"Yes, yes, as long as we can become members of the Nix Tribe, no matter how many decrees there are, we can endure them!" other pirate chiefs echoed.

Xisaites laughed and said, "Everyone wants to join the Nix Tribe, what about you, Karsipengpas?"

Karsipengpas was taken aback: "What do you mean by that?"

Budocaribas quickly took over the conversation: "He means to say, now that the Romans have started organizing the Mediterranean, we can't be pirates anymore. What will your tribe and the tribes in the mountains to your west do next?"

Karsipengpas forced a laugh: "If we can't be pirates, so be it. We still have the iron mine, which allows us to exchange for a lot of grain and cloth with the Nix Tribe every month, so there's no problem for our tribesmen to eat and keep warm."

Budocaribas solemnly reminded him: "You have a dozen tribes, over ten thousand tribesmen there. Without the spoils from maritime raids, can one iron mine really fully support the lives of the tribesmen in the mountains?!

Also, we have handled that iron mine before. It's not a large mine, and at your current excavation speed, you'll run out of surface iron ore in a few years, and then you'll have to dig underground, which is much more difficult.

Moreover, the Nix people are increasingly demanding iron ore, and our iron ore isn't as good as the Noric's. When the Nix people significantly reduce their purchase of our iron ore, what will you do?"

"Yes, the tribesmen in the mountains have already gotten used to having enough food and clothing. If you let them return to their previous impoverished lives, I'm afraid no one would be willing." Xisaites immediately reminded.

Karsipengpas frowned, looking at the two with a wary expression: "You two didn't just come here today to have some beer, did you?"

"Of course not—" Xisaites had just started speaking when his foot was stomped on hard, and Budocaribas interjected: "Think about what we've said. After eating, we can talk more in private."

Karsipengpas glanced knowingly at the attendant standing to the side, temporarily suppressing his doubts. But the food and beer that followed tasted like nothing in his mouth.

After dinner, Karsipengpas took the two to his room. After closing the door, he asked in a deep voice: "Tell me, what is it that brought you to find me?"

Budocaribas asked in return: "Now that maritime raiding isn't an option, and mining iron ore can't last forever, what are your plans for the future of the mountain tribes?"

While eating, Karsipengpas had actually thought a lot about this question, but now he shrugged it off casually: "Our life is still pretty good now, so let's just continue living off the iron mine for now. When it's almost exhausted, we'll think about it seriously then."

"Don't wait until things get worse before thinking about it!" Xisaites said anxiously: "I suggest you think about it now... Do you want to sign an agreement with Leader Maximus like we did, and ask him to give the tribes in the mountains a piece of fertile land?"

Karsipengpas was shocked at the suggestion: "You mean... have the mountain tribes relocate to Nix's territory like you?"

"Karsipengpas, you're too smart not to realize that the situation for the mountain tribes will become difficult!" Budocaribas said seriously: "Besides what Xisaites said at the dinner table, there's more trouble with people like Alistacas and Ambrosius!

Ever since we moved here, Alistacas has held a grudge against us. He initially frequently held tribal meetings to trouble us, but after realizing we always managed to attend on time, he began deliberately delaying notifying us, making us late for tribal meetings and reprimanding us.

Later, we had a big argument at a tribal meeting, and after that, he simply stopped sending people to notify us of meetings. We rely on you for help... You should know all this too.

But this way, it's a waste of time, and constantly being late for meetings isn't a good thing. After discussing with Xisaites, we decided that if Alistacas doesn't send someone to notify us directly, we won't attend the tribal meetings, and so it's been more than half a year since we've met..."

Xisaites sighed bitterly, saying, "Of course, we want to go back to attend the meetings, understand the tribal situation, and visit you, but Alistacas is so obnoxious, and we have our tempers too!"

Budocaribas continued: "Alistacas isn't just dissatisfied with us; he's also displeased with you and the leaders of the western tribes. You should be well aware of this!"

Karsipengpas remained silent.

He knew full well that ever since he gained prestige in the tribe through maritime raids, Alistacas had been jealous and at odds with him. After becoming the Great Chief, he allied with Budocaribas and Xisaites to protect his interests, which made Alistacas detest him even more...

"I'm sorry that for the past half a year, because we couldn't attend the tribal meetings, you've had to bear the pressure from Alistacas and them alone!"

Budocaribas apologized: "I've heard that this spring, Alistacas held several meetings in a row, mainly to discuss increasing the revenue share from the iron ore for the southern tribes. Due to your firm opposition and Cleobrotas's support, and because Alistacas is wary of your friendship with the Nix Tribe, he didn't dare push hard in the end and maintained the existing agreement.

However, the leaders and nobles of the southern tribes have become increasingly fond of using the various things made by the Nix Tribe, and apart from the salt mine, the only other trade for lots of these things is iron ore... Now that Alistacas knows you can no longer be pirates and can only rely on mining iron ore to improve your lives, do you think they'll come up with some ways to force you to give up some of the revenue from the iron ore trade, especially since you have to pass through their territory when transporting the ore..."

"If Alistacas dares do this, he doesn't deserve to be Great Chief! We mountain people will never submit; we'll make a mess of it with them!" Karsipengpas responded firmly.

"If you do this, the resentment between your two sides will only increase, likely leading to ongoing conflicts. At that point, how can you continue the iron ore trade in peace?" Budocaribas reminded him.

"You'd be better off, like us, leading your tribes to relocate here!" Xisaites immediately said: "Look at us now, far from Alistacas and them. We attend tribal meetings when we want, don't when we don't, and he can't control us. It has reduced a lot of headaches. More importantly, if Alistacas ever asks us for food and supplies for some reason, we can refuse without him being able to do anything.

For our tribesmen, they now have their own land and houses. The food they grow is enough to eat, and the excess can easily be taken to the Nix market to exchange for fabric, pottery, and other needed things. When they have free time, they can go watch the Nix people's rugby matches in nearby villages, and when traveling, they can use the docks and roads built by the Nix people...

In many ways, their lives are now even better than before the Segestica people invaded our territory, and we no longer worry about our tribesmen's livelihoods."

Budocaribas reflexively closed his eyes tightly, showing a complex expression.

Karsipengpas didn't notice; he was currently swayed by Xisaites's words.

When Budocaribas and his people relocated to the Sava River, it was a major event in the Alde Tribe, and Karsipengpas naturally paid attention to it. He had even visited Budocaribas's tribe once. As he knew, those tribesmen who gained new homes indeed lived much better than before. Seeing the current relaxed demeanor of these two, and thinking about the effort he puts into improving his tribesmen's lives, and the even greater difficulties he would face without change...

Karsipengpas was silent for a moment and then said softly: "It seems the Nix Tribe doesn't have any extra land now. I know there are quite a few who have just become reserve tribe members this year and still haven't been allocated land."

The two exchanged a glance, hearing clearly that Karsipengpas was getting interested!

Xisaites smiled mysteriously: "You don't need to worry. If you make a request to Leader Maximus now, it's most likely to reach an agreement with him."

"Oh, why?"

Budocaribas spoke seriously: "Didn't you just say that the Nix Tribe now has many new reserve tribe members without land to allocate? Their Twenty Peerage System's decree clearly promises 'each tribe member must be allocated land.'

Additionally, earlier this year during the farm off-season, the Nix Tribe held military training for their tribe members, which was much larger and more stringent than in the past. Even Maximus personally participated and punished quite a few tribe members who violated military law...

So, we estimate that the Nix Tribe might launch an attack on the Pannonians soon!"

"What? Nixes are going to war with Pannonians?!" Karsipengpas was deeply shocked.

"It's actually not surprising," Xisaites said with a gloating look: "The current Pannonians are no longer as arrogant as when they invaded our territory. Since being defeated several times by the Nix people and the Segestica Tribe's destruction, their strength has been severely weakened. Meanwhile, the Boyi people to the north have been constantly at war with them, taking their land north of the Delaware River...

We heard that as early as last year, some elders of Nix had proposed to go to war with the Pannonians, but Maximus didn't agree. However, this year I think Nix has no choice but to fight!"

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