Just one year after Raos joined Dionia, the changes in its port were so great that it really surprised Canios.

He waited for a while on the boat before there was a spare dock for him to anchor and disembark. Officials sent by the town hall of Laos, who had received the news, were already on the shore to greet them, and Canios gladly accepted the official's invitation to meet the city's master, the consul Avinokis.

"Is this port so busy every day?" Karios asked in the midst of the crowd.

"Yes." "The merchants of the Dionian League like to come to us to charter ships to trade in Gaul in the north, or to the Iberian Peninsula in the west," said the official, "and then come ashore here laden with cargo and transported back to Turiyi in a caravan. After the creation of the South Italy Alliance a few months ago, we have been even busier here! The merchant ships of Trina, Coronia, Crotone, and Siriting also come to Laos from time to time, and as long as we are allies of the Dionian League, we in Laos will provide the best service and preferential costs for the berthing of ships, accommodation, and water supply. Now, after Grummentum became a member of the Dionian League, there were more merchants who came here, and most of them went for Grummentum's fine iron ore...... Laos welcomes Elia merchants to trade here as well! ”

Canios laughed and was about to respond, when an angry shout came from ahead: "Damn stupid thing, don't get in the way!" ”

Screams followed, and Canios saw two naked men lying on the side of the road in front of him, covered in bloodstained whip marks, and several heavy sacks toppled to the side.

"These slaves are Lucanians." For fear of leaving a bad impression on the guests, the official hurriedly explained: "Their ancestors forcibly captured Laos, turned the Greeks of Laos into slaves, and made us live a life worse than death for generations, and now Lord Avinokis has led us to recapture Laos!" A year ago, they were the masters of the city, calling us like cattle and sheep, and now we Greeks are the masters of Laos again, and let them taste what it is like to be slaves too! ”

Canios looked at the emotional official and thought, "You don't look like a pure Greek."

"You've turned all the Lucarians in this city into slaves?!" He asked.

"It's not all. Some of the citizens of Lucalya who were related to the Ionian League were later released by Lord Avinokis and went to Niutum, and now they are probably Dionian citizens. I wonder why the Dionyans were so tolerant of these barbarians who believed in foreign gods! The official muttered quietly, although there was hatred, but he did not vent it loudly as he had just now.

Canios' heart moved, and it was also evident from this that Dionia's influence on the populace of his dependent city-states.

The city of Laos, located near the mouth of the La River, is not very large, with less than 5,000 citizens, and its main composition is divided into two parts: one is the tribe that the Avinogis family has been commanding, which is also the core of his position as the lifelong consul of Laos, so after these people were converted into citizens, Avinogis also gave them land; The other part was the original Greek slaves, who were emancipated by Avinogis and granted citizenship, but had no "land", and in order to live, they worked as low-level servants in the city or as hired laborers or dock laborers...... Fortunately, Laos's tax burden is not heavy, as long as he is diligent and willing to work, he should still have a small savings.

Although Avinogis claimed to be of Greek descent, he always knew in his heart that he was of mixed race, like most of the citizens of the city, so the citizens of Laos had a similar sense of inferiority, exclusivity, and ethnic identity, not to mention that he had freed them from slavery, and that they would support him if he treated the people well. Therefore, although he learned from Davers and proclaimed himself Consul for life, in fact Laos's council was only a decoration, let alone a citizens' assembly, and Avinokis made decisions on all matters, and he was a real tyrant.

Canios met Avinokis in the so-called town hall, which was actually the lord's mansion, and the burly, fat, slightly male-looking consul of Laos had prepared a banquet and welcomed him very warmly, inviting him to the table.

After he took his seat, he also raised his wine glass and expressed his heartfelt thanks to Avinogis for his hospitality, and then said: "Three years ago, I came to Laos, but this time, I found that Laos has changed a lot, especially the trade in the port is very prosperous, and it has only been more than a year since Laos was freed, and he can achieve such great achievements, and the Archon must have made a lot of efforts to do so!" ”

Canios's words of praise made Avinogis very comfortable to listen to, and he laughed and said: "Of course I didn't bother less, but I should thank Laos's allies more but yes, in this alliance, Laos enjoys a lot of convenience!" ……”

Canios listened thoughtfully.

At this time, Avinogis asked, "Did Elia send you this time to join the Dionian League?" ”

Kanios was stunned. With Elia's situation and coming to Dionya at this time, anyone with a discerning eye can roughly guess the purpose of their mission, but Canios didn't expect Avinogis to ask so directly, he put down the wine glass in his hand, thought about it, and said vaguely: "Whether to join the alliance or take other forms of alliance depends on the result of consulting with Dionia." ”

Avinokis looked at him and grinned: "Please forgive me for speaking directly, with my knowledge of Dionia, with Elia's current strength, I'm afraid Dionya will not accept other forms of alliance." ”

This is obviously to say that Elia is not strong enough, so don't expect to be treated better when she talks with Dionia. Kaños was a little embarrassed, bowed his head and drank, but did not speak.

Then Avinogis said: "I have heard that you Elia have close contacts with the Greek city-states of Campania, and if Elia has any covenant with them, Dionya may not necessarily accept Elia into the alliance, because it does not allow the city-states in the alliance to have any diplomatic relations with other city-states. ”

Kaños was a little surprised, he didn't know that there was such a rule between Dionia and the allies: "Thank you, Lord Archon, for the reminder!" The city-states of Campania had given Elia some help, but Elia did not have an alliance with any of the city-states. Canios replied without hesitation.

In fact, the Campania League, led by Naples and Capua, has always refused to accept Elia, because Campania and Elia are separated by two powerful races, Samonai and Lucania, and Elia is not strong. Elia was able to trade with Campania, but there was a mutual need, and she was able to recruit mercenaries from Campania to defend against the Lucanian attack, all for a fee.

"That's great, let's let Elia join the Ionian League. With the credibility and strength of Dionia, the Lucanians will no longer be a nuisance to you. Moreover, Elia and Laos, as the only two Tyrrhenian seaport cities in the Dionian League, will be able to cooperate with each other and strengthen trade in the future......" Avinogis smiled excitedly, and seemed to say his suggestion without any chance.

Hearing this, Canios was silent for a while, he didn't see the main master, how could he express his attitude at will, so he changed the topic: "Lord Archon must have met Davers, the Archon of the Ionian Alliance, what kind of person is he?" ”

"I've seen it many times. I've fought alongside him! With a proud look on his face, Avenokis wiped the wine stains from his mouth and said solemnly, "A piece of advice for you!" Don't be despised because he's young, he's an amazing man! ”

Since Elia was going to deal with Dionia, she naturally had done something about Dionia, and the focus of the natural investigation was Davers. The members of Elia's Council had mixed reviews of him: they admired his superior ability, and Dionia's rise in such a short time was absolutely inseparable from his efforts; What is disturbing is that his identity is actually the only consul for life, how this differs from the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse.

Will Elia's collaboration with Dionia lead to wolves? It was up to Canios to judge by what he had seen and heard, and the prosperity of Laos reduced his worries, while the words of Avinogis increased his curiosity: Is this the admiration of the tyrant for the tyrant?

"By the way, I can send you to Turii tomorrow." Avinokis said suddenly.

"My Lord, I am very grateful for your hospitality! How dare you let you send me off in person again, it will make me uneasy! Canios said with both emotion and euphemism.

"Hahaha! ......" Avinokis laughed loudly: "You don't have to thank me, you just dropped by." The temple of Hades in the city of Turii was built, and Dionia invited me to come and see it! ”

Avinokis' teasing embarrassed Canios a little, but what surprised him even more was what he said: Temple of Hades?!

……………………

Hearing that Heraclid had fainted and was unconscious at the completion of the temple of Hades, Davers immediately put aside all his affairs and rushed to his home.

Heraclid was awake, but he couldn't move at all, his eyes were half-open and half-closed, his mouth was wide open, and his chest rose and fell rapidly, like a tattered bellows making a piercing "whoosh" sound......