Rome Must Fall

Aigaros struggled desperately again, and the Knicks soldier behind him also punched him again, but he still did not stop struggling.

The people behind the old man did not expect that the "holy stone desecration incident" that had been concluded more than 20 years ago would be revealed again at this special moment today, and there seemed to be a new culprit, as if a huge stone had smashed into the pool. There was a big uproar in the square, and everyone started discussing with each other. After all, more than 20 years is not too long. Many tribesmen at that time are still alive now, and several people involved also have family and friends. Everyone talked about what happened more than 20 years ago. The matter was brought out from the depths of the brain's memory again, and they discussed with each other to confirm what the old man said.

Someone couldn't wait to ask loudly: "Uncle Selasus, is everything you said true?! Did the patriarch arrange for someone to kill my father?!"

The old man turned to look at him and said extremely guiltily: "Credes, I'm sorry for your father! When my brother died, I should have gone to the leader and identified Aigaros! But...but I'm afraid, I'm afraid I will be like my brother... I can only pretend to know nothing so that Aegaros will not notice me...

This matter has been hidden in my heart for more than 20 years. These 20 years have been difficult! I often dream about my brother, your father, and several others, all covered in blood—"

"Shut up! Serasus, you old cripple! How dare you make up lies here and slander our patriarch! What evidence do you have to prove that the patriarch is the sinner who desecrated the sacred stone?!" A relative of Aigalos snapped. questioned.

"I...I..." Serasus struggled to answer.

More than 20 years have passed, and several of the parties involved have long since died. Except for his brother, the others who were killed were all Skotisci. They either died in subsequent wars or became members of a certain Segostika tribe. As slaves, surviving in a hard life, it was impossible for Celassus to produce evidence.

Finally, a brave man who dared to expose the crimes of the Segostika nobles appeared. Staggs certainly did not allow this person to be questioned, nor did he allow such a good atmosphere to be ruined. He immediately shouted loudly: "Everyone be quiet! Everybody!" Give me peace! ..."

"Serassus!" Starks looked down at the old man and asked in stiff Illyrian: "Do you dare to swear to the goddess Danu that what you say is the truth?!"

"I dare!" Serasus, who had always been submissive in his life, was so decisive for the first time. He simply threw the crutch aside, quickly knelt down on the ground, kowtowed several times in the direction of no one, and then sat up. , straightened his chest, held his left hand close to his chest, raised his right hand high, and said loudly and solemnly: "The great and merciful mother of all things - Goddess Danu! The little Serasus swears to you, what I just said It's all true. The sinner who desecrated the sacred stone was Aigaros! If I lied, I would be willing to accept your divine punishment and let my family and I die in peace!"

The people who heard this couldn't help but shuddered: The oath sworn by Therassus was too decisive!

"Okay, I believe you!" Staggs responded loudly.

Without any evidence, just based on Celassus' words and the poisonous oath he swore, the Nyx people confirmed Aigaros's crime. This is too childish!

But most of the Segestica people present did not think so. They who believed in gods usually did not swear oaths easily. If they broke the oath, they would be cursed by the gods. This was everyone's consensus, and Serasus dared to He swore such a poisonous oath to the Mother Goddess, and what he said was most likely true. Besides, after everyone recalled this incident under his reminder, they did find something strange.

Staggs actually didn't think that much. He just wanted to find a reason to convict the two Segestica nobles he captured, so he nodded decisively and said: "Now I believe what you said, this person You have indeed committed a serious crime! Please stand aside and we will make a verdict later!”

Then he glanced at the others and said loudly: "Is there anyone else who can be as brave as this old man to expose the crimes of these two people?!"

This time there was no longer silence in the square. Selasus had made a good start. Others were inspired and began to speak out more and more enthusiastically. The things they mentioned ranged from insulting others to partiality to big things. Conspiracy to seize fields, instructing his subordinates to injure others... and the time involved also spanned from more than ten years after independence to the period under Skordischi's rule. At first, the people only exposed the two captured patriarchs, and later They also talked about other clan leaders in the tribe, even the leader...

Staggs not only did not stop him, but actually liked what he heard. However, even he was surprised when he heard that, because in the past year, some of the information about the Pannoni sent to the team officers by his military subordinates was in his impression. The Chinese race, which had just been independent for more than ten years, was relatively united, and the people were very obedient to the commands of the leaders and nobles. That was why they were able to launch many wars against the Knicks in just over a year. He did not expect such a powerful person. A cohesive race can actually have so many nasty things.

Of course he couldn't have known that the Pannoni defeated the Skodisci and became masters. Naturally, they had to learn from the failure of the Skodisci. It was foolish to provoke the powerful enemy Rome, but among the major tribes The inability to unite well, and the inability of tribal leaders and clan chiefs to quickly summon the people to form a strong army to suppress the uprisings were also one of the main reasons for the demise. Also, because the surrounding races were not very friendly to the newly independent Pannoni, the Pannoni people The Nepalese established a tribal alliance, gave leaders and nobles greater rights, and enhanced their authority and military mobilization capabilities.

Originally, the political system of the Pannoni people was mostly learned from the Celtic tribe of Skodischi, and the druid priests in the tribe had great power. However, after independence, the Pannoni priests had the power to judge, sacrifice, and mediate between tribes. Disputes... and many other rights have also been deprived of most of their rights. The tribal meeting, which only leaders and clan elders can participate in, has become the only institution that determines the life and death of the people.

Since it is impossible for tribal leaders to hold frequent meetings and resolve all matters within the tribe, many small conflicts and disputes are often directly handed over to the clan leaders to resolve. In the long run, the mentality of leaders and clan leaders with over-concentration of power can be prevented. Change?

What's more, the senior officials of the Skodisci, who live a comfortable life under the service of the Pannoni, have long been corrupted. The Pannoni nobles and leaders who have lived with them for decades are naturally affected by it. Therefore, even if they become independent, It is not uncommon among the Pannoni tribes to do evil things such as using power for personal gain and bullying others. This is just because most of the Pannoni leaders and nobles who gained independence through hard battles still have a sense of crisis and enterprising spirit, and do not dare to go too far. Their lives are much better than before independence. They don't want to ask for more for the time being, so the upper and lower classes of the tribe can still live together in friendship.

But today, the Knicks opened the lid, and under their right agitation, all the silt deposited below surfaced.

It was already noon when no one came forward to expose the crimes of the leaders and patriarchs.

Most of the people in the square were still as nervous as when they first arrived, but this nervousness was because they had broken the tribe's traditions and offended the powerful leaders and patriarchs.

But at the same time, they are not as depressed and indifferent as when they first arrived. On the contrary, they have a bit of smile on their faces, which is a kind of relief that vents the injustice that has been suppressed in their hearts for many years.

"Tribesmen, based on what you just said, these two people have committed many crimes!" Nikokus pointed at the two people who were tied up and said loudly with a solemn expression: "According to Nix's law, they were sentenced to death. Sentenced to death! Now—who is willing to execute Aigaros with his own hands?”

As soon as these words came out, the people in the square thought they had heard wrong: It was bold enough to accuse these leaders and patriarchs of noble blood and who were born to control them, but also to kill them? This is crazy!

"No one dares?!" Staggs glanced at everyone.

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to make eye contact with him.

Staggs sneered: "No wonder they can bully you so casually, because you are all cowards——"

"I'll come!" The person who spoke was the old man named Serasus.

"Okay! There are still warriors among the Segestika people!" Starks laughed, beckoning the old man to come closer, took out the dagger from his waist, handed it to him, and asked in a low voice: "Can you OK?"

"I killed a lot of Skodisci back then!" Serasus said, holding a dagger and limping towards Aigaros.

Aigaros screamed "Woo" and kept shaking his head. His frightened eyes were full of pleading, but when he saw that the other party was unmoved, the gleaming dagger had been raised high, and he suddenly He was so frightened that his whole body trembled.

There was a flash of cold light, and Aigaros, who was held down by the soldiers and unable to move, was slashed on the neck with a sword. With a cry of surprise, blood spurted out and splashed on Therassus.

The old man did not dodge and looked at Aigaros who fell to the ground and was twitching. The wrinkles on his face like bark seemed to stretch out at that moment. The regret that had been buried in his heart for more than twenty years was revealed at this moment. Completely released, he smiled and kept chanting: "Brother, did you see it? I avenged you! Really, the patriarch Aigalos who we can't offend was killed by me, and he died because of me. before……"

Staggs looked at the commotion in the square, pointed at another clan leader who had collapsed on the ground in fear and wet his crotch, and shouted again: "Who else dares to execute him?!"

"...I...I'll come!" The person who stepped forward turned out to be a woman.