Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1062: Bestowing Grace

Davos didn't even blink at the news. He had endured several assassination attempts over the years, and numerous other plots had been thwarted before they could be carried out; he was already accustomed to such things. He simply asked in a mild tone, "Who?"

"Some citizens of Roman descent, primarily former Roman aristocrats residing in Thurii," Aristiras said slowly, his tone devoid of any emotion. "Based on the intelligence we have gathered, the organizers likely include Servius, Furius, Aurus, and Minucius... What we know for certain is that Lentulus is also involved."

A hint of surprise flickered across Davos's face. "Publius's son, Manlius Lentulus?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The slave in the camp learned of these matters entirely through Lentulus." Remembering a detail, Aristiras emphasized, "That slave was also once a high-ranking Roman aristocrat."

"Oh? It seems not all of these former Roman aristocrats are short-sighted fools. There are still some who can accurately read the political climate and acknowledge the Kingdom of Daunia. Therefore, we must reward this slave heavily and widely publicize his deeds, while also ensuring his protection. Take my decree to Raphias and have his Slave Administration Office grant this man his freedom early."

"Understood," Aristiras replied, before asking another question. "Your Majesty, should we arrest these rebels immediately, or lure them out... and catch them all in one net?" It seemed presumptuous to suggest this, but he only asked because Davos had personally risked himself several times in the past—such as during the Festival of Hades assassination attempt over a decade ago, and the Temple of Diana conspiracy in Rome a few years prior. Those gambits had seemed perilous, but ultimately yielded tremendous gains.

Davos drummed his fingers against the table, pondering the matter for a long moment before answering. "It has only been a few years since the great war. Right now, the kingdom needs stable development. The Romans, Phoenicians, and Samnites within our borders still need time to integrate into the realm. If an incident like this were to occur at such an influential gathering as the Greek Scholars Conference, the fallout would be immense. The situation could easily spiral out of control."

Davos said all this clearly to remind Aristiras of his priorities. Then, he ordered in a deep voice, "Assemble your men immediately. Investigate the entire plot, secure concrete evidence, and then coordinate with the Thurii Patrol Office to make the arrests. Do not let a single conspirator slip away, but do not falsely accuse any innocent people either!"

"Understood."

"I will start by interrogating Lentulus," Aristiras answered without hesitation. "He is an excellent breakthrough point."

Aristiras then gave a brief rundown of exactly how Lentulus had leaked the plot.

Upon hearing the details, Davos let out a sigh. "An undertaking of this magnitude requires meticulous planning. These men fall far short of Dionysius in his prime! I agree with your decision to interrogate Lentulus first, but you must take Publius's feelings into consideration... Speaking of which, has Publius had any contact with these conspirators?"

Aristiras understood the underlying concern and answered honestly. "Based on our surveillance so far, we haven't noticed any suspicious behavior from him. In my judgment, he is completely unaware of the plot."

Davos pondered for a moment before deciding. "Very well... Go notify him to come see me right away."

...

When Publius received the summons, he was at home lecturing his eldest son, Lentulus. The boy was a constant source of headaches. Ever since their family relocated to Thurii, his son had grown increasingly rebellious. He slacked off at Thurii School and failed his civil service exams. Publius had gone to great lengths to arrange a position for him as a scribe at Thurii City Hall, only for the boy to neglect his duties and spend all his time loitering with the old Roman Aristocracy. No matter how much Publius tried to reason with him, his words fell on deaf ears. Today, Lentulus had even demanded to move out and live on his own, throwing Publius into yet another fit of rage.

Upon learning that the king had summoned him, Publius didn't dare delay. He immediately set off toward King's Hill, his mind racing the entire way. Why would King Davos summon him at such a late hour?

A moment later, his thoughts drifted back to his eldest son. The boy was getting older and so rebellious; perhaps finding him a wife would help him settle down and mature...

Publius's residence was located in the West Outer District. Even as a Senator, he still had to present Davos's decree to the city guards before being allowed into the inner city, as freely passing through the gates at night was very difficult without special circumstances.

Despite his swirling thoughts, Publius kept up a brisk pace and soon reached the summit of King's Hill.

Davos stepped out to personally welcome him into the parlor.

"Lord Publius, have you eaten dinner yet?" Davos asked with a warm smile.

"I have, Your Majesty."

"Then join me for a drink." After Davos spoke, a servant brought over the wine that had already been prepared.

"This is a new vintage from the Oliphus Family. They poured a great deal of effort into crafting it, and it hasn't even hit the market yet. I've heard you are quite the wine connoisseur, so please, have a taste. Tell me how it compares to their previous blends, and feel free to offer them some feedback."

Suppressing his lingering questions, Publius took a small sip. His eyes immediately lit up. "This wine... it isn't overly sweet. It has a slight tartness to it. It's excellent!"

"It seems that ever since Oliphus left prison and stepped away from the distractions of politics, his dedicated research has paid off with another fine vintage!" Davos laughed, raising his wine cup. "Publius, this is your first time visiting my home as a guest. Welcome!"

Publius quickly raised his own cup in return. After he took another sip, Davos asked, "How many years has it been since you were appointed as the administrative deputy of Thurii?"

"A little over two years, Your Majesty," Publius answered truthfully.

"Two years..." Davos slowly set down his wine cup, turning the thought over in his mind. "Lysias has mentioned to me on several occasions that your performance as an administrative deputy has been nothing short of exceptional! I know you previously served a long tenure as a municipal magistrate in Rome, giving you a wealth of administrative experience. It's clear that once you familiarized yourself with the kingdom's laws and systems, you were bound to achieve great things. The other Senators who integrated into the kingdom alongside you simply don't compare to you in this regard. In my eyes, you are more than ready to independently take on the role of a Town Magistrate!"

At those words, Publius's heart leapt, and a strong sense of anticipation swelled within him.

When Davos raised his wine cup once more, Publius hurriedly raised his own to match the gesture.

"Capability is one thing, but one must also have the courage to take on responsibility!" Davos noted meaningfully. "If I recall correctly, as the administrative deputy of Thurii, you also oversee the Thurii Patrol Office, don't you?"

"I do, Your Majesty."

"Today, my court herald received verified intelligence," Davos said softly. "A group of individuals in Thurii is plotting to assassinate me at the upcoming All-Greek Academic Symposium. What do you think should be done?"

To think such a plot existed! Publius's face paled in shock. He immediately and solemnly declared, "Your Majesty, please dispatch Aristiras to assist me. I will order the Thurii Patrol Office to arrest these conspirators at once. They will face rigorous interrogation, and once their crimes are verified, they will be sentenced to death!"

Davos looked at him, his voice dropping low. "According to Aristiras, this faction is primarily composed of the old Roman Aristocracy, led by Servius, Aurus, and Furius. Furthermore... your son, Lentulus, is involved."

What?! Publius felt as though five thunderbolts had struck him. His entire body convulsed with shock, and the wine cup slipped from his grasp, spilling bright red wine across the table. His first instinct was to question what he had just heard, but seeing Davos's piercing gaze, a cold sweat broke out over his skin. After a moment of hesitation, he shakily rose to his feet. Gritting his teeth, he stammered, "Your Majesty, I had no idea... No, I will arrest Lentulus and interrogate him at once. If he truly took part in this treason, he must face severe judgment based on the circumstances... even execution..."

"Sit down, do not panic. Severe judgment? Execution? ... I do not believe it is that serious." Satisfied with his performance, Davos calmly comforted him. "Ever since you joined the kingdom, you have actively supported and implemented the various decrees concerning Rome over the past few years. You have also offered many beneficial suggestions that have reduced unrest among the Romans within the kingdom and accelerated their integration.

"Take, for instance, your suggestion to relocate former Roman military generals and officials—like Servius, Furius, and Aurus—to Thurii, utilizing the central city's strong security capabilities to closely monitor and deter them. That proposal of yours was indeed an excellent suggestion, which is why we were able to spot the warning signs in time. If they had been placed in another town, it might have caused quite a commotion. Therefore, I have absolute faith in your loyalty to the kingdom!"

"Furthermore, I know that the old Roman Aristocracy harbors deep resentment against you, constantly spreading rumors about you throughout Thurii City. To retaliate against you, they surely approached your son intentionally, using all sorts of tactics to rope him in and turn him against the kingdom... You have sacrificed a great deal for the kingdom!"

Hearing Davos's earnest and heartfelt words, a surge of profound warmth flooded Publius's chest. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Despite himself, his eyes grew red with emotion.

Davos's expression grew serious. "Daionia must never allow an official who sincerely works for the kingdom to bleed and shed tears, nor can we let the schemes of these thugs succeed. Therefore, I have decided to place you and Aristiras in charge of this incident. As for Lentulus... he is still just a boy. What does he really understand? As long as he truthfully confesses the names of everyone who manipulated him, we will let bygones be bygones. However... going forward, you must keep a tighter rein on your son's education. You cannot dedicate all your energy to the kingdom while neglecting your home. That simply will not do. Our Daionian tradition states: the family is the cornerstone of the kingdom. When every family is stable, the kingdom naturally remains stable!"