CHAPTER 362: CHAPTER 241: UNDERCURRENTS

They stood up, looking north at this unique and unfamiliar army: at the forefront, a white banner was held high, painted with a bizarre creature that inspired fear;

Behind the large banner was another flag raised high, the smaller brown flag bore only a strange symbol (in fact, it was the Arabic numeral of the First Legion);

Moreover, at regular intervals, this troop had smaller brown flags raised high, also painted with strange symbols (these were the flags of the First Legion’s six battalions), adding a solemn and imposing aura to the entire troop;

The formation was four people in a row, arranged like a long dragon; no one broke away from the line during the march, and no one wandered randomly within it, showing great order;

Although the soldiers in the troop bore not insignificant burdens, each held their heads high, spirits aflame, marching in neat steps, shouting loudly, demonstrating a vigorous fighting spirit...

"Is this the army that our allies, the Nix, have sent?" asked an old man of tall and thin stature with a hooked nose and an ominous gaze in a deep voice.

His name was Ambrosius, the father-in-law of the Great Chief Acoupaigos and the leader of a powerful Aldean Tribe.

He snorted, discontentedly saying, "Are they shouting so loudly as a demonstration against us!"

"Without our help, how could these outsiders establish a foothold at the Kupa River? And now, they dare to bark senselessly at their masters, like insolent dogs!" complained another burly Aldean leader.

Instantly, others chimed in: "Exactly, these outsiders are like ungrateful wolves!—"

"Everyone, stop talking nonsense!" Cleobrotas turned around, sternly scanning the leaders: "Don’t forget, if not for the Nix people’s several victories over the Segestica’s army last year, the Segestica people might have already invaded our Murenica River area!

Now, the Nix have again sent their troops, traveling long distances to come here. The strength of their army clearly indicates that they value our requests and sincerely wish to help us reclaim the salt mine!

Everyone, we should warmly welcome their arrival, not start quarrels within our family even before the battle!"

Over the years, Cleobrotas had aided Great Chief Acoupaigos in managing tribal affairs, amassing considerable prestige; after he spoke, the surroundings fell silent.

Cleobrotas said no more, taking the lead eagerly to welcome the Nix army, and others gradually followed.

Alistacas stood still, with an unpleasant expression, hesitantly glancing at his father-in-law.

"Cleobrotas is right, we need the help of the Nix army. If you lead the army to defeat the Otarlat people this time, no one will oppose your succession to your father’s position as Great Chief."

Ambrosius, with a serious demeanor as if it wasn’t he who had initially expressed dissatisfaction with the Nix, then added emphatically, "Just don’t always let Cleobrotas single-handedly win the Nix’s favor!"

Immediately, a cold light flashed in Alistacas’s eyes as he gazed at the back, an anxiety rising within him. He hurriedly stepped forward, quickly surpassing Cleobrotas to walk at the forefront.

"Welcome to our esteemed allies!" said Alistacas, putting on a smile, opening his arms to the Nix army, loudly speaking.

Fesaros hurriedly raised his arms to signal, and the troop behind him soon halted their advance.

This scene struck a chord within the Aldean leaders, shaking their hearts.

Pigeris immediately guessed the speaker’s identity, but looked at the person following closely and asked, feigning ignorance: "Elder Cleobrotas, who might this be?"

"Elder Pigeris (since the Aldean Tribe did not have a governance structure like the Nix, fearing they wouldn’t understand, every time Pigeris was dispatched, he declared himself as an elder of the Nix Tribe), this is the eldest son of our Great Chief, Alistacas, also an elder of our tribe.

The previous few times you visited the main camp, he had other matters to attend to and could not meet you, which was unfortunate. However, this time, he is serving as the commander of our Alliance Army, so I believe our two peoples can cooperate well to defeat the Otarlat people together!"

Pigeris feigned enlightenment with a warm expression, saying enthusiastically, "I have long heard of Elder Alistacas’s great name. It is an honor to meet today! Please rest assured, our Nix army will certainly follow your command to assist you in winning this battle!"

Hearing these words, Alistacas felt much better as he gripped Pigeris’s extended hand firmly, saying, "You are right, let’s join forces to defeat the Otarlat people!"

Subsequently, after exchanging pleasantries for a while, another group approached from the front, led by someone who loudly shouted, "Elder Pigeris! Elder Fesaros! Welcome to your arrival!"

Fesaros looked closely and, somewhat surprised, stepped forward: "Elder Karsipempas, I didn’t expect you to come as well!"

Karsipempas laughed heartily, "I am also a leader of the Aldean Tribe. With the entire tribe mobilized for war with the Otarlat people, this is the most important tribal business; how could I be absent?

Since I returned from your place, I have not gone back to sea and have remained in the tribe to prepare for this battle. By the way, let me introduce you to my eldest son—Kobrunbodus."

As Karsipempas spoke, he pulled forward a dark-skinned, robust, and honest-looking young man from behind, "Son, these two are elders of the Nix Tribe and friends of your father, also considered your elders; show them the proper respect!"

Kobrunbodus followed instructions, bowing respectfully.

Pigeris and Fesaros returned the gesture hurriedly, not daring to be negligent because they both knew a fact: Since Karsipempas had been long at sea, his tribe had been in the hands of his eldest son Kobrunbodus, who was not an ordinary young man.

Karsipempas continued introducing the individuals who had accompanied him, also leaders of the Aldean Tribe but from the mountains to the west of the Aldean Territory.

The two sides exchanged courtesies once again.

"Look, Karsipempas has a good relationship with these Nix people too!" Ambrosius whispered to his son-in-law.

Alistacas, with a somber face, watched Karsipempas engage in close and laughing conversation with the Nix, unable to hold back and exclaimed, "Karsipempas, our allies have come a long way and must be very tired! Don’t disturb them any longer; let them rest well, recover their strength for tomorrow’s better fight!"

Karsipempas’s laughter abruptly stopped.

Fesaros was surprised: why is there a battle with the Otarlat people already tomorrow?!

Alistacas then loudly instructed his father-in-law, "Elder Ambrosius, you are responsible for taking our allies to the camp and doing everything possible to settle them in!"

"Yes." Ambrosius stepped quickly to the two, "Elder Pigeris, Elder Fesaros, please lead the troop and follow me!"

"Alright." Fesaros responded, nodding farewell to Karsipempas before raising his right hand in a gesture, leading the army to follow Ambrosius away.

Pigeris, however, did not move immediately, only catching up after a while.

On their way to the camp, upon Fesaros’s inquiry, Ambrosius revealed the reason why the two tribes were fighting the next day.

When entire tribes mobilize for military action, each gathering tens of thousands of warriors to fight abroad, the consumption of grain is enormous; both sides cannot bear it for long. Therefore, despite being enemies, the Aldean Tribe and the Otarlat Tribe had already reached an agreement during their first encounter:

Once one party wishes to change the status of the salt mine, it can issue a challenge to the other, which must accept, or else one party could attack the salt mine directly, potentially damaging the facilities in battle, which would be counterproductive. Once both parties agree to engage in a decisive battle, they would each gather their warriors, lead their troops here, and select a day to decide the outcome with one battle; the winner takes what he wants, while the loser can only retreat temporarily to gather strength.

"This method is quite effective, as it temporarily resolves their conflict without too much damage to the tribes," praised Pigeris.

As a small merchant from the Kingdom of Pontus, he had witnessed the brutal warfare among Eastern kingdoms firsthand, where fields were littered with corpses and rivers of blood flowed.

"After all, our tribe and the Otarlat Tribe are both Illyrians; we were once part of the same kingdom, and such dueling came from our ancient racial traditions."

Ambrosius said with a tone of hatred, "Previously, our Aldean Tribe was stronger than the Otarlat and did not monopolize the salt mine. Later, the war with the Pannonians greatly weakened us, and the Otarlat people, instead of lending a helping hand as compatriots, seized the entire salt mine and threatened the lives of our tribal members."

Ambrosius pointed around: "Originally, this area was all part of our Aldean’s territory, home to several tribes, which have since been forced to migrate north due to Otarlat harassment.

This time, the Great Chief challenged the Otarlat Tribe. Originally, everyone worried they would not accept the challenge, but to our surprise, they agreed. This morning, we received news that over twenty thousand Otarlat people have arrived on the other side of the river, clearly not underestimating us despite our weak power, and hoping to end our hopes once and for all in this battle..."