It was a long pass of nearly forty meters! The rugby ball flew high and fast. The blue team’s supporters watched its trajectory and lamented that this pass will definitely go out of bound, and it would be then the time for the offense and defense to change again!
But at this moment, they saw a player of the blue team on the right-wing run pass the red team’s interception and quickly rushed to it and jumped high. ．
“By Zeus, he managed to jump so high!” In the exclamation of the audience, the player of the blue team stretched out his long arm to block the rugby ball that was flying fast in mid air. When he was falling down, he held the rugby ball tightly with both hands, and the touchdown area was only a few meters in front of him.
“Stop him!” The red team players yelled anxiously, which could even be heard by the audience.
A red team player nearest to the blue team player rushed forward. The blue team player did not evade, with the strong inertia of his previous sprint, he threw his whole body out with all his effort together with the red team player who had managed to grab his legs, and they heavily landed in the touchdown area with the ball still firmly in his hands.
TOUCHDOWN!
Tios, like the other Nerulum fans, became excited by the brilliant performance of the player of the blue team. He was unable to restrain his excitement, he suddenly stood up and started to dance and shout, and had even drank a mouthful of beer. The cold foam had washed away his restlessness and had made him feel refreshed.
After he sat back down, he realized that his hands were full of sweat due to his nervousness. This is indeed a more exciting competition than the traditional Greek sports!
Dicaeapolis looked at him and suddenly said, “So you support Nerulum!”
Tios embarrassedly made an excuse, “Someone has to support them, who are of different races, so that the game will be more intense and exciting!”
Dicaeapolis nodded in agreement.
At this moment, several referees ran to the touchdown area because the blue team player who scored just now had not yet stood up.
What happened? Tios began to get nervous again.
The referee waved to the physician on the court, and soon even a stretcher was carried over. The blue team player shook his head and refused to lie down on the stretcher. His left arm drooped as he struggled to stand up….
“It seems that his arm is dislocated.” Said Dicaeapolis.
The injured player walked down the court and waved his right hand to the surrounding audience to apologize. His brilliant and heroic performance have impressed the audience, and so, they gave him a heroic respect with warm applause and cheers.
“Rugby is really a game for the brave warriors!” Tios said emotionally.
At this moment, the audience who had asked Dicaeapolis priorly could not wait to say, “I will call on the citizens of Roscianum to learn rugby tonight, and we will have a wonderful performance in the next rugby game!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Just as the eyes of Theonia Union and most foreigners were focused on the rugby game, in one of the houses in a low-cost residential area under the city of Amendolara, Timasion, Cleanor, and Toras had gathered for a confidential meeting.
“Leaders, I have contacted all our brothers. There are about 1,700 men who are willing to follow us.” Said Toras, the trusted subordinate of Timasion and a former mercenary officer.
“1,700 men….” Cleanor said with some dissatisfaction, “The number is still a bit low.”
“It’s enough to attack Krimisa!” Timasion said calmly and resolutely, “I have investigated Krimisa in detail. After their last war, there are only more than a thousand citizens in this small place who could participate in battle, defeating them will not be a problem, but, the problem would be how to quickly take the city of Krimisa?!”
“So we must carefully prepare siege equipment, and at the same time, we must keep it a secret and not leak it out, because once Davos and the others find out, they will not only stop us, but will also make Krimisa be alert!” Reminded Cleanor.
“I didn’t tell anyone the truth. I had only told them what you have taught me leader Cleanor that, ‘We are going to take them to Syracuse and accept the employment of Dionysius to attack Carthage, because after the war, Syracuse will make us citizens!’” Said Toras.
“For Xanticles and Tolmides, we should not tell them that we are leaving. I have tried to talk to them several times, but I feel that they are already satisfied with their life here…” Cleanor said with contempt, “Xanticles and the others would rather go work as porters in the port than take up arms to fight on the battlefield. They have turned from warriors into a group of cowards!”
“When we become the master of Krimisa, they will regret it!” Timasion consoled Cleanor.
“What if….once we capture Krimisa, Crotone will then lead their army to attack us?” Toras said anxiously.
“It’s simple!” Cleanor said with a bit of ridicule, “As soon as we capture Krimisa, we will immediately send someone to inform Davos that ‘Krimisa is willing to join Theonia Union.’ Davos will not abandon us! Even if he really forgot our previous friendship, Philesius, Agasias, Hieronymus…and the other officers like old Diogenes who is also now a statesman, and the soldiers who have fought together with us and are now citizens of Theonia will also speak for us. Therefore, Davos will not ignore the opinions of so many people. Didn’t he claim that it was the people who had elected him?! Can he go against the will of so many people?! Isn’t that right, Timasion?!”
“Indeed, the way Davos and the others manage to acquire Amendolara and become the rulers of a city-state in Magna Graecia! We can also learn from their experience and obtain Krimisa with their help! We are no worse than them! Why are they so up high, while we are so down below?!” After arriving at Theonia, Timasion, who has been silent, is now voicing his thoughts and his face is full of rivalry.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
A few days later, when Davos received a report from Aristias that there was a change in the mercenaries that was led by Timasion and Cleanor, Timasion had taken the initiative to come see him.
“You are leaving the union?!” Davos heard the request of Timasion and was slightly surprised.
“We will go to Syracuse and help Dionysius attack the Carthaginians. I heard that he promised that ‘After they win the war, you can become a citizen of Syracuse and get allocated a fertile land.’” Said Timasion with seriousness.
Davos was silent, because of what Aristias had said (Syracuse had a grudge against him), and that Davos knew a lot about Syracuse, and Dionysius had indeed made such a promise to the mercenaries.
Timasion, seeing that Davos was silent, continued to say, “Davos, we are very grateful to you and Agasias for your help and care. However, we are all used to our freedom and are unable to adapt to the strict laws here, and also because we are unable to become a citizen of the union immediately. Our brothers have started to have some opinions, and I think that our departure will be good for you and for us!”
Davos gazed at Timasion. Seeing the resolve on his face, he nodded slowly and said, “Hmm, so you are going to Sicily. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Please return our weapons and equipment that are stored in your armory to us, and…can you be our guarantor, so that we can hire a number of ships to transport us to Syracuse?…erm, if you can also give us some tents so that after we arrive in Syracuse, we can camp in the wild before we get hired…of course, if you can also give us some more food….”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The news that themore than 1,700 mercenaries led by Timasion and Cleanor were leaving Theonia Union had caused a small stir among the statesmen.
For statesmen like Kunogelata, Cornelius, Protesilaus and the others who had taken up important positions and have been tortured by these often trouble causing mercenaries in recent months, think that it is a great thing.
For the statesmen that were former mercenaries such as Philesius, Agasias, and Hieronymus, they are deeply saddened.
Although Davos expressed regret on the surface, he felt much more relieved. After all, many people in the union now know that Timasion was his comrade when he was in Persia, so as long as they have done any huge problem in the union, not only are there people in the senate(the Thurian statesmen that are headed by Bolus) who would make a complaint, but the masses as well. If things go on like this, it will certainly damage the prestige of Davos.
On the day Timasion led the mercenaries to leave, the statesmen that were former mercenaries and many other former mercenary soldiers have gone to the port to see them off.
Facing the apology of Agasias, Timasion gave him a strong hug, “Among our comrades, I am mostly grateful to you, because you have truly wanted to help us! Zeus watches from above, so he will surely repay your kindness!”
On the other hand, Cleanor gloatingly said to Xanticles, Tolmides and the others, “One day, you will find that it was your mistake that you didn’t leave with us. Then at that time, you will come to us and beg!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Looking at the transport ship filled with mercenaries that were leaving the port. Agasias was disappointed, he then dejectedly said to Davos, “Did I make a mistake and should not have let them come to join the union?”
Davos patted him on the shoulder, and then pointed to the side and said, “You didn’t make a mistake. Not every mercenary likes to live a life of constant fighting. Didn’t they choose the union with your help?”
Following the direction of Davos’ finger, the mercenaries such as Xanticles, Tolmides, and others who were leaving to continue their day’s work after seeing off their companions….
“During this period of time that you were in contact with them, I believe that you have noticed it.” Davos said to the depressed Agasias, “Today, we are no longer what we were in Persia, but they are still the same. We have accepted those who are willing to accept the new changes, but those who are not willing to adapt to the new environment like Timasion, leaving is the best choice for them!”