Chapter 198
It was a long pass that was nearly forty meters long! The football flew high and fast. The supporters stared at its trajectory and lamented, "This pass will definitely go out of bounds. It's time for the offense and defense to switch positions again!"
At that moment, a flash of blue on the right sideline flashed past the red team's interception, rushed over, and jumped high.
"Oh my god, he jumped really high!" Amidst the exclamations of the audience, he stretched out his long arms and blocked the hurtling rugby ball in mid-air. When it fell to the ground, he hugged it tightly with both hands, and the touchdown zone was just a few meters in front of him.
"Stop him!" The red team members shouted anxiously. Even the audience on the sidelines could hear them.
The red team member closest to the blue team member suddenly pounced on him. The blue team member did not dodge. Using the strong inertia from his previous sprint, he leaped with all his might and threw himself out. Together with the red team player who was hugging his legs, he landed heavily in the touchdown zone with the ball still firmly in his hands.
A touchdown!
Dios, like other Neutum supporters, was stimulated by the blue team's wonderful performance. He could not suppress the excitement in his heart. He suddenly stood up, danced, and cheered loudly. He even took a big gulp of beer. The cold foam washed away his previous irritation, and his whole body felt refreshed.
After sitting down, he realized that his palms were sweaty because of his nervousness. This was indeed a game that was more nerve-wracking and exciting than traditional sports!
Dickboris looked at him and said with sudden realization, "So you support Neutum!"
Dios explained embarrassedly, "Someone has to support these aliens. That way, the game will be more intense and exciting!"
Dickboris nodded and agreed with his opinion.
At that moment, a few referees ran to the touchdown zone because the blue team player who had just scored had not stood up.
What had happened? Dios's heart began to tighten again.
The referees waved to the doctor on the sidelines, and soon a stretcher was brought over. The blue team member shook his head and refused to lie on the stretcher. He held his left arm and struggled to stand up …
"Looks like his arm is dislocated," Dickboris said.
The injured player walked off the field and waved to the audience with his right hand to apologize. His wonderful and heroic performance had moved the audience, and they gave him a hero's salute with warm applause and cheers.
"Football is really a sport for warriors!" Dios exclaimed.
At this time, the spectator beside him who had asked the question before also said eagerly, "Tonight, when I go back, I will call upon the citizens of Castellón to learn rugby. The next time there is a competition, our Castellón will also have an exciting performance!"
… …
While the attention of the citizens of the Diónia Alliance and most of the foreigners was attracted by the football match, in a house in the cheap residential area below the city of Amendolara, Timazon, Criano, and Toricos were gathered and having a secret conversation.
"Leaders, I've already contacted all of our brothers. There are around 1,700 people who are willing to follow us," said Torax, who was originally the leader of the mercenaries and was Timason's confidant.
"One thousand and seven hundred people …" Creano was a little dissatisfied. "It's still not enough."
"It's enough to attack Crimissa!" Timazon said calmly and firmly. "I've investigated Crimissa in detail. After the last war, this small city only has around a thousand citizens who can participate in the war. Defeating them is not a problem at all. The problem is, how are we going to take down Crimissa quickly?"
"That's why we have to prepare the siege equipment carefully. At the same time, we have to keep it a secret. If the Devers find out, not only will they stop us, but they will also alert Crimissa!" Creano reminded them.
"I didn't tell anyone the truth. I just followed what you taught me last time. I told them, 'You're going to bring them to Syracuse and be hired by Dionysius to attack Carthage. After the war is won, Syracuse will make us citizens,'" Torax said.
"As for Zantiparis and Tormid, we shouldn't tell them that we're leaving. I've tried asking them a few times, and I feel like they're satisfied with their lives here …" Creano said with disdain. "Zantiparis and the others would rather work as dockworkers than fight on the battlefield. They've turned from warriors into cowards!"
"When we get Crimissa, they'll regret it!" Timazon comforted Creano with a glint in his eyes.
"What if we take down Crimissa, and Crotone leads his army to attack us?" Torax asked worriedly.
"Isn't that simple?" Creano sneered. "Once we take down Crimissa, we'll immediately send someone to tell the Devers, 'Crimissa is willing to join the Diónia Alliance.' The Devers will definitely help us! Even if he really forgets our friendship, Felicius, Agathia, Hieronymus … the other officers of the expedition army, the current Elders of Diónia, the soldiers who once fought together, and the current citizens of Diónia will also speak up for us. The Devers will definitely consider the opinions of so many people. Didn't he say that he was elected by the people? Would he go against the wishes of so many people? Am I right, Timazon?! "
"That's right. How did the Devers obtain Amendolara and become the rulers of the Greek city-states? We can also learn from their experience and use their help to obtain Crimissa! We aren't any worse than them. Why are they so high and mighty while we are in such dire straits?! " Timazon, who had been a man of few words since he arrived at the Diónia Alliance, finally spoke his mind. His face was filled with fighting spirit.
… …
A few days later, when the Devers received a report from Aristiras and learned that the mercenaries led by Timazon and Creano were up to something, Timazon had already taken the initiative to meet the Devers.
"You're leaving the Alliance?!" The Devers were slightly shocked when they heard Timazon's request.
"We're going to Syracuse to help Dionysius attack Carthage. I heard that he promised, 'After the war is won, we can immediately become citizens of Syracuse and own fertile land,' "Timazon said seriously.
The Devers remained silent. Due to Aristiras (Syracuse had a grudge against him), he knew a lot about Syracuse. Dionysius did indeed make such a promise to the mercenaries.
Timazon saw that the Devers were silent, so he continued in a serious tone, "Devers, we're grateful for the help and care that you and Agathia have given us. However, we're used to being free, and we can't adapt to the strict laws here. We can't immediately become citizens of the Alliance either, so our brothers have some objections. I think it's better for us and you to leave! "
The Devers stared at Timazon. Seeing the determination on his face, they nodded slowly, "Alright, you're going to Sicily. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Please return the weapons we stored in your armory. Also … can you help us hire a ship to transport us to Syracuse? Hmm, if you can give us some tents, it'll be convenient for us to camp in the wild before we get hired by Syracuse … Of course, if you can give us some food …"
… …
The news that Timazon and Criano were leaving the Alliance of Diónia with more than 1,700 mercenaries caused quite a stir among the Senate elders.
For Kunogorata, Cornelus, Protesilaus, and the other senators who held important positions and had often been tortured by these troublemaking mercenaries in the past few months, it was a great thing.
As for Felicius, Agathia, Hieronymus, and the other former elders of the Mercenary Army, they felt deeply regretful.
Although the Devers appeared regretful on the surface, they were much more relaxed on the inside. After all, many people in the Alliance knew that Timazon and the others were comrades of the Devers when they were in Persia. Therefore, if they had any serious misdeeds in the Alliance, not only would someone in the Senate (as long as it was the Turií elders led by Polyxis) complain to him, the people would also complain. In the long run, it would definitely damage the reputation of the Devers.
On the day that Timazon left with the mercenaries, the former elders of the Mercenary Army and many former soldiers of the expeditionary army went to the port to send them off.
Faced with Agathia's apology, Timazon gave him a strong hug. "Among these comrades, I am most grateful to you because you sincerely wanted to help us! Zeus above, we will repay your kindness! "
Criano said to Zantiparis, Tormid, and the others proudly, "One day, you will realize that you were wrong not to leave. When that time comes, you will come and beg us!"
…
Looking at the cargo ships full of mercenaries leaving the port, Agathia felt a sense of loss. He said to the Devers in frustration, "Did I make a mistake? I shouldn't have let them join the Alliance in the first place?"
The Devers patted him on the shoulder and pointed to the side. "You didn't do anything wrong. Not every mercenary likes a life of constant fighting. Didn't they choose the Alliance with your help?"
Following the direction he was pointing, Zantiparis, Tormid, and the other mercenaries were going their separate ways after sending off their comrades, continuing with their day's work …
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