Chapter 626
"Now that Hilos is here, I'm afraid he won't be able to leave. You should go to the Ministry of Military Affairs and look for Felicius. Ask Hilos to come back as soon as possible." The Devers kindly asked Martius to go to the Ministry of Military Affairs for Hilos.
Hilos rushed to the living room and bowed to the Devers. He asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, how is my father-in-law?"
"Not good. He's still unconscious."
As soon as the Devers finished speaking, Hilos's wife, Cunogorata's eldest daughter, burst into tears. Her son, who was beside her, comforted her.
"Torus, my good boy, help your mother to sit in the living room," the Devers said kindly. He was quite familiar with Hilos's son, Hilo Torus, because he was about the same age as Eunice and Hippocrates. They were all classmates at the Turís School and got along well with each other. He had visited the Devers' mansion many times. Although he was young, he was mature and sensible. His personality was similar to Hilos's, so the Devers liked him very much.
At this time, Sostatus also rushed out and welcomed Hilos and his family into the living room.
Just as he was explaining his father's condition to his sister and brother-in-law, the female slave who was taking care of Cunogorata ran downstairs and shouted excitedly, "He's awake! Master … Master, he's awake! "
Everyone stood up and was about to rush upstairs.
"Let Herpes take a look at your father's condition first!" The Devers stopped them.
Herpes went upstairs for a while. When he came back down, the sorrow on his face did not dissipate. Instead, it became more intense. He shook his head at the Devers and said in a deep voice, "Lord Cunogorata is about to be summoned by Hades … Everyone, please go upstairs and see him for the last time."
Sostatus and Lalala's eyes immediately turned red. Hilos's face was solemn. His wife burst into tears and was about to run upstairs when Hilos pulled her back. He looked back at the Devers and said, "Your Majesty …"
"You are Cunogorata's family. Of course, you should go first!" The Devers said softly without holding back.
… …
When the Devers walked into Cunogorata's bedroom, although the room was very clean, there was still a strong smell of blood in it. On the contrary, the ventilator like breathing had disappeared. The Devers knew that this was not a good sign.
Cunogorata lay quietly on the bed. Compared to his healthy self half a year ago, he seemed to have shrunk. He was so skinny that he looked like a bag of bones.
The Devers gently pressed his wrinkled hand and felt sad in his heart.
At this moment, Cunogorata opened his cloudy eyes. When he saw the Devers, his eyes lit up. His dry and bloodless lips trembled and his voice was as thin as a gossamer. "Your Majesty … I have to go …"
The Devers squeezed his hand hard and said in a low voice, "You won't go. You will always protect this kingdom in the Pantheon of the Hades Temple!"
Cunogorata's eyes showed a complicated expression. "… I am a terrible general … The burning of Turía … in fact, it has a lot to do with me … I used to think that if it wasn't for your appearance … if it wasn't for the establishment of Diónia … not to mention Turía, even the whole of Greece … would have become a land that Dionysius could trample on at will … I'm afraid that the Turís would no longer exist … If that's the case, I really should sincerely thank Hades for giving you to the Turís! … "
The Devers were silent.
Cunogorata's breathing began to get heavier. "Diónia … Diónia has created a … a better home for the Turís … for the Greeks! Before this, I never thought that the Turís and the Crotone could live in the same country … I never thought that the Greeks and the indigenous people could become citizens of the same country … I never thought that the city-states could not only rely on alliances or alliances to strengthen each other's strength … They could also centralize management from top to bottom … They could concentrate manpower and material resources more effectively … Hades, why did you summon me so early?! Ahem … I still want to see Diónia continue to grow stronger and stronger … Until one day, all the Greek city-states in the Mediterranean Sea are completely wiped out by war! "
Cunogorata stared blankly at the ceiling. His pale face seemed to have a bit of redness at the moment, but it soon dimmed. After a while, he turned his head with difficulty and looked at the Devers. "Your Majesty, I have to go … Cornelus is diligent, but he is too cautious … Lysias is cautious and calm, but he lacks courage … Sedorum is courageous, flexible, and intelligent, but his will is not strong enough, and he is also a Bruti person … Sesta is too radical … Hilos is very capable, but he values your opinion too much … Only … only Antares, he can stabilize the Senate after me … to provide greater help to Your Majesty … Adrianx … Nicomachus … Teris … These senators are also capable, but they still need time … still need time … ahem …"
Cunogorata coughed violently. The Devers wanted him to have a good rest and was ready to go out to call Herpes, but he was stopped by his skinny right hand. "Your Majesty … Before I cross the Styx, let me finish what I have to say …"
The Devers had no choice but to sit back on the bed.
"Your Majesty, Syracuse has experienced several upheavals … their strength has greatly weakened. Although they are not on good terms with us now … they are not worthy of our worry … Instead, our ally, Carthage, we must always be vigilant … Yesterday, I read the intelligence about Sicily copied from the Senate … The Sikere tribe called Tanik … ahem … to be able to develop into such a large force in a few years … and to be able to hide it from us … It is impossible for a small tribe like them to do so … I am afraid that behind them … ahem …"
The Devers's heart skipped a beat. In fact, he had also suspected this before.
"… The kingdom is developing … Carthage is not idle either … They have conquered Numibia … and occupied some land on the Iberian Peninsula … I am afraid their strength has recovered … A wolf pack can only have one wolf king … The western Mediterranean Sea cannot allow two large forces to live in peace for long … You must always be vigilant!" At this point, Cunogorata forced himself to use his loose right hand to knock on the Devers's hand. It looked like he had used all his strength, but when it landed on the back of the Devers's hand, it was as powerless as a fallen leaf.
However, the Devers nodded seriously.
"… Across the Adriatic Sea in Greece, there has never stopped fighting for hundreds of years … The relationship between the city-states is complicated … It is best for Your Majesty not to involve the kingdom … In the eyes of the Greeks there, we are a city-state from a colony … Not only will we not receive their gratitude … Instead, we will receive their hatred … Although Sparta is tyrannical in Greece … They are only relying on the support of Persia … Athens … Corinth … Thebes … Argus … Their hatred towards Sparta has not weakened but increased … Sparta's hegemony will not last long … Your Majesty does not need to worry at all … Ahem … Just be careful of it stirring up trouble …"
The Devers listened quietly. As Cunogorata's voice gradually weakened, he gradually bent down so that he could hear him more clearly.
"… Diónia's expansion is in the north … But Your Majesty, you have to be patient, don't be anxious! … The Campanians are accepting us … Although the Samonians are stubborn, didn't they still send their team and emissaries to attend the celebration? As for the Rome that Your Majesty has mentioned many times … The Celts have defeated the Etruscans … Instead, Rome has successfully occupied a lot of … Etruscan lands … It is also the leader of the Latin people … However, its power is not stable … There are still the Walshis and the Hernikians … To go against it … We only need to watch from the sidelines … We can only strike at the last moment … The Celts were defeated by the Rome … King Brennu's prestige has been greatly reduced … The Celtic tribes have once again become scattered … They are no longer a major threat to our land … This is just my opinion … Your Majesty, your judgment has always been accurate … I hope … I hope you don't blame me for saying too much … "
"You are right, I have heard everything," the Devers looked at him and said seriously.
Cunogorata did not seem to hear him. His eyes were powerlessly looking up, and his voice became weaker as he spoke.
In the end, the Devers had to put his ear close to his mouth to hear and even smell the rancid stench coming from his mouth. He knew that it was the smell of death.
"Your Majesty, you have to be patient … Take down Downey … Add Puchetti and Mesapi … It will take time to govern them … Slowly integrate them into Diónia … I believe that Apulia … will become the most prosperous land in the kingdom in the future …
There is nothing that worries me in the kingdom, only the Senate … Senate! Your Majesty, I asked Lysias to defend Laodisian and the others … Your Majesty, the Senate is the most important institution that can assist you in governing the kingdom … It is … It is the place that unites the cities … unites all the races … The people's eyes are on it … If Laodisian and the other senators are punished too harshly … What will the people of Sicily think? What will Mesapi … Cough cough … What will Mesapi and Puchetti think? Ten years ago … Ten years ago … The rebellion of Petaru and the others cannot happen again …
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