Bear School Astartes

In the early morning, Hirata Manor was shrouded in the mist wafting from the Longquan River, moist and dreamlike.

But the people who had long lived here had become accustomed to it, and the few foreigners seemed quite adaptable to this not-so-extreme environmental change.

When Lann followed the short Ninja back, he learned the Ninja's name, or rather, codename under the pretense of 'for convenience.'

When Wolf returned to Hirata Manor with him, it was already the darkest moment before dawn. By the time they entered the manor and walked towards the inner residence, the sky was already faintly bright.

This should be the time when the ancients, lacking evening entertainment, would wake up.

Lann glanced with slight surprise at the Ninja beside him; such a profession was not only trained for covert actions but even for tending to their master's needs...

They must train so hard that they might want to die.

On the way back, Lann had seen Wolf throw out ropes wrapped around his arm to pull and catapult himself to his destination.

It was an extremely efficient mode of movement. Although Lann couldn't quite figure out how a person's arm strength could flinch them several meters without mechanical aids.

After all, the stronger the arm strength, the heavier the overall muscle mass should be, and the heavier the muscle, the harder it should be to move.

It probably had to do with the Ninja's astonishingly light physique.

He was very interested in this movement technique, but before finding a lightweight and powerful mechanical aid, or changing his body type to that of a Ninja, it seemed unrealistic for him.

While thinking, Lann arrived at the core residence of Hirata Manor.

At this moment, it was the time when the vassals gathered in the morning to greet the master household, so when Wolf brought Lann in, Nogami Genji, Nojima Iizuka, and two Ninjas were all in the side seat, bowing to the child sitting in the main seat.

The two who reeked of blood were first spotted by the child facing the door as soon as they entered.

"Wolf? And this one..."

Hirata Jirō raised his delicate eyebrows in surprise, speaking up to inquire.

At this moment, the two Warriors furrowed their brows, turning to face the two who entered, demonstrating good vigilance.

Meanwhile, the two Ninjas were half a beat slower in turning but the cloudy pupils of the two elders had already shifted to the corners of their eyes, which no one could see on the surface.

Facing the various reactions of the people, Wolf, with a stiff face, stepped forward, placed a head tied to his back in front of the main seat, and knelt on one knee.

"The head of the enemy Ninja, from the Lonely Shadow Group, is here. It can be confirmed that the infiltration from the Inner Mansion Army has begun."

Hirata Jirō, just over ten years old in age, yet endowed with talent and exposed to a harsh environment, had developed a rather competent level of composure in dealing with emergencies.

Facing a bloody head, he only took a deep breath, without any other abnormality.

"As expected... why did you bring this foreign Warrior back?"

Having prepared for the situation, Jirō did not dwell on it further. Instead, Lann, who was leaning against the column in the corridor outside, gave him a slight wave, drawing more of his attention.

And Wolf reported his encounter to the master honestly.

"The Lonely Shadow Group was thwarted by the foreign Warrior—Lann, and he himself had already slain the patrolling ronin companions beforehand."

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of those present varied instantly, reflecting their stance.

As Warriors, the Nogami duo, though long-time guards within the mansion, were ultimately from military families. Their first reaction was that Lann was using the rebellious group to establish his authority.

Though slightly over the top, it made sense in terms of rationale.

Meanwhile, the furrows and dim expressions on the two Ninjas reflected the natural suspicions of Ninjas.

Their first thought aligned with Wolf's—too coincidental to be normal.

"Slaying comrades and then encountering enemy Lonely Shadow Group at the site of slaughter, haha..."

The elderly Ninja, burly and hairy, chuckled softly.

"If not for Wolf's interference, it would surely be a perfect spot for exchanging information."

The sound was not loud, more like a mumble, but it was just right for those present to hear clearly.

The rest looked grave, but Lady Butterfly beside Niou started to pay some slight attention.

She and Niou were old comrades from the theft war thirty years ago, making Ninja rhetoric ineffective on her.

Conversely, the impatience Niou showed by turning his words into barbs struck her as very rare.

For Ninjas, patience should be a virtue.

"Wolf..." Lady Butterfly spoke suddenly, "Was the Lonely Shadow Group intentionally headed towards where Lann was?"

"He, wasn't strong."

Wolf, half-kneeling with his head lowered, spoke wordlessly, yet everyone present understood him.

A Lonely Shadow ninja, not strong, had no qualification to choose a fleeing direction while being hunted by him.

"Then it was a coincidence." Jirō trusted Wolf the most as he was his personal Ninja.

Even if meant dying, Wolf would undertake anything to bring his master back. Their trust transcended life and death.

The child in the main seat turned, earnestly explaining to the Giant Ninja, to dispel misunderstandings.

"Though coincidences raise suspicion, they do appear often in this world. Right, Niou?"

The burly elder maintained a neutral face: "As Lord Yuzi decides."

"So, foreign Warrior, why did you slay your accompanying comrades, then?"

Lann at the corridor had been eavesdropping for a while, pondering on the noble child's titles.

Lord Yuzi, Lord Jirō, Young Master...

The titles varied, yet the latter two were understandable as children did not have official names in ancient times. But 'Lord Yuzi'...

A religious title perhaps?

The mainstream belief here was linked to the Longquan River, was this Lord Yuzi related to the river?

And those two seasoned, formidable-looking Ninjas... engaging them might prove challenging.

Jirō's inquiry brought Lann back to focus.

He then elaborated on Pingbala Lang's jealousy, resentment, and greed for the fine sword on his back.

Putting it this way, no one found eliminating his companions unreasonable anymore.

"A scourge cannot be spared." Nojima Iizuka spoke first, then slightly bowed towards Lann.

"It was my negligence, failing to let the ronins see the disparity during our sparring, leading to adverse outcomes."

"No, it's not your fault." Lann waved his hand, "Those ronins barely above novices, unless having a guide explaining, wouldn't comprehend our exchanges anyway."

The young Warrior opened his mouth, apparently wanting to argue.

But a raised hand from Jirō on the main seat made Iizuka swallow his words.

"Lann, intercepting the Lonely Shadow Group was a merit, and eliminating Pingbala Lang and his men was justifiable. The Hirata family will not overlook deeds to dampen hearts."

Jirō's bright eyes stayed locked on Lann who stood casually outside the door.

"A foreign Warrior of your caliber aiding us Hirate is our fortune. Request your reward befitting this accomplishment without hesitation."

"A reward..." Lann's eyes gleamed slightly, his hand reaching into his chest. "I would like to learn Ninja techniques."

"But I understand, those are typically secret transmissions, right? So..."

His hand came out, holding a book, still stained with blood.

"Please have your Ninja teach me the 'Lonely Shadow Ninja Techniques Manual'!"

There was a brief shock among them, but then it seemed only natural.

In a world of blades and warfare, to enhance oneself was common.

However, learning Lonely Shadow techniques in the Hirata family... felt somewhat out of place.

The Giant Ninja—Niou slightly raised his eyelids at the request, about to speak.

"I..."

"I'll decode the cryptic language of the techniques manual for you. You practice yourself, if lucky to encounter Wolf during patrols, he might guide you minimally without affecting the mission."

Niou slowly turned, looking at Butterfly who had interjected. At this moment, the old lady was lazily puffing her smoking pipe, as if the words held no deeper meaning.

Thus, Niou lowered his head too, seeming indifferent to the development.