“That is Theonia’s war booty! It has nothing to do with Laos or Castellum!” Bagulos immediately objected.

“Bagulos, don’t be hasty. Do you know what the Theonian League treaty stipulates?” Davos asked patiently.

Bagulos shook his head. He had been a Theonian citizen for only half a year. He hadn’t fully grasped the alliance laws yet, let alone these treaties.

“When the Theonian League engages in war, all member states must send troops to participate, and the spoils of war shall be distributed fairly…” Axistes chimed in from the side.

“Correct, fair distribution!” Davos emphasized loudly. “As an ally of Theonia, Laos sent 3,000 men led personally by Archon Avenogis as soon as they learned we declared war on Croton. Castellum not only rejected Croton’s overtures but also provided us with immense help during the pitched battle. These two allies gave Theonia their full support in the war. Are we Theonians so stingy that we can’t bear to share a portion of the spoils with them? If so, what city-state would be willing to march to war with us in the future?! In my view, it wouldn’t matter even if we gave them all the spoils, because we possess something far more precious—”

Facing Hieronymus, Bagulos, and Axistes, Davos slowly uttered one word: “Land!”

The three immediately understood: spoils could be shared, but the land won in war belonged solely to Theonia. Using allied soldiers to expand Theonia’s territory was, in fact, a very profitable deal.

“Commander, speaking of land… there is a situation I need to report,” Axistes interjected. “Many Lucanian soldiers of the Third Legion feel the mountainous terrain around Aprustum is very suitable for grazing—even better than Niutum. They have requested to receive their allotted land here.”

“You mean they are requesting allotted land for themselves?” Davos reacted quickly, immediately grasping the implication in Axistes’s words.

“Yes,” Axistes said with some difficulty. “Since their tribes were already assigned settlements in Niutum, I don’t know if they can receive land individually.”

Davos didn’t answer directly but looked at Bagulos. “Do you know about this?”

“I do,” Bagulos answered truthfully. “Axistes discussed it with me. Most of the warriors requesting ‘allotted land’ for themselves come from various tribes currently in Niutum. Seeing that Greek soldiers can own their own land while they still have to share with their tribes, they requested to ‘leave the tribe and live independently.'”

Davos gazed at him and continued, “Do you think their request is reasonable?”

“I think it’s perfectly reasonable!” Bagulos answered without hesitation, not considering how Davos might take it, which worried Axistes slightly. “The ‘allotted land’ earned by warriors risking their lives in battle should belong to them personally. Furthermore, becoming independent will help them integrate better into the Theonian League.”

A smile appeared on Davos’s face. “I am very glad you think so! But what will the chiefs of those Lucanian tribes think?”

“I think they shouldn’t object,” Bagulos said, clearly having thought about this issue as well. “Previously, Lucanian tribes absorbed people to survive and strengthen themselves. Now they are under the protection of the Theonian League and no longer face a survival crisis. On the contrary, the departure of these soldiers will leave more land for the tribe, which is a good thing.”

“I am inclined to distribute land to these Lucanian warriors seeking independence.” Davos’s words brought joy to Bagulos and Axistes’s faces, but Davos paced back and forth as he pondered. He was happy to see these Lucanian tribes broken up and eventually fully integrated into the alliance, but he worried that overly aggressive moves might provoke resentment among the minor tribal chiefs, hindering Theonia’s future penetration into the northern Lucanian region. Caution was necessary. “But before that, after returning to Thurii, I will send your father and Hermon to Niutum first to probe the attitude of those tribal chiefs and try to persuade them. Therefore, the distribution of ‘allotted land’ for these soldiers might be delayed…”

Bagulos and Axistes agreed.

“If some soldiers of the Third Legion settle here, future training and assembly of the entire legion will be troublesome!” Hieronymus raised an objection.

Davos laughed. “Not just the Third Legion. I fear many soldiers from the First and Second Legions will also settle in Aprustum and Crimisa. Who told us to acquire so much land so quickly? If we don’t distribute this land to citizens, reserve citizens, and registered freedmen who earned military merit, should we leave it fallow for the enemy to attack?! By the time land distribution is complete, we probably won’t have just three legions… As for specific personnel arrangements and organization, I will gather with Philesius (Military Officer), Raphias (Census Officer), Burkos (Agricultural Officer), as well as you, Capus, Drax, and the battalion commanders to discuss a suitable plan…”

Hieronymus agreed helplessly, while Bagulos and Axistes were somewhat excited: expanding the army meant they too might have a chance to become legion commanders.

At this moment, Davos also realized: In less than a year since arriving in Thurii, we’ve experienced four wars. With consecutive victories, our land, population, and army have all expanded like a balloon being inflated! perhaps it is time to stop and properly integrate the alliance internally!

“Eh? Isn’t that Aristocrates?!” Izam suddenly shouted.

Everyone looked down from the wall and indeed saw Aristocrates riding up to the moat, preparing to signal for the gate to open.

It was almost dark. For Aristocrates to come looking for him now, it must be something important! Thinking this, Davos hurried down from the wall.

By the time he reached the city gate, Aristocrates had already entered. Seeing Davos, despite his fatigue, his face was full of smiles. “Lord Davos, today’s mail from Thurii brought good news! Congratulations! Your wife gave birth to a son for you yesterday morning!!”

Davos was ecstatic. He took a deep breath, but his excitement didn’t diminish in the slightest. “A child! I have a child!! My child!!!…” Davos suddenly punched Hieronymus beside him, shouting excitedly.

“Congratulations, my Lord! This is Hera’s blessing!!!…” Hieronymus, Bagulos, Axistes, and others, including the surrounding soldiers who heard the news, all congratulated Davos.

Davos grinned from ear to ear, embracing them warmly one by one to express his inner joy. He even teased them, telling them to step up their efforts so they wouldn’t fall too far behind him.

He then planned to take his personal guard back to Crimisa, quickly arrange everything, and rush back to Thurii overnight. However, he met strong opposition from Hieronymus and the others. They even went against Davos’s wishes, forcibly keeping him in Aprustum for the night. It was already dark, the road back was downhill and crisscrossed with rivers, and the war had just ended. If any accident happened, they wouldn’t be able to answer to the Theonian people.

**

The next afternoon, Crystoia finished feeding the baby and fell into a deep sleep.

Asuna held the baby in the courtyard to sunbathe for a while, but soon discovered he had soiled himself. She had to return to the outer room of the bedroom, clean him with warm water, change him into a fresh diaper, and order other slave girls to wash the dirty clothes.

Then, she put the baby back in the crib and lay by the bedside, singing to him. Gradually, the baby closed his eyes. Asuna took the opportunity to nap by the bedside. In her daze, she felt someone tap her shoulder. “Asuna.”

She woke with a start, turned around, and couldn’t believe her eyes. “Master, you’re back!”

Davos made a shushing gesture. “How is Crystoia’s health?” he whispered.

“Lord Herpus said both she and the baby are very healthy, but Madam needs to recuperate for a while. she is sleeping in the bedroom now,” Asuna whispered, stepping aside. “Master, come look at the little master. He is very cute!”

Davos tiptoed closer, examining his child with excitement and curiosity. In truth, a baby only a few days old looked red and wrinkled, not exactly pretty. But Davos watched, entranced. He couldn’t help extending a finger to gently touch the baby’s tender red face.

The sleeping baby seemed to feel ticklish and scratched his face with a small hand.

Davos found this fascinating and touched him again.

While scratching his face, the baby opened a pair of large, bright blue eyes. Father and son looked at each other at close range. Then, the baby’s small mouth turned down, and he burst into loud wails.

Whether in his previous life or this one, Davos was a father for the first time. Completely inexperienced, he was instantly at a loss.

Asuna calmly picked up the baby and began to coax him softly.

“Asuna, is the baby hungry again?” Crystoia’s weak voice came from the bedroom.

“No, Master is back!” Asuna said excitedly.

“Ah!” Crystoia cried out in surprise.

Davos strode into the bedroom and saw Crystoia lying on the bed, looking slightly tired but with good color.

“You’re back!” Joy sparkled in her eyes.

“I’m back!” Davos sat on the edge of the bed, leaned down, and kissed his wife.

“You’ve worked hard!” he said softly.

Crystoia propped herself up and leaned into Davos’s embrace, her face radiating happiness. “Have you seen our child?!”