I always wondered why would happen if the dude appeared dead but managed to live over the following days
I am sure there might have had happened, but I strongly doubt it with the commander watching over the proceedings to assert their displeasure. I am sure the rare times it happened, the commander probably did a bit of shanking himself.
Would not be surprised if they “double-tapped” with the bodies being imspected and finished off with a unceremonious stab or throat cut to show mercy to a convulsing body, to then strip and dump it before moving on.
Just my uneducated guesswork ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I imagine if he was a smart fellow, he would take the opportunity to quietly disappear and start a new life before anyone got the bright idea to cut his throat to make sure.
Or perhaps it’d be regarded as a good omen. Romans were always fond of odd happenings being interpreted as some omen or another from the gods.