“Traditional Greek city-state temples are like high and mighty nobles, waiting for the people to donate gold and silver, building up sacred treasuries, yet rarely proactively helping the distressed city-state people. I envision the priests and priestesses of the Temple of Hades should use the gold and silver donated by the people to help the poor, rescue the sick who can’t afford treatment, listen to the doubts and troubles of the League’s people, and guide them with words to eliminate their confusion… Furthermore, the ceremony for freeing slaves should be presided over by the temple every year… Praexinas, if the Temple of Hades can provide so much help to the people of Theonia, how can the people not be grateful to the temple and not worship it!”

Davos’s speech seemed to open a window for Praexinas. This approach suggested by Davos, which was different from traditional temples, made him vaguely see a bright future for the Temple of Hades. He was momentarily excited but didn’t know what to say.

“Elysium is the paradise built by Hades in the Underworld, and his temple should be a paradise on earth, a haven for the people’s souls! When the time comes, we must build a Temple of Hades in every city of Theonia, uniting the people from all places and races around it. Then, what does the Theonia City-State Alliance have to fear!” Davos’s alluring voice rang clearly in Praexinas’s ear. “Praexinas, are you willing to help me accomplish this great undertaking and serve as the High Priest of the Temple of Hades?”

Meeting Davos’s expectant gaze, Praexinas weighed the matter slightly, then heavily nodded: “I am willing!”

***

Kanios followed Avenogis to Thurii and stayed at the inn south of Victory Square. This sizable inn was funded by the League Senate, specifically for receiving foreign guests. Usually, there were many spare rooms, but now it was overcrowded.

Generals, reputable councilors, and citizens from the city-states of the South Italian Alliance—Caulonia, Terina, Scylletium, and Croton—were all invited to attend the ceremony. If Amyclas of Castellum and others weren’t temporarily staying at the homes of Kunogelata and Cornelius, and the Lucanian tribal chiefs of Niutum and Grumentum were scattered and staying at the homes of Vesba, Hermon, and others, or if Avenogis of Laos and his group weren’t staying directly at Davos’s residence, which eased the burden on the officials responsible for reception, Thurii’s inns would certainly not have been enough.

At this moment, the inn’s hall was bustling. The distinguished guests belonged to different city-states but were all part of one alliance. Rarely having the chance to gather, they took this opportunity to visit each other, foster relationships, and discuss their views on current affairs…

Although Kanios, as an outsider, was politely received by Theonia, his request to immediately visit Davos did not receive a good response.

The responsible personnel told him, “Archon Davos is busy preparing for tomorrow’s ceremony. He will have time to receive you after tomorrow.”

While envying the cheerful conversation of others, Kanios and his entourage remained quietly in their room because he heard that the envoy from Pyxous had also arrived in Thurii, and he wanted to avoid conflicts if they met. Only after tasting the unique cuisine of Thurii did Kanios’s anxiety temporarily ease.

***

In the early morning of July 25, 398 BC, citizens, family members, freedmen, and even slaves of Theonia converged on Thurii city from all directions. With the help of over a thousand Theonian citizen soldiers maintaining order, they successively entered the center of Thurii city.

In a short time, all the courtyards, houses, and even rooftops were packed with people. Looking out, it was a spectacular sea of people, leaving the vast open space of Victory Square untouched.

Kanios was arranged on the steps on the left side of the platform in front of the square. It was said that the envoy from Pyxous was arranged on the right side. The careful arrangement by the Theonia reception staff saved him the awkwardness of a sudden meeting, allowing him to calmly enjoy the ceremony.

“Oh, there are truly too many people! Theonia is so bold; aren’t they afraid of a disaster if a riot occurs here!” Someone beside Kanios said worriedly.

“A riot would be great! Then Theonia would be finished!” another person said loudly, gloating.

Kanios and others turned to look at him.

“Eutydemos, how could the Crotoniates let you into the Council! If a riot occurs here, do you think we can escape?!” Someone recognized the speaker and retorted loudly.

“Why should we escape! Isn’t this the completion ceremony of the Temple of Hades! It would be perfect for everyone to go meet Hades together!” Eutydemos looked fearless of death.

“Have the proud Crotoniates also started using verbal sarcasm to satisfy their frustrated feelings after defeat!” Someone immediately mocked.

Eutydemos’s face instantly changed color.

Kanios had no intention of dealing with the verbal conflict between these people beside him. He just carefully observed the surroundings of the square. Logically, with so many people, it should be very noisy here. But people, whether sitting or standing, tried their best to remain quiet, rarely moving around. Perhaps they had received warnings from the League beforehand, but for Greeks who advocate self-expression and freedom, such behavior was quite astonishing! Kanios had noticed this when he entered Thurii city yesterday, and now his impression was reinforced.

Just then, loud military horns sounded together, announcing the imminent start of the ceremony. People consciously stopped talking, focusing their curious gazes on Victory Square.

A hundred or so men in Greek armor entered the arena, and Praexinas, leading ten male “heralds” and fifty women, all dressed in pristine white robes, walked onto the platform with solemn steps.

The atmosphere in Theonia was relatively open, and many people watched the ceremony with their wives and daughters outside the square. However, dozens of women appearing simultaneously in public, especially in such a sacred setting, was unheard of. Not even the priestesses of the Temples of Hera or Aphrodite had such numbers. Consequently, not only the people but also the esteemed guests from allied states observing the ceremony at the front of the square began to whisper.

The neat military horns sounded across the whole city again, and silence returned to the square.

Praexinas’s high-pitched and elongated voice rang out, “In the first year of the 95th Olympiad, in the Persian Kingdom thousands of miles away from us, a group of Greek warriors accepted the recruitment of Prince Cyrus the Younger, who favored Greece, preparing to overthrow the cruel King of Persia. However, after a great battle, their employer died in battle, and the mercenary leaders were deceived and captured by the Persians. The entire mercenary army fell into despair, but the great Hades did not abandon them…”

As soon as Praexinas’s voice faded, a dozen harpists below the platform began plucking the strings. The fifty white-robed women on the stage opened their mouths together. The ethereal singing swept across the entire venue like a refreshing breeze.

Kanios felt a shiver, his hairs standing on end. Traditional Greek temple hymns clearly couldn’t compare to the harmony produced by modern vocal training. Bathed in the beautiful and harmonious singing, it felt as if even the soul was being cleansed.

Everyone else in the audience, like Kanios, was completely immersed in the singing. In the sorrowful and plaintive chanting, they were also infected by the heavy feeling.

The soldiers on the stage expressed crying, helplessness, and despair through exaggerated body movements, with only one person lying motionless in the center.

At this moment, the singing gradually faded into silence, and the soldiers on the stage also began to fall asleep…

Just as the people felt a sense of loss, a high-pitched singing sounded again, like lightning cutting through the night sky, invigorating the audience’s spirits.

A man walked out of the aisle. He was tall and strong, with long black hair and a thick black beard, wearing a black robe and holding a trident. He walked majestically toward the center of the square…

Someone in the audience exclaimed, “Hades?! I know he is Hades!”

A small commotion rippled through the crowd, but more people fixed their eyes on the stage, already captivated by this unprecedented performance.

“Hades” came to the center of the arena, stood next to the man who had been lying motionless, and waved his trident, seemingly using divine power…

The singing disappeared again. “Hades” retreated, drawing the gaze of the people as they turned to follow him.

“Dong! Dong!…” Crisp drumming sounded in the silent square. The man who had been lying down turned over and sat up, starting to wake up the others. He waved his arms, encouraging them. Finally, everyone clustered around him. Someone put a helmet with a red crest on his head. Then they formed a line in front of him and marched forward with difficulty under his leadership…

Seeing this, any citizen who had heard the legendary story of Archon Davos’s past vaguely understood: the extremely radiant leader on the stage must be playing the role of Davos, who once led the expedition to Persia!

“Davos seems to have forgotten that there was more than one mercenary leader in Persia,” Tolmides, also watching the ceremony from the side, complained.

“Yesterday, Davos specifically sought me out and mentioned this. He said it was for the needs of the performance and hoped I would understand.” Xanthipparis shrugged, his expression relatively calm.

“Well, this is Theonia; he calls the shots!” Tolmides said helplessly. “But this performance is quite interesting!”

Drumming sounded, growing from sparse to dense, interspersed with military horns.

“Whoa!!!” Accompanied by bursts of exclamations from the audience, squads of soldiers appeared in the aisle—there were cavalry, infantry, and archers. They wore long robes, carried long shields, and marched in loose formations, approaching the Greek mercenaries who were originally in the square, commanded by a general wearing glittering scale armor…

“They are the ‘Persians’!” Someone in the audience couldn’t help but shout.