Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 125: Three Rules of Conduct

Listening to the unanimous roar from the crowd below, Davos turned and fixed his gaze on Kynogoratas, Cornelius, and the others. These senators looked back at Davos, none daring to speak first...

But the shouts in the square grew louder and louder, making Kynogoratas, Cornelius, and the others feel as if the entire platform was trembling.

Then Davos spoke: "This is the voice of the Daonian people!"

The senators understood. These words meant that Davos had no intention of declining the people's request, just as he had not declined when the people of Amendolara had asked him to become their lifelong magistrate. With some disappointment, Kynogoratas and the other senators, after a brief confirmation, all stepped forward together. Kynogoratas walked at the front, his expression complex as he stared at Davos, and said with a hint of sarcasm: "Congratulations, Lord Davos!"

Davos did not avoid his gaze. He smiled slightly.

Kynogoratas took Davos's right hand and raised it high.

The shouting in the square stopped abruptly. Both citizens and soldiers stared unblinkingly at the platform, anticipating that sacred moment.

"Following the strong demand and election of the Daonian people, and after careful consideration, the Senate has decided to respond to your voice by passing a new bill. Now I announce—" Kynogoratas looked down at the dense crowd in the square, suppressing the negative emotions in his heart, and declared loudly: "Magistrate Davos is hereby named King of the Daonia City-State League!"

Thunderous cheers filled the square...

Xanthiparis, the battalion commander of the First Army Corps, watched Davos standing calmly on the platform with his right hand raised. He couldn't help but recall six years ago, when that slightly green young mercenary leader had made a stunning impression at the general assembly. In just six years, he had gone from an obscure, lowly mercenary to the king of a powerful city-state league in the Western Mediterranean. Hades truly favored this Greek!

And the two legion commanders, Antonios and Amyntas, as well as the soldiers of the First and Second Army Corps who had fought alongside Davos from Persia to this day—many of them former mercenaries—cheered wildly. They had witnessed with their own eyes Davos's rise from an ordinary mercenary to the king of a powerful city-state league in the Western Mediterranean. It was a miracle, and they all shared in his glory!

At that moment, the vast majority of people cheered excitedly, no longer worried or uncertain about having a king. A very few felt lost...

Davos's heart was equally surging with emotion. He almost felt as if he were dreaming: A king? Just like that?

He couldn't suppress the smile on his face. He didn't even mind that Kynogoratas's grip was making his hand ache a little. After all, the long-sought goal had been smoothly achieved—let others vent a little!

Davos did not allow himself to become overly proud. He stepped forward a few paces to the edge of the platform, closer to the citizens in the square. When the cheering subsided a bit, he spoke sincerely: "Citizens of Daonia! People of Daonia! Thank you for your trust!

We all know that Greeks hate monarchy, because a king holds supreme power, above the law, and can oppress and humiliate the citizens of the city-state at will. But I am a king elected by you, my power is given by you. Therefore, as your king, I will not treat the league's laws as nonexistent. I am not a king high above, but a king of the people, a king who must obey the league's laws just like you! Here, I want to make a covenant with you..."

Davos slowly raised his right hand, palm outward, and said with utmost solemnity: "As King of Daonia, I promise to do the following. First, I must guarantee the safety of the league's territory and people from oppression and invasion by outside forces. Second, I must ensure the improvement of citizens' lives and keep them from falling into poverty. Third, I must guarantee the normal operation of the league's laws and not interfere with them. Even if I break the law, I will be punished by the law as well.

Hades above, if one day I no longer strive to uphold any of these three guarantees, then please no longer favor me! And you—the people of the league—no longer need to support me as king. This is the promise I, Davos, make as king!"

At that moment, the soldiers and citizens in the square were moved by Davos's sincere words. They no longer regarded electing Davos as king merely as spiritual comfort or a way to gain Hades's protection. Instead, they truly accepted in their hearts the fact of Davos being their king.

"Hail King Davos!..." The roaring cheers resounded endlessly, expressing their feelings at that moment.

Even senators like Kynogoratas and Cornelius set aside their worries and disappointment. Davos's willingness to make such a promise even after obtaining the league's greatest power was unexpected by them. It made them feel that perhaps their decision had not been wrong. The new king of Daonia they had proposed might be the most unique king in all the Mediterranean!

...

That afternoon, Kynogoratas and Cornelius left the city of Thurii and went to the military camp to the north.

The once empty camp was now packed with people.

After being elected king of Daonia, Davos did not celebrate, nor did he stay to continue discussing follow-up matters with the Senate. Instead, citing the tense situation and the need to focus on military affairs, he truly led the First and Second Army Corps away from the lively, comfortable city and came to the crude, cold military camp. Not only did the soldiers not go home, Davos himself did not even go home for a look, even though his residence was not far from the Senate, and even though his beloved wife had just given birth. This strong self-control and endurance of the young Davos greatly impressed even Kynogoratas, who had long been in politics and had seen many people. No wonder he could achieve such great things!

After obtaining permission from the camp guards, the two walked straight toward the center of the camp.

Soldiers chatting and relaxing along the passageways greeted them friendly. After all, the soldiers of the First and Second Army Corps were all citizens of Thurii and Amendolara, well familiar with and respectful toward these two senators who had contributed greatly to both cities.

"You can see they're quite relaxed," Cornelius said, nodding in return to the soldiers.

"After all, they are the strongest troops in Daonia, and they have the most formidable commander in all of Magna Graecia. If they were tense, the league would truly be in danger," Kynogoratas said calmly.

"You're right," Cornelius sighed. "It's all thanks to Davos! But we also have to blame him..."

Kynogoratas was startled.

Cornelius laughed. "Six years ago, when I was locked in the Temple of Zeus praying to the gods, I never imagined that one day Amendolara and this league would become the enemy that Syracuse, the hegemon of the Western Mediterranean, was determined to destroy."

Even Cornelius, who only ever seemed to do his work, was making jokes. This showed how much Davos's return had boosted everyone's morale. It made Kynogoratas wonder: If the league really did defeat Syracuse, how would Daonia's future develop?

Mesis approached them from the opposite direction, his expression dejected. When he saw Kynogoratas and the others, he only nodded in greeting, with no interest in talking.

Kynogoratas could guess the reason for Mesis's rudeness: After Davos returned with the army, to fulfill his promise and drive away the powerful enemy to restore peace to Daonia, he had to gather more troops. That meant more public treasury spending and grain consumption. How could Mesis, who valued money as much as his life, be in a good mood?

Even Kynogoratas and Cornelius were deeply worried: Expanding the army to repel the enemy was beyond reproach. But if the war dragged on, what would the league do with its shortage of labor and depleted resources?

Then they saw Theos and several other weapon merchants approaching, also with grave expressions. But when they saw the two senators, they respectfully bowed and greeted them.

"Theos, what kind of weapons has Lord Davos asked you to make now?" Kynogoratas inquired casually. He recognized Theos because he had been mainly responsible for the overall re-equipment of the Daonian army. Although much of the equipment had been exchanged for old, Theos had still made a good profit, and he would continue to make more, as new citizens might buy new army corps equipment from his weapons shop. However, the clever Theos had donated part of his earnings to Daonia's public buildings, quickly earning himself Daonian citizenship and favor from many senators and most of the people.

But Theos showed a troubled expression: "Lord, King Davos... King Davos ordered us to keep it secret, or else—" He made a throat-cutting gesture, sending a chill through the two senators.

Cornelius hesitated and asked, "It must have cost a lot, right?"

Theos and the other two merchants grimaced even more. "King Davos asked us to front the money."

Hearing this, the two senators felt a little relieved: Good, Davos was still clear-headed, not recklessly militaristic.

Watching the merchants leave, Cornelius said hesitantly, "Lord Davos has become king of Daonia. Shouldn't we change how we address him...?"

Kynogoratas was taken aback: Indeed, even these merchants had obediently changed their address. As senators of the Senate, if they kept calling him 'Lord Davos,' wouldn't that be openly telling others they didn't want to accept the newly enacted law?