Baron Eppes had barely restrained himself from striking down the messenger that was sent from Valum, this letter in his hand was not veiled at all .
Maximilian was informing him that there would be painful consequences or rather fatal consequences if his demands are not met.
" Have I fallen so low as a noble that a child with milk still dripping from his chin would dare threaten me? " The Baron raved .
An adviser who stood closer chimed in,
" My Lord, it is an open secret that he has no offensive magic abilitie, he is no more than a magicless person with an ability to heal people. "
" The boy threatens to hang me for treason against the Duke, he is a bastard and he thinks he can get away with killing a noble man like me, that is if he could bypass any of my defenses. " Baron Eppes replied smugly.
" There's a rumor spreading about in the ducal capital, it is said that he killed a knight by just touching him.
Don't you think we should be wary of someone capable of that? " Another advisor spoke, he seemed to be the only one whose head wasn't up his ass.
" Such blatant lies are just being spread to boost his image and to make people forget about his weaknesses.
When I catch him, I won't kill him.
Instead I will cripple him and then force him to reveal the recipe for his products.
Even the Duke wouldn't object to the punishment of a bastard. "
.....
Three days later, one hundred and fifty of the Valum militia lined up in camp Dexter, which was the military base where all military personnel resided and trained.
The militia has grown to a whooping two hundred and nineteen soldiers both men and women.
Max stood on top of a podium flanked by the three officers and addressed the soldiers.
" Three days ago, I received word that we the people of Valum had been robbed by Baron Eppes.
Not only did he steal the goods that were produced by the blood and sweat of the men and women of Valum he also murdered a merchant who spoke up against the injustice.
... Some of us know Pan, it hasn't been up to a month since he joined the business department in order to take care of his wife and newborn daughter and just like that the life of such promising young man was cut short all because of one man's greed.
When we enter Thagalia, we are not there to exact vengeance, we are there to bring about justice.
This means that the residents of Thagalia must not be harmed unless they pose a threat to your lives.
The Baron and his family however are fair game, they must be captured and by the time we are done , they would be hanging from a cross.
Armoured in faith...
...shielded by devotion armed with purity of purpose.
You are my will made manifest, my will which is iron within and iron without...
...my will is to see all those who raise a hand against us.
And if this battle brings about the end of my life then so be it.
Sergeants make sure that all supplies are packed we move out in ten minutes. "
As the soldiers were packing up the officers who were appointed from the former knights seemed distraught.
They had been trying to convince Maximilian to forget about a war with Thagalia and maybe come to a compromise with the Baron but he had refused.
But still they kept their opinions away from the ears of regular soldiers as they needed to maintain moral.
Soon the soldiers were done and they had started to move out. They could have marched on foot but Maximilian being in the US military in his previous life had come to appreciate the power of logistics so before there was even talk of conflict he had made sure that each team compromised of eleven soldiers would be given two mules and a horse.
The two mules when hitched to well crafted and sturdy wagons could carry up to ten people and their major supplies like crossbow bolts, water and food.
The horse was for the Sergeants who led and protected the other soldiers and wagons.
Four hours later, they crossed into the borders of Thagalia and another four hours later they arrived at an area which was approximately one mile from the town.
This was also the main route where goods and people would leave or enter the town.
Camp was immediately constructed according to military doctrine.
It was made up of a wide trench at least ten meters wide that surrounded the camp, wooden fences and an organized arrangement of tents.
The tents were all uniforms and could be hardly differentiated from the rest. This was done in case of a breach so that the enemy would have a hard time locating the commanders.
Aside from camp making there was also something else going on, it was the construction of crosses in preparation for the mass crucifixion that was bound to happen if there was a battle.
Four days remained until the deadline appointed for Thagalia expired but within those days Maximilian had ordered that no one would be allowed to go in or out of Thagalia.
It was only two days later that Baron Eppes that Baron Eppes became uncomfortable with Maximilian and his militias presence so he sent out three hundred men to face Maximilians militia.
These three hundred men were mostly part time soldiers and were not part of the town guard which were about fifty.
They were armed with spears, cheap swords and any blunt objects they could carry, twelve of them however were dressed in full plate armor.
Among them were some mages, maybe fifteen in this first batch.
Maximilian has only seven mages in his entire militia aside from the knights.
Three of the armored knights from Thagalia rode forward on their horses, Captain Kyle and the two lieutenants rode forward and met them at a mid point.
" I am sir Rayne knight and sword of Baron Eppes whose land you trespass.
Leave now before your lives are reaped away from you. "
Kyles face bore no reflection of his thoughts, although he was a knight he had no love for bloodshed and war.
" Sir Rayne, we are here because your Lord owes a debt, a debt which he has yet to settle.
I do not believe a battle is nessesary and if only your Lord would be reasonable then there would be no reason for bloodshed but if he doesn't comply, your Lord, his family, his knights, servants and all their families will be nailed to the cross and hanged till the moment of their death.
I haven't seen it happen before, infact it is the first time I am hearing if such methods of execution but I assure you that it is very painful.
Forget bravery and choose wisdom sir knight."