Finally, he could only grit his teeth and spend a heavy sum to hire that legendary group of mercenaries.
"Where has the Shichinintai reached?"
Suda Shigenobu asked.
The Shichinintai was a mercenary group active in the Kanto region.
As the name implied, it consisted of seven people.
It was said that each of them possessed unique skills, and as long as they were paid, they would accept any dirty or difficult job—whether it was war, assassination, or exterminating demons.
They were known for having absolutely no bottom line, and although their prices were outrageously high, they never failed.
The chief retainer lifted his head, a troubled look on his face.
"Reporting to you, My Lord... the Shichinintai is still on the road; it will take at least three more days for them to arrive."
"Three days? That's too long!"
Suda Shigenobu's expression darkened.
"I spent so much money, and this is what they give me?"
He stood up and paced back and forth in the main hall.
His footsteps thudded against the wooden floorboards.
"That toad eats people every month. Although the people of Shimura are stupid, they will eventually be eaten up."
"Once they are eaten, that thing will definitely run out to wreak havoc on other villages. Once all the people are eaten, what will I use to pay taxes? When that time comes, what will I use to answer to Lord Hojo?"
The chief retainer dared not respond and could only shiver while prostrate on the floor.
Suda Shigenobu waved his hand irritably.
"Go, call all those sorcerers in the city to me."
"Since the Shichinintai hasn't arrived yet, let them think of a way first."
"I don't believe that toad has three heads and six arms!"
As he said this, his gaze swept across the wall of the main hall.
A certain object was hanging there, a trophy obtained just ten days ago.
A huge, yellow, boomerang-like object, forged from the bones of a demon, its entire body shimmering with a faint luster.
Hiraikotsu.
A half-dead old man was passing by with it on his back when he was stopped by his soldiers for an "inspection."
The old man said it was a family heirloom of the Demon Slayer clan and refused to hand it over at first, even risking death.
But in the end, facing the overwhelming numbers on his side, he still honestly lowered his head and handed it over.
Suda Shigenobu looked at the Hiraikotsu, a smug look appearing at the corners of his mouth.
Hanging this thing on the wall had more prestige than any painting or calligraphy.
Just at this moment—
"Report!"
A soldier stumbled into the main hall.
"My lord! Two people have arrived at the castle gate!"
"One of them calls herself a shrine maiden, and says..."
The soldier's voice trembled slightly.
"She says... she has eliminated the toad of Shimura!"
Suda Shigenobu was stunned.
Eliminated?
That toad, which even the Shichinintai hadn't had a chance to deal with yet, had been eliminated by someone?
"Who are they?"
He asked.
"A woman in white robes and red hakama, and also..."
The soldier swallowed hard.
"And a young man who looks like a samurai, with a pale complexion, red eyes, and an aura... that is very strange."
Such figures did not sound simple.
But at this moment, Suda Shigenobu didn't care.
He was invigorated and waved his hand with a loud laugh!
"Let them in."
...
At the castle gate.
Kanbe Hikaru looked up at the building before him.
The castle was not large; its walls were a structure of earthworks reinforced with stone, about two zhang high, with flags planted on top.
The castle gate was a heavy wooden door, with ashigaru wearing simple armor standing on both sides.
The so-called ashigaru were the lowest-ranking infantry of the Japanese Sengoku Period, with simple equipment and low status; put bluntly, they were just farmers who had picked up swords and spears and put on armor.
Behind the gate was the castle town, the town that had formed around the castle.
In the distance, the silhouette of the Tenshukaku could be seen, a three-story wooden structure with a roof of blue-gray tiles.
In this era, this could already be considered a decent castle.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"