Rome Must Perish

But he did not immediately agree. Instead, he asked, "Two thousand men is no small number. If you join my forces, they will need to be reorganized and restructured. Can you accept that?"

Faced with Maximus’s piercing gaze, Pequot hesitated.

Maximus noticed his hesitation and continued, "Pequot, you are a capable person, but you’re not yet familiar with my army. So once you join, you’ll first serve as a Great Captain. Once you’ve settled in and made your mark, I’ll give you command of more soldiers. Even Fesaros rose to become a Legion Commander—you won’t be any less than him."

Pequot was somewhat shocked. "Fesaros became a Legion Commander?! Commanding six thousand men?!"

"Exactly! You must have heard about the recent conflict we had with Cleonis. It was Fesaros leading his legion that repelled their forces."

The astonishment on Pequot’s face quickly faded, and he replied resolutely, "Since my brothers and I have already decided to join your forces, accepting reorganization and restructuring is only to be expected."

Maximus smiled and extended his right hand. "Welcome to the team!"

Pequot also extended his right hand and gripped his firmly.

Pequot walked out of the camp but couldn’t help pausing to look back at the tent glowing faintly with candlelight, his emotions complex. He had known Maximus for several years. Although Maximus had half Illyrian blood flowing in his veins, Pequot never felt close to him and even looked down on him.

During their escape from Capua, he noticed Maximus wanted to recruit him as an ally, but he dismissed the idea with scorn.

However, since then, this young man, whom he had once despised, seemed to transform completely, achieving miracles time and again and rising rapidly to become one of the key leaders of the rebel army. Now, his forces had grown into the wealthiest and most organized unit within the movement!