Gowes could hear the mockery in his words, his face slightly changed, but he still forced himself to explain: "I’m not saying you should thank us, but at least you should give us some reasonable—"
"Medical Officer Emmerich!" Maximus rudely interrupted him and loudly asked, "Do you think what this person is saying is correct?"
"Of course not!" Emmerich answered without hesitation. He looked earnestly at Gowes and the others, gently advising, "You’ve just arrived here and don’t understand the situation. I told you before, the Nix Tribe defeated the Segestica people twice in one day. Wallis, in his battle against the Nix Army, as usual, forced hundreds of our compatriots to charge first. As a result, not only did they fail to disrupt the Nix Army’s formation, but they also suffered heavy casualties in a very short time...
So, before this battle, upon learning that you were among the Segestica forces, I became very concerned and pleaded with Leader Maximus to find a way to rescue you...
You’ve participated in many wars and should know how difficult it is to rescue you at the frontline of two battling armies, especially since the Nix Army is far less numerous than the Segestica people, and there was no way to contact you beforehand. Any slight mistake could lead to a disaster for you and the entire Nix Army!...
I knew it would be hard to agree to such a request; even if our former tribe still existed, the Great Chief might find it hard to make such a decision... But Leader Maximus agreed and repeatedly discussed it with the Nix Tribe’s leaders, ultimately formulating a very detailed plan, mobilizing the entire tribe to work overnight to make those banners and clothes, and having the tribe’s warriors practice according to the plan repeatedly until no errors were made...
To save you strangers, the Nix Tribe put in so much effort and took such risks that you can never repay this life-saving grace!
Not to mention, in the Nix Tribe’s original battle plan, you were not included. The task of intercepting the Segestica stragglers would have been assigned to some of the Nix Soldiers and some compatriots who joined the tribe earlier. It was I who felt that the Nix Tribe spent so much to rescue you that you should do something for Nix. So I requested Leader Maximus to take on this task.
But now I regret it!"
Emmerich suddenly intensified his tone, speaking painfully, "Because I asked for this task, I really cared about your performance. I heard that you did not follow orders, acted on your own to split forces and pursue the Segestica Great Chief, leading to insufficient interception forces on the east side, allowing many Segestica stragglers to escape. Is that true?!"
Faced with Emmerich’s questioning, Gowes and the others were already deflated by his words, and someone couldn’t help but mutter: "But... but we captured that fortress..."
"How dare you talk about it!" Emmerich said with an exasperated look, reprimanding, "Did you conquer that fortress?! It was the Segestica people who voluntarily abandoned it! Because they suffered a crushing defeat and didn’t dare stay there any longer, otherwise they would have been surrounded by Nix soldiers, and none would have been able to escape back!
Don’t you know that this fortress was easily captured by the Nix Army before! The ancient tradition of the Skodisqi Tribe ’repay kindness, don’t take undeserved credit,’ you all seem to have forgotten! Since you have forgotten these precious things, even if you rebuild a tribe, can you still call it the Skodisqi?!"
Gowes and a few others bowed their heads, too ashamed to speak.
After a while of silence, Maximus took the initiative to say: "The reason our Nix Tribe is willing to help you is, on one hand, due to Emmerich’s earnest plea and, on the other hand, we Nix people were once enslaved. Seeing you as slaves, forcibly sent to battle by the Pannonians, charging to your deaths, we have strong sympathy, so everyone is willing to work hard to rescue you.
If you are willing to stay and build a beautiful home with us, we would be delighted. If you are unwilling, we will not force you. In consideration of Emmerich and the other compatriots of yours willing to stay here, I can allow you to take the weapons we lent you before, and I can let you take some supplies left by the Pannonians in that fortress, as long as you agree to a few conditions I have."
"What are the conditions?!" Gowes and the others, initially desperate from Maximus’s rejection and Emmerich’s scolding, now saw a lifeline and were eager to grasp it.
Maximus solemnly said, "First, your people must not enter the Aldean territory, because you go out from my camp, which could easily cause a misunderstanding between the Alde Tribe and our tribe in the future; second, the land along the Kupa River was promised to our tribe by the Aldeans. I have already taken two fortresses, only temporarily leaving because the Segestica people arrived. You must not settle in that area; third, you must not come to my tribe to harass or entice the Skodisqi people who have joined my tribe to leave... These are my three conditions."