Target

“Cast... Castron is a large city?” Asiastes asked curiously.

The guide shook his head. “A small city, founded by the former Sybarites. It’s independent now.”

Hearing this, Davos reined in his horse and gazed southward, letting out a heartfelt sigh. Back in the day, Sybaris’s sphere of influence reached as far north as Amendolara and stretched south past Castron... Such a powerful city-state was actually destroyed by the weaker Croton! It really proved the saying, “Thrive in adversity, perish in comfort.”

After a long moment, Davos said, “Let’s go back.”

Once the guide had left, Davos said to Asiastes and Laedes, “Have you ever seen what a hunting dog does when it encounters a bear?”

The two shook their heads. After all, there were no bears in mainland Greece. It wasn’t until they reached the Dukeya mountains that they learned such a powerful land animal existed.

“Its fur bristles all over, it bares its sharp teeth, and it barks frantically at the bear, making lunging motions. Actually, it knows it can’t beat the bear; it’s just trying to show its strength and make the bear think it’s not to be trifled with...” Davos had seen this in online videos from his previous life, and now he said it with a deliberate implication.

Asiastes, being young, quickly caught on after considering what they’d seen that day. “Chief, are you talking about... the Lucanians at Amendolara?”

“The Lucanians at Amendolara want to scare us off, but instead they’ve revealed their intentions and strength. I estimate there are no more than a thousand warriors inside the city!” Davos said emphatically.

Laedes finally understood too, his voice stirred with excitement. “Chief... Chief, are you planning to lead us in taking Amendolara?!”

Asiastes’ eyes went wide. They had both attended the secret military council before coming to Magna Graecia, and they knew well what the mercenary army’s true goal was.

“Brothers, before any plan is put into action, you must keep it locked inside and not let a single word slip out! If the soldiers find out and it leaks by accident, the Thurians will stop us, the Lucanians will bolster their defenses, and other forces will sabotage our plan—because they won’t want an unfamiliar foreign group to sink—roots—here. Do you understand?!” Davos warned sternly.

“Understood!” They both nodded repeatedly.

“I’ve decided to cover my mouth even while I sleep,” Asiastes joked.

Looking at the two with their excited faces, Davos said seriously, “Now I have tasks for the two of you. Laedes!”

“Here!”

“Lead your men to keep watch over the Lucanian camp to the west and the city of Amendolara to the north. Report to me once every day. At the same time, find out everything you can about Amendolara’s defenses—the more detailed, the better. But don’t let the Lucanians inside the city notice. Can you do it?”

“I can!” Laedes gave a sharp military salute.

“Asiastes!”

“Here!”

“Secretly find citizens who escaped from Amendolara. Once you find them, by any means bring them to our camp without letting the Thurians know.”

“Understood!”

...

Bourkos listened carefully as the guide recounted the past two days accompanying Davos. He was somewhat surprised by how thoroughly Davos had scouted Thurii’s surrounding area. In his memory, not even the Spartan Cleandridas—once hailed as a great general by Thurii—had personally conducted reconnaissance like Davos did, even facing the enemy alone.

He couldn’t help asking, “Morras, what do you think of Davos as a person?”

Morras thought for a moment, then said, “Master, Chief Davos treats people well!”

As an Egyptian slave, even though Bourkos regarded him as a trusted subordinate, other Thurian citizens clearly looked down on him. But he didn’t feel that from Davos. On the contrary, Davos always spoke to him as an equal, never ordering him around arrogantly.

Bourkos nodded. He thought the same. Though Davos was a mercenary, he was a man of considerable refinement.

“Anything else?” he asked again.

“Well... He’s always thinking about things... asking questions. It makes him hard to read—feels a bit mysterious,” Morras continued.

Strange—Bourkos had felt that way before too. He thought maybe he was overthinking it; after all, Davos was not yet twenty. Could it be the bearing of a “God-Touched One”? He chuckled to himself, not really believing in the rumor that had been circulating among the mercenaries.

“And he’s very brave. He didn’t seem afraid of those Lucanians at all!” Morras said.

“He’s seen the great spectacle of war! Besides, leading from the front in battle and covering the rear in retreat—that’s how a great general acts. That’s what Cleandridas used to do. But Davos is only nineteen!” Bourkos said with a sigh. He recalled visiting Archytas that morning with Pheres. That young noble from Tarentum was also very young. When they first met him, he was lying on the ground, earnestly calculating something. The rumor that he was the most gifted member of the Pythagorean school was likely true. This young noble from across the gulf was not only without any airs, but also gentle and polite in his dealings. He sincerely promised to do everything he could to help Thurii drive back the Lucanians.

Archytas’s commitment was invaluable! Before coming to Thurii, he had already led troops on several campaigns, repelling the fierce Messapians who had invaded Tarentine territory. He wasn’t much of a talker, but it was clear that the Tarentine soldiers genuinely respected their young commander—much like how the mercenaries regarded Davos. These were two young men of extraordinary talent! Why didn’t Thurii have anyone like them? Thinking of Cleandridas’s son, Acherodiax, Bourkos felt a pang of disappointment. Suddenly, an idea struck him: Could he discuss with Pheres the possibility of making Davos a citizen of Thurii?

A few days later, the mercenary camp was completed, and the soldiers could finally rest properly.

Adrianx and Sestas took this opportunity to visit Davos.

Davos received them warmly, and the conversation was pleasant. The earlier minor conflict had long been forgotten. As Davos had said, both mercenary groups were in the same boat—only by working together and cooperating fully could they complete their mission and live to collect their pay.

In fact, even before the leaders met, the soldiers had already started getting close. On one hand, Adrianx’s mercenaries were curious about the legendary Greek expeditionary force. On the other hand, most of them came from Ionia, making them practically countrymen—especially in this unfamiliar land, which made them feel closer. Eventually, Adrianx’s soldiers and Davos’s soldiers ended up building the camp together, while listening to tales of the expedition. Neither side’s leader stopped them; instead, they welcomed it.

Davos also reached an agreement with Adrianx and the others: build a connecting passage between the two camps, so that if one camp was in trouble, the other would provide aid.

Both sides knew that compared to the experienced expeditionary force, the new recruits under Adrianx and the others were more likely to run into problems. Yet Davos agreed without hesitation, which made Adrianx and Sestas repeatedly express their gratitude and bow respectfully as they saw him off.

“Look, that’s our chief, the God-Touched One, Davos!” one soldier said proudly, pointing at Davos in the distance.

“That’s Davos? He’s so young?” Another soldier from Adrianx’s camp looked puzzled.

“So what if he’s young! Several Persian generals died by his hand. When he charges into battle, he’s like a lion—even Spartans are scared of him! Didn’t you see how respectful your chiefs were to Davos?” the first soldier boasted.

Then another soldier chimed in, “And Chief Davos treats us soldiers very well! Even if you’re badly wounded, he won’t abandon you! I was once hit by a Persian arrow, burning all over like fire. I thought I was going to die, but Chief Davos saved me from the underworld...” He lifted his clothes to reveal a scar, as if it were a medal rather than a wound.

Hearing this, the other soldier showed a look of envy: “If only Chief Davos could command us too!”