After a while, after the three arrows were fired, the audience came alive again, enthusiastically speculating about the outcome of the battle.

Soon, the target reporters came to the front of the players and the spectators with two round planks, and the referee's voice sounded again: "26:26, the two sides are tied - one more round!" ”

After watching the arrows on the target and making sure that the referee's decision was correct, the audience boiled: "The game is so exciting!" The two players are of the same level, and it is difficult to decide the winner for a while, which leads to the extension of the competition, and the ticket price is definitely worth it! ”

Mecca Kiddes looked at Stasipulus again, and Stasipus smiled in response, which piqued Mecca Kiddes' competitive spirit even more.

At the start of the next round, the crowd became even more silent, and all eyes were on the two players.

But the goddess of fate joked again, and the two players were tied again, only with a lower score: 22:22.

The audience was as lively as freshly boiled water, especially the Dionian spectators who bought the "Blessing of Tino" were highly nervous, eager for their chosen player to win.

The referee and the staff gathered together, discussing something with a solemn expression.

Only two competitors sat quietly on wooden chairs, closing their eyes to recuperate some energy.

The referee walked up to the two players and said loudly: "Considering that the two players have played 5 rounds and shot 15 arrows, and the physical consumption is very high, the referee team has decided to use one arrow to decide the winner after deliberation!" ”

It is true that in a normal battle, when an archer shoots 6 arrows in a row, his arms will be sore and difficult to pull the string, although the players in the archery competition can continue to rest and recover, so the game lasts for almost 3 hours, but the 15 arrows also almost exhaust the physical strength of the two players, causing their hit rate to gradually decline.

"What if the next arrow makes them tie again?!" Quite a few viewers asked loudly.

The referee replied without hesitation: "Then shoot another arrow until the winner is decided!" ”

There was a commotion in the audience.

Mecca Kiddes, who had been sitting for a while, stood up expressionlessly, put the bow on the string, but when he pulled the string, he clearly felt a burst of pain in his arm, he gritted his teeth and barely pulled the bowstring to his ear, the left hand holding the bow was trembling slightly, and he couldn't stay for a long time like he did at the beginning.

As soon as the arrow was fired, he didn't feel very good, and he secretly screamed in his heart: Oops!

At this time, he saw that his opponent's arrow was also shot quickly, and when he saw the strength and direction of the arrow, his heart was immediately relieved.

Sure enough, when the target announcer brought the plank closer, the audience was in an uproar.

The arrows fired by Mecca Kiddes were stuck diagonally at the bottom of the circular plank. And the plank that Stasipulus shot was empty, and he missed the target!

There was an uproar in the audience.

Mecca Kiddes looked at Stasipulus, but his expression was calm.

At this time, the referee walked up to the contestant and said in a loud voice: "Based on the results of the competition, I declare in the name of the gods that Mecca Kiddes has won the championship of the archery competition of the Ionian Games!" With that, he grabbed Mecca Kiddes' hand and held it up.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers, of course, mixed with a lot of sighs. And Stasipulus also smiled and applauded him gracefully.

Next came the medal ceremony, the staff led Mecca Kides to the very center of the front of the audience, and under the watchful eyes of thousands of spectators, the referee solemnly brought him a flower crown woven from poplar branches, and handed him a small cloth bag woven with gold wire, which contained 20 gold coins engraved with the words of the Dionian Games, and the most exciting moment for the Cretan spectators came: two staff members unfurled a flag of the Cretan city-state and handed it to the champion Mecca Kiddes, who, like other previous champions, came, Holding the flag high, slowly circling the arena to the cheers of spectators from all over the Mediterranean.

The officials of the Cretan athletes' delegation were all in the audience, and they were all very excited at this time. Judging from the situation in the first few days of the competition, the Dionian Games were full of strong players and the competition was very fierce, especially in the individual archery qualifiers in the previous days, except for Mecca Kiddes, the other Cretan players were eliminated, and they were dismayed to find that they were not confident that they would win the championship even in the archery event in Crete, which was the most confident in Crete! Today, however, Mecca Kiddes has finally defended Crete's reputation as an abundance of archers, and how could they not be surprised!

So when Mecca Kiddes was off the field, they immediately greeted him, praising him loudly and asking for warmth with concern.

Mecca Kiddes, who came from a civilian background, was surrounded by these Cretan aristocratic officials, and was somewhat overwhelmed.

At this time, a voice sounded in his ears: "Congratulations, Champion Mecca Kiddes!" ”

Mecca Kiddes turned around and saw the opponent named Stasipulus standing behind him smiling.

This made him suddenly feel a little ashamed, and said apologetically: "I just relied on my physical strength to win you by luck." ”

Stasippus looked at him and said seriously: "At your age, there are very few people I have seen such excellent marksmanship!" ”

Stasipulus's words were far more heartening than the compliments of the Cretan officials, but then he listened to Stasipus: "Are you interested in joining us in Dionia?" A great shooter like you is exactly what the Dionian army desperately needs! ”

Mecca Kiddes was stunned.

Before he could answer, the head of the Cretan delegation immediately retorted loudly: "Mecca Kides is a citizen of Heracleon!" It is the glory of our Crete! He will only stay in Crete and will never join Dionia! ”

"Oh?" Stasipulus glanced at him and asked with a sneer: "Staying in Crete, will he get a large share of the land?" Will he be able to enter the councils of the city-states as you do, hold positions of high office, discuss and make any resolutions? Mecca Kiddes, I have read your information, you are a commoner, even if you are a champion, you will not have a chance to stand out in Crete, where the nobility is in power, but as long as you come to Dionia, with your talents, land, wealth, and status can be obtained-"

"Don't lie! You think I don't know, it's not so easy to become a citizen of your Ionia, it is said that you have to live here for more than 10 years before you can get it! Siritaios reminded Mecca Kiddes loudly in the back.

Stasipulus glanced at him, and still said seriously to Mecca Kiddes: "It is a decree made by the kingdom for ordinary outcasts, and a talented person like you, the Ministry of Military Affairs will definitely pay more attention to it, and apply to Your Majesty, although it is impossible to make you a citizen of Dionya immediately, but it can shorten the number of years you can become a citizen." As long as you apply, you will soon be called into the barracks by the Ministry of War, and after a period of training you should soon become a detachment leader or company leader in the light infantry brigade of the Dionian Reserve Regiment, and after two or three years of service, you will become a citizen of Dionia, and you may also become an officer in the official regiment and enjoy the respect of the people......

As the former captain of the Light Infantry Group of the 1st Dionian Army, I am telling the truth, you go back and think about it. If you wish, you can come to me at the Ministry of War in Turiyi, where I have an idle position as a military trainer, and I can take you directly to the Minister of War, Olivers. ”

When Stasipulus finished speaking, he patted Mecca Kiddes on the shoulder as if encouragingly, and then turned to leave.

Perhaps it was the phrases "Dionian First Legion, Turriy Military Department" that frightened the head of the Cretan delegation, and he did not dare to interrupt as he spoke, until Stasipu went away, he waved his fist and shouted: "I want to protest to the Dionian Games!" You are ......."

Mecca Kiddes had never considered this aspect of the matter, and his mind was in a mess for a while when Stasipulus said this.

Ciritaios, who was beside him, was very envious, he didn't expect that he had tried his best to attract attention in the arena these days, but his dream of beauty had not been realized, and this poor civilian who only knew training every day had been recognized by the Dionian officers.

Seeing the officials of the delegation gathered around Kiddes in Mecca, painstakingly persuading him, "Don't listen to the demagoguery of Stasipus, he is now a hero of Crete, and the city-state of Crete will never treat him badly" and so on, Siritaios unconsciously pursed his lips.

On the way back to the stadium, because he wore a laurel crown and a flag, the standard dress of the Ionian Games champion immediately attracted the attention of the people along the way, and they paid respectful greetings to him, and actively asked others about his victory, and took the initiative to make way for him.

Cheers continued along the way, and countless envious eyes converged on him.

But Mecca Kiddes seemed a little preoccupied and had no intention of enjoying such glory.

When they arrived at the Athletes' Hotel, where the officials of the delegation had separated from Mecca Kiddes, Siritaios immediately approached him and whispered: "Hi, Mecca Kiddes, what do you think of what the Dionian officer said?" ”

Mecca Kiddes, who was calm and calm on the field, seemed hesitant at the moment: "I...... I haven't figured out ...... yet."

"What else do you want! What a great opportunity, if you miss it, you won't have it! Siritaios looked furious: "Think about everything we have enjoyed since we arrived here, this is simply the Elysée Paradise for athletes!" Think of the city again, where Turi's prosperity and Dionian citizens far exceeded that of Athens, where I had ever been, and where Crete's Heraclion was a little village in the middle of nowhere! If I were you, I would immediately go to the military department in Turiyi, find the officer, and ask him to help me join Dionia! ”