Deqineu spoke apologetically, but there wasn't a hint of apology on his face: "We Dacians have always been at odds with the tribes on the west bank of the Danube River. The Pannonians are bent on destroying our allies in the Skodisqi Tribe. The Boyi people and the Taolisi people have been continually invading eastward, occupying a significant portion of our Dacian territory on the east bank of the Danube River...

When we first heard the name of the Nix Tribe, you had already taken over most of the Pannonian territories and reached the west bank of the Danube River. Soon, you completely annexed Pannonian lands and then went to war with the Boyi people. In just a few years, you had beaten the Boyi people until only a few sparse tribes remained in the north...

Although you have eliminated our Dacian enemies, the fearsome aggression of the Nix Tribe certainly worries us! That's why I advise the Great King to act cautiously."

Maximus glanced at Brebiusta, whose expression had turned serious, and then at Deqineu, who remained calm. After pondering, he said solemnly, "I believe you two won't just see the surface of the Nix Tribe defeating the Pannonians and the Boyi people, but you should also somewhat understand the reasons for our Nix Tribe's wars with these two tribes...

The reason we were able to settle and establish the tribe here is that the Pannonians invaded the Alde Tribe and occupied their lands. The Aldeans hoped that we, the Nix, could fend off further Pannonian invasions and prevent their extinction.

We, the Nix, fulfilled our promise and expelled the Pannonians from Aldean territories. However, the Pannonians then saw the Nix as an enemy that must be annihilated, launching four attacks on us within three years, with each assault involving more than twenty thousand people, the largest reaching over sixty thousand.

The Nix is a newly established tribe with little land and few people. We couldn't afford a prolonged defense against Pannonian attacks, so we had to go on the offensive, occupying Pannonian territories to weaken their strength and ensure the tribe's survival. However, in doing so, our hatred with the Pannonians became irreconcilable. One side must completely fall for the war to end..."

At this point, Maximus shrugged helplessly: "As for the conflict with the Boyi people, that was also because they first invaded the Pannonian tribe south of the Delaware River. When the Pannonians were defeated, they preferred to join us, the Nix. So I sent an envoy and even invited the Noric Druids to visit the Boyi Tribe, trying to persuade them to cease hostilities.

But not only did the Boyi people refuse, they even sent troops to pursue the Pannonian people fleeing to our territories. To protect these Pannonian people who had sworn allegiance to the Nix, we had no choice but to deploy forces to defeat the Boyi army rampaging south of the Delaware River.

After that, we controlled the Delaware River due to our advantage on the water, but the Boyi people were unwilling to accept defeat, repeatedly sending troops to attempt crossing the river to attack Nix territories. Eventually, we could no longer endure it and gathered a large force to launch an attack on the Boyi people...

This is not a defense of Nix. You can send people to inquire with surrounding tribes. What I've said are facts. We, the Nix Tribe, do not delight in invasions, and each war was not initiated by us. However, once war arises, for the long-term security of the tribe, we often give our all in counterattacks!"

Maximus slightly heightened his tone with his final words, subtly reminding the opposite side. Then he said in a soothing voice, "Actually, during these years of war with the Boyi people, I've always wondered, you Dacians also hold grudges against the Boyi, right? Why didn't you join this war?"

The question was somewhat direct, but Brebiusta did not evade it and replied straight, "The land on the east bank of the Danube River originally belonged to us Dacians, so we drove away the Boyi people to reclaim our land.

However, we don't covet the land on the west bank of the Danube. The various Celtic tribes have lived there for hundreds of years, and their lifestyle, language, and traditions are entirely different from ours Dacians.

If I rashly led an army across the Danube to seize the Boyi territories, I might get mired in war with the Celtic people, so I won't waste time on such a risky endeavor. Currently, consolidating our recently established Dacia Alliance and making all Dacian tribes more united is of utmost importance to me!"

"You are a wise person! With a king like you, Dacia will surely become much stronger!" Maximus sincerely praised.

"Leader Maximus, after you eliminate the Boyi people, what plans do you have next for yourself and your Nix Tribe?" Deqineu gazed at Maximus.

Maximus answered without hesitation, "Once we have eliminated the Boyi people, as long as the Taolisi people, who have supported the Boyi against us, are willing to negotiate peace, we, the Nix, are also willing to live peacefully with them.

If today, I and Great King Brebiusta could reach an agreement, so that your two tribes could maintain long-standing friendship, along with our friendly relations with the Noric, the Yapode, the Skodisqi, and the Aldeans... With such a peaceful and stable environment, the Nix can develop in peace and contribute to the prosperity of the entire Danube Plain! —"

Medavratris whispered a few words to Maximus.

"Oh, that's right." Maximus corrected himself: "North of the Boyi territories and beyond the Danube Plain are the Germanic people. They are barbaric and fierce, occasionally invading southward and massacring the Danube Plain's populace and pillaging their wealth. I'll organize an army to strike against them, so they dare not disturb us again!

But I won't send troops northward to invade their lands because I've heard that place is forested everywhere, with towering trees that completely overshadow the sunlight, making it extremely cold and eerie, not fit for human habitation… Besides that, there won't be any concerns for the safety of the Nix Tribe.

In the upcoming time, I will do my utmost to make the Nix Tribe more prosperous and powerful, as I have always held an enemy in my heart, and I will eventually lead the Nix Tribe in a life-and-death battle against it!"

Maximus' eyes shone with determination as he looked at Brebiusta and Deqineu, not waiting for their inquiry, he declared each word with a firm voice: "That enemy is Rome!"

Both Brebiusta and Deqineu were astonished, as was Medavratris since he'd never heard his leader publicly speak of "waging war with Rome" in the future.

This time, Brebiusta didn't let Deqineu ask the question but took the initiative, asking, "Leader Maximus, are you truly prepared to wage war against Rome?! Rome is the most powerful state in the Mediterranean, and no force dares to provoke it!"

Maximus smiled meaningfully, "I heard you, Brebiusta, not only dared to provoke Rome, but you also defeated Roman armies several times. Compared to you, I am far less capable."

Brebiusta shook his head, saying, "Our war with the Romans was forced upon us. To the south of Dacia lies the Odryssian Kingdom, where the people are ethnic Thracians like us. The current Odryssia is largely controlled by the Romans, and they even incite invasions into our Dacian lands, attempting to probe our weaknesses.

I've led troops to repel them several times, but they were primarily Odryssian, with few actual Roman soldiers engaging us."

"It seems the Romans have their eyes on Dacia," noted Maximus. The news of past conflicts between Dacia and the Romans came to him via Onomabatis during trade at the Tarentum port, but not as detailed as Brebiusta's account.

With deep eyes, Maximus asked sternly, "Why would the Romans incite the Odryssian to invade Dacia?"

Without waiting for a response, he emphasized, "I think it's because the Romans want to destroy Dacia! It's not surprising, as you look at today's Mediterranean World—"

Speaking, Maximus dipped his finger in pulp water and swiftly drew a map of Mediterranean powers on the wooden table.

Brebiusta and Deqineu marveled at Maximus' outstanding drawing skills, but they were more astonished by what he said, carefully listening without interruption.

"The Iberian Peninsula in the west of the Mediterranean became a Roman province over a hundred years ago. Although some mountain tribes refuse to submit, they pose no threat to Roman rule.

The western part of Mauretania and Numidia in the south are Roman dependents; their Kings must even get approval from the Roman Senate to inherit the throne.

The central southern region became another Roman province after Rome defeated Carthage a hundred years ago, and the eastern southern region of Egypt also succumbed to Rome.

Let's take a look at the east. It was only a few years ago that the Roman Governor Pompey successively conquered all of Little Asia, Syria, and the Jewish Kingdom.

Then there's our location, the northern Mediterranean. Italy is the Romans' base, Western France, Northern Italy, Illyria, Greece, Macedonia... these are all Roman provinces.

You see, the Romans have already controlled the entire Mediterranean, but will they stop expanding?

No! Because the highest authority in Rome is the Governor, elected every year. For Roman nobles to be elected as governors, they mainly rely on military achievements and wealth, both of which can be acquired by waging wars, so the Roman provincial governors always spare no effort in instigating wars!"

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