CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 46 BUBIUS AND TORRELUGO

Flanitnus on the side ignored their quarrels, not caring whether they would be punished. As he focused on the center of the field, he scanned the lively crowd around. What interested him was the rebel army’s way of soliciting opinions from everyone.

Although the Roman Army had many military laws and quite strict military discipline, he, with years of military life, knew that the ultimate decision of life and death for a Legion Soldier was in the hands of the Legion Commander, and ordinary soldiers had no chance to appeal. The rebel army, however, seemed to hand this power of punishment to the soldiers even without military law. Is this what they call freedom?

Maximus walked into the center of the camp, followed closely by two trembling young women. They were thin, their eyes red and swollen, and one even had a clear red handprint on her cheek.

The soldiers curiously watched Maximus standing in the center. Many new recruits might not have known this young Supply Team Captain two days ago, but it’s not surprising, as the new recruits were busy raiding farms every day and rarely interacted with Maximus, who always stayed with the Supply Team. It was only when they fought and retreated to the back mountain that Maximus stood up and showed everyone how to turn defeat into victory, drawing everyone’s attention for the first time. But this time, he became the center of attention again to punish their comrades, which made everyone’s feelings a bit complicated.

Maximus, unaware of the soldiers’ mixed feelings, introduced the two women with a loud and heavy voice and emphasized the suffering they endured.

Under the whip and stick’s drive, endless work was the common experience of every slave in the team, and young female slaves with a bit of beauty had to endure some unspeakable violations and pains similar to Nexia’s experiences.

Perhaps it was Maximus’s narration that brought back the terrible memories, causing the two women to begin to sob uncontrollably.

Maximus stopped the narration, raised his voice, and said, "They joined our team full of hope, thinking they came from hell to Elysian Paradise, so they worked tirelessly every day to make delicious food for everyone and now actively take care of the wounded. But what they got in return was these few people’s shameless violation!"

Maximus’s final stern accusation brought silence to the entire assembly.

Cross began to feel uneasy but then relaxed. He understood his soldiers, knowing that they might feel guilty now, but if Maximus continued his accusations, it would only make them support the four people’s innocence more. By doing so, they’d feel innocent themselves.

Maximus looked around and said, "What I said in the Medical Team’s camp, you all must have heard, so I won’t repeat it. I want to invite two other people to speak."

Two other people?... Cross was somewhat surprised and soon saw Maximus escort the two women out of the assembly center, followed by another person walking in.

This person, leaning on a wooden cane, with his right leg wrapped in linen, awkwardly stood in the center, causing a commotion among the second squad’s soldiers.

"I... I am Bubius of the second squad," he said nervously, "The day before yesterday, during the fight with the Romans... I was stabbed in the leg by a Roman short sword... I ran desperately... ran... barely escaping their pursuit, reaching the back mountain. After that, my right leg wound swelled and hurt so much that I couldn’t sleep, wishing to chop off my leg to end the pain...

My teammates were busy attacking the Romans and relocating our camp, no one knew how much pain I was in! For two days straight, I barely ate or slept, weak all over, unable to open my eyes, thinking I was going to die..." Bubius’s excitement and fluency grew as he continued, "Thankfully, the Medical Team was formed, and those girls became our nurses, carefully cleaning my wound, bandaging it, feeding me, comforting me not to worry... After just one night, I could stand up with a cane!"

Moved to tears, Bubius choked, "Apart from my mother when I was little, no one had ever cared for me like this! These women are kind-hearted! Oleks, you damn bastards! How dare you violate them, you’re not fit to be my teammates, you deserve punishment!"

Bubius vigorously struck the ground with his cane, shouting in anger.

The assembly hall instantly erupted into commotion.

Cross felt intense unease and quickly asked a few of his Centurions, "Is he really one of our squad’s soldiers?!" Previously, the second squad exceeded a thousand soldiers, and the time spent together was short, making it impossible for Cross to know everyone.

"Bubius is a soldier of our squad," a Centurion answered.

"That crafty Maximus!" Cross cursed under his breath, finding himself at a loss.

Then he saw four Guard soldiers carrying a stretcher into the assembly center. On it lay a person, and when he was helped to sit up by the guards, Cross recognized his face and was immediately shocked.

Torrelugo, a Gladiator from Gaul, had a good relationship with Cross and was a Centurion of the second squad. During the battle with the Roman Army, the second squad was defeated. He fought to the death, eventually breaking through the Romans’ encirclement and led his soldiers to escape the Roman Cavalry’s pursuit, retreating to the back mountain. When the soldiers rejoiced at their escape, he collapsed, his whole body covered with sword wounds, and the blood dyed his armor red. Even Cross thought, seeing such severe injuries, he wouldn’t survive long, yet he didn’t expect him to appear in the assembly center now.

In fact, most severely injured in the Medical Team’s camp were Gladiators. Their ferocity and resilience led to severe injuries, and their rich arena experience allowed them to run to safety despite heavy wounds, and Torrelugo was just one of them.

"These soldiers are damned!" Despite his pale face and weak breath, Torrelugo’s angry expression shocked the soldiers around him as soon as he spoke.

"I owe my survival and ability to speak here to these women’s careful care! Any bastard bullying them is an enemy of mine and other wounded! Anyone agreeing that these bastards should not be punished, I will suggest to the Medical Team that if they get injured, they should not be treated and be left to die in misery!"

Torrelugo’s words, though angry and impulsive, stirred greater agitation among the soldiers.

Damn Maximus!... Cross cursed in his heart. He didn’t know about other squads, but straightforward Torrelugo was quite influential in the second squad. With his scolding, those supporting these soldiers would likely dwindle.

On the other side, Maximus whispered praise to Nexia, "It’s impressive you got Torrelugo to stand up for you!"

"My sisters only followed your orders, taking care of these badly wounded," Nexia, instead of being proud, complained with a face full of grievance, "They’re unable to move, and my sisters have to bandage their wounds, wipe their bodies, even deal with their excrement, it’s not only tiring but also very..."

"But it was all worth it, wasn’t it!" Maximus pointed to Torrelugo in the center of the assembly.

Then Torrelugo was carried off, and Spartacus entered the center again: "Now both sides have stated their reasons, and you brothers must have made your decision. Those agreeing to punishment, please raise your arms!"