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“Milo, the Krimisians are now citizens of Theonia!” Sighed Lysias.

Milo’s angry shout stopped, he breathed in hard and kicked over the wooden chair by the window and strode out of the room.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

The anger of Milo quickly reached the ears of Androlis, but he didn’t care. When the people they sent to contact Theonia brought back the condition of Davos, the strategoi of Krimisa hesitated whether to join Theonia Union, but Androlis had acted decisively, he insisted and finally convinced the public to agree to it.

“Eurypus, take hundred citizen soldiers to guard the temple to prevent the Crotonian soldiers from robbing our treasury while they are withdrawing!”

“Pleitinas, also take hundreds of citizen soldiers to guard the granary!”

“While me and the others will go see Lysias and see if we could get some of the goods that the Crotonians piled up in the port. After living in Krimisa for quite some time now, the Crotonians should pay for their accomodation!” Said Androlis threateningly.

“What about our people? The Crotonian soldiers might come to their house to cause trouble!” Someone asked urgently.

“Davos has announced that Krimisa is now part of Theonia! So have each household to engrave the words ‘I am now a citizen of Theonia’ on their wooden door and see if the Crotonians still dares to rob a citizen of Theonia and risk provoking another war!”

After Androlis said it, the people around felt awkward and fell into silence. Krimisa, which has been independent for decades, will now be merged into Theonia Union, and the Theonians will be managing the city of Krimisa in a direct manner, which means that most of the council members of Krimisa will lose their power. If it is not for their current situation, they are not willing to accept it. As a matter of fact, some of the Krimisians have responded to Lysias’ call and are willing to move to Crotone together with the army. It’s only because of the promise made by Davos and the rapid rise of Thurii and Amendelora that have made most Krimisians to stay, because as citizens of a small city-state, they were already fed up with being oppressed by big city-states during this period and they no longer want to live such a life anymore and had chosen the winner of this war, Theonia Union.

“Everyone, cheer up and work hard to do your task well!” Seeing this, Androlis cheered them up, “We are doing this not for the sake of others, but for ourselves. As long as we can smoothly hand over a complete and rich Krimisa to the Theonia Union and let them fully realize our sincerity and ability, then a lot more people will be invited into the senate of Theonia and strive for more interests for Krimisa in the future!”

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

In the afternoon, the first ships full of Crotonian soldiers began to leave the port of Krimisa.

Milo looked dismal compared with the excited soldiers. When the city of Krimisa disappeared from his sight, he turned to look at Lysias and said, “The pact that you have signed means that we will hand over the position of the overlord of Magna Graecia to Theonia! From now on, with just a wink of Theonia, Crotone must follow their order!”

Lysias was silent for a moment and said, “And who is responsible for that?”

The lips of Milo twitched and his face became bitter.

“It is better for you to think about how you will answer the council once we get back.” Sighed Lysias.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

At the same time that the Crotonian army left Krimisa by ship, Davos led his army into the city of Krimisa. He had originally only wanted to take a few people in, but was opposed by the other strategoi. For the sake of safety, he was asked to take half of a legion.

Androlis, Eurypus, Pleitinas…and all the people that are left behind from the council of Krimisa came to meet the Theonians outside the city.

In the camp of Theonia, a light rhythm of salpinx and drums sounded, and the Krimisians were attracted by the music that they had never heard before, and the Theonian soldiers, dressed in clean military clothes, followed the rhythm of the melody and formed a four long column with neat steps and marched slowly to the city of Krimisa.

At the forefront of the column was Martius, the captain of the guards of Davos. He held high the flag representing the grand legatus of the Theonian army, and the statue of Hades that is shining and dazzling. Then there was a band composed of trumpeters and drummers of the whole army, followed by a team of thousands of outstanding soldiers drawn from the three legions. And the flags of the legions, brigades and centuriae were held high in the air in every small part of the column, making the flag in the whole column flutter and shine, and the soldiers were all smiling. It was magnificent and had given the Krimisians the feeling that the Theonians are not here to show off their power and sovereignty, but to greet a relative. Otherwise, the music would not be so cheerful and the colors would not be so gorgeous. Even the Krimisians also noticed that the soldiers of Theonia were not carrying their shields and spears, which surprised them and at the same time became touched, because this meant that the Theonians trusted Krimisa!

Davos and the other legatus of the army and Avinoges did not ride the horses, and instead walked in the middle of the column and were surrounded by guards wearing red capes, so they are more less eye-catching.

The procession then stopped at the gate of Krimisa.

Androlis and the others came to greet them, while Davos, Avinoges, Kapus, Drakos and Hieronymus came out of the column and were escorted by the soldiers.

Androlis went straight to Davos, not because he had seen him before, but because the news that the archon of Theonia was a young man had been spread all over Greece, and it was clear who was the youngest among them. (T/N: Didn’t Androlis meet Davos when he went to Thurii together with Lysias?)

“Lord Davos, I, Androlis, the former polemarchos of Krimisa, and the former members of the council of Krimisa, welcomes you!” After that, he bowed respectfully, and some people behind him followed suit, while the others just stood silently.

Davos immediately greeted him back and said, “Thank you for your trust and support to Theonia Union! Facts will prove that your choice is absolutely right!!”

“Oh, really?! So what will be our benefit from fully supporting Krimisa in joining Theonia?” Someone interjected.

“Of course!” Davos ignored the odd tone on the guy’s voice and said in a serious tone, “To be a citizen of Theonia, you will be respected wherever you go! If someone dares to violate your rights, the union will get justice for you no matter if you are a noble or a civilian! If you are brave and are good at fighting, then you can get lands continuously by virtue of your achievements in battles! If you have outstanding ability, then you can take up public office after passing the examination, and then to finally become a statesman of the senate by virtue of your merits! Even if you are an ordinary citizen, you will also enjoy the convenience provided by Theonia Union, like providing cheap, but highly skilled medical care for the citizens, providing smooth roads and bridges for the convenience of the citizens’ travels and businesses, the agricultural officers will provide technical help for farming to the citizens, the commercial officers can grant you low interest loans for your business, we also have well-trained soldiers to ensure the security of our territory…once you get familiar with the life as a Theonian, understand the system and laws of Theonia, you will know how different we are from other city-states, and you will then become proud of being a citizen of Theonia!” At this moment, Davos was obviously a little boastful and complacent.

Androlis, Eurypus and the others seemed to be interested, while some were thinking of something.

“Oh…since Theonia is so good, do we have a chance to become an archon in the future?” Someone said it at this moment.

Due to this statement, Kapus, Drakos, Hieronymus and also Avinoges, all widened their eyes, and they felt that the one saying it had evil intentions and had obviously aimed his criticism at Davos.

While most of the Krimisians turned pale for fear that it would infuriate Davos and become detrimental to Krimisa.

Davos remained calm, this is undoubtedly what the other city-states criticize the most at Theonia. He knew that Krimisa is different from Amendolara and Thurii. The two cities were saved by Davos when they were about to perish, and so the people were grateful for him and needed his protection. Therefore, they had no qualm on Davos being the archon for life of the union. Besides, Davos abided by the law and discussed everything with the members of the senate, and he rarely acts arbitrarily. The only time he used his power was to oppose the public opinion and advocate the battle of Crotone, and they won in the end. Therefore, as time passed, the people began to happily accept Davos. There is no need to mention Nerulum, because the Lucanians believe in the strong, so they naturally have no objection.

Only Krimisa, who was once an enemy and was conquered by the power of Theonia, has some people that are unwilling and dared to open their mouth to criticize Theonia. So of course, Davos would not be polite to them, “In a short period of time, Theonia can rapidly develop into a powerful city-state in Magna Graecia and even defeat Crotone, because we have a different political system from the other city-states. I heard that some Krimisians have left together with Crotone, so if there are people here who don’t like Theonia, then they can still freely leave now, and those that are willing to stay and become a citizen of Theonia, then you must adapt and abide by the system and laws of Theonia as soon as possible!”

The hidden threat in the words of Davos had made some Krimisians, who still wanted to raise objections to stop talking.

“Look, this Theonia-.” The man who spoke just now had wanted to lash out at Theonia again, but his mouth was then covered by the two guards that Androlis sent.

“Lord Davos, it’s our fault for keeping the soldiers of Theonia waiting outside. Please get up and come inside!” Androlis apologetically said.

“Good!” Davos smiles.

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