Winter. The weather was a bit cold.
White snow drifted down from the sky, blanketing the courtyard in a thick layer. The vast expanse of white weighed down the pines and bamboo, covering the filth in the corners as if it could also hide the sins of the courtyard's master.
This was the residence of a daimyo.
As the leader of a country, the daimyo was certainly not willing to risk his noble body by going out in this weather. Instead, he summoned his ministers for a banquet. Stoves burned with charcoal next to the host and guests, making the room so warm that the heat spread into the corridors. Attendants were even needed to fan the ministers who complained of the heat.
"Come, have a drink!" the daimyo, seated at the head of the room, boomed with a laugh as he raised his cup. "I spent a great deal of money to hire a Ninshu master for this! He killed an entire village of commoners to help me snatch this fine wine. Everyone must taste it well!"
"The taste is exquisite!"
"That money was certainly not wasted!"
"Your Excellency, to spare no expense for a cup of fine wine and then share it with us subordinates… your capacity and generosity are as vast as the sea!"
The guests in the hall laughed and began to flatter him loudly. They didn't care that the wine from their raised bamboo cups spilled onto their hands, and they began to discuss the matter with great interest.
"Speaking of which…"
"Those people from Ninshu are really useful…"
"They are quite stupid, though. No need to pay them much mind…"
Many among them were curious about Ninshu, an organization that had gradually flourished on the continent after the great disaster. The people of the land had grown accustomed to its existence, knowing it was home to many masters who possessed a magical power capable of solving people's problems.
Naturally, the people within Ninshu were not all benevolent. A very small number of them, after obtaining that power and leaving to travel, discovered it had even greater uses. For example, they could pledge allegiance to nobles and daimyos in exchange for wealth and glory, kill and plunder to accumulate riches, or seize beautiful women for themselves.
These people still acted in the name of Ninshu, but they didn't dare to be too outrageous. They knew the founder of Ninshu was still alive. Compared to selling one's scholarly and martial skills to the imperial family, these wandering masters preferred to work for powerful nobles to receive payment.
"Hmph," the daimyo seated at the head scoffed, his expression a mix of disdain and mockery. "I somewhat overestimated their intelligence. I had heard rumors about Ninshu and thought they would help the commoners and hinder my rule. Now it seems that as long as they have desires, they are just a pack of dogs serving us. If you give them a few bones, they will listen obediently."
"What a bunch of naive and cute little dogs…" At this, the fat daimyo couldn't help but smile. His laughter grew louder and louder until he was shouting, "Hahahaha, come, let's drink together! I hope there will be more and more dogs like this in the future!"
"Hahahaha… that's right!"
"Hahahahahaha…"
The entire room filled with cheerful laughter. Some guests even applauded the daimyo, all agreeing that what he said was very wise.
"Who's there!"
Suddenly, the daimyo's face changed. He had heard applause coming from behind the screen behind him. He subconsciously looked back and saw the gleam of a blade, which scared him so much that he scrambled backward, knocking over his table.
Crash!
The light of a blade flashed, and the entire screen was instantly cut open by the sharp edge.
"Assassin!"
"Someone, come quickly!"
The guests jumped up in fear. Some panicked and tried to hide, while others shouted for the guards outside to protect the daimyo. A few suppressed their fear and tried to help the daimyo to safety.
"Shh… Please be quiet."
The newcomer wore a hood and held a katana in his right hand. He raised a finger of his left hand to his lips, signaling for everyone to be silent.
"You…" one of the guests started to say.
Swoosh!
Vines suddenly shot out from the ground. They pierced directly into the bodies of the guests, instantly growing inside them as if they were alive, running them through completely. Blood flowed quietly across the floor.
The scene fell silent.
The daimyo stood up, supported by the only two ministers who remained. Forcing himself to be calm, he pushed them aside. He glanced at the room, which had become a field of corpses, and looked solemnly at the uninvited guest.
"Your Excellency, who might you be?"
"So calm? Truly worthy of being the daimyo of this country," the uninvited guest said in praise. "No wonder you could gather a country in such a short time after the great disaster. If it weren't for my arrival, perhaps you would have had a chance to unify this land."
"Thank you… for your praise," the daimyo said, his mind gradually calming.
Establishing a country so quickly was indeed something to be proud of. While many places on the continent were still just villages, he had used his bloodline from a daimyo's house before the disaster to gather a group of people and quickly establish a stable country. He was even using the opportunity to gradually expand outward.
"Seeing as your eyes can perceive a part of this world's truth, I shall introduce myself," the newcomer said. He reached up and took off his hood, revealing a young man's peaceful face, like that of a kind person.
"My name is Emiya Shirou. I am currently searching for those people of Ninshu who are spreading chakra in this world. If Your Excellency has any information, please do not hide it."
"Ah, so that's how it is," the daimyo said, taking a deep breath as his mood slowly relaxed. "That Ninshu master I hired went south. I gave him a new commission to help me gather intelligence on a few villages there. I heard they are very prosperous."
"How long has he been gone?"
"He left two days ago."
"Thank you very much." Emiya Shirou bowed politely.
"No need to be polite, as long as the misunderstanding between us is—" The daimyo let out a full sigh of relief. He wanted to say more to completely dispel the other's hostility, but Shirou's figure suddenly disappeared from sight.
"My apologies," his voice echoed in the room. "I never said I would let you go."
"Where did he go…?" the daimyo started to ask his ministers, his voice laced with surprise and suspicion. Before he could finish, he felt a sudden chill in his body. A sharp katana had pierced through his heart from behind.
"Wh… why?"
"For no reason," Emiya Shirou said calmly from behind him. "Just killing you. A matter of convenience. No need to be so polite with me."
"You… your blade is really fast…" the daimyo whispered as he slowly lowered his head, feeling the strength drain from his body. He looked powerlessly at the tip of the crimson-stained blade protruding from his chest.
"What a pity," Shirou sighed with some regret. "Your praise has no reference value for me."
He suddenly pulled out his katana and, in the same motion, beheaded the two terrified ministers behind him. The entire room was now a bloody mess.
Emiya Shirou wiped his katana clean, put his hood back on, and opened the door. He disappeared again into the wind and snow.
It was warm here and very suitable for winter. However, Shirou had no time to stay. As a newly arrived transmigrator, he couldn't waste time resting in this barbaric era of the ninja world. He had to make himself strong, and quickly.