Crystoia‘s restaurant in the market was still packed every day. Theonian preparatory citizens, freedmen, as well as merchants and sailors from all over, tasted delicious food, drank fine wine, and discussed current affairs here. Of course, some gossip also circulated, such as the rumor that Davos‘s mother made love with Hades in a dream to conceive Davos, or whether the Thurii patrol captain Olivas, whom everyone loved and hated, and his Persian wife adopted the Greek position or the Persian position when making love… and so on.

Of course, the most discussed topic during this period was the Bruttian War. Preparatory citizens and freedmen had all participated in military training and witnessed the strength of the Theonian legion soldiers; they firmly believed Theonia would win. However, many foreign sailors and merchants expressed doubts because the war had lasted more than ten days without much progress. In the end, the two sides either had verbal disputes or fights, making the restaurant the place most frequently visited by the market patrol team.

Dicporis and Theos sat in a corner eating instant-boiled mutton, drinking beer, and listening to the neighboring table loudly discussing the ongoing war.

Dicporis sighed: “In the Theonian League, this is one bad thing: too many wars. There have been three wars so far this year, and my business has also been affected.”

Theos comforted him: “Where is there no war in this world now! Even in Corinth, due to the deepening conflict with Sparta, the people are worried about when a war will break out with Sparta. Theonia is not bad; at least it hasn’t lost a battle so far, and it has always been the one attacking other city-states…” Theos showed an envious expression.

“You run a weapon workshop now and trade weapons; of course, you hope for as many wars as possible! I heard that the Theonian Archon visited your workshop some time ago.” Dicporis also showed an envious expression.

“That’s right.” Theos was quite proud. He leaned forward and whispered, “You are my good friend, and I’m not afraid to tell you. Theonia is improving their weapons and equipment. Their citizen soldiers are numerous, and their own weapon shop output is too low; even producing for five years wouldn’t be enough to re-equip every soldier with new weapons and armor. My weapon workshop is the only large weapon workshop in Theonia; of course, that war-loving Archon would take a fancy to it!”

“That must be… tens of thousands of sets of weapons and armor, right? You’re going to make a fortune!” Dicporis was extremely envious.

“It won’t make much money.” Theos shook his head and said, “Archon Davos may be young, but he is a shrewd man. He proposed to exchange old weapons and armor for new ones, paying at most a little fabrication fee.”

“Old weapons? You mean rusty ones?”

“No. Theonian citizen soldiers will no longer use the traditional Corinthian helmets, bronze shields, and greaves of Greek city-states. Instead, they designed a leather helmet inlaid with iron pieces and with cheek guards. The shield is wood covered with cowhide, but it’s half a person tall and curved. Making this kind of shield is somewhat difficult; I don’t know why they designed it like this…” Theos recounted his doubts and complaints.

“The Theonian Archon is a famous general in Magna Graecia. He naturally has his reasons for designing it this way. Just do as he says; why think so much? Besides, listening to you, you can resell those traditional Greek-style weapons and equipment to other city-states; it’s also a profit.” Dicporis reminded him.

“But you haven’t counted the freight, the taxes paid for trading in other city-states, and the time consumed…” Theos took a sip of wine, a confused expression on his face. “Actually, I don’t care much about these. I made some money anyway, and I also established a good relationship with that Archon. What a rare opportunity! But Davos said a sentence to me when leaving the weapon workshop, which has kept me from sleeping well these days…”

“What sentence?” Dicporis asked curiously.

“He said, ‘It’s a pity you are not a Theonian citizen; otherwise, we would have further cooperation with you.'”

Dicporis was stunned after listening, pondering this sentence carefully, and suddenly his eyes lit up: “He means for you to become a Theonian citizen.”

“I think so too.” Theos sighed: “But according to the Theonian Law, if I become a Theonian citizen, I will no longer be a Corinthian citizen, and the time required to become a Theonian citizen is too long.”

“What’s good about being a Corinthian citizen? Can it let you own land?”

“I have no land in Corinth.”

“According to what you just said, Corinth is likely to go to war with Sparta. Can Corinth defeat Sparta?”

“No.”

“Instead of having your family ruined and dead then, it’s better to prepare early now. You are not too old; waiting a few years in Theonia is no big deal. Moreover, becoming a Theonian citizen allows you to own your own land and take your business a step further. Such a good thing is truly the Goddess of Luck protecting you; what are you hesitating for!”

Dicporis’s words awakened the dreamer. Theos pondered for a while and finally made up his mind: “My best friend, thank you for your reminder! You are right; I should indeed decide early!”

Dicporis laughed: “Actually, I also have the idea of becoming a Theonian citizen. The longer I live in Theonia, the less I want to return to Crete with its small area, barren land, and boring life. Here, I can watch exciting rugby and football matches, have delicious food to eat, have brilliant doctors to treat illnesses… If I have nothing to do, I can go hunting in the mountains or fishing in Lake Senise. The political situation here is stable. Theonia is a vibrant city-state alliance. It is already powerful, yet still becoming stronger. No other city-state dares to invade it; only it bullies other countries!”

Hearing Dicporis finish his lament, Theos raised his wine cup and said, “Why don’t we go to the Census Officer in Thurii to register together?”

Dicporis was stunned, then laughed loudly: “Good, let’s go together!”

The two drank it all in one gulp, wiping away the blocks in their hearts, talking and laughing, feeling even more cheerful.

The guests at the next table started arguing. Dicporis listened carefully; it was because of the Isthmian Games. So he teased, “Theos, you have to be careful. Don’t mention you are a Corinthian here anymore.”

Speaking of this, Theos cursed with a look of hating iron for not becoming steel (disappointment): “Those fools in the Corinthian Council! Most of them probably heard the name Theonia for the first time, so they looked down on this emerging city-state alliance. But they don’t know that the strength of this emerging city-state alliance is several times stronger than Corinth. Offending it does no good to Corinth!”

Dicporis felt the same way: “Not only Corinth, but many citizens of mainland Greek city-states also hold a contemptuous attitude towards the city-states of the Western Mediterranean, always considering Western Mediterranean city-states as colonies and treating them as bumpkins from remote backwaters. In fact, they don’t know at all that not only Syracuse, but Theonia’s strength is also enough to rival Sparta and Athens. Taranto and Croton, these Magna Graecia city-states, are also among the top large states even in the Greek mainland.”

“Yes, offending a Theonia that is constantly growing stronger, Corinth might have some trouble in the future…” Theos said worriedly.

“Why are you still worried about these? Anyway, you have decided to become a Theonian citizen.”

“But I still have many relatives and friends in Corinth!”

While the two were talking, a huge cheer suddenly erupted in the market, deafening to the ears.

People in the restaurant didn’t know what was happening and were asking each other curiously. A patrol member walked in and said excitedly, “Cheer, Theonians! Our brave soldiers, under the leadership of the great Archon Davos, captured the Bruttian city of Besidiae!”

“Great! We won again!”

“Isn’t Besidiae the small city right next to our Thurii, on the south bank of the Crati River! No Greek had ever been there before. I heard the terrain is very dangerous, yet we actually captured it?!! It’s only been a few days since the war started!”

“Attack, brave soldiers! Continue attacking, strive to take Cosenza soon!!”

…

Cheers filled the restaurant.

At this time, the restaurant waiter came out and said, “To celebrate this victory, my master decided that the food and drinks ordered by everyone present today are free!”

“Long live (Victory to)! Generous Archon’s wife, beautiful Crystoia!” The guests danced with joy and cheered loudly.

“This is really great; please give me a cup of wine too!” the patrol member said happily.

“Wine or beer?” the waiter asked.

“See, I’m sweating all over; of course, beer to quench thirst.” When a full cup of beer was handed to him, the patrol member raised it high and said loudly, “Everyone, a toast to our omnipotent Archon Lord Davos! And to our brave participating citizens!”

Everyone in the restaurant, including Dicporis and Theos, raised their wine cups. The guest at the next table specially came over to clink cups with the two of them and said, “Congratulations to you two for joining the ranks of Theonian citizens! This is undoubtedly a correct decision!”

Dicporis looked at him in surprise: “You heard it all?”

The man blinked: “Otherwise, why do you think I scolded the Corinthians?”

Theos smiled with relief at this moment: “We just made the decision and ushered in such good news; this is the arrangement of the Goddess of Fate!”

“Exactly.” Dicporis nodded in agreement.

“Cheers!” Several wooden cups clinked together, splashing wine.