Then, Tegcharles saw a group of people quickly approaching the dock, led by a familiar face, walking with a limp.
"Pigeris! Pigeris!..." Tegchamos waved and shouted as he hurriedly disembarked.
"Tegcharles?! I didn’t expect you to really come!" Pigeris looked with some surprise at the merchant coming off the ship.
"Although you only said one line when you left Pompey, ’If you’re interested in continuing business with us, you can come to the east coast and take a look, there might be some opportunities’... but I trust you!"
Tegcharles said seriously, "Plus, my family has some shops in Hydruntum, and I’ve been there all this time, while sending people to investigate any news about you on the east coast. When I heard about the fall of Sarabia, I came without any hesitation."
"Thank you for your trust in us, welcome to our new port!" Pigeris warmly opened his arms and gave a strong hug to the other, then muttered as if to himself, "I wonder if Kroxi Bas and Daltemas will also come here like you in the future."
"You know, Kroxi Bas has a greater desire for money than I do. Hearing you say he hasn’t come yet, I think it might be because your other group has occupied Turi and continues to advance south, with some towns in the south, including Hibernian, gathering soldiers and forming armies to prepare for battle with your companions.
In such a situation, Kroxi Bas’ family might not allow him to come here to avoid damaging their family’s reputation among the Hibernian people... As for Daltemas, he doesn’t have the same confidence in you as I do." Tegcharles said with a touch of self-satisfaction.
"With you here, it’s enough." Pigeris smiled broadly and changed the topic, "Although we don’t have good wine here, the resources we’ve acquired are more than Pompey’s! Galgano’s finest wool, high-quality red and white striped marble, a large quantity of ship timber, premium pottery from Greece..."
"All good stuff." Tegcharles felt tempted and asked directly, "I wonder what the prices are like?"
"For old friends like you, the prices are of course very cheap." Pigeris promised without hesitation.
"Can you show me these goods?"
"Please follow me." Pigeris led Tegcharles to the warehouse next to the dock.
Seeing the warehouses filled with various goods, Tegcharles couldn’t tear his eyes away.
At this moment, Alakosia walked in, whispering in Pigeris’ ear, "A merchant ship that had been lingering outside the harbor has finally come in!"
"This is a good thing!" Pigeris glanced at Tegcharles, who was bending over to inspect the goods, and whispered, "This guy set a good example!"
Xie Pangbo stood in front of the port management building, having a panoramic view of the scene at the dock: two merchant ships were already docked, and laborers were continually loading goods onto the ships...
Thinking of soon having to bargain with these foreign merchants, handling the sale of huge quantities of materials... Xie Pangbo felt a surge of excitement, something he had always longed for during his years of serving as a procurement slave for his master.
Forget it, as long as Free Italy is still here, we have no choice but to obey, agree if we must... Xie Pangbo quietly persuaded himself.
"Xie Pangbo, why are you standing here stupidly! Hurry up and go to your place to get your things, from now on you’ll live with us here." Alakosia came over and said loudly.
"Okay, okay." Xie Pangbo responded repeatedly, not daring to delay any longer, and quickly followed Alakosia towards the town.
Passing by the South City Gate, a roar of cheers came from ahead, and Xie Pangbo curiously wanted to see what was going on, but was pulled to the side by Alakosia.
Soon, the sound of hoofbeats came from ahead, and a cavalry of over a hundred people appeared in sight. They wore light armor, wielding round shields and long spears, their heads held high in imposing manner.
Following them was a young leader, wearing a towering feather helmet and dazzling golden armor, riding a mighty warhorse. He looked relaxed, smiling as he talked with someone beside him, but when his gaze inadvertently swept over Xie Pangbo, it made his heart beat faster.
Surrounding the young leader was a group of adolescents, wearing well-fitted white belted garments, looking extremely serious. Their backs were straight, marching in relatively orderly rows, their steps sounding loudly... Yet it made Xie Pangbo feel it was too contrived, far less significant than the natural authority exuded by the young leader.
"That’s our leader, Maximus!" Alakosia said in a tone of admiration.
After the young leader passed by, Xie Pangbo softly uttered an "oh."
Next came a large infantry unit. Their ranks were disorderly, armor and weapons varied, and their steps were slow and weary, but the bloodstains on their armor and the excitement in their eyes made Xie Pangbo realize that this was not an easy army to provoke.
Following them was a massive convoy, with carriages pulled by oxen, horses, and donkeys, loaded with grain, gold, silver, and bronze items, various iron materials, cloth, leather, wood, and even bloodstained weapons and armor...