The battle was over, Maximilian, the bastard of Caligula had defeated Baron Eppes of Thagalia.
Max didn't even have to say anything and the men from Thagalia all dropped their weapons including the knights.
Just then a loud voice exclaimed,
" Victory to Scorpia! Hail Scorpia! "
Immediately all the men in the militia started chanting the slogan.
Max gestured for Captain Kyle to come forward.
" Take thirty men and go into town bring me Baron Eppes family, his advisors and their families also.
You must gather up all of their valuable assets for transportation back to Valum.
Remember, no looting and no raping. Unless someone poses a threat to your life, ignore them completely. "
" Yes my Lord. " Kyle saluted before going out to enforce the order .
Max then turned to the men from Thagalia who were all sitting in the dirt with their weapons cast away.
" Men of Thagalia, the battle is over and your Lord is defeated.
The whole region of Thagalia by right now belongs to me. " He paused and allowed his voice to wash over the crowd.
" Today I offer you a choice, live or die .
If you choose life, you will be given opportunities to improve your life. To be specific you will receive jobs, these jobs will not make you the wealthiest but for the time your families will live comfortably and not worry about food.
Your children will not be exploited, they will receive education. That education that have received will give them better opportunities than you, they are the ones who will get rich.
You could also join my militia but that may be unlikely for most of you unless you are willing to learn discipline.
And finally, you could leave.
No one would stop you if you pack up your belongings and leave this lands.
Death only comes when you try to disrupt the order and progress which I am currently introducing.
As long as you stay within my controlled territory the words you must carve in your mind is that only through order can peace, prosperity and progress be achieved."
" Go home to your families and I hope you choose life. "
Few hours later after the men had been escorted in an orderly fashion to their homes, Max recieved a report, the Barons family and their advisors had been captured but in the process some of them resisted which caused two casualties and two injuries.
Max quickly healed the injured soldiers and had the remains of the fallen men covered with his banners, there was already a provision for that.
Without wasting much time the execution began starting from the advisors.
Blood curling screams rang out from that moment till late in the evening and by the time they were done seventeen people had been nailed to the cross this included the Baron, his wife and two daughters.
By the next morning the banners of Scorpia, the black flag with the sigil of the red scorpion on the top right corner .
Fifty men were left garrisoned in Thagalia while the others left carrying the spoils taken from the Barons manor and from that of his advisors.
Within three days burial and compensation for the families fallen soldiers and the dead merchant.
For Maximilian, this was standard for every member of the armed forces, but for the people of Valum Maximilian had shown them the greatest honor.
This was also the beginning of an almost fanatical reverence of the name Scorpia.
...
Two weeks after that members of the Caligula branch families, mostly minor lords, Barons and viscounts arrived in the ducal capital city of Caligula.
The reason for for their arrival was to lay their grievances about Maximilians actions in Thagalia.
" Your grace, this is preposterous, this is murder.
Maximilian Scorpia must be brought to justice. " Baron Scofield spoke vigorously while the others nodded and mummured in agreement.
" He has spat on the face and dignity of nobility and must face the consequences. "
Duke Alexander gazed down on the group from his chair, these men standing here were part of his family albeit distant relatives and here they were like a pack of hyenas sniffing around for any weakness.
The way he would handle by this matter would determine all relationships going forward. Any mistake no matter how small could even cost him his life, lands and titles.
He was quite intrigued that Maximilian whom he had written off had managed to pull off an accomplishment like this one.
Other of his four children could do the same but that was because they had overwhelming offensive magic .
After the nobles left, the Duke summoned his Marshall, Lord Peter Bishop who was in charge of commanding and training his forces.
" Greetings your grace, you sent for me. " Lord Bishop bowed as he entered the study.
Duke Alexander, motioned for him to sit ,
" Is it true about what they are saying, that the boy bested Baron Eppes and nailed all those loyal to him to the cross ? "
" Yes my Lord, but there was something strange.
There was no killing of civilians, no raping and the only looting that took place was in the houses of the Baron and his advisors.
Moreso, I have not been able to get any information from the residents in Valum, bribes don't work much, they all seem they all seem to be living comfortably. " His voice suddenly turned Grimm. " I have started to loose contact with some of my men in that area, they are not just disappearing, it's as if they didn't exist.
I think Maximilian is not what he seems to be, i think he might be a threat. "
The words hung heavily in the room, the Duke then sighed before replying. " If course he's a threat, his sword did that to my armor." He pointed at the shallow gash on his breast plate.
" In two months time, during the engagement ceremony, I would have him swear fealty to me in front of all present. If he acts out after that, I would find an excuse to arrest and execute him for treason.