Chapter 874 Throwing Your Weight Around

A little over an hour later, the local lord arrives at the town with a large entourage.

The baron has brought his entire army: more than a thousand armed men in a noisy crowd.

Just as Harry predicted, he clearly has something else in mind.

Perhaps he does not mean to kill anyone. But at the very least, he seems intent on detaining them.

Unfortunately for him, the group's perimeter-patrol cavalry have arrived first.

Two fully armed cavalry units, a hundred men each, guard the approaches to the town.

The baron senses that things will not be easy today. He is about to advance with his men when a centurion stops him. "Baron, your personal guard will be enough. There's no need to bring so many men inside!"

The baron's expression turns cold. "Do I need you to set rules for me on my own land? Get out of the way!"

The centurion frowns. "What do you intend to do, bringing so many men into the town?"

The baron raises his riding crop. "I said, get out of the way! I don't owe you an explanation!"

The other captain rides forward, irritated. "Well, you're not taking your troops inside today! What are you going to do about it?"

This captain comes from the First Warband. He clearly has little regard for Ogiro's nobles.

The moment the baron's troops start to move, the two cavalry units withdraw roughly two hundred and fifty meters.

The noble's private troops burst into laughter, jeering at the cavalry's cowardice.

The baron and the Knight officers among his men, however, look far less amused.

They have all seen battle. They know the cavalry are making room for a charge.

Judging by how quickly those riders reform, their thousand-odd men would be easy prey for two hundred cavalry armed to the teeth.

The baron's face darkens. "Are you trying to humiliate me?"

"Of course not," the first centurion replies calmly. "When the Mobile Strike Group is carrying out its duties, it has overriding priority."

"Never mind your fief. Even in Diversion Bay, Ogiro's capital, our regulations would still take precedence."

As the standoff continues, the ground begins to tremble.

Then several hundred cavalry come thundering toward them in the light of the setting sun.

With practiced control, the riders bring their horses to a halt in unison, only a few dozen meters from the baron.

They have deliberately ridden this close before stopping. The noble's private troops scatter in panic, making a sorry spectacle of themselves.

The Knight at their head rides forward. "Baron Nakala, is it? I'm Morris, deputy commander of the Mobile Strike Group!"

Nakala draws a deep breath. "You're throwing your weight around!"

Morris tosses him a scroll. The baron catches it and asks in confusion, "What's this?"

"Certification issued by joint operations headquarters," Morris says. "It includes the agreement signed by the nations of this continent, including your own king."

"Within those nations, the commander of the Mobile Strike Group holds authority equivalent to a duke. Each warband commander has the authority of a count."

"As deputy commander, I hold a position equivalent to a marquis in your kingdom, recognized by your king himself."

"You're still throwing your weight around!" Nakala protests.

Morris waves his riding crop lightly. "Leave that aside. You're an Ogiro baron, and I have the authority of a marquis. Is this how you greet me? Still on your horse?"

Nakala's face reddens. At last, he grits his teeth, dismounts, and bows in greeting to Morris.

Morris returns a casual military salute. "Now that is throwing my weight around! Thinking a little more clearly now, Baron?"

The baron lowers his head without answering. Morris dismounts. "Since you are, come into town with me. Let's see what actually happened."

The baron watches Morris enter the town with a few guards, his expression shifting.

One of the cavalry officers remaining outside sneers. "Well? Did you not hear our commander, Baron?"

"Or is there something wrong with your legs? Do you need a hand getting into town?"

Nakala snorts and enters the town with several guards.

The hot-tempered patrol captain who arrived earlier says scornfully, "What an attitude! A petty baron, putting on airs like that!"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think he was a prince of Ogiro! So arrogant he's a fool. Can't he read the situation?"

The other patrol captain laughs. "You think everyone's like you?"

"Bruno, you're the third son of a count in the Ika Kingdom. Most of the time, this baron would have to greet you politely."

"It's his land, though. He has to establish his authority here. Men like him can only wield power on their own territory."

"If he didn't act arrogant here, what sort of lord would he be?"

Bruno curls his lip. "Little ability, plenty of airs! I wonder if someone behind the scenes is egging this fool on to get himself killed."

The centurion from Peace Haven shrugs. "That's none of our business. We just guard the outside. Our superiors can handle the rest."

While the soldiers talk outside, Morris reaches the tavern.

Pabos looks surprised to see him, then rises with the others to salute.

Morris turns to Harry first. "Harry, please. No need to get up with that leg of yours."

Pabos looks embarrassed. "Sir, I'm sorry! We've dragged you all the way out here over this!"

Morris waves everyone back to their seats. "It's not your fault. There have already been several disputes here."

"I'll use this opportunity to sort things out properly. Otherwise, something far more serious is bound to happen."

As he speaks, Baron Nakala arrives as well. The tavern has already been cleared.

Morris points to a nearby table. "Baron, sit down. Let's talk!"

The head of Ogiro's local Department of Military Affairs office is also present. He is a retired veteran.

He serves as a Knight squire to a powerful noble family as well, and knows the proper courtesies.

Morris assigns him a table too. The town's constable and mayor are also present.

Once everyone is seated, Morris smiles. "I'm sorry for summoning you all so abruptly. Let's try to settle this quickly."

"It's getting late, and I've heard a great deal about the authentic Ogiro dishes served here."

"If we finish early, I might get to try some!"

A few jokes ease the tension.

Morris then looks at those directly involved, standing in the middle of the room. "Tell me what happened."

"Well, what happened was..."

Pabos has barely begun when Morris interrupts him. "I was asking the people involved. You can listen. It's not your turn to speak yet."

Pabos rubs his nose awkwardly and sits back down.

Only then does the soldier standing before them begin explaining how the trouble started.

It is a familiar story. When men come into conflict, there are usually only two reasons.

Either money is at stake, or women are involved.

The Mobile Strike Group's soldiers are not poor, so naturally, this time it is a woman.