Rome Must Perish

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.