"The food that has been handed over isn’t sothing I use for my personal enjoynt. It’s ant to be submitted to the leader, who then submits it to the Great Chief to supply the army for expeditions against enemies..." Alpas, realizing sothing, quickly defended himself, "Our Segestica Tribe is in a precarious situation. Since we began resisting the Skodisqi people, we’ve hardly had a year without battles. Without enough food to mobilize the tribesn for war, how can we ensure the safety of the tribe?—"
"But we’ve suffered repeated defeats. Not only is the tribe unsafe, it’s beco even more dangerous!" soone suddenly retorted, leaving Alpas speechless.
Sethonos seized the mont to continue reprimanding Alpas loudly, "Listening to your argunt, it seems the hardship of ordinary tribe mbers is supposed to be expected. But what about you?! You tribal leaders, elders, and clan leaders own far more land than we ordinary tribe mbers, far more slaves, and have brave warriors guarding your residences and property. A portion of the food we hand over is taken for your own consumption, and you can also confiscate tribesn’s land to increase your own holdings—"
"Rubbish! Utter rubbish!" Alpas shouted in exasperation, "You traitor! You’re slandering the noble bloodlines of our leaders and elders! Slandering the sacred traditions of our Pannonia!—"
"Slandering?!" Sethonos sneered, turning to the crowd and loudly proclaiming, "Among you are his tribesn. You tell , has he ever labored in the fields like us, or herded sheep tirelessly like us?!"
"No... never, not once..." one captive mustered the courage to reply.
"Then have you ever seen him charge fearlessly at the front lines of every battle, bearing scars like us?!" Sethonos asked again. In truth, most Segestica tribal leaders and nobles excelled in combat, but a few, like Alpas, rarely stepped onto the battlefield. Sethonos could tell just by his physique, which is why he posed the question.
"No!" This ti, the captive’s response was louder.
"When the fields yield poorly and we can’t fill our bellies, has he ever provided us with enough food to help us endure the tough tis?" Sethonos asked once more.
"No!!" The captives responded even more loudly this ti.
"Brothers, have you seen it now? This is what our tribe’s leaders and clan heads are like! They’ve long abandoned the traditions of our tribe—caring for tribesn as family—and instead focus on fattening themselves, leaving us to suffer!"
Sethonos wasn’t just assigned labor in the Nix Tribe; Maximus also arranged for eloquent senior warriors to chat with these reserve tribe mbers during their free ti, listening to their grievances. Much of what Sethonos said today was influenced by these warriors’ guidance.
At that mont, the more Sethonos spoke, the more impassioned he beca. The advice from the warriors flowed naturally from his lips, his mind becoming increasingly clear, as if he had reached enlightennt: "When fighting, we charge at the frontlines; when it’s ti for the harvest, we hand over the most food. Yet we receive the least, and even a minor mistake results in harsh punishnt...
We aren’t tribe mbers of Segestica at all! We’re actually slaves to the leaders and clan heads! Only slightly better off than the Skodisqi slaves!—"
"You—" Alpas, enraged, was about to curse harshly when a cold, sharp object suddenly pressed against the tender flesh of his neck—a short sword wielded by a Nix Soldier. He wisely shut his mouth.
"It was only after joining the Nix Tribe that I learned what fairness truly ans!" Sethonos exclaid passionately, "Your efforts should be rewarded accordingly! I spent half a year cultivating farmland for the Nix Tribe, joined the main force in an incredibly intense battle two days ago, and secured victory. Then I worked tirelessly to rush here and capture all of you...
Because of my efforts, I beca a formal tribe mber of the Nix Tribe and acquired at least 60 acres of land! If I continue to achieve rits in battle, I will earn rewards from the tribe—more land, and might even rise into the ranks of Nix nobles! Unlike in the Segestica Tribe, where I would always remain a bullied ordinary mber!"
Sethonos’s words caused an imdiate uproar among the captives. Even the steady Onosis couldn’t help but ask, "Sethonos, is it true that you could acquire even more than 60 acres of land in the Nix Tribe? And obtain a status as privileged as Alpas’s?!"
"Of course, it’s true!" Sethonos replied confidently, "The Nix Tribe has specialized decrees regarding this matter—every tribe mber is aware of it! Plus, so Nix mbers have already earned over 100 acres of land through outstanding achievents!"
"100 acres?!" The crowd beca even more agitated, with so gasping in astonishnt.
The surrounding captives grew increasingly curious and asked loudly, "If I join the Nix Tribe, will I get 60 acres of land?!"
"You’ve just joined the Nix Tribe, and haven’t done anything for the tribe yet. The Nix Tribe doesn’t know if you’re genuinely committed, so how could they imdiately give you land!—"
Sethonos noticed so captives showing disappointnt after hearing this and imdiately emphasized, "Think about the Segestica Tribe—when other tribe mbers wanted to join, they had to work for the leaders and clan heads for a long ti before being accepted by the tribe. As for acquiring land, it’s an exceedingly rare opportunity...
But in the Nix Tribe, as long as you work diligently for the tribe for three years, you’ll beco a formal mber and receive 50 acres of land. If during these three years you participate in battles and achieve rits, the ti needed to beco a formal mber will shorten, and you could potentially receive more land—just like . Understand now?!"
"Got it, got it. Three years isn’t that long—it’s just working hard, and I’m good at that," one captive imdiately nodded.
"I’m not good at farming, but I love fighting. Can I join the Nix Tribe and beco a warrior, specializing in fighting for the tribe and earning land quickly?" A burly captive asked loudly.
"That... should also be possible." Sethonos hesitated briefly before replying, "But first, you’d have to pass the Nix Army’s test."
"Soone as strong as wouldn’t fail their test!" The burly captive raised his thick arm confidently.
"Odetas is one of the renowned warriors of our tribe!" Another captive nearby proudly boasted.
"You heartless bunch! Have you no sha?!" An elderly captive cursed furiously, "The Nix people are our enemies! They’ve slain so many of our tribesn, and you dare to consider defecting to them? You’ll surely face divine punishnt and die miserable deaths!"
"No! Joining the Nix Tribe won’t bring divine punishnt. It will bring blessings instead!" Sethonos declared confidently, "Because Nix Leader Maximus is a Divine Descendant of the Danu Goddess, blessed by her. That’s why he led his people here and has been able to repeatedly defeat enemies far stronger than Nix, often overcoming imnse odds. That’s also why the Kupa River, which used to flood uncontrollably every rainy season, has been calm this year... Thus, when the Nix Tribe settled here, they imdiately began constructing a Danu Goddess Temple. Furthermore, Nix Leader Maximus being a Divine Descendant of the Danu Goddess was verified by the Emrich Sage.
"Is this true?! The Nix Leader is actually a Divine Descendant of the Danu Goddess?!"
"It must be true, didn’t you just hear him say that there’s a Danu Goddess Temple in the Nix Tribe? Plus, this was verified by Emrich Sage! Emrich Sage is the only Skodisqi Druid in our Segestica Tribe. He’s favored by the divine, and any patient he treats recovers. He wouldn’t lie!"
"No wonder our brave Andres Chief and Great Chief Cabdes suddenly died! They recklessly attacked the Nix Tribe, which is blessed by the Danu Goddess, and angered her. They were undoubtedly struck down by divine punishnt! The Danu Goddess is the Mother of All Things and Goddess of the Earth!"
"Oh! What should we do?! We’ve fought against the Nix people and offended the Goddess—that’s why we’ve been captured!"
"Hey, can I join the Nix Tribe right now?!"
" too! I want to join as well!"
...
For a ti, many captives around expressed a fervent desire to Sethonos to "join the Nix Tribe."
Scenes like this repeatedly unfolded in every captive camp.
.....................
Late at night, Maximus was awakened from his deep sleep: "Leader, just as you anticipated, the Segestica people in the fort attempted to escape during the night!"
Maximus rubbed his drowsy eyes and asked casually, "What’s the situation now?"
"Three battalions from the First Legion and two battalions from the Fourth Legion moved in swiftly as planned to intercept them. Not a single one will get away!" The attendant replied excitedly.
"Good, good..." Maximus yawned and replied weakly, "I’ll sleep a bit more. When everything’s settled, call Legion Commanders Fesaros and Oluus over to see ."
"Yes, Leader!"
About two hours later, Fesaros and Oluus stood in the military tent.
"Leader, the Segestica people in the fort have all been captured. We’ve also occupied the entire fort and seized all the Pannonian Army’s stored food and supplies there!..." Fesaros reported cheerfully, then added, "Leader, you’re truly brilliant, foreseeing their escape attempt so early!"
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