In the corner, Theos and Dikpolis sit quietly and savor.

After eating the fried beef on his plate, Theos exclaimed, "Please have me a glass of wine." ”

After receiving a response, he picked up the clean linen towel on his left hand side and wiped the grease stains from the corners of his mouth.

"Anyone who watched the public trial on this day—" Dickpolis said, pointing with his fork to the diners arguing loudly around him, "all angry, but you are calm." ”

"What is there to be angry about! In my former city-state of Corinth, this was not uncommon. Theos took the wine from the waiter's hand, thanked him, and continued: "The important positions in the city-state are all held by nobles, and the selection of generals is always carried out in those dozen or so families, isn't that the case with you in Keldoria? (Keldoria is a city-state on the island of Crete, at the westernmost point of the island)"

"That's right, so I'm in the same calm mood as you."

Both laughed.

"However, there is one thing you are not right, Keldoria is only my former city-state, and now I am a Dionian." Dickpolis reminded with a pretended seriousness.

"You and I are." Theos smiled and raised his glass, and the two touched each other.

"But there's a way for that Polyxis...... I agree......" Dickpolis looked around, leaned his head over, and whispered, "Convene a citizens' assembly." ”

Theos looked at him and didn't speak.

Dickpolis continued to whisper: "All decisions in the Dionian League are made by the Senate, and we ordinary citizens can neither participate nor oppose it, and nothing can be decided. Although it is possible for an ordinary citizen to become a senator, according to the law, the road is too long! Like us businessmen, we can't hold any public office when we're out and about all day, if—"

Dickpolis hesitated for a moment, but said, "If the system of Dionya has not changed, I am afraid ...... I'm afraid there will be some businessmen leaving. After all, having a lot of money and not being able to interfere with any of the decisions of the Dionian Senate always makes us businessmen unwilling, right? ”

Theos lowered his head and took a sip of wine, suppressing the surprise in his heart, and asked, "Are you among the people who are leaving?" ”

"Of course I'm not going to leave here!" Dickpolis affirmed: "Here is the best food in the Mediterranean!" There are the best entertainment competitions! The best hot spring communal bath! And without the invasion of the war, it is simply the Elysée Paradise on earth! Why should I leave! Dickpolis leaned back in his chair and said loudly.

"That's right, friend!" A red-faced, slightly drunken man came over next to him and patted Dickpolis on the shoulder, and said excitedly: "It is precisely because of Lord Davers that there is a beautiful city of Turiyi today!" Brothers, let us pay our respects to the great Lord Davers! ”

After he finished speaking, the diners at the same table stood up and raised their glasses: "To Lord Dafuss! ”

Influenced by them, other diners also stood up.

"Master Davers, Wan Sheng!"

"Salute to our great commander!"

What was once a noisy restaurant turned out to be a single voice.

After everyone finished toasting, someone stood up and jokingly said, "To our damned Senate!" ”

Immediately, laughter and scolding began again.

Dickpolis laughed at their quarrel, and Theos reminded him: "Dionya is not without the danger of war now!" ”

Dikpolis was stunned for a moment, and then said, "Are you worried about Syracuse?" ”

Theos nodded slightly.

Dickpolis waved his hand indifferently: "As a former Corinthian, I don't think you should worry about this. In mainland Greece, Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Argos, ...... and so on, sending spies, bribing enemy councilors, and even defending the interests of enemy states in citizens' assemblies...... Isn't there less such a thing? If there had been a war over such a trivial matter, Greece itself would have been in a mess long ago! …… But, to be honest, the situation in Greece itself is really bad right now, especially Corinth. I heard that the army of Sparta was stationed in Corinth, and often fought with the combined forces of Corinth, Athens, Thebes, and Argos, and people died every day...... You're so lucky to have come out early! ”

Theos was silent for a moment when Dickpolis was talking about his home state, and then he sighed: "Yes, the Corinthians are not having a good time...... I heard that the army led by the Spartan king Agosilaus to fight in Persia has landed in northern Greece and is preparing to go south and fight north and south with the native army of Sparta, and the anti-Spartan coalition must be in danger! …… Speaking of which, I should really thank you, if it wasn't for your persuasion, I wouldn't have made the decision to join Dionia so quickly! ”

Dickpolis laughed and said, "In that case, how can you thank me?" ”

It was meant to be a joke, but Theos whispered, "I went to Lord Davers's mansion the other day to discuss with him about the donation from Stonebridge. You know, I have followed Lord Davers many times to make donations, and it is in line with the new bill passed by Dionya in the past few years on the 'Incentive Clause for Gentiles to donate to public buildings', that I have become a ...... of Dionian citizens so quickly."

"You're a big businessman now." Dickpolis said.

Ignoring the faint sourness in his words, Tios continued: "Lord Davers asked me carefully about the protests of some merchants in the square, and finally he said, 'This cannot go on any longer, Dionya must change!'" ’”

"Did he really say that?!" Dickpolis asked in surprise.

"Of course, I remember it clearly!" Theos said with great certainty: "Lord Davers has always been a man of his word! ”

Dickpolis had a sparkle in his eyes......

……………………………

"My lord, are you looking for me?" Aristias walked into Davers's study.

"Sit, Aristiras." Davers casually gestured to the wooden chair beside him.

"Yes, sir." Although Davers behaved casually, Aristillas sat down respectfully.

Davers half-leaned back in his chair, looked at his intelligence chief, and said, "You should have been following me for almost five years, right?" ”

"To be exact, it should be four months and nine days short of five years." Aristias said earnestly.

"You remember it so clearly." Davers laughed, "I've been with me for so long, and I haven't seen you gain any weight." ”

Aristilas said helplessly: "My subordinates have this physique, and they won't get fat no matter how much they eat." ”

"If Christoya had your physique, she would be very happy." Davers chuckled.

He looked at the tall and thin young man with emotion: "You have followed me for so long, even if you have become a citizen of Ionia, you are still willing to continue to collect intelligence for me, and with your ability, you are fully qualified for any public office in the Alliance...... It can be said that you have silently made a great contribution to the alliance! Just like this public trial, I am so grateful to you, and at the same time I feel very guilty! ……”

Aristiras's heart suddenly felt a little uneasy: Is Davers going to let me out of here?

Davers's right hand tapped lightly on the armrest of the wooden chair a few times, and said slowly, "From now on, I can finally do something to repay you for helping me." ”

Aristias was almost deflated by Davers's sudden turn, and Davers continued: "Aristiras, you know Syracuse very well. Tell me, if we go to war with the mighty city-state of Sicily across the sea, will we have a chance of winning? ”

Aristiras's anxious heart finally beat sharply, he suppressed his excitement, and thought for a while before he said: "My lord, I think there is still a big gap in strength between Dionya and Syracuse. ”

Davers was not surprised by what Aristillas said, he was satisfied with his attitude, even if he had hatred for Syracuse, he was still able to analyze the problem from an objective standpoint: "Oh, what is the gap? You elaborate. ”

"According to what my lord once told me, the strength of a city-state is judged mainly from four aspects: population, economic capacity, and land area...... Well...... And also...... ...... moving"

"War mobilization capability." Davers reminded.

"I almost forgot." Aristiras reorganized his thoughts and continued: "Now Sicily, except for the westernmost coastal city-states of Lili, Erlux, and Panomus, which are still controlled by the Carthaginians, the rest of the region has been conquered by the Syracuses, including the Sichaels in the eastern interior, who have also been conquered by Dionysius through various despicable schemes such as bribery and assassination. Although the Carthaginians were still fighting fiercely with the Sicilian Greek coalition led by Dionysius in Solus, according to the latest information, the Carthaginians had already lost a series of battles, and it was estimated that defeat was only a matter of time.

According to the information we sent to Syracuse, Gerah, Agrigen, Leotini......" Aristias paused: "The information gathered by the people of the city-states of Catanay, Naxos, and others, as well as the information heard by the Ionian merchants who went to trade with the city-states of Sicily, have a general idea of the strength of Syracuse-"

He paused again, and Davers tapped the armrest: "You can say that I am a bold person. ”

"The number of people in the city of Syracuse and the surrounding towns is about 400,000, and the number of other city-states under the direct control and attachment of Dionysius may be close to 1.3 million......," he said, looking at Davers.

Davers looked calm and motioned for him to continue.