Chapter 72 \nCaâŚCastellon is a big city?â Asistes asked curiously.\nThe guide shook his head and said, âItâs a small city, it was built by the Sybarites and it is now independent.â
When he heard this, Davos looked to the south and sighed with heartfelt regret. He thought that at that time, the sphere of influence of Sybaris had reached Amendolara in the north and Castellon in the southâŚsuch a powerful city-state was destroyed by the smaller Crotone! The sentence âLife sprung from sorrow and calamity, and perish due to ease and pleasureâ is correct.
A good while later, Davos said, âLetâs go back.â
After the guide left, Davos said to Asistes and Ledes: âHave you ever seen a hound meeting a bear?â
The two shook their heads. It is important to know that there are no bears in Greece, only when they arrived in the Carduchian mountains did they find out that there are such strong land animals in the world.
âThe fur on the houndâs entire body will stand up, showing its sharp teeth and barking at the bear desperately as it makes a posture like it is about to attack. In fact, it knows that it canât beat the bear and it just wants to show its strength so that the bear knows that they arenât easy to mess withâŚâ Davos saw it in an online video in his previous life.
After all, Asistes was young, so he immediately responded with what he just saw today, âLeader, do you meanâŚthe Lucanians in Amendolara?â
âThe Lucanians in Amendolara wants to scare us away, but they have exposed their thoughts and strength. I think they only have more than 1,000 warriors in the city!â Said Davos confidently.
At this time, Ledes also understood and said excitedly, âLeaderâŚyou are gonna lead us to take Amendolara?!!â\nAfter all, they had attended the secret military meeting before they came to Magna Graecia, and they knew what the real purpose of the mercenaries is.
âBrothers, before the plan is implemented, we should keep it in to ourselves and not say a word out! Otherwise, the soldiers might end up spreading it out carelessly, Thurii will stop us, the Lucanians will strengthen their defense, and the other forces will disrupt our plans, because they will not want any strange foreign group taking root here! Do you understand!!â Davos seriously warned them.
âUnderstood!!â They nodded and answered.
âI decided to cover my mouth when I go to sleep.â Asistes jokingly said.
Looking at the excited face of the two, Davos said, âNow I have a task for you two. Ledes!â
âYou will lead your men to monitor the camp of Lucania in the west and the city of Amendolara in the north and report it to me everyday. At the same time, you should try your best in finding out the defense situation of Amendolara, the more detailed it is, the better. But donât let the Lucanians in the city find out about it. Can you do it?â
âYes!â Ledes made a powerful salute.
âAsistes!â\nâHere!â
âYou secretly searched for the citizens who had escaped from Amendolara, and then try your best to bring them to our camp, and donât let the Thurians know about it.â
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Burkes listened to the guide carefully as he retell him about him leading Davos for the past 2 days, and he was surprised by the seriousness of Davosâ investigation on the surrounding environment of Thurii. In his impression, even the Spartan Cleandridas who was once hailed as a famous strategos by Thurii, didnât personally investigate nor face the enemy alone like Davos.
BurkesHe couldnât help but ask, âMoras, what do you think of Davos?â
Moras thought for a bit and said, âMaster, Leader Davos is very kind to people!â
Moras, as an Egyptian slave, although he was regarded by Burkes as his confidant, but his contempt to him was obvious in the eyes of the other Thurii citizens. However, he did not feel that in Davos. On the contrary, Davos had always talked with him in an equal manner and had never ordered him around.
Burkes nodded, and he thought that Davos was a very cultured man even though he is a mercenary.
\nDavos received them warmly, the little conflict that had happened before had long been forgotten as both sides had a good time with their talks. As Davos said, the two mercenaries are on the same boat, and only by working together can they complete the mission and live to get their pay.
In fact, long before the leaders of both sides met, the soldiers of both sides had already begun getting close. On the one hand, Adrienâs mercenaries were curious about the Greek expedition troops, on the other hand, both sides are mostly from the Ionian region which can be regarded as their hometown, specially in this unfamiliar place. Therefore, at the end of the day, it was Adrien and their soldiers, as well as Davosâ soldiers who had built the camp together as they listened to the story of the expedition. The leaders of both sides did not prevent them, instead, they are glad about it.
Davos had also reached an agreement with Adrien to build a passageway that connects both camps, so that if one side suffers difficulty, the other side will provide assitance.
In fact, both sides knew that the recruits under Adrien will have higher chance suffering difficulties than the experienced troops of Davos. However, Davos did not hesitate in agreeing. He then sent the two leaders out of the camp, then Adrien and Sesta thanked him again and bid their goodbyes.
A soldier, who was not far away, pointed to Davos and said proudly, âLook, thatâs our leader, Davos the Godâs favored!â
âHeâs Davos? Heâs so young?â Another soldier from Adrienâs camp couldnât believe it.
âWhatâs wrong with him being young! Several Persian generals died in his hands. He is like a lion when he charge, which made even the Spartans afraid! Canât you even tell that your leader is so respectful to Davos!â Said the soldier proudly.
At this time, another soldier cut in, âAnd leader Davos is very kind to us soldiers! Even if you are seriously injured, he will not abandon you! I got shot by a Persian arrow, and my body was burning hot like fire and I thought that I was going to die. However, it was leader Davos who saved me from hellâŚâ He lifted his clothes to expose his wound and treated it as a medal instead of a scar.
Hearing this, the soldier looked envious, âIf only leader Davos could command us!!â