Chapter 1089
"Maximus! … Maximus! … "A shout came from behind him.
Maximus turned around in a daze, but the person who called him was Gorgian.
Maximus was surprised. Although he frequently went in and out of the tavern by the street for more than ten days, so he knew this well-informed Gorgian, he did not think that he was familiar enough for Gorgian to chase after him alone and care about him.
With vigilance, Maximus asked indifferently, "What's the matter?"
Gorgian walked up to him and said in a serious manner, "I want to talk to you about your job search."
Maximus was not a refugee who came across the sea to Diónia to seek a better life in his hometown. He was once an aristocrat in Rome. Not only did he have many years of experience in government affairs, but he also participated in many wars. If it were not for the fact that Rome was conquered, it would not take long for him to enter the Senate of Rome. He also had rich political experience. Every time he saw Gorgian enter the tavern, he always felt that this person was intentionally or unintentionally leading the customers to argue and spread some news … This practice reminded him of some tricks of the Rome senators to fool the people. Therefore, he thought that Gorgian was not simple, so he did not have much contact with him.
At this time, Gorgian's initiative to contact him made him even more vigilant. He immediately refused, "I'm sorry, I have to go home now. I don't have time."
Gorgian raised his eyebrows, and a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes. Then, he calmed down and said unhurriedly, "Five days ago, you were attacked by a Rome man on the way to the Demo government office in the western outer city. If it weren't for the patrol team who arrived in time and arrested the criminal, I'm afraid you would still be lying in the hospital receiving treatment now."
In order not to worry about his family, Maximus did not tell anyone about it. He did not expect Gorgian to say it out loud. His expression immediately changed, "How did you know?"
Gorgian sneered. "Do you think the patrol team just happened to appear there? I'm afraid you don't know that your youngest son was playing by the pool in the middle of the building you rented yesterday. If it weren't for someone stopping him, he would have been kidnapped by a man from Rome … Do you have time to talk to me now? "
Maximus' expression changed drastically. He did not expect that the people of Rome, who hated him for his betrayal, would target his family. He almost wanted to rush to his family immediately, but he suppressed the impulse. He stared at the man in front of him and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
Gorgian put away the sarcastic smile on his face, and his temperament suddenly changed. He said solemnly, "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Gorgian, and I work for the intelligence department of the Kingdom of Diónia!"
The Intelligence Department of the Kingdom of Diónia? Hearing this term, Maximus instinctively felt a sense of fear. It was the consequence of being interrogated overnight in the slave camp. He subconsciously took a step back and whispered, "What … do you want to talk about?"
Gorgian glanced at his retreating foot as if he could see through his mind. He looked at him with sharp eyes and said softly, "You should know very well that your report has caused some people in Rome to resent you. You and your family have become the target of their revenge. The reason why you are safe now is because of the secret protection of our intelligence department. However, this protection is not indefinite!"
Maximus stared at him, but there was a hint of weakness in his eyes. He could hear the threat in Gorgian's words, but Gorgian's words had also hit the nail on the head.
Gorgian, however, changed the topic as if nothing had happened, "Master Tratus, the director general of the Turií region of the intelligence department, once wanted you to join us, but you refused. At that time, you must have thought that there was a better way to go since you had just regained your freedom. But now?
Maybe you have the patience to work hard in the kingdom for more than 10 years, so that you can obtain the qualification of an official citizen? Or you can go to the southern region of Iberia to settle down, but that place is not very stable. When the indigenous people attack, can you escape safely with your wife and children? Or do you finally decide to leave the kingdom and live in other strange places? … "
Every word of Gorgian was impacting Maximus' psychological defense. His eyes began to flicker, and after a while, he squeezed out a sentence, "… What do you want to say?"
"Join us!" Gorgian's voice was not loud, but it was powerful.
In the past, there was no intelligence department in Rome, but many nobles had a group of hangers-on who were responsible for prying into the privacy of the people, inciting the people, using underhanded methods to rob the people's land, and so on, doing some dirty things. So Maximus thought that the intelligence department of the Kingdom of Diónia was also doing such despicable things. Of course, as a noble, he would not care about it, but now he seemed to be in a desperate situation.
Maximus's expression was uncertain. He hesitated and struggled for a while, then tentatively said, "… What's the benefit of joining you? Can you make me an official citizen as soon as possible? "
"Even if our intelligence department directly serves His Majesty Dyvers, it is impossible for us to become an official citizen directly because of the restrictions of the 'Dionysian Law'. But we have more opportunities to make contributions, and we can help you become an official citizen faster —" Gorgian said with a straight face, "Even if our intelligence department directly serves His Majesty Dyvers, there is still the restriction of the 'Dionysian Law'.
"I remember you are not an official citizen yet." Maximus said with a slightly sarcastic tone.
Gorgian smiled slightly, "In fact, I have been an official citizen for a long time. Because of the need of official business, I deliberately let the customers in the tavern think so."
"So, you are from Epirus, and you only came to Diónia five years ago … Is this information also false?"
"It's all true. But not long after I came to Diónia, I joined the intelligence department and was ordered to carry out a mission at Puchetti's Brindisi naval base. During the invasion of Epirus and Peloponnesus Peninsula, I won their trust and acted as a guide. In fact, I secretly told the Ninth Legion the route of their march, which eventually led to their destruction. For this, I made a great contribution. Two years later, I became an official citizen and was transferred back to Turií …"
Gorgian said proudly, "Don't think that our intelligence department looks insignificant. In fact, it is very important. Once something important happens, not only the city governor, but even the wartime governor and military commander have to take the initiative to ask for help from the intelligence director of each region. Their military achievements and achievements are all thanks to us. Just like His Majesty Dyvers said, we are the hidden heroes of the kingdom, protecting the safety of the kingdom with all our might! " … "
Seeing that Maximus was lost in thought, Gorgian struck while the iron was hot and continued, "Not to mention, you have joined the intelligence department. Although you are not a citizen yet, you have become one of us. Your family will be fully protected by us. Your life will also be greatly improved, because you may carry out missions with another identity, and you can receive double the salary … "
Maximus listened to Gorgian, so he could not make a decision at the moment. He said hesitantly, "Let me go back and think about it …"
Gorgian saw that he was a little tempted, and then said, "You'd better make a decision as soon as possible, because the arrest of the suspects who conspired to assassinate His Majesty the Devers is almost over, and our protection of your family is also coming to an end."
When Maximus heard this, he suddenly became anxious and blurted out, "I … I … I have decided to join you."
Gorgian smiled triumphantly, "That is a wise choice! Report to the white courtyard next to the inspection office in the western outer city tomorrow morning! "
… …
On the same night, one of the five rotating presidents of the Senate, the recently stepped down governor of Turií, welcomed a distinguished guest at his residence — the governor of Catanai, Milon (Milon was the governor of Catanai after Cypross was transferred to Turií. He had just finished his term of office and came back to report on his work).
Back in those days, Lysias and Milon were political enemies in Crotone. They fought fiercely for their own interests. Later, Lysias won, and Milon was expelled from Crotone by the General Assembly. At that time, he hated Lysias very much. It was not until Dionysius led the army of Syracuse to invade Greece that Milon was recalled back to Crotone.
For the survival of the city, the two temporarily put aside their differences and worked together. It was not until Crotone was incorporated into the Kingdom of Diónia that the two no longer had any conflict of interest. Instead, because they were both senators of Crotone, they needed to support each other in the unfamiliar political scene of Diónia. Therefore, the hostile relationship between the two finally improved. After more than ten years of interaction, the two people of Crotone, who were once enemies and had different personalities, finally became good friends.
"Milon, you didn't come tonight because you're worried about the debriefing tomorrow, did you?" Lysias asked with a smile.
"What's there to worry about? Katanai has been developing more and more prosperous in the past few years. The senators know that I have a lot of credit for this!" Milon was quite confident. He said straightforwardly, "Alright, stop pretending. You know why I came to see you tonight! The regional governor! I want to become the governor of Eastern Sicily, and I need your support! "
"The regional governor of Eastern Sicily …" Lysias was not surprised. He rubbed his chin and said in a low voice, "It is indeed not one of the regional governors that His Majesty needs to personally appoint. (The Devers proposed in today's Senate meeting that 'As southern Iberia, Rome, and western Sicily are located at the border of the Kingdom, the situation is more complicated. For the security and stability of the Kingdom, he must personally appoint the candidate for the regional governor. The other regional governors are all freely elected by the senators, and he will not interfere in any way.' In fact, the Devers exchanged the right to elect the regional governor for the approval of the other three resolutions, and everything is as he had planned.) Ever since you became the governor of Naxos, you have many years of experience as a governor, and your performance is not bad, especially in the last war. Furthermore, you are very familiar with the situation in eastern Sicily. Logically speaking, it should not be a big problem for you to be elected as the regional governor of Eastern Sicily … "
Comments