CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 44: CONFLICT

Napolet is the second-largest town in the Campagna Region, second only to Capua, and it boasts the most prosperous port for maritime trade in central Italy. Not only can they afford this quantity of weapons and armor, but they can also provide them. The Napoli Soldiers dispatched for battle are not vagrants but landowners and asset holders—Napoletans (naturally also Roman citizens). Previously, Napolet officials and council members agreed to Grabo’s request to send City Guards to assist the Roman Army. However, after suffering a disastrous defeat, with most soldiers never returning, they faced intense criticism from the townspeople. Saving even a portion of the soldiers could help alleviate their predicament.

But the Napolet administrative officer disagreed, as he was a Roman appointed by the Roman Senate as the administrative officer of Napolet. Naturally, he would not permit these rebellious slaves to gain weapons and armor, thereby strengthening their position and complicating future suppression efforts by the Roman Army. Despite the rebel army outside the city being fully armed, they appeared strikingly similar to a Roman Army—only lacking the Eagle Banner.

The administrative officer’s refusal fueled a heated dispute atop the city walls.

The rebel army grew impatient after waiting outside. Chief Cross immediately dragged five captives to the front of his troops and, without a word, stabbed them to death one by one with a short sword.

The city erupted in cries of shock.

Cross shouted a threatening ultimatum: If Napolet did not provide a satisfactory response, he would continue killing captives at regular intervals!

Listening to the tearful pleas of the captives below and facing accusations from others on the city walls, the administrative officer dared not insist further; otherwise, the anger of the townspeople would soon render his position in Napolet untenable.

The Napoletans agreed to the demands of the rebel army, but fear prevented them from opening the city gates. They suggested shipping the requested weapons and armor to a port outside the city via boat and receiving their released captives back the same way (at that time, Napolet maritime trade was flourishing, with ports scattered across Napolet Bay).

Spartacus agreed.

This tense exchange ultimately proceeded relatively smoothly. The rebel army kept their promise, releasing all Campania captives.

The Napoletans breathed a sigh of relief but failed to realize that despite Napolet’s maritime prosperity, countless dock laborers had built this success with their blood, sweat, and tears. The rebel army’s impressive display at the port would soon spread across Napolet’s dozen ports, entering the ears of countless suffering underclass citizens.

Having obtained the weapons and armor they sought, the rebel army left satisfied.

The rebel soldiers, who had previously merely followed Spartacus and other leaders to attack manor estates, kill overseers, and guards they loathed, could hardly comprehend the impact their uprising would have on the world. But today, witnessing the high-and-mighty Napoletan Nobles cower under their armed pressure filled them with immense satisfaction and heightened their sense of allegiance to the rebel army.

Spartacus could sense the shift in his soldiers’ morale and discussed with Cross whether they should organize regular armed marches to nearby towns in the future. Such marches could simultaneously force Nobles to provide urgently needed supplies and boost the morale of new recruits.

Just then, a few riders galloped ahead, led by Okmar, who waved and shouted, "Leader Spartacus! Leader Cross! Something bad has happened!"

Spartacus and Cross both looked alarmed: "What happened?!"

"The Supply Team... and soldiers from the Second Battalion... they’re fighting!" Okmar panted as he reached them.

...

As it turned out, considering the weak combat prowess of the Napoletans, they hadn’t taken all their soldiers along. Instead, they left some behind to train alongside other battalion soldiers under Hamilcar’s military instruction. After a morning of training, the soldiers replenished water and took a break before continuing.

A few soldiers from the Second Battalion took advantage of this idle time to sneak into the Medical Team’s camp, attempting to harass the nurses there. However, the Guard swiftly arrived to prevent their misconduct. Rather than listening to reason, the soldiers flew into a rage and began brawling with the Guard. Outnumbered, the Second Battalion soldiers were quickly subdued, but one managed to escape and riled up others, claiming the "Supply Team was using their numbers to bully our brothers," which sparked further anger and rallied more soldiers to the Medical Team’s camp...

By midday, Hamilcar, resting in his tent, received reports that several Second Battalion soldiers were brawling with the Guard inside the Medical Team’s camp.

Hamilcar rushed to the scene and found the conflict escalating. Attempting to mediate, he discovered the Second Battalion soldiers, caught up in their anger, were unwilling to listen.

At this point, Okmar arrived to report that Spartacus and Cross had successfully completed their earlier plan and were returning with their troops.

Hamilcar, too preoccupied to rejoice, instructed Okmar to inform the two leaders to come quickly to resolve the matter.

...

"How did the conflict start exactly?" Spartacus, though worried, sought clarity.

"I just arrived and don’t know the full details. It seems the Guard detained a few soldiers from the Second Battalion—"

Okmar hadn’t finished speaking before Cross erupted in anger: "The Supply Team has the audacity to detain my brothers! How is Maximus managing his troops?!"

"Cross, don’t jump to conclusions. Maximus is usually thoughtful in his actions. There’s surely a reason behind this. Let’s clarify the situation first," Spartacus urged.

"I think he’s been given too much power, becoming arrogant and overreaching!" Cross snorted angrily, grabbed the reins of a warhorse offered by a scout, mounted it, and galloped away.

Spartacus couldn’t abandon his troops immediately, so he delegated leadership to a trusted Centurion, Argolis, who had also previously been a gladiator, giving him a few final instructions before riding off with Okmar.

Cross arrived at the camp and saw hundreds of people crowding around the Medical Team’s entrance, blocking the pathways completely. Many were shouting loudly, but there were no sounds of fighting or cries of pain.

"What are you all standing here for? Move aside!" Cross roared.

"It’s Chief Cross!"

"Chief Cross, you’re finally back! The Guard has detained several of our brothers and refuses to release them!"

"Chief Cross, you weren’t here, and we’ve been bullied endlessly! Even Leaders Hamilcar and Antonix sided with the Supply Team and sent the Third Battalion to help the Guard drive us out of the Medical Team camp."

...

The more Cross listened, the darker his expression grew, unable to contain his fury as he finally yelled, "Enough! I’ve heard enough!"

Second Battalion soldiers immediately stopped complaining, while Fourth Battalion soldiers, who had come to watch the commotion, stepped aside voluntarily, making way for Cross, who stormed forward until faced with a wall of neatly arranged soldiers in front of him.

"What’s this? You dare block my way?!" Cross glared menacingly, his eyes brimming with rage.

"Chief Cross, Leaders Hamilcar and Antonix have requested you come inside to discuss matters." The speaker was a Centurion from the Third Battalion, also a gladiator and an acquaintance of Cross. He glanced cautiously at the crowd behind Cross. "To avoid further escalation, everyone else must wait outside for now!"

Cross stared at the Centurion, who met his gaze unwaveringly.

Moments later, Cross turned around and shouted, "What are you lot still standing here for? Go about your own business!"

The Centurion turned and walked ahead, with soldiers parting to create a path. Cross followed, visibly displeased.

Inside the Medical Team camp, three individuals stood in the clearing before the tents: Hamilcar, Antonix, and Maximus.

Upon seeing Cross, Hamilcar immediately began explaining: "Cross, you’ve finally returned. I was concerned the conflict might escalate, so I sought Antonix’s assistance to summon the Third Battalion to separate your soldiers from the Guard—"

Cross ignored him completely, charging toward Maximus and yelling, "Maximus, so this is your idea of leadership!" As he spoke, he raised his fist and swung it at Maximus’s face.

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m