If the affairs are not handled well under everyone’s watchful eyes, it will impact the reputation of the Warrior.
During the Warring States period, the administrative power originally belonging to the nobility had long scattered to the Military Family, thus a Warrior should not only be able to fight but also need wisdom.
The order from the Chief Guard, Nogami Genji, can be considered as an urgent rescue for Nojima Iizuka.
"Your situation, you might as well report it directly to Nogami Genji. All right everyone! Prepare to meet the master face to face!"
The first half of the sentence was directed at Lann, while the young Warrior turned and encouraged the ronin gathered in the longhouse watching the commotion.
When the ronin heard about the matters of food and wages, they naturally put aside the excitement before them.
Clamoring noisily, they grabbed their weapons and ran out the door.
The leading soldier at this moment, under the gaze of Nojima Iizuka, returned Aron Dite to Lann.
As Izusuke saw common ronin sprinting past him, his expression could not hide his helplessness and disdain.
The class division in East Japan is obvious and strict, Warriors look down on ronin, yet have to make use of them. This always leads to such a psychological conflict.
This has nothing to do with whether a particular person is snobbish, but rather with the social atmosphere.
However, when facing Lann, Nojima Iizuka’s expression became notably more serious.
Regardless of ’Ming Country man’, ’Southern Barbarian’, or simply his physique, Lann possessed qualities that command respect.
"You have not been officially hired yet, returning the weapons is a provisional measure in response to the assessment, therefore I will follow alongside you."
The words were not fully spoken, but a wise person could understand the implications.
If there was any sign of ulterior motives, then the two currently conversing politely would have their blades turned against each other in the next moment.
Fortunately, Lann had no such intentions.
With a polite gesture, the two figures, contrasting noticeably with the common ronin, followed behind the chaotic group, heading towards the courtyard at the center of Hirata Manor.
While in the Castle Town, the atmosphere of war was not so intense, as civilians were still roaming the market, doing their work, and earning their daily bread.
However, once entering the true manor of the Hirate family from the Castle Town, the tense and murderous atmosphere suddenly thickened.
The soldiers dressed similarly to those at the gate were running around, transporting supplies, with Samurai Swords at their waists or long spears with cold glints on their shoulders.
Lann walked alongside Nojima Iizuka without glancing around, but his nose had already caught the smell of gunpowder.
Undoubtedly, there were not few firearms and bullets in the boxes these soldiers were carrying.
Because of the frequent earthquakes in East Japan, the houses in Hirata Manor were mainly wooden structures, with not many stories, only expansive areas.
The undulating roads were mostly due to the terrain’s natural variations in height.
The ronin did not enter further into the manor but chose a place similar to individual small grids as an assembly spot.
Even the surface structures in the manor of the Hirata Family were unwilling to let the ronin easily witness.
Neither Lann nor the ronin had any objection to this, it was the most basic preparation of a semi-military organization.
And they themselves had long prepared for the fact that they would not be fully trusted; those who were paid to work only received the treatment of someone paid to work.
When Lann and Izusuke reached that independent courtyard, an old yet still spirited voice was delivering a speech.
"Words are useless, today is just to assess whether your skills are worthy of the Hirate family’s offerings! Weaklings will be cut down, the strong will receive more, separations will occur accordingly!"
The ronin had little education, and the man speaking did not sound like someone who would elaborate much.
But upon whispering among themselves, the ronin roughly understood the meaning.
To efficiently mobilize manpower, a structured framework is needed.
If the ronin were not trusted, then simply let the ronin themselves determine their hierarchy, form them into ranks. Then have the main family assign people to command, simple and clear.
Even if the ronin collectively rebelled, it would only be a team, not affecting Hirata Family’s other military forces.
Upon Lann and Izusuke’s entrance, he could see the person who had just shouted.
He was indeed an old man, around fifty years old, considered long-lived in this war-torn era.
Lann squinted slightly, observing the muscle structure of this speaker.
From the exposed neck of the small sleeves inside his robe, his skin was already wrinkled and piled up, yet his emaciated body still maintained a distinctly fibrous muscular layer.
This resulted in the loose skin on one side of his collarbone being pulled by the emaciated muscles, resembling terrifying-looking scars.
—This clearly isn’t normal human muscle structure!
How could there be old human beings with firm muscles while only the skin sags?
This old gentleman, in terms of sheer strength, could likely thrust a sword directly through a wild boar!
Beside Lann, Nojima Iizuka smiled as he softly introduced, "That is Lord Nogami Genji, the Chief Guard of the Hirate family, thirty years ago, he was quite a famous figure among the Iwami warriors!"
Lann, however, did not pay much attention to the information conveyed by Izusuke’s introduction; rather, he was concerned with Izusuke’s attitude towards discussing this person.
The young Warrior clearly did not find anything unusual about Nogami Genji’s physique, which means...
This kind of abnormal physical structure is prevalent?
Or at least, common in Iwami?
The Demon Hunter responded with polite courtesies, "I have long heard of your great name."
Izusuke laughed at this, both knowing that Lann, being new here, would not have ’long heard’ of such a name. But the ability to respond engagingly to such conventional praise further demonstrated that Lann was not just some ordinary bumpkin.
This boosted the credibility of the Demon Hunter’s words substantially.
The stern Nogami Genji swept his gaze over the multitude of ronin. When it passed over Lann and Nojima Iizuka, his brows suddenly tightened. Then his gaze remained fixed, staring at the tall figure, filled with vigilance.
He kept his eyes on Lann, but shouted, "Izusuke! You will be the examiner, limited to ten moves. Those who can’t pass ten moves need not stay, after ten moves, we will discuss the rank and pay."
The young Warrior beside Lann immediately bowed slightly, "Yes!"
Then, he softly mumbled to the Demon Hunter beside him, "Please forgive, Lord Nogami Genji’s character has always been cautious and stern, your appearance is a bit too conspicuous."
Lann shrugged, "Fully understood."
After the young Warrior explained, he walked from the back of the crowd to the front and had already drawn a cord from his bosom, moving the slightly loose sleeves of his swordsman’s uniform to above the elbows, tying the sleeve corners under his armpits, transforming into a more agile swordsman.
Amidst the sound of steel clashing, the Samurai Sword slowly unsheathed. The sunlight reflecting off the blade appeared cold and sharp.
Izusuke slightly bowed to the group of ronin, his expression turning sharp.
"Gentlemen, please demonstrate one by one."