Magar decided to stick with the true story without any of the usual misdirection he used to trick the baron within the past.
"As we stated previously a tear opened here and the resulting black beast tide was significant enough that we believed it necessary to assemble an army to deal with it. The damage to our camp and to our people is obvious enough to see that something powerful did indeed attack us." Magar gestured at the camp.
While Chronos and the others were inside of the tear, it had produced a large number of black beasts that the baronets had stopped before they could spread to the surroundings.
But with how a black beast's body dissipated when killed there was no proof of that other than the damage, they caused to the camp.
The butler frowned as he looked at the camp, he had only arrived right before the meeting had begun and had not seen the tear personally.
There was a large amount of damage to the defensive structures and the tents from some beast, but he didn't see any 'tear' or any corpses for that matter.
Had they gained nothing from fighting whatever had attacked them?
That wouldn't do, he had come here today to steal what they had killed in exchange for not arresting Magar. Afterall even he didn't think that Baron Gustav was qualified to rule this region and secretly he was the one controlling the baron's territory.
It would be much more beneficial for him if Magar was left free rather than letting him be killed by the fool baron.
Unfortunately for him and perhaps fortunately for the mercenaries the thousands of goblin statues had been distributed in other areas along with the armored men that had been used to create the black armored men in the tear leaving no evidence of its existence.
Which meant that they were going to have to convince the baron that they had assembled to defend the region with little to no proof.
"You claim that you were fighting a powerful enemy, but what exactly were you fighting?" Butler Gordon cautiously asked.
"Black beasts. They're essentially living shadows, copies of living creatures made by a tear to attack people and drag them back into the tear. Once you are inside the tear you get turned into a statue and become a new black beast for the tear to send out." Carl filled him in.
"This is nonsense, nobody has heard of tears except in the founding legends. They don't exist and if you keep insisting they do then I will arrest Magar on the spot." Baron Gustav yelled.
"Arresting Magar when there is clear proof of a significant attack would land you in front of the earl in a very unfavorable position." Chronos commented.
"What proof? All I see is a camp that was intentionally damaged by Magar's own people." Baron Gustav scoffed.
"The village Magar is in charge of faced a black beast tide last night and I can stand as a witness in front of the earl if necessary to prove it. Most of the village was destroyed with only the buildings inside the inner wall left in one piece." Chronos said.
"You expect me to believe that a village I haven't visited was destroyed." The baron sneered at him, but both Butler Gordon and the shady man were already sending signals to their men to confirm what Chronos had said.
If it was true, then this was going to be a lot more complicated than Butler Gordon would like.
"It is true. I sent you a message about an assault by strange black beasts on my village yesterday morning Baron Gustav. I believe we should give you a few minutes to confer with your men on that matter." Magar supported Chronos's statement.
Baron Gustav was going to say something else, but he was interrupted by his butler.
"We will confer with our men. Thank you." He gave a professional smile as he went back to the knights.
While they were gone Chronos turned to Lyla.
"Have they lied about anything yet? Like maybe the document is fake?"
She glanced down at a small scale that was in her hands under the table, she had secretly cast the [Scale of Truth] spell when they had taken their seats.
"No, they haven't lied yet, but they aren't on the same page. Each of them wants something different and their goals don't seem to align."
"Those mercenaries are suspicious. They have traces of curses and miasma on their bodies and I think a few of their men are missing." Sariah said from her position lying on the sun badger.
"That's not reassuring." Jeromy muttered.
"True but we might be able to use it to our advantage. I doubt the mercenaries want an all-out war; they're probably only here to earn some coin. We might be able to buy some of them off if it comes down to it and it would allow us to take a better look at their men for any suspicious actions. Sacrificing a bit of money is better than killing each other over nothing." Carl said.
"We could use the help searching our territories for more black beasts or other tears as well, but first, we'll have to confirm that they are trustworthy." Magar agreed.
After some time, they came back to the table. From the enraged look on the baron's face, he had lost the argument.
"We have confirmed that you did indeed call for aid yesterday morning and that it was in response to a strange black beast tide. However, the official document still states that you must be arrested for suspicion of rebellion." Butler Gordon said
"The official reason is gathering an army without cause, as there was a cause the document is then invalid." Magar countered.
Butler Gordon didn't want this situation to spiral any further out of control, so he tried to bring it to a more peaceful conclusion.
"Until such a cause can be proven you will still have to come with us. I can promise you that you will be treated fairly and kept safe during your time with us."
Despite what he was saying, Baron Gustav's smile gave Chronos a bad feeling.
"The holding of an individual under suspicion can be done within their own home as long as two or more trustworthy people are guarding them. If you insist upon arresting him then we can have Baronet's Carl and Jeromy, along with some of your knights, guard sir Magar until he is called to the earl's estate for a formal hearing." Chronos stated.
By this point the baron had lost his patience and took drastic action.
Jumping out of his seat, or what passed for jumping when you were that fat, he drew his sword and pointed it directly at Magar's face.
"Enough! I will have his head for defying me! This is what you deserve for daring to lecture me!" He hysterically screamed.
Chronos got an annoyed look on his face as everyone except his companions stood up drawing their weapons for a fight.
This whole thing had started just because Magar had tried to advise the baron? Talk about petty.
Just as they were about to come to blows a shadow crossed over them.
Screeeech!
Looking up, a large golden eagle circled above them slowly coming lower.