章 26: Arrival of the Samurai

Chapter 26: Arrival of the Samurai

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The morning air hung heavy with anticipation as Sam addressed the gathered villagers.

His deep voice echoed across the crowd, carrying a mix of resolve and urgency. "We will leave tomorrow morning," he declared, raising his hands to quiet the murmurs.

"With any luck, we'll reach the Sword Clan in two days and discuss this matter with them."

Just as the villagers began to process Sam's words, a powerful voice cut through the air. "You don't need to go anywhere," it announced. "The Sword soku Clan has already arrived to handle this situation."

All heads turned toward the source of the voice.

Emerging from the narrow pathway leading to Sam's home were eight figures clad in tight, traditional samurai garb.

Their imposing presence froze the crowd in place.

Each of them carried a katana at their side, and their faces were partially concealed by fabric that left only their sharp, calculating eyes visible.

Adam stood among the villagers, his eyes widening as he caught glimpses of the samurai through the sea of people. He muttered under his breath,

"Samurai... they look just like the ones from Earth's history." The traditional outfits, the disciplined strides, and the aura of authority they exuded made Adam feel as if he had been transported into a feudal Japanese tale.

At the head of the group was Sinu, a tall, broad-shouldered figure clad in black. His gait was deliberate, and his sharp gaze seemed to cut through the crowd like a blade.

As Sinu moved forward, he scanned the villagers intently, his mana sensing ability working in overdrive.

Among the sea of anxious faces, he felt a distinct mana signature radiating from the crowd. "There's a mage here," he thought, his lips curling into a subtle smirk.

Meanwhile, Sam stepped out from the crowd, his heart pounding.

Unlike the villagers, who were unsure of what they were witnessing, Sam recognized the group immediately. "Sword soku Clan members," he whispered, his voice tinged with both respect and apprehension.

Sam moved quickly to the front, bowing deeply before the samurai. "It is an honor for our village to host the esteemed members of the Sword soku Clan," he said, his voice steady despite the tension.

The villagers murmured among themselves, their confusion evident. One elderly man spoke up, "Are these the same samurai we've heard about in the stories?"

Another nodded, his voice trembling. "They must be. Look at their weapons and presence. Sam knows what he's doing."

Adam's heart raced as he heard the name "Sword Soku Clan." Memories of his encounter with Mark flooded back, especially the moment Mark had confessed that his mission was assigned by the clan.

"So these people are behind the attack," Adam thought, his fists clenching. "They're not here to help—they're here to finish what Mark started."

His mind swirled with questions. "Why is the Sword Soku Clan targeting this peaceful village? What do they have to gain from this?" But no answers came, only a growing sense of dread.

Unbeknownst to Adam, Sinu was also deep in thought. His mana sensing ability kept drawing his attention to the crowd. "This mage," Sinu mused, "Their mana is strong but unfocused. They must be hiding among these villagers. But why did they break the treaty and kill Mark?"

Sinu's sharp gaze darted through the villagers, his mind working to pinpoint the source of the mana signature.

Sinu stepped forward, his boots crunching softly against the dirt road as the crowd parted before him.

The other seven samurai followed closely, their movements precise and synchronized. They stopped before the line of white cloth-covered bodies that Sam and his hunters had brought back earlier.

Sinu's eyes narrowed as he extended his hand toward one of the bodies.

A subtle wave of mana pulsed through the air as he unsheathed his katana with a flourish. The blade shimmered in the sunlight, exuding an aura of deadly precision.

With a swift motion, Sinu sliced through the white cloth covering one of the bodies. The villagers gasped as the cloth fell away, revealing Mark's lifeless form.

Sinu's gaze hardened as he examined the familiar crest burned into Mark's hand—a clear indicator of his allegiance to the Sword Soku Clan.

He crouched beside the body, his gloved fingers tracing the wound on Mark's head. "A single, precise attack," he muttered under his breath. "This was no accident."

The realization struck him like a thunderbolt. "A mage did this," Sinu concluded. His expression darkened as he stood, his katana glinting ominously in the light. "But why? The treaty between mages and the Sword Clan has stood for centuries. What could have driven this mage to act against us?"

Sinu turned toward the crowd, his piercing gaze landing on Sam. "Do you know who this man is?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

Sam shook his head, his tone respectful yet firm. "No, sir. We found these bodies in the forest this morning. None of them are from our village."

Sinu's lips curled into a cold smile. "This man was one of ours—a member of the Sword Soku Clan."

The revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd. Whispers spread like wildfire as the villagers tried to comprehend what this meant.

Adam's blood ran cold as he watched the scene unfold. "They've already realized a mage is involved," he thought. His mind raced, trying to formulate a plan. "If they figure out it was me, this village will be in even greater danger."

Meanwhile, Sinu continued to address the crowd. "Whoever killed this man has broken an ancient treaty—a grave offense against the Sword Clan." He sheathed his katana with a practiced motion, his tone growing colder. "Rest assured, we will find the one responsible."

Adam's fists clenched at his sides. He felt the weight of Sinu's words pressing down on him, but he knew he couldn't reveal the truth.

As the chapter ends, Sinu's sharp eyes scan the crowd once more, his suspicion growing.

The villagers, oblivious to Adam's role in the events, look on in fear and confusion, unaware of the storm brewing among them.