Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Davos looked at him: Through his intelligence, Davos knew that Sostratus was supporting Aeonis by making him a distributor for the Chamber of Commerce he had founded. Hence, his appearance and performance weren't fake.

So Davos could only say, “I can no longer protest, for the Carthaginians have already torn up our treaty.”

“What?!” Sostratus opened his eyes wide and asked, “Your majesty, why did the Carthaginians do that?!”

“On the surface, they were protesting that our merchants were encroaching on their trade monopoly and that they had to help Rome in order to honour their treaty and wanted to prohibit us from interfering in central Italia.” Davos said calmly, “But the truth is that Carthage wanted to use this opportunity to deal a blow to Theonia and prevent our kingdom's power from growing too quickly for Carthage’s survival.”

Sostratus was startled hearing that. He then asked in a trembling voice, “That means…that means there could be a war between our Theonia and Carthage…?!”

Davos nodded, “Most likely.”

Sostratus suddenly stood up and then rubbed his hands vigorously. After mumbling something, his expression showed excitement.

“Do you feel it's a pity since your trade fleet may no longer deal with Carthage?” Davos curiously asked after seeing Sostratus' strange behaviour.

“No, your majesty!” Sostratus exclaimed as he clenched his right fist excitedly, “This is excellent! I have long awaited this day! The Carthaginians have been monopolising the metal smelting and trade with the other Phoenician city-state by controlling Africa, Sardinia, Corsica and southern Iberia to keep us out of it! So we should have used force to break this monopoly long ago and seized all of it!”

Davos had originally thought Sostratus was afraid of the impending war, so he didn't expect him to be elated that a war might come instead.

‘Or I had underestimated a merchant's greed!’ Davos rubbed his chin and asked, “Sostratus, do you not fear that we, Theonia, would be defeated in case a war with a powerful Carthage and a mighty Rome broke out?”

“Your majesty!” Sostratus sat down again and said confidently, “Over the years, I have travelled to many places for trade, but I have not seen a single nation, a single city-state, more powerful than our Theonia! Not to mention you, your majesty! With you, Theonia will not fall!”

“You seem to have a lot of confidence in me!” Davos smiled. But then, he said with a grave expression, “The reason Carthage dared to tear up the agreement and support Rome now is that the drought made us not have enough grain! Without grain, we cannot send troops to fight and just wait for us to be beaten! In such a situation, even the best supreme commander cannot win a war!”

After hearing that, Sostratus pondered for a while. Then, he made up his mind and said sincerely, “Your majesty, I am willing to send a fleet of ships to Egypt in the eastern Mediterranean and to the Black Sea to buy a large amount of grain and donate it to the kingdom free of charge to support the army in the war! I am also willing to call on the other merchants of the kingdom to take the same action as me! I just hope…” Sostratus didn't even finish his sentence as he looked at Davos expectantly.

Davos became delighted as he understood his meaning. Instead of seeing it as their greed, Davos admired the merchants like Sostratus, who dared to make a move before the situation was clear. Thus he immediately promised, “Theonia will never forget these merchants who dared to donate their wealth and lend a helping hand in the kingdom's time of crisis. After our victory, they will all receive the rewards they deserve!”

Sostratus smiled with satisfaction.

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

Two days later.

Seeing Amintas wanting to go out eagerly, her wife, Lida, said hurriedly, “Amintas, you haven't eaten your porridge yet!”

“I'm already late!” Amintas stood on the porch as he watched the sky that was starting to lighten. He then took a big bite of the bread he had grabbed, turned back to the house and shouted, “Sthephilos.”

“Father, there's no need to be in such a hurry. It’s useless to go so early since his majesty and the statesmen and the First Legion soldiers haven't yet arrived.” Sthephilos, sitting at the dinner table, advised.

“I am the commander of this expedition, so I must set an example for the whole army. Hurry up, or I will beat you!” Amintas said irritably.

Thus Sthephilos could only stand up helplessly as he was already used to his adoptive father's way of doing.

“Dad, don't forget to bring me spoils when you return!” A young man sitting at the table reminded loudly.

Then another younger child chimed in, “Dad, brother, I'll fight together with you and kill bad people when I grow up!”

Amintas, who had a better attitude towards them, grinned and said, “Krokus, how could I forget what I said! When I return, I'll bring you a cartload of spoils!”

“Philkas, listen to your mother. Once you get older, I will take you to fight the enemy!”

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

In a house on the outskirts of Thurii, Patroclus had just finished his breakfast and was spending time with Cynthia. But once the sun rose, he reluctantly stood up and said, “Cynthia, I have to go!”

Although Cynthia felt reluctant, she wasn't just an ordinary woman after all. After affectionately hugging Patroclus, she said with concern, “Be careful and come home as soon as possible!”

Patroclus smiled confidently, “You can feel relieved since our First Legion would destroy the enemy quickly and come home as soon as possible, as I, too, want to see the birth of our child!”

Patroclus stroked his wife's bulging belly and said softly, “Rather, you should take care of yourself during my absence!”

“Hmm.” Cynthia nodded gently.

“I'm leaving!” Patroclus said loudly but more so to remind himself.

“Oh! Don't forget to wear the helmet my brother gave you so Hades can protect you!” Cynthia exclaimed. The ‘Davos is a descendant of Hades’ was no longer a rumour as it became an absolute fact in the kingdom that seeps into the hearts of every citizen. Thus even the members of the royal family, such as Cynthia, believed in this. Hence she is convinced that Davos' biological son also has Hades' lineage, so the helmet that Crotocatax gifted must carry Hades' protection.

“How could I forget that! That is a helmet gifted by a descendant of Hades and the future king!” Patroclus laughed. The helmet was of good quality, but its silvery colour was so conspicuous that he painted it black.

Cynthia leaned against the courtyard's gate as she felt nostalgic and concerned at her husband's departure with the slaves carrying his armour and weapons. At this moment, she deeply realised what Cheiristoya and Agnes felt when they watched their father head to war every time.

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

Assembling the army for war in rainy weather wasn't good as it would affect their marching. Yet the several days of rain made the people and soldiers of Theonia happy as it meant their suffering from the drought was finally over. Therefore, the First Legion and the people who came to see them off outside the city of Thurii felt more relief as the rain wet their cheeks.

Davos encouraged Amintas with his usual words without saying too much, “Amintas, I await your victory!”

“Your majesty, you can leave it to me!” After saluting Davos confidently, Amintas turned to face the more than nine thousand soldiers(including the First Cavalry Legion) and waved his right arm vigorously, “Brothers of the First Legion and the First Cavalry Legion!”

“For Theonia!!!”

“For Theonia!!!”

“For Theonia!!!”

The soldiers' roaring resounded across the Sybarite plain.

Davos stood up straight and listened to the loud cry. Although he remained stoic, his heart was beating excitedly, ‘With the First Legion's high morale…may this first battle against the Romans be victorious!’

“Move out!” Amintas ordered.

Then the salpinx sounded.

The soldiers, clad in coats made of straw, carried their weapons and armour on their shoulders and marched in a long line towards the port.

Why are they heading to the port when Volsci is in the north? It is because the soldiers at the mountain pass fortress west of Thurii reported that the continuous rain the past few days had made the mountain roads slipper with silt and trees falling from time to time and blocking the roads.

Thus the Ministry of Military decided for the troops not to take the mountains in the west. Instead, they would head to Scylletium, then to Terina, and take a ship to Volsci, which might even result in the journey taking less time.

Davos watched the soldiers march towards the port. Then his expression gradually turned serious as he knew that this might be the start of a massive war…

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

Tapirus began feeling stifled after being trapped in the inn for nine days. With the people of Rome blocking the door every day to protest and swear, the Roman soldiers had stayed guarding the entrance saying they were protecting their safety. But, in reality, they were restricting them from leaving. And in all this time, not a single Roman official had come to tell them the progress of the discussion on whether the Roman Senate would stop the war with the Volsci.

At this moment, Tapirus finally understood that the Romans were just delaying the time and had no intention of stopping the war.

But what angered him the most was the Romans' detestable tactics of mocking and disdaining Theonia’s dignity.