Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

“Now that Hielos is here, I am afraid he won't be able to leave. So you should still go to the Ministry of Military to find Philesius and ask him to have Dicaeogelata come back fast.” Davos kindly asked Martius to go there instead of Hielos.

Hielos rushed to the living room, and after saluting Davos, he asked anxiously, “Your majesty, how is my father-in-law?!”

“It’s not so good. He still hasn't woken up.”

As soon as Davos said those words, Hielos' wife, which was also Kunogelata's eldest daughter, shed tears. Then her son sensibly comforted her.

“Touros, be a good boy and help your mother sit down in the living room.” Davos kindly said to Hielos' son, Hielotouros, who he was more familiar with because his age and Eunice's aren't much different, so they are classmates in Thurii's school. And since they got along well, he would come to Davos' residence many times, and even though he was young, his mind was already mature and understanding, which is quite similar to Hielos' characters. Hence Davos likes this child.

At this time, Sostratus also rushed out to welcome Hielos' family into the living room.

Just as he described his father's illness to his sister and brother-in-law, the female slave taking care of Kunogelata ran downstairs and cried excitedly, “Woke up! Master…master, woke up!”

Everyone stood up and was about to rush up.

Davos, however, stopped them from acting rashly, “Let Herpus go see your father first!”

After going upstairs for a while, Herpus came down with dejection still lingering on his face. He shook his head at Davos and said to the crowd, “Hades is about to call Lord Kunogelata…please go up to see him for one last time.”

Sostratus and Kelina's eyes immediately turned red, and Hielos' face became downcast while his wife cried loudly and immediately ran upstairs, pulling Hielos with her, who then looked back at Davos, “Your majesty…”

“You are Kunogelata's relative, so you should go up first!” Davos said softly, without any ill feeling.

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

Once Davos entered Kunogelata's bedroom, he still could smell a strong smell of blood even though they had cleaned the room well. And even though the heavy breathing like a blower sound had disappeared, Davos knew this wasn't a good sign.

He then saw Kunogelata, who was lying quietly on the bed. But compared to his healthy body half a year ago, Kunogelata seemed to shrink and was now just skin and bones.

Davos gently held Kunogelata's wrinkly hand.

But suddenly, Kunogelata opened his turbid eyes and stared at Davos. Then with radiance in his eyes, his dry and pale lips twitched as he said, “…your majesty…I'm leaving…”

Davos squeezed his hand and said sincerely, “You won't leave as you will always protect the kingdom in the Temple of Hades!”

With a complicated look in Kunogelata's eyes, he said, “…I am a mediocre strategos…Thurii's burning…was, in fact, had a lot to do with me…I used to think that if you hadn't appeared…there would be no Theonia…but without Theonia…not to mention Thurii, even the whole of Magna Graecia…would be a land ravaged by Dionysois…and I am afraid that we Thurians will no longer exist…hence, I should really thank Hades for sending you to us, Thurians!…”

Davos remained silent.

Kunogelata's breathing began to intensify, “Theonia…Theonia has created a…a better home for the Thurians…a…a better home for the Magna Graecians!…before it, I never imagined for the Thurians and Crotonians…could live in one place…nor that the Greeks could be citizens of the same country as the natives…much less imagine for the city-states to strengthen each other by relying on a union…that allows it to focus on human and material resources more effectively through centralised management from top to bottom…O Hades, why have you called me so early!…cough…I still want to see Theonia continue to grow…more powerful…until one day it could eliminate all the wars among Greek city-states in the Mediterranean!”

Kunogelata stared blanky straight up, with his pale complexion having some rosy colour at this moment that soon dulled. After a few moments, he turned his head and looked at Davos with difficulty, “Your majesty, I'm leaving…although Cornelius is diligent, he is too cautious…although Lysias thinks carefully and acts calmly, he lacks courage…although Sedrum is daring, flexible and wise, he isn't strong-willed enough, and he is also a Bruttian…Sesta is too aggressive…Hielos, although capable, he values your opinion too much…only…only Androlis could stabilise the Senate after me…and provide greater help to you, your majesty…Adrian…Nicomachus…Thelis…had great capabilities, but they need time…still need time…cough cough…”

Kunogelata coughed violently, so Davos tried to have him rest for a while and was about to go out to call Herpus, but Kunogelata's dry right hand pulled him, “Your majesty…before I cross the River Styx, let me finish my words…”

Davos had no other choice but to sit back.

“Your majesty, after Syracuse experienced several turmoils…their strength greatly weakened, so even though our relationship isn't good…there is no need to worry about them…rather, we should keep our vigilance to our ally, Carthage…yesterday, I saw the copy of the intelligence report about Sicily from the Senate…the Sikeloi tribe called Tanikian…cough…could develop into such a large force within a few years…while hiding it from us…is simply impossible to do by a small tribe…so I am afraid that the one behind them…cough…”

Davos was startled as he also had doubts about it.

“…while our kingdom is developing…Carthage isn't remaining idle either…they conquered Numidia…and occupied some lands in the Iberian Peninsula…so I am afraid that they have restored their strength…a wolf can only have one wolf king…so it is impossible for two great powers in the western Mediterranean to be at peace for a long time…hence you must always remain alert!” Speaking till here, Kunogelata tapped Davos' hand with his right hand. Then, as if he used all his strength, his right hand fell like a fallen leaf on Davos' hand.

Davos nodded seriously.

“…across the Adriatic Sea, Greece had never stop their hundreds of years of wars…the relationship between city-states is intricate…so your majesty, it is best not to let the kingdom get involved…as in the eyes of the Greeks there, we are just a city-state that came from their colonies…so not only will we not get their gratitude…we will also attract their hatred…although Sparta is now running rampant in Greece…they are just relying on the support of the Persians…and instead of Athens…Corinth…Thebes…Argus…hatred of Sparta weakening, it just strengthened…so the hegemony of Sparta won't last long…so your majesty doesn't need to worry about them at all…cough…and you just need to be careful from attracting trouble…”

Davos just listened quietly, and when Kunogelata's voice gradually weakened, he bent down so that he could clearly understand what he was saying.

“…Theonia's expansion is to the north…but you must be patient, your majesty, and don't be in a hurry!…the Campanians are opening up to us…although the Samnites are stubborn, didn't they send a team and envoys to the celebration?…as for Rome, which you, your majesty, have mentioned many times…the Celts defeated the Etruscans…but on the contrary, Rome successfully occupied a lot of Etruscans' lands…and although they are the leader of the Latin people…their power isn't stable…there is also other force such as Volsci and Hernici…who are against them…and we just have to watch…until…the Romans defeats the Celts…once Chieftain Brennos lose his prestige…the Celtic tribes would once again scatter…and they would no longer be a massive threat to our land…although this is just my opinion…in this regard, your majesty…have always made accurate judgments…I just hope…I hope you won’t blame me for talking too much…”

“I listened to all of it.” Davos looked at him and said seriously.

But Kunogelata didn't seem to hear what he said as his eyes just stared at the ceiling, and his voice grew weaker as he spoke.

In the end, Davos had to place his ear close to Kunogelata's mouth to hear him clearly so that he could even smell the rancid smell coming out of Kunogelata's mouth, which he knew was the breath of death.

“Your majesty, please be patient…besides needing to take down Dauni…it also takes time to govern…Peuceti and Messapi…slowly integrate them into Theonia…I believe that in the future, Apulia will become the most fertile land in the kingdom.

There is nothing for me to worry about regarding the internal matters, except the Senate…the Senate!…your majesty, I asked Lysias to defend Ladician and the others…because the Senate is the most crucial body to assist you in governing this kingdom, your majesty…it is…it is the place that unites the cities…unites the various races…the eyes of the people are watching it…so if Ladician and the other statesmen's punishment is too harsh…what would the people of Sicily think…Messapi…cough…what would the statesmen of Messapi and Peuceti think…ten years ago…ten years ago…we must not allow for the rebellion of Petaru and the others to repeat…

Your majesty, you are…you are loved by the people…you are a wise king…don't be…Dionysius…dictatorship…and lose…the trust of the people…The Senate…Senate…Se…na..te…”