"Main God as witness! Rest for one hour. Samurai, roast your tortillas and eat. No wandering off, no entering houses!"
The hoarse shout was like a tiger's roar, shaking every Samurai, Militia, and tribesman until their hearts trembled despite themselves. Level 1 Military Merit Noble and Samurai captain Luo Toulei narrowed his eyes and gave the order in a cold, loud voice. He angled his one intact right ear toward them, watched the "simple and honest" Banner Unit tribesmen for a while with a dangerous expression, then rasped another roar.
"Which one of you is the chief?..."
"Ah! Praise the Main God! Praise His Majesty! I'm the chief of the Banner Unit, Luo Copper Axe..."
"Praise His Majesty!! Your surname is Luo? From the Imperial Guard Legion?..."
"No, I'm not. I wasn't chosen for the Imperial Guard... Before this, I followed Chief Black Wolf and fought in the Eastern Expedition against Tlaxcala!"
"Louder! I can't hear you!... Oh, so you're an old soldier from the Eastern Expedition, enfeoffed here."
Hearing those words, Samurai captain Luo Toulei's expression eased slightly, and he slowly nodded. His eyes were somewhat cloudy, yet carried a beastlike ferocity and zeal. He had only his intact right ear; his left ear was missing half, and the left side of his face was covered in a large, hideous burn scar. Looking closer, his right hand was pressed tightly on his copper axe, and his left hand had only three fingers. Just standing there, he gave off a fierce, vicious air, as if he had crawled out from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Two steps away, Banner Unit leader Luo Copper Axe pursed his lips, and his expression also grew solemn. He lowered his head respectfully, bowed to the Samurai captain, then asked softly.
"May the