Chapter 94 - 81 Blacksmith Shop_2
Commerce Officer of the Maximus Army—what a pleasant name!... Pigeris displayed a happy smile, brushed the dust off his robe, and turned to leave the dock.
Crying sounds echoed throughout the port area as families in Pompeii, supporting the elderly and carrying the young, with bundles on their backs and pushing carts loaded with belongings, walked tremblingly on the road leading out of the city under the watchful eyes of armed rebel soldiers...
This scene reminded Pigeris of the tragic fate his family suffered in Little Asia. He felt not an ounce of sympathy; rather, he felt a bit of resentment: compared to the cruel and greedy Romans, Leader Maximus was still too merciful. He should seize the Pompeians’ properties, demote them all to slaves, make them transport goods at the dock day after day, or toil under the scorching sun to repair the city walls...
Every time he touched his completely powerless left leg, the hatred for the Romans burned in his chest. He walked with some difficulty across the sea gate into the city but did not immediately go to the town hall to see Maximus; instead, he walked straight east along the road by the city wall.
The roadsides were similarly lined with armed rebel soldiers, and in the center of the road were still the weeping Pompeii citizens. But compared to the port area, there were more people here, so the rebel soldiers responsible for monitoring and maintaining order were highly tense. If it weren’t for a team of soldiers following behind Pigeris, he might also have been mistaken for a Pompeian and forced into exile. After all, these rebel soldiers came from various units, not just the Maximus Army, so they might not recognize him.
After walking for a while, Pigeris turned north and then east again.
This street was even wider; it was Pompeii’s commercial street, north of it lay the wealthy district, and to the south were the arena and theater. Hundreds and thousands of people gathered here daily to purchase goods from various places, bustling and lively, yet now it was deserted.
Pigeris walked slowly down the street, observing each shop along the way: fruit shop, butcher shop, vegetable shop, fish shop, bakery, olive oil shop, wine shop, pottery shop, bottle painting shop, gold and silverware shop, sports equipment store...
Seeing these shop doors tightly closed, Pigeris felt full of regret: if the Pompeians weren’t allowed to leave, these shops could be under his management, and he would do his utmost to restore the prosperity of this street! But now, the entire rebel army was stationed in Pompeii, and the soldiers used to looting and being supplied by the Supply Camp wouldn’t come here to spend money to buy goods...