The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe

Crotone mobilized its army to reinforce Crimisa. This large-scale movement was quickly reported by Aristiras's spies stationed at the Crotone docks.

The next morning, when the mercenary envoy arrived at Davos's mansion, Davos had already received the news. He immediately judged that Timason's mercenaries were now in grave danger.

So when the envoy, Picoults, pleaded, "Lord Davos, Chief Timason and the mercenaries have taken Crimisa. We wish to join the Dionysian Alliance and request immediate reinforcements!"

Davos replied solemnly to his former comrade, once his interpreter in the Menon camp, "Picoults, you came too late. Just yesterday at noon, nearly ten thousand Crotonean soldiers set sail. By now they should have reached Crimisa. I don't believe Timason and his men can hold the city…"

"Ten thousand?!" Picoults was stunned.

"I've already sent scouts. By noon we'll have the exact situation," Davos added.

"Perhaps… perhaps Timason and the others are still holding out…" Picoults regained his senses and begged desperately, "Great Davos, for the sake of our past comradeship—please, send troops to Crimisa now! If you wait for confirmation, it'll be too late!"

The word "Chief" stirred Davos's heart slightly, but he still shook his head. "I cannot send troops on my own, even if I wished to. This requires the Senate's approval, and without solid proof, they will not agree. If the Crimisans have already retaken the city, Dionysia's army entering their territory would violate the treaty. That means war—with Crotone!"

Picoults, deaf to reason, shouted almost madly, "War is inevitable anyway! What are you afraid of?! You are the lifelong archon of Dionia—you have the final say! Send troops, I beg you! Timason, Cleanno, and all our brothers are waiting for your rescue!"

Davos could see he would not be understood. "Go rest. I'll inform you when I have news." He motioned for the servants to escort him out.

But Picoults shoved them aside, roaring, "Davos! If not for Timason and the brothers, you'd have died in Persia! Look how you treat your comrades now—refusing us help, letting us suffer humiliation, and when our lives are at stake, you hide behind excuses like 'the Senate must approve'!"

His words made Davos's anger rise. You claimed you went to Syracuse, yet secretly attacked Crimisa, dragging Dionia into danger without a word to me. You only wanted to use us, never once acting honestly. And now you come begging, without even an apology. Who is truly ungrateful here?

With his current status, there was no point arguing with a desperate mercenary. He ordered the guards to throw Picoults out.

The quarrel drew noise through the mansion. Christoya, heavily pregnant, descended with Asuna's support. "I heard shouting. What's happening?" she asked with concern.

"Nothing." Davos forced a smile and gently chided, "You're nearly due. You should be resting, not walking around."

Understanding, Christoya said no more. She rubbed her swollen belly and murmured, "The baby kept kicking and woke me up."

"Be good, little one. Let your mother rest," Davos whispered, pressing his face to her belly.

Christoya gasped. "Oh, he kicked again!"

"He must be a boy!" Asuna laughed.

"Naughty little fellow," Davos chuckled, stroking her stomach. "Come, Christoya, let's walk in the garden."

Both their faces shone with joy.

Outside, Picoults regretted his outburst. Locked out, he pounded on the door to no avail, then turned to seek help from Davos's companions.

Felixius, Capus, and Antonios all avoided him, or apologized that they could do nothing.

At last, Agasias spoke frankly: "The mercenaries have caused too many troubles for the alliance. Davos is already under heavy pressure in the Senate. This time, Timason's rash attack on Crimisa without Dionia's knowledge drew fierce criticism. Some senators accused Davos of exploiting the alliance for the mercenaries' gain. It was the harshest rebuke he's ever faced as consul. Under these circumstances, it's impossible for him to mobilize troops without approval."

Picoults listened, half-comprehending, but realizing matters were far more complicated than he thought.

By noon, the news came: the mercenaries had been completely wiped out.

Davos sat in silence for a long time before sighing softly. He knew this was only the beginning.

That afternoon, a passenger ship from Crotone docked at Thurii. Two men disembarked: General Lysias of Crotone and Antaeoris, chief general of Crimisa.

The senators who welcomed them turned pale. Two bodies were also carried off the ship: Timason and Cleanno.

The sight left the mercenary senators, including Philisius and Agasias, grief-stricken.

The Senate meeting that day opened under heavy tension.

Antaeoris spoke first, weeping as he accused the mercenaries of atrocities in Crimisa. "Why has our city, peaceful for decades, been torn by war now? Have we offended Ares, that he brings ruin upon us?!"

Lysias, watching the uneasy faces of several senators, sneered inwardly. Stepping forward, he embraced Antaeoris, then addressed the Senate:

"Archon Davos, senators of Dionia! Yesterday Crotone's reinforcements saved Crimisa from destruction by these bandits. In questioning the prisoners, we learned these bandits were mercenaries from Asia Minor—men who once fought alongside Davos and some of you here in Persia. They came to Magna Graecia at your invitation and registered with your alliance. Is this true?"

"It is," Davos admitted calmly.

Lysias, surprised by his straightforwardness, pressed harder. "According to the captives, you ordered them to seize Crimisa to make it a Dionian ally—"

"Nonsense!""Outrageous!""False accusation!"

Amyntas, Drakos, Agasias and others leapt up, cursing.

"Whether you deny it or not, the facts remain!" Lysias thundered. "The bodies of their leaders lie even now on the docks, and I saw some of you shedding tears! Dionia has broken the armistice with Crotone, and still you try to deny it!"

Antaeoris added furiously, pointing at Davos: "Ever since you foreigners arrived, Magna Graecia has known no peace! It was not Crimisa that angered Ares—it is your endless aggression! The thousands who died in Crimisa cry out for justice! Dionia must be punished!"

The chamber erupted in uproar.

Davos rose, sneering, and walked toward Antaeoris. "I had intended to express Dionia's regret to Crimisa, even offer compensation—though this matter had nothing to do with us."

Antaeoris opened his mouth, but Davos roared, "Silence!" The man faltered.

"But now I see the truth. You did not come here to seek justice, but to conspire together against Dionia. Speak then! State the harsh terms you have already prepared, so we may hear them clearly!"

His words stunned Lysias, and jolted the wavering senators back to clarity.