Dire Wolf

Dire Wolf Squad.

The personal ninja squad of County Magistrate Senmura, consisting of five members who were all rogue ninjas from various villages, was configured as follows:

One elite jonin, one jonin, and three chunin.

For a remote county, this was an incredibly extravagant deployment.

Relying on the Dire Wolf Squad, the area under County Magistrate Senmura's jurisdiction was extremely safe; ordinary bandits and robbers would be slaughtered before they even had a chance to fight back.

This was one of their few merits.

However, there was little difference between being killed by bandits and being driven to death by taxes.

The five outlaws were willing to follow County Magistrate Senmura for only two reasons:

Wealth and prospects.

As for wealth, County Magistrate Senmura provided them with generous monthly salaries, beautiful women, and fine wine—everything they could want—all while assigning them few dangerous missions.

After all, what kind of danger could exist in a remote county?

The cost-effectiveness was far higher than living as fugitives, scraping by on meager bounties while constantly fearing they would be hunted down.

As for prospects, they believed that Senmura's political career would not stop at being a mere county magistrate.

Of the blood and sweat squeezed from the commoners, County Magistrate Senmura kept only a small portion for himself, used some to pay his subordinates, and sent the vast majority in secret to the Feudal Lord's Mansion of the Land of Water.

Being so "sensible," a promotion and a transfer to a prosperous town were only a matter of time.

By following Lord Senmura, enjoying the best food and drink, and wielding power was inevitable.

Dire Wolf glanced back at the carriage, which held a chest of gold and jewelry along with four women of distinct styles, and smiled.

"It seems the Magistrate is about to be promoted, what a grand gesture... I hope the kid in Snowfall Village doesn't disappoint."

"Boss, are you worried those two samurai kids were just blowing smoke?"

Dire Wolf shrugged. "Who knows? With the limited perspective of samurai, what the hell do they know about true power?"

The group burst into laughter.

Ninjas belittling samurai had long been political correctness.

They were heading over now to test Lin Qing's mettle.

Fourth Brother asked, "But Boss, what if the kid in Snowfall Village doesn't want to accept Magistrate Senmura's goodwill?"

"Not accept it?"

Dire Wolf patted the chest on the carriage.

"What is this?"

"Gold and jewelry," Fourth Brother said.

"No, this is the face Magistrate Senmura is offering him."

Dire Wolf then patted the ninja sword at his waist. "And what is this?"

"The Magistrate's face?"

"You're learning fast."

Dire Wolf slapped the back of Fourth Brother's head and shook his head. "A sword is just a sword, but this is the Magistrate's sword.

If the Magistrate gives him face and he accepts it, that's for the best.

If he feels he can't handle it, bows his head to apologize, pays some money, and obediently leaves Snowfall Village, that's also fine.

But if he refuses to show respect..."

Dire Wolf revealed a smile.

The remaining four members laughed as well.

It had been a while since their blades had tasted blood.

The group of five rode the carriage, moving at a leisurely pace toward Snowfall Village. By the time they arrived, it was the afternoon of the fifth day, nearing dinner time, and smoke was rising from the chimneys of every household.

Because Lin Qing had driven away the tax-collecting samurai, the villagers had recovered the grain they were meant to pay as taxes. They had enjoyed a few rare, full meals in recent days, and the once-impoverished little village felt a bit warmer than usual.

"Whoa—"

Fifth Brother pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt.

Dire Wolf stepped down and took a deep breath.

The desolate scent of winter in a remote village made his nose feel quite uncomfortable.

Dire Wolf spat on the ground. "This hellhole? Where are the people? Third Brother, make some noise and invite that 'expert' out."

"Understood."

Third Brother was a man of few words; he stepped forward and formed hand seals.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

He spat out fireballs like balsam seeds, smashing them into a house; with a series of deafening roars, the building was set ablaze.

Screams erupted from within, and a family scrambled out in a panic, only to be met by the blade Third Brother had drawn.

"Go back."

Third Brother threatened coldly.

The family, not wanting to be hacked to death, had no choice but to retreat back into the house.

The flames grew larger, drawing the attention of other villagers, and someone cried out—

"Fire! It's on fire!"

The tranquil and peaceful atmosphere was shattered in an instant.

Dire Wolf revealed a smile.

He had loved chaos since he was a child; this looked much better.

The villagers gathered to put out the fire, but they were all kicked to the ground by Dire Wolf's four brothers. Hearing the screams coming from inside the house, the villagers felt their scalps go numb and their legs tremble.

"Greetings, everyone."

Dire Wolf sat on the carriage, smiling as he greeted the villagers:

"I am Dire Wolf, the most loyal guard of County Magistrate Senmura. Some time ago, two warriors were attacked in your village, allegedly by a powerful expert.

County Magistrate Senmura is eager to recruit talent and has decided to let bygones be bygones, inviting him to the Magistrate's residence as an honored guest.

May I ask, which one of you is he?"

As he spoke, he gave Fourth Brother a look.

Fourth Brother opened a wooden box, the gold and silver jewelry radiating a dazzling brilliance under the firelight. He then lifted a curtain to reveal two exotic beauties, graceful and alluring.

The people of Snowfall Village had never seen such a display; they were blinded by the gold and silver, and they longed to get closer to take a look.

But a sudden, thunderous crash—the sound of the house collapsing amidst the flames—brought them back to their senses, reminding them that the five men calling themselves the Magistrate's guards were murderers who had burned a family to death without a word.

The old village chief stepped forward timidly: "M-my lord, if you are looking for Doctor Lin, he has gone out. I do not know when he will return."

"Are you certain he is out?"

"Yes..."

The old village chief knew that Lin Qing had come to ask Blade Master to forge a sword; the sword was not yet finished, so it was impossible for Lin Qing to have left.

"Not here, then."

Dire Wolf shrugged: "Then we shall simply have to lodge in your village for two days. Very well, let us set the first matter aside and wait for this 'Doctor Lin' to return. Everyone, let us discuss the second matter."

"T-the second matter?"

"Do not worry, it is nothing major."

Dire Wolf leaned against the carriage and said: "You did not pay last month's heating tax. The accountant sent me here to collect it."

Upon hearing this, the villagers felt their hanging hearts settle slightly.

After they had received the heating tax last month, they had indeed managed to eat a few full meals.

But the people of Snowfall Village were long accustomed to poverty; they could not have eaten it all, and every household still had enough surplus grain to cover the previous month's tax.

Just as the villagers were about to head home to fetch the grain, they suddenly heard a scream.

A kunai pierced a villager's shoulder. As everyone turned to look in the direction from which the weapon had flown, Dire Wolf was holding his hand out straight: "I do not like it when people leave while I am speaking; it is very disrespectful."

"My lord, what... what other instructions do you have?" The village chief lowered his head deeply.

"Do not be afraid. We are the Magistrate's men, and we follow the rules. I will break them down for you one by one."

Dire Wolf held up his fingers:

"Because of this tax, you forced us to make a trip. Should you not cover our travel expenses?"

"You underpaid your taxes; should there not be a late fee?"

"You refused to pay and stood by while the tax-collecting warriors were injured; should there not be a fine?"

"Finally, since we are already here, we might as well collect this month's heating tax as well. Last month, this month, travel expenses, late fees, and fines, all added up..."

Dire Wolf held out his hand:

"Five times the amount."

He smiled kindly: "If every household brings out five times the heating tax today, this matter will be considered settled."