Agasias breathed a sigh of relief. He was grateful to Davos for fulfilling his previous commitment.
Timasion and the others listened very carefully, and Cleanor wasn’t satisfied, “Davos, you are the archon for life, and I heard that you are in control of the Senate, aren’t you the same like….the one from Athens….uhm….Peisistratus*? What laws are needed, isn’t it just a word for you? Why do you need to make it so troublesome, you can just immediately make us citizens, no?!” (T/N: Peisistratus is the tyrant of ancient Athens whose unification of Attica and consolidation and rapid improvement of Athens’ prosperity helped to make possible the city’s later preeminence in Greece.)
“Cleanor, you have gone too far!” Yelled Philesius.
Davos waved his hand to indicate that it was okay, and continued to patiently say, “You want to say that I am a tyrant, right?”
At this time, Cleanor realized that he had gone too far. After all, Davos at this time was no longer the one he could talk to on an equal footing. Therefore, he bowed his head and did not dare to respond.
“I will tell you one fact, and not anything else. There are currently more than a thousand mercenaries in the union, and more than 5,000 formal soldiers, plus more than 20,000 preparatory citizens. Most of them are Greeks of Magna Graecia. As foreigners, we still account for half of the number of statesmen in the Senate. So, do the local people have no objections? I definitely think that there must be, so why does no one rise up against us?” Davos said this, then he paused for a moment to give them time to think, and then continued, “Because we have tried our best to be fair and just. We have treated the Amendolarans, the Thurians, the Lucanians, the foreigners and the freemen in strict accordance with the laws of the union. If I were to propose a law today that will give you citizenship, then tomorrow, with more than 20,000 preparatory citizens, they will make trouble in the Senate, and the Senate will then launch an impeachment against me. Can we, who are only more than a thousand foreigners, beat the tens of thousands of citizens of the union? Even if we win, will the union still exist? So as a friend, I can help you as much as possible! But as the ruler of a union, I can’t give you special treatment. I hope that you can understand it!….” Davos’ serious words made the place quiet.
At this time, Hieronymus apologetically said, “Lord Davos, we have long been in Thurii, but I have never thought about these things and had made you worry about us all this time, I am really sorry!”
“I haven’t thought about it either, and had thought that it is just right for us to enjoy such a life!” Said Philesius with emotion.
“That is how it should be, don’t think too much and live naturally, cultivate the land, and battle once it is time to fight. You have never caused me any trouble and have always supported me and helped me maintain the current situation. I would like to propose a toast to you all!” With that, Davos raised his glass and drank together with Philesius, Agasias and Hieronymus.
Timasion and Xanticles looked at each and nodded. Then Timasion said, “Davos, I’d like to know what arrangements and suggestions you have once our 3,000 brothers arrived?”
Davos thought about it and said, “I suggest that after they come, they should first apply for a ‘willing to be a union’s citizen’ to the census office in Thurii….afterwards, they should go find a place to live first, they can find a cheap place to stay in the inn area in Amendolara. They can also help the citizen to rent land to farm, in this way, they can save the rent and just live in someone’s house. Of course, they can also find friends who they are familiar with before and live in their home, such as Kapus, Antonios….most of the soldiers in the first brigade were mercenaries from the Persian expedition. I think that all of you should be familiar with them. They will soon come back from Nerulum, then Philesius will arrange for one or two of you in one family to settle the accommodation problem….
Afterwards, they will need to look for a job. Now, the harbors and markets are booming, there is a great need for a lot of labor, and the road from Thurii to Nerulum is about to start construction, so it will also require a lot of labor, hence why it will not be difficult to find a job. When you find a job, you must work hard, it’s not only to earn money, but at the same time, to show your diligence to the staff of the census office responsible for investigation, and that you are not an idler, which will help you in becoming an official citizen in the future. In addition, on the military training day, Philesius will arrange for you to participate. The combat method of the union is relatively complex, so you need to be familiar with it to avoid accidents due to poor cooperation. I estimate that by next year, the union may launch a war against the Lucanian region. As long as you perform well in the battle, I think that it will not be a problem to shorten the period of you becoming a citizen of the union!….”
Obviously, after a careful consideration, the proposal of Davos had made sense to Timasion and the others.
At this time, Xanticles expressed his concern, “I heard that during the inspection period, if a problem were to happen, then it will become much more difficult to become a citizen. Davos, as you know, us mercenaries when fighting outside, because we are used to freedom, will inevitably violate the laws of the union, at that time-”
“I understand!” Davos nodded cautiously and then said comfortingly, “As long as it’s just the first offense, it will not be a big problem. But I hope that you can remind everyone who will come to the Union in time and manage them. In addition….erm, I have a suggestion. I know that every one of you has come to Magna Graecia with armor and weapons, I hope that you can hand your weapons to Philesius for the time being, and let him keep them in the armory. After a while, when you get used to the life here, Philesius will give them back to you.”
As soon as Davos finished speaking, Timasion was about to speak, but was immediately interrupted by Davos, “Don’t worry, the union will not embezzle your weapons! In the armory of Theonia, there are numerous weapons and equipment from the soldiers of Crotone and Nerulum. The main reason why I suggested that is because once the other brother comes here, they will inevitably have conflicts with other people. However, if they were to use their weapons to injure or even kill, then it will not be easy to solve it! Of course, this is just my suggestion. You can go back and think about it carefully….”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
After sending off the guests, Davos went up to the second floor.
Cheiristoya was standing at the window, when she heard the sound of footstep. She then asked softly, “How was the banquet?”
Davos sat down on the bed with a long sigh, “I haven’t seen them for more than half a year, they are still the same, but we are no longer what we were.”
Cheiristoya, slightly frowning, walked slowly up to Davos and sat down, “Are they asking too much?”
Davos nodded, “They wanted to become a citizen of the union immediately and to also become a statesman of the Senate!”
“Who brought it up?” Cheiristoya then pressed her slender finger on Davos’ lips and said mischievously, “Let me guess….hmmm, it must be Cleanor, isn’t it?”
Davos smiled, “Among these people, Xanticles is humble, Tolmides is sleek, Timasion is prideful, and only Cleanor is a bastard and he used to hate me and Xenophon. If not him, then who else! But I think all of them have this idea.”
“Who made you so outstanding that you only need half a year to reach where you are now….” Cheiristoya’s white hands rubbed Davos’ face, gazing at him admiringly, then murmured, “Anyone who have meet you will be mad with jealousy….”
“Are you one of those crazy people?” Davos clasped her hand and said with a smile.
“I love you, I am crazily in love with you!” Said Cheiristoya affectionately, then gave her husband a deep kiss.
Then the kiss ignited the passion of Davos, who was depressed due to his wife’s pregnancy. So, he decided to temporarily put his annoyance behind him for the time being, he then carefully held Cheiristoya’s waist with one hand then caressed her bulging abdomen with the other and gently said, “Is my son happy today?”
“Who said that it will be a boy? I still haven’t gone to the temple of Hera yet!” Cheiristoya look at him coquettishly.
“If it will be a girl, then she will definitely be beautiful and kind like you.” As Davos said this, his hand began to move down slowly, and his heated palm entered Cheiristoya’s sensitive area, and made her whole body begin to tremble slightly.
“I….I am pregnant with your child….no….we can’t….or you go find Azune….” Said Cheiristoya pantingly.
“Who says that you can’t do it if you are pregnant? You can definitely do it as long as you are stable. I am the teacher of Herpus, so I have the final say….” Davos softly spoke to her, and the heat of his breath blew on Cheiristoya’s long white neck. His strong breath has filled Cheiristoya’s nose and listening to his words has made her whole body hot. Finally, she could not stop herself any longer and she gently leaned her arms on the bed….
Davos then immediately took off her clothes for her. Cheiristoya’s body was much more plump than before, which might be due to her pregnancy….
Davos’ breathing had also become rapid, he then gently licked the smooth skin of Cheiristoya….
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Did you hear that?! Davos wants us to farm! To build roads! For the past ten years, we have done nothing but kill! BUT TO BUILD ROADS?! And he wants us to hand over our weapons? Aren’t we just letting them bully us?!….” On the way back to the inn, Cleanor vented his dissatisfaction loudly.
“What Davos said is also reasonable. It is not easy to govern such a large union. Besides, they are also outsiders, so it is natural for them to be careful when doing things. It is impossible for them to give us special privileges….”
“Their strength is insufficient, isn’t that why they had asked for our help?! ” Cleanor retorted, then after a few steps, he might’ve felt that he was a bit dogmatic, so he sighed, “I just….just can’t figure out why they can have all these, while we still haven’t gotten anything yet?!”
