Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

“Henipolis is still young! And with him holding such power in his hand, he got carried away as he just wants to do what he thinks is right, even though he doesn't understand the actual situation of Laos…” Ansitanos spoke in a gentle tone.

“But what Theonia needs now is a stable Laos, so no matter what ideas he has, he had first to stabilise the order of Laos and slowly build up his own prestige. Lord Ansitanos, once you arrived, you should tell him not to be too anxious in governing Laos. After all, with the support of Theonia, his wish will certainly be fulfilled in the future!” After venting out his anger, Davos mood improved, and he seriously added, “In addition, you should also warn him to listen to the opinions of his father's men and respect them, especially his uncle Alobamus, and discuss the matters with him more…”

“I understand, Lord Davos. I will try my best to persuade Heni.” Ansitanos answered seriously.

“By the way, how is the ode of Hades that Lysias is writing going on? The festival will begin in two days.” Davos asked with concern.

“It's almost finished. Even though Lysias is still dissatisfied with some of your requirements and thinks that it is limiting his thinking, it is, after all, a great honour to perform it in front of thousands of Theonian citizens so that he couldn't be happier.” Said Ansitanos jokingly.

Davos also smiled, “I, of course, hope that he can prove to the Senate and me through this new ode that the Theonian citizenship that I especially applied for him is worth it!”

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

“Lord Davos, it seems that this year will be another bumper harvest for grains. But if we were to get more, I fear that we won't have a place to store them.” Said Baripiri. With Burkes resignation out of guilt and the fact that the storm that shocked Theonia has not yet subsided and with the sensitivity of this position, Davos finally proposed to elect Baripiri, a Bruttian statesman, to this position among the statesmen.

Initially, the people thought Baripiri would need to adapt first, but they didn't expect him to act resolutely after taking his post. First, he flatly refused prosecutor Sesta’s request to continue investigating the Ministry of Agriculture on the Pollux case, to which Sesta naturally objected. Finally, they brought the issue to Davos, where he eventually put an end to the expansion of the case under the persuasion of Baripiri, which made him win the gratitude of the civil officials under him.

Afterwards, he started reviewing the situation of the Ministry of Agriculture in detail. After consulting the former Chief Agricultural Officer – Burkes, many times. He then began enacting a new system that strengthened the department's supervision and improved administrative efficiency, reducing the burden on his people. For example, when Burkes was still in charge, he often travelled to the countryside to understand the situation of the fields, and he even asked his men to do the same. However, Baripiri thought this method was inefficient, so he handed over this responsibility to the village chiefs, while the officials under the Ministry of Agriculture only needed to make regular inspections and receive reports.

He then proposed to the Senate to increase the salary of the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture due to how high its labour intensity as they often have to run around the union and even go down to the fields and assist in planting that they often have no time to take care of their own lands. Of course, this proposal was not passed, as this only gave the staff under the Ministry of Agriculture a raise in salary, so what would the staff of other departments think?!

However, due to this, Baripiri won the support of all the staff under the Ministry of Agriculture.

“So your suggestion is to build another granary?” Davos thought for a moment and asked.

“Milord, the number of granaries in Thurii, Consentia and Grumentum is already enough.” Replied Baripiri seriously. After the Bruttian war, Davos suggested the strategy of building granaries and grain reserves after careful consideration. And the slogan “prepare for war and prepare for famine” impressed the other statesmen that they approved the construction of granaries around the central cities of Thurii, Consentia and Grumentum, with guards protecting it. And it has already been implemented for two years now.

“After carefully inspecting the situation in the three granaries, I discovered that the grains stored the year before last has been somewhat mouldy. If we were to keep them any longer, I fear that they will all go bad, which would be a waste. Therefore, it is better to sell them to make room for the purchase of new grains…” Baripiri seriously suggested.

Davos nodded and said, “If that is the case, then just do what you have just said, lord Baripiri.”

After seeing off Baripiri, Davos saw Aristias waiting outside the living room, “What's the matter?”

“Milord, the information that-” Aristias whispered.

Davos' face suddenly turned cold when he took the little paper roll and opened it, “Have you confirmed it?”

“Yes, milord. Teratus especially rushed to Krimisa to check, and he had just returned on horseback today and confirmed that his bronze plate is indeed fake. And while he was away, we sent someone to quietly search his room where we found a dagger laced in poison…” Aristias said slowly, word by word, without any emotion.

“It seems that their target is me! Syracusan tetradrachms…hmph, Dionysius!” Davos sneered, his eyes gleamed with coldness. He suppressed his violent impulse as he paced back and forth in the corridor.

Davos eventually halted, but his face became firmer as he said, “Since he hasn't given up, let him come and make bigger noise!”

Aristias immediately arranged it knowingly.

Afterwards, Davos sent someone to invite back Baripiri, who was still on the road. He did not only wholly overturned his previous decision. He had even made a hard decision that they would not sell the old grain but also asked Baripiri to buy new grains on a large scale, which they should complete in a short time. And he would tell Mersis to cooperate and provide the treasury’s coins.

Baripiri felt the sudden change of Davos' attitude was strange, But he did not inquire and instead chose to agree.

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

Megaris spent almost all his money in the restaurant in the past two days as he enjoyed the delicious food.

After returning to the guest room late at night, he locked the door and lit a candle. He then took out the dagger under the bed, stared at it in a daze as he thought back to the promise he made to his lord before he left.

The candlelight reflected the light of the knife on his face, which was a deep shade of blue…

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

On the birthday of Hades on September 9, the Theonians' festival was as usual, with thousands of Theonians surrounding the Nike Square.

As the music rang out, the temple's priestesses began singing the ode of Hades.

And with several years of subtle influence, the people were already somewhat familiar with this way of singing. Therefore there are singing on and off the stage, resounding throughout the whole city, which was truly spectacular.

Next, it's the time for a large-scale theatrical, which is also one of the favourites of the people to watch in the festival. But this time, it was neither about the story of the Greek mercenaries arriving in Magna Graecia under the guidance of Hades, nor the magnificent epic of Theonia Union's foundation under the protection of Hades, nor other legends of Hades. Instead, a muscular man suddenly walked towards the square, dressed in a lion skin and holding a big club…

The crowd were so impressed with the image that someone immediately shouted, “Heracles! Heracles!…”

Along with the beatings of the drum, an unusually tall man walked into the square (he is actually on a stilt, with clothes covering his lower part). Although his appearance was a little bit odd, the crowd felt astonished, ‘It's a giant!’

Many versions of the story told about the “battle between Heracles and the giant” taking place in Africa, but many southerners insisted that the battle had taken place in South Italia, so with this, it seems that Theonia Union has satisfied their expectations.

On the square, “Heracles” and the “giant” fought…in the end, the “giant” died, causing the crowd to cheer.

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

Suddenly, a group of people in Bruttian clothing ran onto the square, led by a woman in a gorgeous dress. Afterwards, they congratulated “Heracles”, and “Heracles” then held hands with the woman…

Many were puzzled, but the Bruttian Theonian citizens understood what was happening and soon shouted excitedly, “Queen Valentia!”

“Heracles!”

“Brutus!”

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

This attracted the other crowd causing them to inquire what was going on.

Soon after, the Bruttian music rang out in the square, and the Bruttians danced their traditional dance around “Heracles” and “Queen Valentia”.

Under the guidance of the Bruttians, the crowd outside the stage also began dancing.

Lysias watched at this lively grand scene. As the dean of the Insitute of Literature of the Akademia of Theonia, he naturally appreciated the show from a different perspective from ordinary people, “I bet that archon Davos was the one who suggested this. His consideration is profound!” His words revealed his admiration for Davos. After all, it is only after meeting Davos that he decided to move to Thurii.

“In the Theonia Union, the Lucanians and the Bruttians made up a considerable number, and the term ‘ethnic harmony and integration’ are what the archon has repeatedly been mentioning in the Senate, and he has constantly made efforts!” Ansitanos said emotionally.

“That's right, and it will not be easy and would take a lot of time!” Unlike Isocrates, Lysias does not believe in “Athenian supremacy” or “Greek supremacy”. On the contrary, because of his extended stay in Athens, he could sense the Athenian xenophobia and conservatism, which made him feel that he found the main reason for Theonia's rapid rise.

At this time, the large-scale performance in the square has ended. Ansitanos smiled and said, “Lysias, I can't wait to hear your Ode to Hades!”

Lysias said confidently, “I am sure that I won't let you down!”