The three Gauls who infiltrated the mountains were indeed slaves purchased by Onomabatis in the Northern Italy Province. However, that was years ago, and later they were sent to the Nix Tribe to become reserve tribe members. This time, they were entrusted with an important mission by Leader Maximus to return to their homeland.

According to the pre-arranged plan, after crossing the Massilia border, the three parted ways, each taking their chosen route to avoid the risk of encountering Roman patrols and getting captured, which would jeopardize the mission.

Their destination was the Avelli, and one of the four, Lurios, was an Avelli.

The Avelli are located in the southern part of the entire Gaul region, not too far from the Roman province of Western Fa and Massilia. Compared to their northern kin, the Avelli, and the surrounding Gaul tribes have more frequent interactions with the Romans and even control trade routes with the Roman world.

When Caesar first took office as Governor of Gaul, the Avelli and other tribes provided him with considerable assistance.

Lurios had previously traveled to Massilia to sell goods for the Avelli Tribe and was familiar with the routes and terrain between the two places. Hence, he chose a path that was remote yet relatively easy to traverse, proceeding smoothly without much trouble.

However, along the way, he occasionally saw villages burned to ruins, corpses of his kin hanging from stakes, and the old, young, women, and children hiding in the mountains, emaciated and surviving by digging insect larvae and plant roots...

Although Caesar's scorched earth policy was mainly implemented in the coastal areas of Northwest Gaul, the Roman army used the same tactics wherever they passed, intending to intimidate all Gauls, making them more obedient and cease resistance.

The more similar scenes Lurios saw, the heavier his mood became, prompting him to quicken his pace.

After a long journey, Lurios finally arrived at the central town of the Avelli—Gergovia (near modern-day France Clermont).

In Lurios's memory, Gergovia, although the center of the Avelli, was not a large town and was not densely populated. Being accustomed to the cleanliness and prosperity of the towns in the Nix Tribe, he felt dissatisfied with Gergovia's dirtiness and crudity.

But upon seeing the town again, the dirtiness and crudity were even worse, although its population and size had grown significantly. Tents were set up everywhere outside the village, filled with people from various Gaul regions and tribes, creating an unusually noisy and lively atmosphere.

Could it be true, as prophesied by the Danu Goddess, that the Avelli were going to rebel?!... Lurios felt anxious, worried for his original tribe, but he first had to complete the mission entrusted to him by Leader Maximus.

He recalled that the person he was looking for was not here, and his visit to the central town was merely to better inquire about this person's whereabouts.

He cautiously found an Avelli vendor, using the pretense of buying things to discreetly ask a few questions.

Dressed as a Gaul and speaking with an Avelli accent, no one suspected him.

"You mean Vercingetorix is here?! In the main house of the town?!" Lurios was very surprised.

Yes, the person he was looking for was Vercingetorix.

From Maximus's past life memories, he was not familiar with the detailed process of Caesar's conquest of the entire Gaul region, but he knew about the great Gaul rebellion led by Vercingetorix, which caused great trouble for Caesar. Moreover, he knew this event happened in the penultimate year of Caesar's eight-year tenure as Governor of Gaul. Because of the urgency of stabilizing Gaul to free up forces to march on Rome, Caesar took significant military risks to suppress the rebellion.

Therefore, from the first day Caesar took office as Governor of Gaul, Maximus calculated carefully, and in his sixth year, he gathered the thousands of Gaul slaves Onomabatis had been buying over the years from the Northern Italy Province to ask: who knows Vercingetorix?

Maximus only knew the name Vercingetorix, didn't know how to write it (Gauls had no written language), and didn't know which tribe he was from, but he was certain this person must be a tribal leader (as a branch of the Celtic family, Gauls valued lineage greatly, and a common tribesman couldn't command so many tribal armies) and relatively young, because according to historical records, Caesar had cultivated him.

The name Vercingetorix is rare among Gaul tribes, and coupled with the rarity of young Gaul leaders, the scope became minimal... Among thousands of slaves from various Gaul tribes, three quickly claimed they knew this person.

Upon further questioning, Maximus found that all three were referring to the same person—Vercingetorix, the young leader of the Avelli Tribe.

Overjoyed, Maximus had a detailed conversation with these three and finally decided to send them all back to Gaul to meet Vercingetorix.

This was the reason Lurios returned to the Avelli territory.

However, Lurios originally had an unusual identity and was well aware of Vercingetorix's situation. He knew that during Vercingetorix's father's leadership of the Avelli, his power was strong, with surrounding tribes like the Villavi, Gabari, Cadusi, Petrololi, and Lemovici all following his lead.

At the time, the Avelli dominated vast areas of southern Gaul, which made him arrogant and decided to dissolve the tribal council, declaring himself king and making all tribal decisions alone. This drew the contempt of the nobles and elders, who incited a revolt among the tribesmen that led to his death.

Vercingetorix, along with a part of his loyal subordinates, escaped the Avelli territory, taking refuge with Caesar, who had just become Governor of Gaul and was recruiting cavalry. He became a cavalry captain under his command.

Because of Vercingetorix's identity and abilities, Caesar valued him greatly, but Vercingetorix stayed in the Roman army for only two years. Despite Caesar's attempts to retain him, he quietly returned to the Avelli, began recruiting an army to avenge his father, kill his enemies, and retake Gergovia.

However, the current Avelli leader (Vercingetorix's uncle) and the nobles, having received prior information, preemptively attacked Vercingetorix's camp. With few troops, Vercingetorix suffered a crushing defeat and was forced to flee the Avelli territory once again...

"Half a year ago, Leader Vercingetorix led his army to capture this town, exiled his uncle, and killed those nobles, avenging his father! Now, he is our Avelli leader! Not only does he fight bravely, but seeing our hardship, he even proactively reduced the grain we must pay. He's our Avelli hero! You better be careful with your words; don't call him by name, or you'll invite trouble!" the vendor kindly warned.

"Indeed, he is a hero!" Lurios recalled the things Leader Maximus had talked about, feeling deeply moved.

He carefully adjusted his attire and then strode toward the main house in the center of town.

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

Lurios stood in front of the main house, watching a guard run inside. Before long, heavy and hurried footsteps approached from within, and a familiar figure came into view.

This person was about thirty years old, with slightly untidy short golden hair, a broad forehead, a straight nose, and a resolute face. His deep eyes and tall, sturdy build were accentuated by the tight-fitting tribal attire, revealing a muscular silhouette with an aura of unspoken authority.

But upon seeing Lurios, the imposing aura swiftly disappeared, replaced by a face full of joy: "Lurios, you're alive! That's wonderful!"

He laughed heartily, ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, seemingly unconcerned about the possibility that Lurios, not seen for years, might have sided with the enemy to harm him. He walked briskly forward, opened his arms, and gave Lurios a tight hug.

While embracing, he whispered apologetically, "Lurios, I'm sorry! That day we were defeated, and after barely escaping their pursuit and rallying my scattered forces, I found you weren't among us. Some said you were captured, others said you had fallen..."

Back then, having just suffered a rout, people were anxious. I could only lead them to escape the Avelli territory first, so I didn't send someone back to the camp to search for you and the other lost comrades in time..."

Lurios also hugged him tightly and said excitedly, "How can you be blamed? It wasn't easy for you to escape with the remnants at that time! Fortunately, you did, so you could retake Gergovia now! I'm happy for you, Vercingetorix, you've finally fulfilled your promise!"

The two held each other tightly for a while before Vercingetorix released his arms, feeling both relieved and puzzled, and asked, "After capturing this town, I interrogated my damn uncle and learned that you were captured by them and sold as a slave to the Romans. Did you escape from the Romans?"

Lurios shook his head, glanced at the others beside Vercingetorix, and said solemnly, "I did not escape from the Romans nor became their slave. I came this time entrusted with an extremely important matter to discuss with you alone!"

Immediately, someone objected, "Leader, although Lurios was once under your command, we don't know his situation in recent years. You mustn't—"

Vercingetorix waved his hand to stop him, loudly saying, "Lurios was a reliable subordinate of my father! After my father's death, he steadfastly refused my uncle's bribes and fully assisted me in rallying my father's former forces and assembling an army to suppress the rebellion. He's like an elder brother to me, and no matter in the past or now, his help to me is selfless!"

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