Laos had joined Theonia for barely a year, yet the changes in its port were so significant that it truly astonished Kanios.

His ship waited for a while before a vacant berth became available for him to dock and go ashore. An official sent by the Laos City Hall, having received news, was already waiting on the shore. Kanios gladly accepted the official’s invitation to meet the master of this city—Archon Avenogis.

“Is this port always this busy every day?” Kanios asked amidst the crowded stream of people.

“Yes,” the official said proudly. “Merchants of the Theonia City-State Alliance like to charter ships here to go to Gaul in the north or the Iberian Peninsula in the west for trade, then land here fully loaded with goods and transport them back to Thurii by mule train. A few months ago, after the founding of the South Italian Alliance, we became even busier here! Merchant ships from Terina, Caulonia, Croton, and Scylletium also come to Laos from time to time. As long as they are allies of the Theonia City-State Alliance, we in Laos provide the best service and favorable rates for ship berthing, accommodation, and food and water supplies. Now, after Grumentum became a member of the Theonia City-State Alliance, more merchants have come here, mostly for Grumentum’s excellent iron ore… Laos warmly welcomes Elean merchants to come here for trade too!”

Just as Kanios smiled and was about to respond, an angry shout came from ahead: “Damn stupid thing, don’t block the way!”

Immediately following was a scream. Kanios saw two naked men lying on the roadside ahead, their bodies covered in bloody whip marks, with several heavy sacks dumped beside them.

“These slaves are Lucanians.” Fearing leaving a bad impression on the guest, the official hurriedly explained, “Their ancestors forcibly captured Laos and turned the Greeks of Laos into slaves, making us live a life worse than death for generations. Now Lord Avenogis has led us to reclaim Laos! A year ago, they were the masters of this city, ordering us around like cattle and sheep. Now we Greeks have become the masters of Laos again, letting them taste what it’s like to be slaves!”

Looking at this emotional official, Kanios thought to himself: You don’t look like a pure Greek either.

“You turned all the Lucanians originally in this city into slaves?!” he asked.

“Not all of them. Some who were related to Lucanian citizens of the Theonia City-State Alliance were later released by Lord Avenogis and went to Niutum. I guess they have become Theonian citizens now. I don’t know why the Theonians are so tolerant towards these barbarians who believe in foreign gods!” the official muttered in a low voice. Although there was hatred, he didn’t vent it loudly like before.

Kanios’s heart stirred. From this, one could also see Theonia’s influence on the people of its vassal city-states.

The city of Laos, located near the mouth of the La River, was not too large. Its citizen population was less than 5,000, mainly composed of two parts: one part was the tribe Avenogis’s family had always commanded, which was also the core force for him to sit firmly as the life Archon of Laos. Therefore, after these tribesmen became citizens, Avenogis also allocated land to them. The other part was the original Greek slaves. Avenogis liberated them and granted them citizenship but no “allotments.” To make a living, they served as low-level petty officials in the city or became hired laborers, dock workers… Fortunately, the tax burden in Laos was not heavy. As long as they were diligent and willing to work, they should be able to accumulate some savings.

Although Avenogis claimed to be of Greek descent, he always knew clearly in his heart: he and most of the citizens in this city were mixed-blood. Therefore, Laos citizens shared a similar sense of inferiority, exclusion, and group identity. Moreover, he had rescued them from slavery. As long as he treated the people well, they would support him. So although he learned from Davos and proclaimed himself Archon for life, in reality, the Council of Laos was just a decoration, and there was no Citizens’ Assembly. Avenogis made final decisions on all matters, big and small; he was a veritable tyrant.

Kanios met Avenogis in this so-called City Hall—which was actually the residence of the city lord. This burly, obese, and somewhat fierce-looking Laos Archon had actually prepared a banquet. He warmly delivered a welcome speech to Kanios and invited him to take a seat.

This reassured the somewhat guarded Kanios. After sitting down, he also raised his wine cup, expressed sincere gratitude for Avenogis’s hospitality, and then said, “I visited Laos three years ago, but coming this time, I find Laos has changed greatly, especially the prosperity of the port trade. Laos has only been free for a little over a year, yet it has achieved such great success. Lord Archon must have put a lot of effort into this!”

Kanios’s praise made Avenogis feel very comfortable. He laughed heartily and said, “Of course, I haven’t spared any effort, but more credit should go to Laos’s ally, Theonia. Laos enjoys many conveniences in this alliance!…”

Kanios listened thoughtfully.

At this moment, Avenogis asked, “Is Elea sending you here this time to prepare for joining the Theonia City-State Alliance?”

Kanios was taken aback. Given Elea’s situation and coming to Theonia at this time, any discerning person could roughly guess the purpose of their mission. However, Kanios hadn’t expected Avenogis to ask so directly. He put down the wine cup in his hand, thought for a moment, and said vaguely, “Whether to join the alliance or adopt another form of covenant depends on the results of the discussion with Theonia.”

Avenogis looked at him and grinned. “Please forgive my directness. Based on my understanding of Theonia and Elea’s current strength, I fear Theonia will not accept other forms of covenants.”

This clearly implied that if Elea wasn’t strong enough, it shouldn’t dream of getting better treatment when negotiating with Theonia. Kanios was somewhat embarrassed, lowered his head to drink, and didn’t speak.

Avenogis then said, “I heard that you Eleans have close contacts with the Greek city-states of Campania. If Elea has any alliance agreements with them, Theonia might not necessarily accept Elea joining the alliance, because it does not allow city-states within the alliance to have any diplomatic relations with other city-states.”

Kanios was surprised inwardly; he hadn’t known Theonia had such a rule with its allies. “Thank you for the reminder, Lord Archon! The city-states of Campania have given Elea some help, but Elea does not have an alliance agreement with any city-state,” Kanios answered without hesitation.

In fact, the Campanian League, led by Neapolis and Capua, had never agreed to accept Elea because powerful Samnites and Lucanians stood between Campania and Elea, and Elea was not strong. Once allied, it would only be Campania constantly helping Elea, while Elea could hardly make significant contributions to the Campanian League. How could the always shrewd Greeks make such a losing deal? Elea being able to trade with Campania was just mutual need. Being able to recruit mercenaries from Campania to resist Lucanian attacks—that all required payment.

“That’s great. Let Elea join the Theonia City-State Alliance then. With Theonia’s credibility and strength, the Lucanians won’t be trouble for you anymore. Moreover, as the only two seaport cities on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Theonia City-State Alliance, Elea and Laos can cooperate with each other in the future to strengthen trade exchanges…” Avenogis smiled excitedly, seemingly offering his suggestion without ulterior motives.

Kanios listened silently for a moment. Having not met the main person yet, how could he express his stance casually? So he changed the topic: “Lord Archon, you must have met the Archon of the Theonia City-State Alliance, Davos. What kind of person is he?”

“Met him many times. Even fought alongside him!” Avenogis looked proud. He wiped the wine stains from his mouth and said solemnly, “A piece of advice! Never look down on him because he is young. He is a remarkable man!”

Since Elea wanted to deal with Theonia, they naturally investigated Theonia, and the focus of the investigation was naturally Davos. Members of the Elea Council had mixed reviews of him: they admired his extraordinary ability, as Theonia’s rise in such a short time was definitely inseparable from his efforts; they were uneasy about his status as the sole Archon for life, wondering how that differed from the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse.

Would Elea’s cooperation with Theonia be inviting a wolf into the house? Kanios needed to judge based on what he saw and heard. Laos’s prosperity reduced his worry, while Avenogis’s words increased his curiosity: Is this admiration from one tyrant for another?

“By the way, I can take you to Thurii tomorrow,” Avenogis said suddenly.

“Lord Archon, I am already very grateful for your warm hospitality! How dare I ask you to escort me personally again? This would make me uneasy!” Kanios declined politely, moved.

“Hahaha!…” Avenogis laughed loudly. “You don’t need to thank me. Taking you is just on the way. The Temple of Hades in Thurii has been completed, and Theonia invited me to attend the ceremony!”

Avenogis’s teasing embarrassed Kanios a bit, but he was more surprised by what he said: Temple of Hades?!

***

Hearing that Heraclides had fainted at the completion of the Temple of Hades and was unconscious, Davos immediately put aside all affairs and rushed to his home.

Heraclides had woken up, but he couldn’t move at all. His eyes were half-open and half-closed, lifeless. His mouth was wide open, his chest heaving rapidly, making a harsh wheezing sound like broken bellows…