Kunogorata, Cornelius, and other seasoned senators sat in contemplative silence, while the rest of the chamber remained hesitant to respond.
Juleios seized the moment, his voice steady yet resonating with authority. "Then let us consider the lands surrounding Niutum. To its north lies an unbroken expanse of Lucanian territory, home to towns like Grumentum, Pyxus, Potentia, and Calaguso. Together, their population numbers in the hundreds of thousands—several times that of the Tula Alliance."
His gaze swept over the room, challenging any senator to refute his words. "Though they are fractured now, warring among themselves, do you think they will remain divided if we Greeks seize their ancestral lands and threaten their survival? No. They will unite, driven by hatred, and rise against us."
