this, the villagers slightly relaxed.

After retrieving last month's heating tax, they had indeed eaten a few decent meals.

But Snowy Village had long been accustomed to poverty, they wouldn't have eaten everything. Every household still had some grain left, enough to make up the missed tax.

Just as the villagers were about to go fetch the grain, suddenly, a scream rang out.

A kunai pierced through a villager's shoulder. Everyone turned toward where the kunai came from, the Wolfpack leader had his arm extended straight, "I don't like it when people walk away while I'm talking. It's very disrespectful."

"Lord, d-do you have other instructions?" the village chief bowed deeply.

"Don't be scared. We're Magistrate Senmura's men. We follow rules. Let me go over them, one by one."

The Wolfpack leader raised his fingers, "Because of this little bit of tax, we had to make a trip. Shouldn't you cover the travel costs?"

"You underpaid tax. Isn't there a late fee?"

"You refused to pay and even stood by watching the tax collectors get injured. Isn't that grounds for a fine?"

"Finally, since we're already here, let's just collect this month's heating tax as well. Last month's, this month's, travel costs, late fees, and fines, added together…"

The leader held up his hand, "Five times."

He smiled warmly, "Each household will pay five times the heating tax today, and we'll consider the matter settled."

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/XenosX

🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰