Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 924: Stolo's Dilemma

Beside him, Maecius gave him a nudge and whispered, "What are you staring at? Hurry up and translate! What did he say?"

Davos heard the murmurs around him but paid them no mind. "Even after our army landed in Latium and captured Rome, this elderly Roman dictator fought on tenaciously," he continued. "He ignored the danger to his own family. Even struck down by severe illness and bedridden, he did everything in his power to reclaim Rome. Down to his very last breath, he prioritized the safety of the Roman citizens over his own reputation by signing the letter of surrender... Camillus always loved his homeland and devoted his entire being to its people. He is a hero of Rome! He should serve as an example for the generals and officials of Daionia! May his soul return to the divine realm and find peace!"

Finishing his solemn tribute, Davos raised his hands, palms facing the sky, and bowed once more.

Aurus had not expected a foreign king to hold Camillus in such high regard. His face flushed as he recalled how he and Quintus had secretly plotted to seize control of the army from the dictator. Feeling a pang of guilt, he loudly translated Davos's words.

Upon hearing the translation, Maecius and the other officers looked desolate. Falling to their knees, they let out wails of grief that echoed toward the heavens.

Davos turned away, setting aside his solemn expression, and instructed Tolmides, "Begin executing the agreement."

Soon, many Daionian doctors wearing face coverings and full-body robes entered the Roman ranks to conduct detailed medical examinations. Any Roman soldiers and citizens exhibiting symptoms were escorted by fully armed Daionian soldiers to a newly built camp. Forbidden from leaving, they received specialized treatment and care from the doctors.

The remaining Roman soldiers and citizens who showed no immediate signs of illness were taken to another newly constructed camp, which they were also forbidden to leave. Daionian doctors would check on them regularly; if anyone showed symptoms, they would be immediately transferred to the patient camp for treatment.

The respect King Davos and his men had shown Camillus significantly reduced resistance during the examinations and transfers. Naturally, it also helped that the Romans felt completely lost and helpless upon realizing a plague was ravaging the city.

But their work was far from over. Many wounded Roman soldiers still lay near the city gates. They would be carried to yet another newly built camp for treatment and careful observation by the field hospital.

Once all this was done, a group of heavily protected Daionian soldiers entered the city and poured pitch everywhere. They intended to burn the entire town to the ground—the fastest way to eradicate the source of the plague.

Immediately after reaching the agreement with Aurus, Davos had dispatched messengers to notify the Volscians to the south that the City of Satricum would be burned.

When the Volscians heard that a plague had broken out in the City of Satricum, their faces paled. Eager to stay as far away as possible, they dared not raise a single objection.

As flames engulfed the City of Satricum, Camillus's remains were cremated in front of Aurus, Maecius, and the other Roman generals.

Aurus and the others felt a profound sense of loss. They stared blankly at the roaring fire, as if Rome itself were slowly turning to ash alongside Camillus's body. Every man shed hot tears at the sight.

Watching the dejected Roman generals being escorted to the camp by his soldiers, Davos frowned and sighed. "This sudden plague is going to delay us significantly!"

Davos had not been a medical student in his previous life, so he did not know the exact incubation period for this infectious disease. Just to be safe, he ordered his army to remain encamped here for 15 full days. They would supervise the Romans in the other camps to prevent escapes while monitoring the Daionian soldiers for any signs of illness, ensuring prompt quarantine and treatment.

Tolmides advised him with concern, "Your Majesty, we are enough to handle things here. You should take command in Rome to stabilize order throughout the occupied territory, and simultaneously plan the war against the Carthaginians!"

"Tolmides is right, Your Majesty," Oliphus quickly chimed in. "Rome's last army has surrendered. Aside from Velitrae, there is nothing left to worry about. The war in Latium is finally over. We can handle things here; you should return to Rome!"

Davos waved a hand dismissively, his tone firm. "We have already discussed this. Do not try to persuade me otherwise. I will stay here with you and the soldiers, and we will get through this crisis together!"

With that said, he looked at Crotokatax beside him and asked, "Clotho, what about you?"

Crotokatax answered without hesitation, "Father, you once said, 'The people have bestowed immense glory upon the royal family, but that also means we must shoulder immense responsibility.' I will not be a deserter. I am staying here too!"

"Well said!" Davos smiled in gratification.

...

"Today's work is finished. Everyone, hurry home," Stolo said, standing beside the Daionian engineer and translating his words into Latin.

The Romans, who had been busy tearing down the dilapidated houses lining the street, immediately dropped their tools and cheered.

The engineer loudly and earnestly reminded them, "Make sure to arrive early tomorrow."

The Romans shouted their promises and scattered in all directions.

Stolo did not leave right away. He stood quietly, watching the Daionian Citizens who had only recently arrived in Rome to work alongside the Romans on the neighborhood reconstruction. They meticulously put away all their construction tools. Only after their leader asked the engineer about tomorrow's schedule, agreed on a meeting time, and clarified everyone's assigned tasks did the group finally leave together.

As they left, these Daionian Citizens called out to him amicably, "Stolo, come on! Let's go play rugby!"

Stolo smiled and politely declined.

When these young Daionian Citizens migrated to Rome, they brought the sport of rugby with them. Stolo had personally watched the rugby matches they held. The rules were complex and interesting, and the physical confrontations on the field were intense and captivating. He even found it much more enjoyable than the bloody gladiator matches Rome used to host.

"Why not go with them?" a voice asked from behind.

Stolo turned his head and saw Maenas, the newly appointed demos magistrate of the Aventinus district and the general director of the current slum reconstruction project. He replied nonchalantly, "It is getting late. I need to hurry back for dinner."

"It is still early autumn. We have a few hours before it gets dark," Maenas said, unceremoniously exposing his half-hearted excuse. "I think you just haven't untangled the knot in your heart. You haven't taken the initiative to adapt to this new Rome."

Stolo opened his mouth to speak but ultimately remained silent.

Because Stolo and Sextus were both prominent figures among the Roman plebeians, they had interacted frequently in the past and were considered good friends. Therefore, Sextus's father, Maenas, spoke to him earnestly in the tone of an elder. "You are different from Sextus. You have deeper ties with the former Roman Aristocracy. They say your father is still putting up stubborn resistance in the City of Satricum, and your father-in-law remains entrenched on Capitoline Hill, even refusing your attempts to persuade him to surrender. It is certainly difficult being caught in the middle... but you must make up your mind as soon as possible!

"Looking at the current situation, your father and father-in-law's resistance against Daionia is doomed to fail! The Rome of the future will only be the Rome of the Kingdom of Daunia. We all need to work hard to adapt to this new change, and new change means new opportunities! For example, take me... or take Sextus... it is now much easier for us to secure official positions in the kingdom that we never would have even dared dream of before.

"I can sense that the Theonians value you quite highly. You should also be able to secure a good position to serve as your new starting point in this kingdom, winning more rights for yourself and for us Roman plebeians in the future! But you must hurry. Opportunities won't wait for you forever! Do you see those young people from Daionia over there?"

Maenas pointed at the Daionian Citizens walking away in groups and sighed. "Having spent these past few days with them, you must have felt it too. These newcomers from Daionia have received comprehensive educations. Not only are they physically robust, but they are also intelligent and wise. They know how to follow orders and understand the importance of unity and collaboration. The work assigned to them is always completed quickly and perfectly... It's terrifying! As far as I know, their parents used to be poor, ignorant, and illiterate commoners in the Greek city-states, just like us.

"No wonder Daionia was able to conquer Rome so easily! Our only advantage right now is that we are Romans. We are more familiar with the Roman people and know the surrounding Latium region better than they do... But once they've lived here for a long time and become familiar with everything, then..."

Maenas did not finish his sentence. Seeing a slight change in Stolo's expression, he knew his words had hit their mark. He gently patted Stolo's shoulder and said solemnly, "Think it over carefully. For your own sake, and for the sake of us Romans, do not let this opportunity slip by!"

After Maenas left, his words continued to echo in Stolo's mind. He fell deep into thought as he slowly strolled down the streets of Aventinus.

In the past, Stolo would never have dared to let his mind wander like this. The roads in the City of Rome used to be awful, especially in the Aventinus district. The ground was uneven, garbage was strewn everywhere, and sewage flowed freely; one had to walk with extreme caution. But after the Theonians occupied the City of Rome, the newly appointed Roman administrator, Asistes, ignored the ongoing war and quickly began exercising his authority. He promulgated numerous measures, one of the most important being the reconstruction of the City of Rome, starting with the Aventinus district, which had the worst sanitation.

Using the Daionian soldiers stationed in the city as the main workforce and the Roman plebeians as assistants, he launched an ongoing urban renovation campaign. Later, he also incorporated the Daionian Citizens who had migrated to Rome. Today, a month later, it could be said that the road reconstruction in the entire Aventinus district was essentially complete.