Chapter 356: Mixed Reactions
Burkes remained unswayed and said with a sullen look, “There are so many found guilty of occupying illegal land this time…to be honest, I am surprised!…and I felt pained at my negligence! So if I don’t resign, I won’t be able to explain it to the Senate and the citizen…I also hope that the Senate will investigate me to confirm my innocence!”
Davos listened to him, but a thought flashed through his mind: A few years ago, he already knew about the corruption of Pollux and the others, and he had been hiding it and allowing for the problem to expand to involve more people. On the one hand, Pollux and the others had to buy more slaves and release them if they wanted to achieve their goal, which was what Davos precisely wished to see. On the other hand, most of those who can do these things are the nobles and wealthy people, as they are the only ones who have the ability and connections to achieve this goal. So Davos took this opportunity to remove those who secretly resist the pro-civilian laws that he proposed. Therefore, it’s not that no one has found the problem; it’s just that several important public officials under Burkes have been bribed to cover it up. At the same time, Davos has also secretly suppressed it and did not open the lid until today. So from the bottom of his heart, he felt guilty for Burkes.
“Dad! Dad!…” At this time, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Crotokatax, who was more than four years old, ran in, “Come and play with me!”
While saying that, he ran towards Davos’ seat.
Davos hurriedly hugged him and said with a kind voice, “My little Cro, I am currently talking with your uncle, so I don’t have time now. Won’t you go and play with your brother Adoris?”
“Elder brother is memorising poems and has no time to play with me…he said that if he couldn’t recite it well, he will be punished by the teacher tomorrow…while sister is helping mother grow flowers. No one cares about me!…” Little Kro place his arms around Davos’ neck and gloomily said, “Dad, won’t you come and play with me?”
Seeing the usually revered archon having a hard time dealing with children made Burkes surprised. After sighing, he stood up and said, “Lord Davos, there is no need to persuade me anymore as I have already made up my mind. I will take my leave.”
“Alright.” Davos stood up with his son in his arms, “I agree with you stepping down as the Chief of Agriculture Officer, but I won’t allow you to be lazy! Now, there are so many things that need to be done in the union, and I alone won’t be enough, so you have to continue helping me!”
Burkes remained silent for a moment, then said, “I’ll think about it…”
“No need for you to think about it as it’s your duty as a statesman of Theonia! Once everything is over, you will serve on the Union’s Civil Servant Management Committee!” Said Davos with a forceful attitude that would not allow any refusal.
Burkes neither agreed nor refused. He went to the door and asked hesitantly, “What will the Senate do with Pollux?”
He mentioned the Senate, but in fact, he is asking the decision of Davos. So Davos vaguely replied, “It would be up to the court on how to punish Pollux and the others…”
Burkes understood that Davos would not let go of Pollux and the others, so he could only sigh secretly because he also heard the news of Pollux’ collusion with Syracuse.
“Little Cro! Little Cro!…” At this time, a beautiful figure of a woman appeared in front of Burkes.
“Madam!” Recognising the second wife of Davos, Agnes, Burkes hurriedly greeted her.
Unlike Cheiristoya, who knew all the statesmen of the Senate like the back of her hand, Agnes didn’t know most of them, so she just politely responded to his greetings.
“Mama Agnes! Mama Agnes! When did you come back?!…” Little Cro became happy, prying open his father’s arms, and ran over excitedly.
Davos, who finally got freed, accompanied Burkes to the gate of his house.
“Lord Burkes.” Davos looked at the dark street and said, “I could still remember the first time I saw you, you were running around to save Thurii, trying your best to do what you think is right to the point that you aren’t afraid of being criticised by the Council of Thurii. Now, although Theonia seems to be powerful, we are also facing many difficulties and even more powerful enemies coveting her. At this time, we can not shrink back, and we must unite and face the difficulties to get through this dangerous situation!”
Burkes just stood at the gate of the house…a moment later, he looked at Davos’ expectant gaze and said, “I understand.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The next day, the statesmen were shocked by the results of the internal investigations: Pollux and the others had illegally occupied land and colluded with the officials and merchants. However, the more severe issue and the most important thing is that Pollux did have contact with the Syracusan, and he was not the only one who had received gifts.
Everyone in the Senate felt the complexity of the problem.
According to the opinion of Kunogelata and Cornelius, they should hold Pollux and the others’ trial in secrecy and send envoys to Syracuse to protest and make Dionysius restrain his ambition…
However, those militants such as Antonios and Amintas demanded that Pollux and others be tried in public, letting everyone know the crimes they have committed and making them aware of Syracuse’s ambition. Afterwards, they should send envoys to Syracuse, asking them to apologise for this and make compensation.
In the end, Davos proposed a public hearing of the case in the Nike Square, as the case of Pollux and others brought uproar in the city and alarming the whole union, with rumours and fears spreading in every city causing even their allies to be concerned. Hence the Senate must give the people the truth and remind the people of Theonia that Theonia Union is still in a bad situation so that they should not slack off!
The Senate approved.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dusk of that day, Androlis, the praetor of Pyxous, received an urgent letter from Davos.
In the letter, Davos explained the reasons for the arrest of Eurypus, Pleitinas, and some other Krimisians in detail. And at the same time, he also declared that he would give them a fair trial. In addition, in his letter, he praised him, “Androlis, the Senate expresses its gratitude to you for your merits in the Lucanian region. In the two years, you have sat as the praetor of Pyxous. You had not only stabilised the Lucanians in the city and smoothly turn them into Theonians but also developed the port of Pyxous, promoting the prosperity of trade and commerce!…”
Androlis stood on the rooftop of the mansion as he read through the letter. After reading it, he became emotional: He had a vague idea about Eurypus and Pleitinas. These two Krimisian colleagues of his were keen to enter and lead the Theonian army. Unfortunately, when they joined the army, Theonia’s war with foreign enemies had stopped, so they had no chance to accumulate merits. At the same time, they had to familiarise the new way of fighting, even though It’s already hard for them to train with the recruits. However, when the positions of the five legatus became full, they had little hope of becoming a legatus of a legion as there are still many people waiting in line behind them who have higher military achievements and fighting experience than them. For them to be able to achieve their current position as centurions was already the grace of Davos for the sake of them being a statesman. However, they felt shameful to hold such lowly positions when comparing with their fellow statesmen like Antonios, Philesius, Kapus and the others, so they went to Davos many times in the hope that they could raise their position in the army again. However, Davos refused and said, “All the military affairs shall be carried out in accordance with Theonia’s Military Law.” Since then, they began criticising Davos.
Then they began coming to Androlis several times, hoping that he, as the leader of the Krimisians, could come out and join hands with Pollux to propose the resumption of the ecclesia, which he naturally refused. Regarding the situation of Davos in control of the Senate, he is not without resistance, but Davos did not restrict him; rather, he gave him a broader world to play his talents…
‘This is where I have been sweating for years!’, he said as he watched the busy port in the distance while listening to the stiff Greek accent of the people on the nearby streets…
In the afterglow of the setting sun, a sense of achievement rose in his heart…
When he got home, he immediately wrote a reply to Davos, thanking him for his recognition of his work and giving his firm support to the Senate’s decision on the trial of Pollux and the others.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The following day, a large wooden platform was erected in Thurii’s Nike Square. In order to maintain order throughout the square, Thurii’s patrol, together with a brigade of the first legion, was temporarily stationed there.
One after another, Theonians from various places came to the square. Most of them are ordinary Theonian citizens. Some were freemen who had just become preparatory citizens and have not yet gotten their allocated land. Some were big foreign merchants who have immigrated to Theonia and became its citizens, and there were also the defendants’ families.
In the middle of the large wooden platform sat the justice, Tritodemos. Accordingly, as the archon of Theonia, Davos, who was also the chief justice, should take the lead in such an important trial. However, he did not attend due to reasons known to all* and neither were the other statesmen – out of avoidance. (*Pollux had always been at odds with him)
On the front left side of Tritodemos is the jurors. There are 50 members of the jury, including merchants, civil servants, farmers, herdsmen, sailors, artisans…citizens from all walks of life, as well as Lucanian and Bruttian. In accordance with the Theonian Law, the court shall randomly select the jury among the citizens registered in the Civil Registry, whether they are rich or poor, races, professions they were engaged in, and so on in order to be as fair as possible.