Rome Must Perish

This was mainly said for Onomabatis alone to hear. Karsipengpas had been here many times and was well aware, so he joked, "Isn’t it just withdrawing some money? You guys make it more complicated than the Romans."

Alakosia replied seriously, "I used to find it troublesome too, but Leader Maximus once said, ’Although we are just a hastily assembled force against the Romans, we must have grand goals. If everyone can follow the rules and fulfill their responsibilities, then the whole team will be orderly and full of vitality. If we can manage one port, one town well, then in the future, we might be able to manage an entire region, a kingdom...’"

Originally, in the eyes of Karsipengpas and Onomabatis, the Free Italy team wasn’t much different from them, the Illyrian Pirates, just larger in number, bolder, and stronger.

But Alakosia’s words gave the two a great shock. They exchanged astonished glances, each thinking: Free Italy is quite ambitious!

Seeing them a bit lost, Alakosia changed the topic, "Onomabatis, did you also intend to help us transport iron ore on this trip to Sarabia?"

"Yes! Yes!" Onomabatis nodded repeatedly. Karsipengpas made quite a fortune on just one sea trip, how could he not be tempted?

Alakosia nodded and slowly said, "Let me first brief you on the situation. There is a weapons workshop in this city that can manufacture gear for our soldiers but lacks iron ore. Here, the iron ore is purchased from the Noric people.

Fortunately, on the day the city fell, a Noric merchant happened to be trapped in the port. We found him and negotiated with him. At first, he refused because they had an agreement with the Romans, and we are enemies of Rome. Later, we offered to buy iron ore at five Asi per pound, and he finally agreed to go back and discuss it because the Romans purchase Noric iron ore at one Asi per pound—"

"Greedy Noric," Onomabatis muttered.