“Oh, wait, wait! I remember you just said Theonia was founded only a year ago, and in less than two years it became the hegemon of Magna Graecia?! This is simply… is…”

“You want to say ‘divine miracle,’ right? I heard the Archon of Theonia is a ‘God’s Favored One’ of Hades. He is very young, but the battles he commands have never failed. Lucanians, Crotoniates, Locrians… have all been defeated by him one after another. Perhaps there really is a divine miracle!”

“According to what you say, if Theonia is so powerful in Magna Graecia, Corinth had better not turn hostile with it because of this trivial matter in the arena…”

“That is your Corinthian affair, Ionius.”

“Alright, Hipparchus, tell me about your Rhegium. You are on the land of Magna Graecia; why didn’t you ally with the powerful Theonia?”

“We Rhegians have no intention of contending for any Magna Graecia hegemony; we just want to live our lives well.”

“Everyone thinks so. But Hipparchus, gods are temperamental. Maybe one day Rhegium will be involved in the conflicts of Magna Graecia city-states. Instead of being passive, it’s better to actively find powerful allies…”

…

Since this farce, everyone had been talking about that barbarian and the strange city-state alliance Theonia. Only then did the name of Theonia begin to be known by more Greeks on the Greek mainland, but that is a story for later.

At this moment, in the spectator seats of the arena, many people were inquiring about Theonia’s origin.

Among the listeners were two young men from Thebes. After listening to the conversation between Hipparchus and Ionius, one of the young men said excitedly, “Theonia, what a peculiar city-state alliance! What do you think, Epaminondas?”

The other young man sighed, “To be able to dominate Magna Graecia in such a short time is not just due to the Archon’s ability. The political system of the Theonian League must have its unique aspects!”

“You think the same as I do! I’ve decided!” the young man said loudly. “Next year, when my studies are over, I’m going to visit Theonia. You come with me.”

Epaminondas shook his head. “I’m sorry, Pelopidas! You know that my teacher Lysis has been propagating the teachings of the Pythagorean school in Corinth these past few years. I don’t need to run to Taranto anymore; I can learn from him nearby. At the same time, I have to help him handle some affairs, so I can’t go to such a faraway place to avoid delaying time.”

The young man named Pelopidas held Epaminondas’s arm. “Didn’t that man just say? The central city of Theonia is in Thurii, right across the Gulf of Taranto. It takes less than two or three days by ship from the Gulf of Corinth; it’s not far at all. Besides, you are my best friend; how can you bear to let me travel far alone?”

***

Corinth imprisoned Adrianx and Lizaru. How could the rest of the Theonian athlete delegation have the heart to compete? They hurriedly sent people back to Thurii to report the news.

The Senate held a meeting to discuss this matter. A minority of Senators led by Polyexis believed: Lizaru’s reckless behavior ruined Theonia’s image, and Adrianx, as the person in charge of the delegation, did not manage the team well, making Theonia a laughingstock of all Greece. They should be punished by the Alliance!

Davos firmly opposed this. He believed: Adrianx and Lizaru’s behavior was not wrong; what was wrong were the conservative Corinthians. Their narrow national concept rejected the multi-ethnic Theonians! Since those mainland Greeks who call themselves orthodox refuse to let Theonian citizens composed of Lucanians, Thracians, and other races compete, then Theonians don’t have to participate in the four major games! Theonia has the ability and strength to organize its own games! …

Davos’s speech received the support of most Senators, especially Vesba, Hermon, Butler, Marigi, Epitenes, and others, who responded actively.

However, the Senate had no further means to make Corinth release Lizaru and Adrianx. After all, Corinth was an old Greek power and wouldn’t care about the newly risen Theonian League. Theonia’s current power could not affect Corinth either. Therefore, the only way was to send an envoy to apologize to Corinth and donate a certain amount of gold and silver to the Temple of Poseidon in Corinth so that the delegation members could return safely.

Except for Mersis’s opposition, everyone else agreed. For Davos, the most important thing for Theonia now was to concentrate fully on dealing with Bruttium and not create side issues. Therefore, although he was somewhat unwilling regarding this resolution of the Senate, he could only endure it temporarily this time.

***

During the autumn harvest, citizens were busy harvesting.

Davos was not idle either. He quietly went to Aprustum to test walk the river valley leading to Ambania several times. He also went to the north bank of the upper Crati River to carefully observe the river conditions and the location and environment of Besidiae on the other side. He also went to Laos to survey the mountain roads leading to the Vergae region. Accompanying him were Little Heracleides, Mentoticeles, Mersis, and others. Wherever they went, they had to calculate the flow speed and depth of the rivers, consider the possibility of building roads and erecting bridges, and issues like grain transportation.

After returning, Davos repeatedly discussed offensive plans with high-level military officers like Philesius, Capus, and Drakos.

At the end of September, the autumn harvest was not yet completely over when news came from Terina: Some Bruttians who broke into Terina’s territory were captured!

In fact, the truth was: After Antaoris’s mission to Cosenza, the Bruttian Tribal League accelerated the strike against and annexation of tribes that refused to be incorporated, forcing some Bruttians unwilling to join the league to flee the mountains.

Davos, however, seized upon this pretext. He had Aristelas send secret agents to spread rumors in Thurii, Amendolara, Crimisa, and other cities: The Bruttians are uniting various tribes. After establishing a powerful tribal league, they will launch an attack on Theonia. Now is just a tentative raid by the Bruttians…

At the same time, they reminded the people: Don’t forget the debts of blood committed by the Bruttians in repeatedly looting Magna Graecia city-states in the past!

Theonian cities were soon shrouded in a tense atmosphere. The citizens were even more indignant, strongly demanding: Wage war on the Bruttians, claim the blood debt, and eliminate the hidden danger!

In early October, the autumn harvest ended, and voices asking for war were everywhere in Theonia. The time to use force against Bruttium was ripe.

After several rounds of discussion, the Senate announced to the citizens: Ignoring Theonia’s peace proposal and warning, the Bruttians wantonly destroyed Theonia’s ally, the Siro tribe. Based on the alliance treaty and morality, Theonia declares war on the Bruttians!

Thus, the Bruttian War officially kicked off!

In the square of Aprustum, soldiers of the Fourth Legion from Crimisa and Aprustum were assembling…

In the Square of Victory in Thurii, soldiers of the First and Second Legions from Thurii and Amendolara were assembling…

In the square of Nerulum, some soldiers of the Third Legion were assembling…

Because of Grumentum’s extremely important location for stabilizing the situation in the Lucanian region, the citizens belonging to the Third Legion in that city could not move lightly.

Just as pre-war preparations were proceeding methodically, Davos received Hegesitus, the leader of the Siro tribe survivors, again in his mansion.

“Theonia has declared war on the Bruttians. I believe it won’t be long before you hear news of victory. The Bruttians disregarded our warnings and wantonly slaughtered our Greek compatriots; they will be punished!” Davos promised solemnly.

Hegesitus said with tears in his eyes and immense gratitude, “Lord Davos, thank you! Thank you very much for your selfless help to our weak tribe! You deserve to be the God’s Favored One of Hades! The guardian of fairness and justice in Magna Graecia! All of us surviving Siro people will pray to Hades all the time, wishing you health and safety! Also wishing Theonian citizens a victorious return soon! At the same time, I have a small request, asking for your approval, My Lord.”

“Oh? What request?”

“My clansmen and I hope to join your army, fight side by side with you, and seek revenge on the Bruttians!” Hegesitus said excitedly.

“I can understand your feelings, but Theonian troops have undergone arduous training and are bound by strict discipline. Violating military regulations can even lead to beheading in serious cases! I’m afraid your joining will not increase our strength but affect our combat, because once military law is violated, do you say I should punish or not punish? So I cannot agree to your request.” Davos refused tactfully but firmly.

Hegesitus looked disappointed and said unwillingly, “Then… then we can… serve as guides!”

“Guides only need two or three people.” Seeing his disappointment, Davos felt the time was ripe, so he said, “However, there is something you can do. If done well, it can deal the biggest blow to the Bruttian Tribal League!”

“What is it?!” Hegesitus asked urgently.

“Last time, I heard you say that there are some tribes in the Bruttian region that are not willing to merge, but only had to submit because of the strength of the Bruttian Tribal League… I hope you can sneak back into Bruttium and wait for the news of Theonia’s army entering the Bruttian mountains. Then you go and persuade these tribes to rise up and resist this league. At that time, defeating the Bruttian Tribal League will be an easy task!” Davos said here and looked at him apologetically. “However, for you, having just escaped from Bruttium and going back again, the danger is relatively high—”