Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

And Xanticles, as the military inspector, must have overlooked it because of their friendship, which gave Davos another headache! Since most of the senior officers of the Theonian army were former mercenaries, the camaraderie of fighting together for many years has allowed them to maintain their close relationship, thus forming an extensive network of complicated relations that controls the army’s direction. Although it makes it easier for the former mercenary leader, Davos, to control the military, it is also easy to breed corruption.

‘It seems I should now consider breaking the military's isolation and improve its system…’ Davos pondered deeply.

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

Davos once again attended the Senate meeting the following day. But he suddenly proposed: The election of the new praetor of Naxos because Stromboli had sent a message that he could not return to Thurii on time because of an important case. Hence he asked the Senate to immediately elect his successor to go to Naxos and hand it over to him there.

The statesmen began to go into an uproar as they talked with each other while Ladician started panicking.

In the ensuing election, the statesmen, who had received instructions from Davos, finally elected Milo as the new praetor of Naxos. After congratulating Milo, Davos announced Antonios’ resignation from his post as Chief of Military yesterday because of his poor health. And after repeated consideration, Hielos would be the one to take over the post of Chief of Military (Although Davos decides most of the matters of the army, he still has to inform the Senate about the appointment and dismissal of the Chief of Military as it is, after all, an important official of the kingdom.)

As Davos had already informed Hielos yesterday evening, he wasn't surprised. But the other statesmen made another commotion. On the other hand, many politically-minded statesmen began wondering what happened to Antonios, who had defeated Syracuse's final counterattack, conquered the Catanian plain, and had a distinguished war record, to suddenly resign from the highest military position in the kingdom just because of an illness?

After they thought about Davos' eagerness to elect the new praetor of Naxos, some people had a keen hunch that it might have something to do with Naxos. But just as the statesmen whispered with each other, Davos again announced that the Ministry of Military would set up a Military Court, with the Supreme Court of the Kingdom assigning personnel to serve as judges who would be rotated regularly. At the same time, officers could no longer serve as the military inspector but will instead be assigned by the Grand Inspector of the kingdom and would rotate regularly.

At this moment, the whole Senate erupted.

Kapus led the statesmen, that were former mercenaries, to object. They believed that there is no need for military judges to punish officers and soldiers who violate the military law as Theonia's Military Code is already enough to regulate the officers' and soldiers' behaviours! And since the Theonian army is operating normally, there is no need to add a military court and bring outsiders that may disturb the peace and order of the army or even reveal military secrets.

But the statesmen engaged in local administration led by Cornelius believed that it was wise for his majesty to place the army under the supervision of Theonia's Law as it would make it fairer and just for the whole kingdom.

Even though the statesmen continued arguing about it, they still passed Davos' proposal due to his insistence.

At last, the whole Senate meeting ended in a clamour.

After the meeting, Ladician went straight to Antonios' residence, but the gate that didn't obstruct him was now closed to anyone because ‘Antonios won't see anyone for now as he wasn't feeling well’.

Then Ladician hurriedly changed his words and said he wanted to see his daughter, but the guards refused.

In the end, considering that Ladician was still his father-in-law, Antonios sent someone out to warn him not to run around looking for someone to mediate for Phragres, nor to hold banquets and attract attention.

But Antonios' words just furthered Ladician's confusion…

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

At this moment, the new Praetor of Naxos Milo and the Supreme Judge Tritodemos is in Davos' offices in the palace.

“I asked the two of you to come here even though the meeting has just ended because I have something important to tell you.” Davos became serious and took out a letter, “I received this confidential letter from Stromboli yesterday. You can read it, but you must first swear to Hades that you will not divulge the letter's content to others!”

After they looked at each other, Milo and Tritodemos immediately pledged.

Tritodemos then took the letter and began reading it while Milo leaned over.

The letter detailedly told about how Naxos' guards discovered the murders that Phragres committed and the fact that Phragres made a slave take the blame. And at the end of the letter, he told about the incident confided by the imprisoned slave of how Archonis, the chieftain of a Sikeloi tribe, had close dealings with Ladician's household and had repeatedly gifted a considerable amount of wealth…

“Archonis…” Milo muttered the name as he felt it was familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it before.

“Archonis, son of Agileus, the former king of Sikeloi. He is also the chieftain of the Tanikaan tribe in Centurippe in central Sicily.” Davos briefly reminded.

Milo suddenly remembered it, “Oh, this is that Tanikaan tribe!’ A few years ago, it annexed another Sikeloi tribe, and its leader fled to Naxos, asking Theonia for help. But as we were attacking Messapi then, we could only send an envoy to order the Tanikaan chieftain Archonis to return the lands and people they took, which he eventually did. Afterwards, he sent a letter of complaint to the Senate…I remember this incident very well.”

“So did they?! At first, I thought they did comply, but it seems that isn’t the case now. Do you still remember who the Senate sent as the envoy in the first place?!!” Davos' face showed a bit of displeasure, which was the rage of a man who got deceived.

“Ladician!” Milo and Tritodemos simultaneously exclaimed.

“These past few years, we had set our energy mainly on dealing with the affairs of Magna Graecia and South Italia, so we only made sure to maintain Sicily’s stability. But since we aren't too familiar with the matters in Sicily, we relied more on the judgement of the Sicilian statesmen to deal with them…” Davos tapped on the table and said deeply, “Yesterday, I purposely checked the minutes of the previous Senate meetings, and among the topics involving Sicily, more than half of them are about the Tanikaan tribes or those tribes with close relations with the Tanikaan, and the final results were mostly in their favour.”

“This is treason!” Milo heavily pounded the chair and said, “Your majesty, we should arrest Ladician and interrogate him!”

“That is only a slave's testimony and hadn't been confirmed.” Tritodemos calmly said.

“Tritodemos is right. We are only allies with the Sikeloi and are not bound by law, so we need proof! Furthermore, I suspect that Ladician isn't the only one who has close dealings with the Tanikaan tribe; otherwise, the minutes of the meeting wouldn't show so many Sicilian statesmen favouring the Tanikaan, so-” Davos turned serious and said, “Milo, head to Naxos as soon as possible and take over the position from Stromboli. Afterwards, dispatch the constables, blockade Ladician's residence, and search for relevant evidence. Once you find evidence of the involvement of other statesmen in this matter, I permit you to expand the search!”

“What if there are statesmen from Sikuri and Catania among the suspected statesmen?!” Milo's eyes shone as he asked with slight excitement.

Davos naturally knew Milo’s aggressive method, so he turned his head to look at the other person, “Tritodemos, you would also rush to Naxos as soon as possible to help Milo search the evidence and investigate the case under the pretext of judging the murder case in Naxos. At the same time, ensure that all actions you take are all within the legal scope so as not to get accused by the other statesmen!”

Davos mainly said that to remind Milo. After seeing him frown, Davos knew he was listening, so he continued, “If you find that the statesmen in Catania and Sikuri are involved in this matter, Tritodemos would be responsible for contacting the praetors of these two cities. I would also write a letter to ask for their cooperation, so you must strive to collect all the evidence so as not to let a single person slip through the net!”

“You can rest assured, your majesty!” Tritodemos immediately gave his pledge.

Davos softened his tone as he jokingly said to Milo, “Lord Milo, you have encountered a problem just after taking over. Do you feel any pressure?”

“Isn't that why your majesty made me the Praetor of Naxos?” Said Milo bluntly.

Davos was startled for a moment and then laughed: This old politician who was previously the polemarchos of Crotone wasn't as arrogant as he appeared.

“Naxos is Naxos of Theonia; It's time to straighten it out!” Davos' words gave Milo an obvious hint, so he nodded immediately, “Understood, your majesty.”

“What's about Ladician's son, Phragres?” knowing about Davos, Tritodemos could only ask cautiously, “If it is according to Theonia's Law, he won't receive a heavy sentence!”

Davos sneered, “Make the registered freeman report the case again. Then combine it with the punishment of the crimes of disregarding the law, lying after swearing to Hades, and making a slave take the punishment. Also, he should definitely be involved with the collusion with the Sikeloi!”

Tritodemos' eyes brighten up.

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

After seeing them off, Davos welcomed the new Chief of Military, Hielos.

“Your majesty!” Hielos stood up and saluted with respect.

“Sit down, sit down.” Davos' expression was now much more cordial than when he met Milo and Tritodemos.