The smell of the air today was rather pleasant. So were the cries of the birds and the sobs of the rats guiding us through the streets.
I sat peacefully on the back of the horse with Keith by my side as the knights that dumbly dared to charge at us earlier walked in a formation around us. The distance from the Baron's town to the village was about three hours by horse, with the path it had been shortened another forty minutes. But, I was quite a busy man. Two hours traveling? It would have taken even longer since the knights who were supposed to guard us were on foot.
So I and Keith pulled out some whips and made the guards cover the distance in a little over an hour. I had to say, their training was quite unsatisfactory for how trash they acted.
Dozens of people stared at us as the ragged knights heaved and panted with every step. The moment they hunched their backs, I would whistle and Keith would pummel them with his kicks.
They should have never thought of trying to hit Maria. I, with all due respect, wanted to get their heads off already, but it wasn't advantageous to ruin the relationship with my future benefactor so soon.
As we passed by the streets, ignoring the gawking people and adventurers, we reached the central area of the town and found ourselves facing the imposing estate of the baron. It was just a small mansion that the baron tried too hard to turn into a fortress.
At the front gates of the mansion, I could see two people with protruding bellies standing with their hands on their hips while all the guards and servants stood behind him. Most of them were armed and ready. It seemed the Baron had noticed us coming in from a distance, I was glad he wasn't a completely incompetent troll.
"What is the meaning of this!? Who are you?!"
A strange loud voice called out from the pile of people. There were two fatsos, I couldn't tell which one spoke since they were next to each other.
"Step up front and speak," I yawned and said.
"What did you just say? Do you not know who you are talking to, kid?"
Fuck. Which one was it!?
"Ok fine, whoever is the baron, raise your hand so I can tell you apart."
I heard a stream of gasps at my words. Even Keith next to me seemed slightly surprised as he looked at me. I only pumped my brows at him and smirked.
"This arrogant brat, fine."
Suddenly, the two fatso's moved to the side and a third person walked up from behind them. He was fit and had muscles on his body, even his clothing was rather lavish. To think the real baron was standing behind them, I was tricked. I thought it would be just another knight protecting the baron when I sensed him but had no idea it would be like this. I took a look at the baron's face, but it was pointless, I couldn't 'see' anything that could help leave an impression of him.
The baron tried to take control of the mana around me and put in some pressure against me, but I negated it without batting an eye.
"How bold," I said. "And how arrogant."
"What?"
"Baron, bow."
"YOU—"
Before the baron could fight back, I started flooding the air around him with my mana instead and placed an amount of pressure that the one before couldn't ever compare to. The baron was a strong mage.
He was beyond the apprentice stage and was a magic practitioner, but his comprehension and control couldn't hold a candle against me, someone in the realm of an advanced mage. He tried to retaliate and take back the control of the mana around him, but it was futile in front of my absolute control over it.
The baron's neck tightened and his fists clenched. In moments, the man keeled over and fell on his knees, his head looking down.
The knights around seemed to have seen this as a sign to move and were moving fast to unsheathe their blades.
"The third child of the Marquis of Hall, Lord Eugene Hall accepts the Baron's greeting."
Another set of sighs and gasps rang out. The baron's skin turned pale as he lifted his head.
"L-lord... Eugene Hall...?"
"Baron. Your knights disrespected my subordinate, so I cut off the strongest one's hands," I was smirking widely now. I had already pulled back the pressure, but the baron was still on his knees from fear. "I hope you don't mind."
"I-I will personally punish him... my lord. How can this one atone for such a sin?"
The baron was still confused, but he was quick on the uptake. He quickly lowered his head and sought forgiveness.
"Baron, I see you have something to say about what I am doing with my territory near the Ediab forest."
The baron gulped.
"Let us move inside and converse, shall we?"