Rome Must Perish

Maximus did not respond to this; the arrival of his army was the best reassurance he could offer.

The army had to continue eastward, which meant passing through Budocaribas’s village. Even though the soldiers had adhered strictly to military discipline and behaved admirably after entering the territory of the Alde Tribe — something Budocaribas had witnessed firsthand — he still appeared tense. After all, this was the first time the Maximus Army was directly entering an Aldean village; if any unexpected incidents occurred, tens of thousands causing commotion within the settlement could result in a disaster.

To address this, Maximus reassured Budocaribas once again, while Budocaribas entered the village ahead to communicate and interact with the tribesmen. Outside the village, Maximus issued strict orders to all department leaders to keep their subordinates under control and ensure nothing went wrong upon entering the settlement.

An hour later, the village gates opened, and the Maximus Army entered in orderly silence.

Although Budocaribas had warned the tribesmen beforehand, some curious individuals stepped out of their houses and gathered along the village’s main road to observe.

This was the Maximus Army’s first close encounter with the Aldeans within their village. In their view: the Aldean soldiers maintaining order at the roadside, though armed only with rudimentary wooden shields and spears, clad in plain one-piece garments, and sporting disheveled hair without armor, still exuded fierceness through their muscular physiques, sharp gazes, and intimidating presence. By contrast, the observing Aldean tribesmen were mostly women — thin, dressed in tattered clothes, barefoot, yet possessing a delicate charm...

It seemed, as Karsipengpas had mentioned, the Alde Tribe had endured frequent battles in recent years, suffering heavy casualties, resulting in a scarcity of men and a surplus of women — something particularly evident in the frontline village of Budocaribas.

From the perspective of the Aldean tribesmen: the large army entering their village was composed of soldiers who were all robust, marching with heads held high, emanating an intimidating aura. Each soldier wore armor, carried curved red square shields, had ornate short swords strapped to their waists, and bore bulging packs on their backs, showcasing their martial valor and apparent wealth.

The women in the ranks were equally sturdy, with glowing complexions, walking as boldly as the men, their assertive presence catching the attention of the roadside Aldean warriors, whose eyes involuntarily fixated on their ample bosoms.