Chapter 148 - 109 The Choice of Destination_2
"Well... the leader is currently busy arranging the evacuation for everyone. There are a lot of things to handle..." Pigeris wanted to decline politely but, seeing the earnest look on the other’s face and recalling Maximus’s instructions, hesitated for a moment before saying, "I’ll go back and ask the leader to see if he can find some time to meet with you."
"That would be great, thank you so much!" After Karsipengpas said this, Onomabatis couldn’t help but interject, "I heard that this time the Roman Army has come with tens of thousands of soldiers, and they’re all from the Roman Legion. Can you really escape their pursuit?"
"Escape?" Hearing this word, Pigeris was somewhat displeased, remembering the inspiring words the leader had spoken at the previous meeting. Mimicking those words, he corrected, "We are not escaping; we are temporarily retreating to fight the Romans again when the time is right!
Our army is much larger than the Romans, and our warriors have all been through rigorous training and have participated in many battles, whereas the Roman army is mostly composed of new recruits who are no match for us! Previously, in Campania, we defeated a Roman Legion, and this time we will defeat even more of them!"
Onomabatis wanted to argue further but was pulled back by Karsipengpas, who said, "If you defeat the Roman Army, will you return?"
"No, we won’t return," Pigeris frankly said. "Even if we win this time, the strength of the Romans is too formidable. We will continue to travel north, leave Italy, and go beyond the Alps."
Upon hearing this, Onomabatis hurriedly advised, "North of the Alps is Gaul territory, and they are fierce and hostile. You will inevitably face conflict there. It would be better to come to our Illyria. I know there are many Illyrians in your ranks, even your leader Maximus is Illyrian and has favored us before. I guarantee you will be accepted in our Illyria!"
What Onomabatis said was exactly what Pigeris wanted to hear, but he appeared troubled, "But Illyria is currently under Roman jurisdiction—"
"No, you’re mistaken. Only the coastal lands are under Roman control, while the inland areas are still our own Illyria and independent! The Romans look down upon our barren inland lands. After they destroyed the Illyria Kingdom, they quickly withdrew their troops. I heard that in the past few decades the Romans haven’t set foot in our mountainous area, otherwise, we wouldn’t have been so free to become pirates," Karsipengpas explained.