Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

“Is that so?” With a sneer, Davos exclaimed, “I am afraid that none of your former colleagues in Thurii would agree with your reasons. The destruction of the city of Thurii was caused by the deaths of the citizen’s relatives and friends occupying their minds and fearing the enemy. And at the same time, some people with ulterior motives stirred the citizens to drive away the competent leaders! The strategoi that were elected in panic were helpless against the difficulties, while the common people, driven by their own interests, were unwilling to fulfil their promise to grant citizenship to the freemen, which led to the following series of tragedies! All this shows that the main culprit of the destruction of the old city of Thurii is the citizens of Thurii and the ecclesia they formed!!”

Kunogelata sighed. At this moment, the face of his daughter suddenly surfaced in his mind, making him disheartened.

Momentary, Pollux was unable to respond, then he said with reluctance, “That…that is just a special case-”

Davos interrupted his excuse in a loud voice, “The Theonians wants the right to participate in politics? There is no problem with that, as we had already been doing that! The Theonian Law stipulates that ‘No matter whether they are upper-class or lower-class, as long as they are citizens of Theonia, they can take up public offices in the Theonia Union without restriction.’ And we are going to make more laws to involve them in Theonia’s administrative decisions further. But-”

Davos increased his voice abruptly and sharply said, “The Senate of Theonia will never indulge the people and allow them to have unlimited freedom, so as to wantonly destroy the order and overall interests of Theonia for their personal interests, or even be used by some people with ulterior motives to destroy the Theonia Union that we have painstakingly established! And the Senate will severely punish anyone who attempts to destroy the peaceful life of Theonia Union today! Without any mercy!!”

Like a giant thunder, the decisive words of Davos exploded in the hearts of Pollux, which made him tremble to the point that he could only say in a low voice, “…according to you, most of the city-states in Greece would have been destroyed because-”

“Bang”…the door of the assembly hall was suddenly pushed open. Pollux subconsciously looked back and saw Thurii's patrol captain, Matonis, hurried to the podium of the assembly hall.

‘What is going on?!’ This is not only the question of Pollux but also the question of some statesmen in the meeting.

Davos narrowed his eyes as he looked at the podium while tapping his finger on the armrest of the chair and thought, ‘Here we go…’

Cornelius listened to Matonis' whispers, and his face became more shocked. And from time to time, he would glance at Pollux, making him somewhat restless.

After Matonis reported the situation, Cornelius, who has never encountered such things before, was momentarily at a loss about how to proceed. So he had to ask for help, “Lord Davos, please come here for a moment.”

Davos then walked towards him unhurriedly.

Seeing the whispering exchange between Davos and Cornelius on the podium, the statesmen became even more curious and puzzled. They all craned their necks and pricked their ears, trying to find out what they are talking about it, as they could vaguely hear Davos firmly saying, “No! We will carry out everything under the Theonian Law!…”

At this moment, they heard Cornelius called out, “Chief justice, lord Tritodemos, please come to the stage.”

The statesmen became noisy as they tried to guess what has happened.

The three began exchanging opinions on the podium, and occasionally, Tritodemos would ask Matonis, who was standing nearby, to learn about the situation.

Finally, when Davos returned to his seat, Tritodemos remained at the podium while Cornelius tried to think how to break it to them. After clearing his throat and carefully organising his words, “Uh…well…everyone, just now-”

“Cornelius, hurry up! Stop making us anxious!” Shouted Scambras. And the statesmen burst into laughers, which slightly dispels the tense atmosphere.

However, Cornelius remained serious, “You guys, just now…something has happened in Thurii. A liberated slave was being hunted down as he ran to the Temple of Hades to ask for help…”

The statesmen went into an uproar. Although Theonia Union has not long been established, it is not without murder cases. However, ‘a victim running to the gods to ask for help’ like this is the first time. After all, this would alarm Hades, making the need to handle this matter cautiously.

After Pollux heard the word “liberated slave”, he felt an intense uneasiness. He moved his butt back and forth as if his wooden chair had a nail piercing it.

“The city patrol, led by lord Matonis, rushed to the temple. And under the guidance of the liberated slave, they arrived at the scene of the attack and arrested several men who tried to resist. After a prompt interrogation, the suspect's detailed account is basically the same as that of the liberated slave…” Tritodemos took over the conversation from Cornelius, and his gaze was like two cold beams of light shooting straight to the meeting, “And the one behind the suspects is lord Pollux!”

There was an uproar when this remark came out.

Just like a cat lit on fire, Pollux sprang up to his feet and shouted, “This is a false accusation! I am being framed up!…”

“Whether it's a false accusation or not, we still have to go through a more detailed investigation to find out.” Tritodemos remained calmed, but his voice was like a sharp knife, “And the provided information has also involved a more serious crime. It’s said that ‘you, lord Pollux, frequently freed the slaves not out of goodwill, but to control them and deceive the Ministry of Agriculture by using your power to rent fertile land for them, while getting most of their land income…’ If that is the truth, this is a serious violation of the Theonian Law that says ‘no illegal possession of land! To not restrict the freedom of others!…and several other laws!’”

Pollux' heart jolted wildly, and his mouth panicked, trying to defend himself, “No! This is not true! I…I did not coerce any slaves, no! They have all voluntarily given it to me! Yes! It's all voluntary! They…voluntarily gave part of their income to me as thanks for giving them their freedom! If you don't believe me, go and have a look. Some of the slaves that I released has even become official citizens!…”

“Do not worry, as we will also investigate what you have said, and we will never let a noble statesman of the Senate be wronged! But the laws of Theonia are the same for anyone, even if you are a statesman! Now that this case has involved you, we will temporarily restrict your freedom until this matter is finally resolved.” Tritodemos remained expressionless as he said this. Afterwards, several patrolmen entered the assembly hall under the leadership of Matonis, ready to go forward and take hold of Pollux.

As Pollux desperately try to break free, he saw Davos looking at him coldly. After a sudden realisation, he immediately made a desperate struggle against the statesmen around him, “Esteemed statesmen, this is a conspiracy! This is Davos' conspiracy! He saw that my efforts had threatened his dictatorship, so he used this despicable means to frame me! Everyone, help me! Please help me! Otherwise, if I were to fall today, then tomorrow, the next would be you! You…”

The patrolling soldiers dragged him out as his words still echoed in the assembly hall.

The previously smug Pollux was now blown away in the dust. This sudden reversal was too stimulating that the statesmen looked at Davos with a complicated expression.

However, Davos did not care what Pollux said at all. He continued to lean back on his wooden chair in a leisurely manner.

Next, the words of Tritodemos made the statesmen such as Enanilus, Ariphes and Marsyas even more frightened, “Considering the wide range of personnel involves in this case, and after consulting with the archon, we decided to impose military enforcement on the whole city, forbidding anyone from going out until we resolved this matter!”

The senate meeting ended in shock, and while everyone was still in fear and talking, Davos had already strode out through the side door of the assembly hall.

“Lord Davos, please wait a moment! Please listen to me…” The usually calm Enanilus was now shouting in a tone similar to begging as he tried to catch up to Davos. And at the same time, Ariphes, Marsyas and the others followed him.

Kunogelata, seeing the situation, sneered. But when he turned around to walked out of the door, he saw Burkes still sitting behind him and muttering, “How could Pollux do such a thing?…”

In this senate, Burkes and Ansitanos are the only few statesmen who did not fall out with Kunogelata when he was in trouble, so Kunogelata said to him, “It's difficult for the once rich to endure the present poverty.”

Burkes raised his head in amazement while watching as Kunogelata walked out of the senate hall.

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

On this day, the people of the city of Thurii were astonished to see the patrolling soldiers going around, searching the residence of Pollux, and then restricted the freedom of statesmen such as Enanilus, Ariphes and Marsyas.

In the afternoon, another urgent letter had come from Krimisa, saying that, “in the Temple of Hades, another liberated slave had asked for help.” Without waiting for the decision of the Senate, the praetor of Krimisa, Protesilaus, who had already receive the confidential order of Davos in advance, had ordered the patrol to arrest a few of the original Krimisian nobles. And the news that Eurypus and Pleitinas receive made them panic again.

In reality, the spies of Davos that Aristias lead had already grasped everything in hand. The only thing they needed is a good reason.

The news that “nearly ten statesmen were arrested” caused a huge political tremor in Thurii, making the people discuss and rumours to spread.

Hemis, who was in a guesthouse, could feel the violent shaking in Thurii, so he immediately realised that the situation was not good. Thus he quickly packed up his things and prepared to go back to Sicily by boat.