Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 52: Mission to Locri

Atillikrus pondered for a long time before raising his head and staring at Davos. "I promise you," he said, "Rhegium will place its fleet under Daonia's command, and will fully support Daonia's proposals at the South Italy Alliance meeting. Of course, you must understand—this is not because you are my son-in-law, but because dealing a heavy blow to Syracuse has always been something the Rhegians wanted to do!"

After sending off Atillikrus, Davos also invited Sipros, an old friend of Daonia and now the elected chief general of Trina.

When Davos sought his support, Sipros gladly agreed. Not only because Trina had grown close to the Daonian Alliance, with frequent trade dealings with nearby Clampetia and the Bruttian region, but also due to Trina's own security needs. Sipros said to him: "Lord Davos, you truly didn't need to come and secure Trina's support in advance. Your proposal will easily gain the backing of all the city-states in the South Italy Alliance. Croton, Scylletium, Caulonia, and our Trina have been mortal enemies of the Locri Alliance for decades. For many years, this has been the greatest problem troubling our cities. If we can resolve it in one stroke, we'll be overjoyed—how could we possibly oppose it?"

Indeed, as Sipros had said, at the subsequent emergency meeting of the South Italy Alliance, held in the hotel next to the Senate that was used to receive envoys and distinguished guests from other cities, all the city-states unanimously agreed: when Daonia went to war with Locri, the South Italy Alliance would jointly raise a great army to attack, and all would also prepare for war with Syracuse.

When the meeting ended, it was already late at night. The generals of each city-state were about to return to the hotel after seeing Davos off when suddenly Lysias shouted: "Look at the sky!"

In the southwestern night sky, streaks of silver light cut across the dark firmament, dazzlingly bright.

Pretenis, the general of Scylletium, squinted and looked carefully before saying dismissively: "This kind of night scene happens many times every year. There's nothing special about it."

"But those happen in July and August. It's rare to see this in September," Lysias said.

"Indeed, it's rare for this season," said Phryneris, the general of Caulonia, his expression grave.

"This is an auspicious omen!" Sipros shouted excitedly. "The constellation of Perseus is the hero Perseus, who slew the vicious Medusa. Now that we have finally resolved to declare war on the tyrannical Dionysius, to eliminate this tyrant who has threatened the safety of Magna Graecia's city-states and people for over a decade—isn't that exactly what the hero Perseus hoped for!"

"Sipros is right. As long as our South Italy Alliance stands united, our strength will exceed that of Syracuse. We can strike Syracuse a heavy blow, just as Perseus beheaded Medusa, and restore the independence and freedom of the Sicilian Greek city-states!" Atillikrus encouraged.

The other city-state generals, some lost in thought, some nodding repeatedly, seemed to have their tension over the impending war with Locri and then Syracuse greatly diminished...

...

Davos returned home thoroughly exhausted, but upon hearing that Aristeas had arrived, he forced himself to stay alert and received him in his study.

"Lord, we've identified the man who booked the room for Marcellis. He’s a Locrian merchant who often comes to Thurii to buy wine, so the innkeeper and the servants at that hotel were familiar with him. Unfortunately, he left Thurii nine days ago and has returned to Locri," Aristeas reported.

"A Locrian merchant... Hmph, not unjustly suspected after all," Davos sneered. In hindsight, it was easy to understand: Locri was highly suspect. Ever since the Polyxides case, the Thurians—indeed, all Daonian citizens—had grown wary of Syracusans entering their territory. By contrast, their attitude toward Locrians, allies of Syracuse, remained relatively favorable.

"Any progress on investigating that woman?" Davos asked further.

"We’ve cleared it up. She is a concubine of a former noble of Crimissa who was sentenced in the Polyxides case. She came to Thurii along with several other family members of those sentenced. Lord Matonis sent people to find and arrest them."

Crimissa again! Davos thought he should write a letter to Protesilaus, the chief magistrate of Crimissa, urging him to tighten control and reorganize the original residents of Crimissa.

At the same time, he mulled over another idea: whether to propose to the Senate the establishment of an inspection department to oversee and coordinate the patrols of all cities, strengthening order maintenance and the arrest of criminals—in short, to elevate the status of the patrol force and make it more professional, rather than always relying on rotating citizen soldiers.

Lost in thought, Davos unconsciously made his way to Cheiristoya's bedroom. When he realized it, he quickly gestured to Asuna in the outer room and prepared to tiptoe out.

Then Cheiristoya's voice came from inside: "Is that Davos?"

"Why aren't you asleep at this hour? It's not good for you or the baby," Davos chided softly.

"How could I sleep when you hadn't returned after what happened today!" Cheiristoya's coquettish tone was thick with concern. "Tonight I want you to sleep with me."

"Alright! Alright!..." Davos walked into the inner room and sat down by the bed. "See, I'm perfectly fine."

Asuna quickly lit a candle and hurried to heat water for Davos to wash his face and feet.

Cheiristoya carefully shifted her round belly, leaned against Davos, and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "When I heard about the... assassin attack, it scared me and Agnes terribly! Thank the gods for Hades' protection!"

"Yes, and thanks to Martius! He's still lying in the hospital, unconscious!" Davos sighed and said bitterly, "That's why the Senate has decided to retaliate against Locri and Syracuse!"

"Does that mean... war again, and against Syracuse..." Cheiristoya's body trembled at the news, and she hugged Davos even tighter.

Davos gently stroked her back and comforted her: "Don't you know me? When have I ever lost a war?... But that means I probably won't be by your side when you give birth."

The disappointment on Cheiristoya's face vanished in an instant, and she softly comforted Davos instead: "Don't worry about me. I have Asuna and Agnes to look after me, and your students (meaning Helpus and the others) come regularly to check on me. I'll deliver smoothly, just like last time. But you must protect yourself. If anything happens to you... what would become of me, Agnes, little Klo, Cynthia, Adoris, this child in my belly, and everyone who loves you and depends on you?!" Her voice choked with emotion.

Davos could only hold her and whisper: "Don't worry. With Hades' protection, I won't be in any danger! Besides, the Senate has added another hundred guards for my safety this time, so security will be even tighter. Still, it means our family won't be able to stroll through the Thurii market easily anymore. Do you remember that time we..."

Cheiristoya's gentle snoring began; she had fallen asleep at some point. Davos laid her flat, gently covered her with a blanket, and gazed at her slightly furrowed pretty face. A thought that had been suppressed in his heart was rapidly expanding...

...

The next day was the start of the Daonia Rugby Final. Thurii did not cancel the event because of the previous day's incident; it proceeded as usual. Citizens filled the arena early, packing it to capacity.

As the noise and clamor filled the vast arena, the people saw their magistrate appear in the VIP seats, smiling and waving to all sides. All rumors were dispelled.

The citizens erupted in deafening cheers, and the entire arena began to seethe.

While the Daonian citizens in Thurii cheered for the opening of the rugby final, the Senate's envoy Phraocleon had already set sail for Locri.

Phraocleon was now a medium judge of Daonia. He had just finished his term in Amendolara and was waiting for a new assignment in Thurii. The Senate had chosen him as envoy to Locri, valuing his eloquence and reasoning, which rivaled Aristocrates', but also because he was more tactful and experienced in handling matters, having served in Daonian public office longer than Aristocrates had.

Phraocleon accepted willingly—not unaware of the danger of the mission, but also seeing it as an excellent opportunity to showcase himself and attract the attention of the senators, especially Magistrate Davos. The position of medium judge was the highest he, as a non-senator citizen of the alliance, could achieve in the public office of alliance judge. High judges were reserved for senators, and the Grand Judge was concurrently held by Magistrate Davos. Next, he would either continue as a medium judge in another city or transfer to another post. Only after five years could he enter the ranks of candidate senators of the Senate. He had to increase his chances of becoming a senator through outstanding performance.

Locri is located at the southernmost "toe" of Italy, right next to Rhegium. It neither occupies the rich, flat plains of Sybaris or Croton, nor enjoys the superb location of Rhegium. Yet by leveraging its relatively favorable position near the main trade route of the Strait of Messina, it successively founded two colonial cities—Medma and Hipponion—along the west coast of the Italian toe, right on the trade route leading to the most prosperous commercial hub of the Tyrrhenian Sea region: central Italy. Locri built an ancient road connecting the east and west coasts. Through decades of dedicated effort, it finally made itself a famous maritime trade city in the western Mediterranean, rising to become a powerful state in Magna Graecia.