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Maigum also said excitedly, “Indeed. In addition, we can also participate in the regional rugby and football tournaments, the celebration of Heracles and also freely go to the various cities of Theonia to trade food and other goods we want… And when we encounter dangers and problems in the future like last year’s drought, we can also receive Theonia’s aid just like Potentia…”

Their words stunned Garni as it was different from his expectation. So he asked doubtfully, “Aren’t you…worried that Abellinum will no longer be our Abellinum?”

Maigum sighed, “What’s there to worry about, chieftain? Look at Potentia! Although more than ten years have passed, they are still the same Potentian. On the contrary, they are much wealthier than us! You should know that the Lucanians were even poorer than us over a decade ago!…”

His words gained the acknowledgement of the others.

Garni suddenly realised that Theonia’s invitation to them multiple times to participate in Theonia’s tournaments and other festivities had broadened the horizons of the people who were originally only staying in the mountains. So while they enjoy the warm hospitality of the Theonians, they have also seen their southern neighbour’s prosperity and strength, resulting in their guards relaxing while also developing their longing. And compared to the exclusion and oppression they received from Beneventum and other tribes, they are more willing to choose the Kingdom of Theonia despite not being of the same ethnicity.

While feeling lost, Garni felt glad he had made this decision in time. After quickly collecting himself together, he said deeply, “Maigum, you need to immediately see the Theonian envoy and explain to him our willingness to become a free city of the kingdom and are willing to follow Theonia’s plan immediately. And since the other Hirpini tribes would contact us as soon as we implement the plan and demand the redemption of their people, you must discuss with the envoy how to implement the next part of the plan.”

“…and-” Garni looked straight at Maigum and reminded seriously, “You must tell the Theonian envoy not to publicise the news of us becoming a free city of Theonia for now, as it will prevent us from winning over the other Hirpini tribes! Furthermore, we need to receive Theonia’s military support to defend against the retaliation of Beneventum and other tribes!”

“Chieftain, I’ll immediately head out now,” Maigum stood up and left.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Kinduk was the chieftain of the Caudini tribes in the Nuceria region and had been in his position for over twenty years. But more than a decade ago, he had led the Nucerian warriors under the orders of the then-great chieftain of the Caudini to invade Potentia, resulting in his defeat and capture. After spending over two years in Theonia, he was released and eventually returned home.

But different from Garni, he still managed to receive the support of the great chieftain and soon became the chieftain of the tribes in Nuceria again. However, he, who was originally the most favoured successor to be the great chieftain of the Caudini, lost to Segobani a few years later. It was mainly because Segobani used his disastrous defeat in Potentia to spread unfavourable rumours about him, resulting in many tribes giving up their support.

So Kinduk began strengthening his exchange with Theonia, not only because he had seen Theonia’s strength and believed that Caudini, even the whole Samnite, couldn’t match them, but also because he harbours resentment towards not being elected as the great chieftain. And since then, he no longer visited Caudium, nor had he ever seriously carried out any of Segobani’s orders.

Then after the establishment of the town of Baparia in Irna, the exchanges between Nuceria and Theonia became even more frequent, not only in terms of trade and employment but also in terms of cultural and religious exchanges, leading to the tribes in Nuceria receiving great benefits. Apart from being able to eat without risking their lives every year by plundering, the priests of Hades and the physicians of Theonia help the women from giving birth and treat the ill without relying on praying to the gods and goddesses only…

While the other Caudini tribes needed to invade the Campanian League occasionally just to ensure their tribes’ survival and development, the tribes in Nuceria only needed to develop silently. Then after seven to eight years had passed, their population significantly increased, have sufficient food and better weapons and equipment(Theonia didn’t ban iron and weapon trade with Nuceria), so they became one of the largest cities in the Caudini region, no less than Caudium.

And while Kinduk forbade the tribes of Nuceria from plundering, he confidently kept criticising Segobani’s practice of violating the treaty with Theonia by plundering the Campanian League. He didn’t do that because he genuinely wanted to be on good terms with the kingdom of Theonia and the Greeks. In fact, he never responded to the Theonians’ invitation to participate in the rugby tournaments and other festivities and had even placed restrictions on the priests of Hades dispatched from Irna as missionaries in the region of Nuceria. He simply wanted to regain his position as the great chieftain of Caudini; hence he fought against Segobani every time to undermine his prestige.

And the opportunity had finally arrived.

Segobani had once again invaded the Campanian League, only to be defeated by the Theonians and got captured. So while the Caudini tribes were left in shock and grief, Kinduk jumped in and demanded that they immediately elect a new great chieftain to help the entire Caudini tribe through this difficult time.

However, the chieftains of the tribes of Caudini, such as Usabek, were unwilling to let the Nucerians, who had close relations with Theonia and even began believing in alien gods, take power. So they first turned to the other tribes for help, resulting in the meeting of the four major Samnite tribes in Caudium, with the great chieftains secretly pledging to declare war on Theonia and rescue their captured brethren.

Then, Usabek and others joined forces with the high priest and some other chieftains to state that the Caudini tribes should now prioritise rescuing their people and postpone the selection of the great chieftain.

Seeing no one responding to his call, the isolated and helpless Kinduk had to suspend his action temporarily and watch the situation unfold.

So when the Theonians rejected the envoy sent by Caudini to discuss a truce, Kinduk felt secretly pleased. But a few months later, he was surprised by the Samnites’ raid on the Theonian Dauni region and became even more angry about the news that Theonia had agreed to exchange prisoners(which included Segobani).

But the subsequent disastrous defeats of the Samnites had once again made him secretly happy. Then he publicly announced, “Now that our captured brethren are released, isn’t it the time for us to re-elect the great chieftain?” At the same time, he covertly sent people to spread the news that the reason for Caudini’s crippling defeat before was because of Segobani’s incompetence…and so is a person who was captured still qualified to serve as a great chieftain?…

And this time, the tribes finally responded to the proposal of the Nucerians and began discussing the matter of re-electing the great chieftain and decided on the place of this tribal meeting at Nola.

Kinduk was thrilled about this because the location of the great gatherings of the Caudini tribes tends to be on the eastern mountain near Caudium. After all, it was the birthplace of the Caudini tribe and was close to the location ruled by Segobani and Usabek, which was unfavourable for him. Meanwhile, Nola was located in the western plain, close to Nuceria, making it more beneficial to him.

He was even more excited because this resulted from his hard work despite achieving it after experiencing multiple failures. Now, the Caudini tribes had realised that they could no longer confront Theonia and the importance of his excellent relationship with them was highlighted.

Knowing he had secured the victory, Kinduk led the other chieftains of the tribes in Nuceria to Nola.

With the chieftains of all the Caudini tribes gathered in Nola with their guards, the place simply couldn’t accommodate so many people, so most camped outside the town. As a result, tents covered Nola with flocks of livestock and numerous and mixed tribal people, with frequent clashing breaking out. However, the frequent clashes not only caused headaches for the Nolans but also made the neighbouring Campanian league feel nervous and had to increase their guard while seeking support from Theonia.

So to avoid accidents, the people in Nola quickened the grand gathering. Thus on the third day after Kinduk arrived, the ceremony of selecting the great chieftain officially began.

More than a hundred chieftains and tribal representatives had gathered at the square. (The chieftains of some Caudini tribes are currently leading their warriors to fight against Theonia in the east of the Samnite mountain and cannot return in time, so they have decided to send their representatives.)

The centre of the venue had a stage erected and was surrounded by warriors maintaining order, with two people sitting in the centre. One was the chieftains of the tribes in Nola, Senan, and the other was the newly released chieftain of the Caudini, Segobani.

Kinduk had last seen Segobani when he took over the great chieftain position a decade ago. Compared to Segobani’s arrogant and flamboyant image when he was elected as the great chieftain, his face had now become pale and thin, his head drooping, and he appears to be…dispirited, showing how much he suffered during his imprisonment, naturally, that made Kinduk feel a burst of pleasure.

Senan suddenly stood up and spoke loudly, “Respected chieftains, welcome to Nola! We have gathered here today for…a very important event that concerns every Caudini! So I would like to ask the great chieftain Segobani to come and announce it!”

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