Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1079: Street-side Tavern

According to traditional Greek belief, overseeing rivers and springs was not Hades's divine domain. However, ever since he displayed his miracles at the Fountain of Thurii and brought the spring back to life, the Theonians gradually came to believe that Hades was the true protector of springs and drinking water, relegating Poseidon to a supporting role.

Several women with clay jugs were gathered around the pool, chatting as they drew water. Children chased each other around the basin and its surrounding stone pillars.

Maximus's two children were eager to join the fun, but Fulvia stopped them.

Although Maximus marveled at how water flowed into the pool, he didn't ask questions. He simply followed the servant up the stairs to the third floor and down a dim corridor until they reached the room for rent.

Along the way, they ran into several tenants who greeted the servant respectfully. Evidently, the landlord left him in charge of managing the entire apartment building.

Even though the room was sparsely furnished with only a bed, a table, and a few chairs, it was clean, spacious, and well-lit. It was vastly superior to his quarters at the slave camp, so Maximus immediately decided to rent it.

After leaving his bundles in the room, he followed the servant to the Tax Office and signed the rental agreement.

By the time the rental was finalized, dusk had fallen. Both Maximus and his wife were hungry, and their two children had lost their energy for play. Maximus decided to take his family out to get something to eat.

There were quite a few restaurants near their new lodgings. The most famous among them was the Christoya Eatery, which had filled up early in the evening; a line was already waiting outside the door.

This type of street-side tavern typically featured only a circular counter. The stone counter had multiple round pits carved into it, which held opened wine jars, beer kegs, and clay pots. A shrine was set into the stone wall at the end of the counter, but it usually wasn't dedicated to Hades; instead, it honored Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

When Maximus and his family walked in, there were already quite a few patrons inside, making the small space feel a bit cramped.

The cook standing behind the center of the counter saw them. She leaned forward with a bright smile and asked, "What would you like to eat and drink?"

"What do you have that's filling?" Maximus asked, eyeing the jars and pots on the counter.

"Bread, cheese, vegetables, nuts, and olives... We can serve those right away. If you'd like some hot soup, we can make you some Sheep Offal Soup or beef soup on the spot, or boil some Wheat Porridge and bean porridge, though that will take a little time." The cook looked over Maximus's family, assessing their needs, and continued fluently, "And, of course, we offer a variety of wines and beers produced in the kingdom, all at relatively cheap prices."

"Give me four loaves of bread, four slices of cheese, two bowls of Wheat Porridge, and a large bowl of Sheep Offal Soup," Maximus said after a moment of thought.

"Won't you have something to drink?" the cook urged. "It looks like you've walked a long way. You must be tired and thirsty. Why not have a glass of beer to wet your throat and ease your fatigue?"

Maximus wasn't a man easily swayed, but as he glanced at the patrons by the counter, holding their wine cups and talking loudly, he suddenly changed his mind. "I'll have a beer."

"Which kind of beer would you like?" The cook pointed to a round pit in the counter in front of her and said enthusiastically, "I highly recommend Christoya Beer. It's brewed by the breweries under Queen Cheiristoya. They invented Daionia's beer, so theirs is the most authentic, the best tasting, and incredibly crisp. It's extremely popular among the kingdom's citizens. Because demand is so high, most of the supply is bought up and hoarded by those damned wealthy merchants and officials for their banquets, so there isn't much sold on the open market. Our tavern only managed to get some through special connections. It's a bit more expensive, but very rare!"

Although Maximus was somewhat tempted by her pitch, he suppressed his cravings and said, "Just give me a regular beer."

Even though her persuasion failed, the cook didn't show any disappointment. She smiled and said, "Alright. One loaf of bread is five Obols, so four loaves are twenty Obols... that's sixty-seven Obols in total, which converts to nine drachmas and three Obols. Pay first, and I'll get your food ready right away."

Great, the cost of this single dinner was nearly equivalent to a month's rent! In the past, Maximus wouldn't have cared about such a paltry sum, but over three years as a slave had taught him the harsh realities of life. He took a breath, counted out ten drachmas from his coin pouch, and received four Obols in change.

The cook peered into the crowd and shouted, "Hey! We've got children who need to eat! Someone be a good sport and give up a seat!"

At her sharp voice, someone stood up from a bench against the wall. Fulvia quickly squeezed through the crowd with the children, thanked the patron, and sat down.

Maximus, meanwhile, stood by the counter.

Before long, the cook placed his bread and cheese into a small wooden basket and handed it over.

Maximus noticed the bread was still warm and silently approved of the tavern's thoughtful service.

The cook lifted a wooden lid, dipped a long, slender wooden ladle into the clay pot set in the stone pit, and scooped out some beer. She poured a full cup and handed it to Maximus. The Wheat Porridge and Sheep Offal Soup, however, still needed time to simmer.

Maximus accepted the beer and took a sip, instantly feeling his parched throat soothed. In truth, there had been no beer in Rome in the past; Maximus had only acquired a taste for this cheap, sorrow-drowning drink in the slave camp.

As the family sat in the corner and began to eat, Maximus chewed on his bread while carefully listening to the conversations of the other patrons.

"Hey, did you hear? That business about the kingdom dispatching the army to the borders of Southern Iberia and northern Etruria to build defensive fortresses is supposedly getting canceled!"

"You've got it wrong; a cancellation is impossible. If the kingdom doesn't send troops to defend the borders, there'll be nothing to stop the raids from those barbarians in the mountains. It'll only allow them to grow stronger and more rampant. They might even launch an attack on the kingdom's border territories."

"Wouldn't that be the perfect excuse for the kingdom to start a war and wipe out those barbarians? We might even be able to earn some military merit and become citizens sooner."

"I've heard the kingdom isn't planning to launch any major wars for the next few years. It hasn't been long since the last war, and the drain on resources was immense. We still haven't fully recovered."

"You're right. But that's not the only reason. They say both northern Etruria and Southern Iberia are filled with endless mountain ranges, and the terrain is treacherous. Most of those native tribes live in the mountains. If they can't beat the kingdom's army, they're likely to just retreat into the hills. It would be incredibly difficult for the kingdom to wipe them out completely. That's why it's necessary to first send the army to secure the borders and strike hard against any invading barbarians. However, I heard that because the public outcry is so strong, the higher-ups might cancel the decision to deploy the legions. Instead, they plan to hire registered freemen to form a border defense force."

The patrons let out a collective gasp. "Is that true?!"

Maximus felt a stir of interest and looked closer. Most of the patrons wore simple, shabby linen tunics, clearly holding a rather low status. Only a few dressed with any care, and the man who seemed to have this inside information was one of them.

The man took a sip of beer and said proudly, "Of course it's true! When has Gorgion ever lied to you? Let me tell you, the higher-ups have been discussing this matter for a while now. The reason they haven't been able to make a final decision is that hiring an army costs a lot of money, and the kingdom can't spare the funds to support a mercenary force dedicated purely to border defense.

"But I heard from a friend serving as a palace guard that His Majesty King Davos firmly stated during a council meeting that the kingdom's border forces must be established as soon as possible! Since the kingdom's territory is constantly expanding, marching an army from Thurii to the borders right now takes ten days to half a month. In the future, it might take two or three months, or even half a year. If a foreign invasion occurs and we have to mobilize an army to meet the enemy, they might have already conquered the border regions and slaughtered countless citizens by the time we arrive. Therefore, a border defense force must absolutely be formed to protect the kingdom's frontiers. If there truly isn't enough money to hire a mercenary force, he will ignore the citizens' objections and deploy the regular army to garrison the borders long-term!"

"The great King Davos is truly looking out for the kingdom. Those Daionian Citizens are being far too selfish!" another patron sighed. "If I were already a full citizen, I would absolutely support His Majesty's decision with all my might. I'd go defend the borders as a legionary without a second thought!"

"Tch!" another patron scoffed dismissively. "As a registered freeman, if the kingdom actually establishes a mercenary force made up of registered freemen, I'll join without a moment's hesitation. I wouldn't even ask for a single Obol in pay, as long as they immediately make me a Daonian Official Citizen."

Several other patrons murmured their agreement.

"If you guys became full citizens and received your allotted land, you'd definitely go back on your word," someone suddenly piped up, sparking a burst of laughter.

"The Kingdom of Daunia has a vast territory and a massive population. How could it possibly lack the money to support a small mercenary force?" another patron asked in confusion.