Aristocrates understood that the “Thurii tragedy” Davos referred to was the disastrous event two years ago when the Thurians, in a rash counterattack against the Lucanians, ventured deep into the mountains and were ultimately annihilated on the banks of the Laos River.

He thought for a moment, still feeling a lingering unwillingness to let the opportunity slide. “But… it feels like such a pity to miss this chance!”

“Aristocrates.” Davos smiled faintly. “Let me ask you: who is stronger right now, Theonia or the combination of Pyxous and Potentia?”

“Of course Theonia is stronger! Even if Pyxous and Potentia joined forces, they would be no match for us!” Aristocrates answered without hesitation.

“Since that is the case, we should approach this as one eats bread: take a bite, chew it thoroughly, swallow it, and let it digest into our own strength before taking another. If we keep stuffing our mouths bite after bite without swallowing, we will eventually choke,” Davos explained patiently.

“I understand now, My Lord!” Aristocrates said with sincere admiration. Clever as he was, he grasped Davos’s meaning: they needed to spend time and energy to gain a firm foothold in the heart of the Lucanian region first. Then, with Theonia’s strength, they could crush Pyxous and Potentia from the front at a leisurely pace.

“Therefore, we must negotiate with the envoys of Pyxous and Potentia and sign peace treaties—such as non-aggression pacts—to appease them and prevent them from causing open trouble around Grumentum. However, the duration of these treaties must not be too long.” A trace of murderous intent surfaced in Davos’s gentle tone.

“As for Garaguso… it is said to be located deep in the mountains with little contact with the outside world and a rather harsh living environment. We can consider forming an alliance with them to strengthen trade…” Davos stopped mid-sentence as he heard voices outside the reception hall. He ceased his discussion and smiled. “An interesting guest has arrived.”

“An interesting guest?” It was rare for Aristocrates to hear Davos evaluate someone this way. He looked curiously toward the door. When the slave steward Libazo ushered a man in, realization dawned on him. So it is him!

Cipros of Terina. Previously, when the envoys from the southern city-states came together to seek Theonia’s aid, his lanky physique—thin and long like a spear shaft—had been quite striking. Equally striking was his behavior. Not only was he the first envoy from a Croton-allied city to fully support Theonia’s proposal to create the South Italian League, but frequent reports mentioned his dedication. Capus, the commander of the First Legion who had led the reinforcement, later mentioned in his report to Davos: During the march, the Terina envoy Cipros insisted on marching with the Theonian army and eating and sleeping alongside the soldiers. It was also reported that at the Terina Assembly, he had lavished praise on the combat power of the Theonian army and proposed that Terina strengthen its cooperation with Theonia…

Aristocrates remembered that upon hearing of this man’s performance, Davos had remarked: Cipros is a clever man—flexible, observant, and adaptable!

Thus, for the dedication ceremony of the Temple of Hades, he was one of the VIPs Davos had specifically proposed to invite.

At this moment, however, as Davos gazed at Cipros, what played in his mind was the secret intelligence report from Crystoia’s restaurant last night, detailing Cipros’s conversation with the Elean envoy.

Davos knew clearly: after Theonia defeated Croton and gradually became the most decisive power in southern Italy, it would naturally attract much attention. Theonia’s unique political system could not escape the eyes of observant men, but few could analyze it as incisively as Cipros had…

“Cipros, Theonia’s best friend, welcome!” Davos called out happily. “I have been so busy with the celebrations these past few days. I had intended to host a banquet for you after the festivities to express my gratitude, but I didn’t expect…”

Cipros bowed respectfully. “Lord Archon, my insistence on visiting you now is truly out of necessity. My city-state urgently required me to convey a proposal to you.”

“Oh? What proposal?” Davos motioned for Cipros to sit.

Cipros glanced at Aristocrates, hesitating to speak.

“Let me introduce you. This is Aristocrates, a very talented young man and my exclusive scribe.” Davos added a parenthetical note in his mind: Actually just a clerk, since he hasn’t yet obtained preparatory citizenship. “You may speak freely.”

Davos’s words left Aristocrates deeply moved.

Cipros nodded to him, sat on the wooden chair, and asked, “Lord Archon, do you know of the Bruttii?”

With that single sentence, Davos roughly understood the purpose of Cipros’s visit. “I know a little about this neighbor to the west of the Theonian League. The Bruttii are indigenous people of Italy, living in tribes like the Lucanians. However, compared to the Lucanians, they are fewer in number and pose a much lighter threat to Theonia. Though, I hear they frequently attack your city, Terina.” Davos looked at Cipros with a half-smile.

“Not just Terina. They also periodically invade Aprustum and the southern parts of Thurii,” Cipros reminded him.

“But the frequency is low, after all. And since the establishment of the Theonian League, Bruttian harassment against us has vanished completely,” Davos said with a relaxed expression.

“In fact, starting last year, the Bruttii suddenly stopped their incursions into the territories of all Greek city-states. This was not merely because the allied forces of Croton, Scylletium, and Terina inflicted heavy damage upon them—” Cipros paused, sensing Davos’s gaze focusing on him, and deliberately raised his voice. “It is because a major change has occurred within the Bruttii themselves.”

“What change?” Davos’s heart skipped a beat, though his expression remained calm.

“Terina borders the Bruttian town of Clampetia. We have fought the Bruttii for years, so we are relatively familiar with them and have our sources of information.” Cipros’s expression turned grave. “Last year, we received intelligence that the leaders of the various Bruttii tribes gathered in the city of Cosenza and have been discussing the formation of a tribal league.”

“Is this true?!” Davos was startled. He couldn’t help but lean forward. It was no wonder he lost his composure; he had pretended to be indifferent earlier because, knowing Cipros’s visit concerned the Bruttii, he didn’t want to appear too eager and lose leverage in discussing future campaigns against them. After all, he had assumed the Bruttii could not pose a massive threat to Theonia like the Lucanians did.

As far as he knew, within the not-so-large mountainous region the Bruttii occupied, their tribes had always been fragmented. The northern tribes centered around the city of Vergae; because they bordered Laos, they had close ties with the Lucanians in the past and had participated in the Lucanian coalition’s invasion of Thurii. The central region was centered on the great city of Cosenza (Consentia), which was the most powerful. To the east, other Bruttian tribes lived along the upper reaches of the Crathis River; they had built the small city of Besidiae and were responsible for frequently crossing the mountains to raid the southern Sybaris Plain. Southeast of Cosenza lay another small city, Ambania, said to have been built by a tribe that originally fled Aprustum when it fell to Croton. And south of Cosenza lay the city of Clampetia, bordering Terina—the main culprit behind the harassment of Cipros’s city.

The Bruttian mountains were high and dense with forests, the roads rugged. The region held the only plateau in southern Italy. Vergae and Clampetia guarded the narrow coastal passages on the north and south of the west coast, while Besidiae and Ambania blocked the only two mountain passes connecting to the east coast. This made the region a natural fortress, sealed on all four sides. Since they claimed it as their habitat, it had always been the Bruttii rushing out of the mountains to harass others; they were almost never invaded themselves. However, internal tribal wars were far more common there. Most conflicts were instigated by Cosenza, whose superior strength drove its ambition to annex the other tribes. Aside from Clampetia, which maintained close ties with Cosenza, the cities of Vergae, Besidiae, and Ambania often united to resist Cosenza. It was precisely this frequent internal warfare that consumed Bruttian strength, minimizing their threat to the Greek city-states.

But now, the perpetually fractious Bruttii were establishing a tribal league? Their threat to the Greeks would increase exponentially—especially to Theonia, whose major territories bordered the Bruttian mountains.

“It is absolutely true,” Cipros affirmed. “Because in May of this year, the Bruttian Tribal League was officially established! It is reported that the Bruttian tribes have elected the Great Chief of Cosenza, Pianlun, as the Great Chief of the new League. Sedorum, Great Chief of Vergae; Likum, Great Chief of Besidiae; Bergum, Great Chief of Ambania; and Pangem, Great Chief of Clampetia, have been named League Elders. With Cosenza as the center, they now hold jurisdiction over all Bruttian tribes…”

Hearing Cipros’s words, Davos could no longer sit still. He stood up involuntarily and began to pace slowly, asking in a low voice, “Where did you get this information?”

Seeing Davos’s reaction, Cipros knew that this matter had aroused the immense concern of Theonia’s supreme authority, and he immediately felt reassured.

However, he did not know that Davos cared so much not only because a Bruttian Tribal League might endanger Theonian territory, but more importantly, because Davos had long been considering the “Bruttian Question.”

With Croton defeated by Theonia and the establishment of the South Italian League, there was virtually no power left in southern Italy capable of rivaling the Theonian League.