Chapter 1114
Hearing this, Okridon immediately wanted to refute, but Hakkar raised his voice again and said sternly, "Now, the Magonid Family has already paid a heavy price for that war, but has the Hanoverian Faction been punished?! At least not yet!
Especially after Esaruba's death, the Hanoverian Faction has completely taken control of the Senate, and many of the neutral Senators had no choice but to switch to you. Just two years ago, you actually called that person 'The Great Hanno'! What a ridiculous thing to do! The main culprit who caused the defeat of the war, the sinner who caused the once powerful Carthage to become an ordinary city-state that has to rely on others to live, has the cheek to call himself 'The Great'! "
Hakkar let out a contemptuous laugh, and Okridon remained silent.
Hakkar looked at him and said in a low voice, "It seems that you still have a problem with Hanno's shameless actions. Now that God has given me the right to punish those who have done wrong! I've said it before that you are lucky to have met me! If my brother Hasdrubal was here, he would have killed all the Senators of Carthage to vent his anger over his defeat. If Dido was here, she would have always believed that the death of her father, Magonid, and all the people of Carthage could not escape responsibility. She would have wanted everyone to be punished! "
At this point, Hakkar intentionally paused for a moment.
When Okridon heard this, he was indeed worried. He did not think that Hakkar was trying to scare him. Dido and Hasdrubal were both important members of the Magonid Family, and Okridon naturally had a deep understanding of them. The possibility that they would take revenge on Carthage was indeed in line with their personalities. Even if they were not in Turií now, one of them had become the commander of the Legion of Dionysia and regained her military power, while the other was the only princess of the Royal Family of Diónia. She had even given birth to two little princes, so naturally, she would be loved by the royal family. If they continued to hate Carthage, it would indeed be a terrifying thing.
"As for me," Hakkar said firmly, "I only ask that the Senate of Carthage expel the leaders of the Hanoverian Faction, like Hanno, Tepanlaco, and the rest of their families from Carthage. I want them to suffer the pain that we suffered back then. Then, I can guarantee that the grudge between us and the people of Carthage will be written off! By the way, this does not include you, because His Majesty thinks that you are a good person. "
Okridon was not happy that he could escape punishment. Instead, he said solemnly, "I'm sorry, but the Senate of Carthage will not expel a few prestigious senators just because of your threats —"
"They will!" Hakkar said confidently, "When the people of Carthage find out that the attacks of the Eastern Numibians are getting more frequent, and that the merchants of Carthage cannot enter the territory of the Kingdom of Diónia and its allies to trade, and when they know that all this is caused by the Hanoverian Faction, do you think they will collectively protest to the Senate and expel these black sheep? Just like how they collectively protested against the Magonid Family back then! "
Although the water was getting hotter, Okridon's heart was getting colder and colder. He put on a brave front and made a final struggle. "You … You are violating the peace treaty …"
"I am not violating it." Hakkar looked at him with a straight face. "As long as Carthage expel Hanno and the others and join the Kingdom of Diónia, I can guarantee you that the people of Carthage will live a better life in the future, and this is what our family hopes to see!"
As one of the senators of the Carthage Senate who was good at diplomacy, this was the first time Okridon felt so powerless. Everything was out of his control, and this made him very nervous. He lowered his head and looked at the steaming water in front of him, and said in a low voice, "After I meet the King of Devers, I will consider your suggestions."
Hakkar chuckled. "Master Okridon, don't you understand? His Majesty will not meet you at all. He has given me full authority to deal with the foreign affairs of Carthage."
Okridon's body trembled. Once again, he looked at Hakkar with despair in his eyes, but more than that, there was a pleading look in his eyes. He opened his mouth with difficulty, but no words came out.
Hakkar showed a sympathetic look and said softly, "I know it is very difficult for you to make these decisions, but no matter how difficult it is, in order for the people of Carthage to live better, and for your family to continue living in the land you are familiar with, you must make a decision as soon as possible. Time waits for no man. Once September is over, the north wind that represents the arrival of winter will blow..."
Okridon's heart instantly turned cold.
Seeing Okridon leave in a daze, Hakkar felt an indescribable sense of joy in his heart. He poured himself another glass of wine, raised it high, and said sincerely, "Thank you, His Majesty, for giving me a chance to take revenge!"
After saying that, he drank it in one gulp.
… …
For the next two days, Okridon was still trying hard to get an opportunity to meet the King of Devers through various channels, but without a doubt, he had failed. Although the celebration was about to begin, he was not in the mood to continue staying in Turín. He anxiously returned to Carthage by ship and began to secretly discuss countermeasures with people.
On September 9th, the Hades Celebration began.
People from various towns and cities of the kingdom crowded on both sides of the main road in Turín, giving flowers and cheers to the soldiers who were marching from the military camp in the north to the Victory Square for inspection. They were outstanding soldiers and team officers who had been selected from various legions, fleets, and cavalry, and had participated in many battles. They proudly held the military flags of their legions, brigades, and companies as they passed through the three triumphal arches of Turín.
The triumphal arches were engraved with the most important battle scenes of the Crotone War, the Southern Italian War, and the Western Mediterranean War. They represented the three most crucial moments of Diónia since its establishment: the War of Alliance, the War of Founding, and the War of Becoming a Powerful Nation.
The procession of legions of soldiers passed through them one after another, which meant that it was this powerful army formed by the citizens that enabled Diónia to rise from a weak state to a strong one, and finally become a powerful Kingdom.
Behind the army was a procession of people from more than a dozen regions of the kingdom. Compared to the orderly procession of soldiers, the procession was very loose, but it was more lively. They excitedly interacted with the people on the streets, which made the atmosphere of the celebration more lively and joyful.
The procession of people in the game fluttered in the wind, and the cheers were endless as they walked into the Victory Square.
On the podium in front of the Senate's Grand Hall, Devers led the important ministers and senators of the kingdom. They were dressed in splendid attire and stood upright, smiling as they watched the procession pass by the podium.
On both sides of the podium, the invited allies, envoys, and distinguished guests witnessed the unprecedented grand celebration with different expressions. Some were genuinely happy for Diónia, such as the Walshis and the Hernici; some were glad that they could join the Diónia Alliance in time, such as the Etruscans and the Samonians; some were worried and fearful, such as the Siedsini.
After all, when the entire procession filled the Victory Square, along with the equally dense crowds of spectators around the square, the inner city of Turí had become a sea of people. There were at least seventy to eighty thousand people, which was more than the population of a city-state and equal to the population of a major race. And this was just a drop in the ocean of the huge population of the Kingdom of Diónia.
The crowd in the square was so loud that it was suffocating.
But when the Devers walked to the podium, the square quickly regained its tranquility. Only the voices of the Devers and the announcer echoed in the square.
"Citizens of the Kingdom of Diónia, today we are gathered here to celebrate God Hades. Ever since the establishment of Diónia, we have encountered many difficulties and setbacks over the past twenty years. But under the protection of God Hades, we have overcome one obstacle after another through our united efforts.
Today, we can puff out our chests and announce to the world that Diónia has become a powerful kingdom. Not only are we not afraid of any enemy's challenge, but we will also provide support and protection to any country or force that wishes to be on good terms with us!
God Hades is very satisfied with all the achievements of Diónia. He has issued an oracle, not only will he continue to protect the people of the kingdom, but he will also allow the name of the Kingdom of Diónia to be crowned with the holy name. Any enemy who dares to offend the kingdom is equivalent to directly violating the territory of the great god, and will be punished and cursed by him!
Citizens, thank the great Hades! Cheer for the Holy Kingdom of Diónia! "
As soon as the Devers' voice trailed off, a tsunami of cheers erupted inside and outside the square, "Long live the merciful Hades!!!"
"Long live the Holy Kingdom of Diónia!!!"
…
Every citizen who was cheering with their arms raised was filled with fanaticism. From then on, they firmly believed that they were born and died. They were no longer afraid of any hardships and difficulties, because they were already the people of the great god on earth.
In the fanatical atmosphere, the inspectors who maintained order began to arrange for the procession to gradually leave the square. Then, a large-scale theatrical performance began. "The Birth of Pluto", "The Founding of Diónia" … One after another, traditional plays of the kingdom were performed in the square.
The actors in the square performed very hard, and the audience outside the square was also extremely focused, bursting into applause and cheers from time to time.
When the last play, "The Battle in Sicily" came to an end, the sun had already risen to the middle of the sky.
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