"I'm afraid Lord Cleon doesn't need to worry about the Ionian issue. Facing the threat of the Persians, no one can give the Ionians safety. After all, our Byzantine Kingdom is so weak in front of the Persians. If we in the East don't unite together, and if the Persians really attack, then both us and the Ionians will be destroyed."
"I've heard that before."
About Ionia.
Kryon doesn't really care.
You know, Cleon's biggest concern now is the problem of Athens itself. Therefore, when the Byzantine envoy came this time, Cleon had to give Alcibiades some face. After all, if he could get the power of the Byzantine Kingdom, even if he had to give up Ionia and be completely annexed by the Byzantine Kingdom, Cleon would not care, as long as he could defeat the Spartans. What Athens lost will eventually come back.
"Let's not discuss these idle gossips here. The main reason I asked you to come here this time is to tell you something. Pericles is now seriously ill. I believe you already know this."
"Yes, I know."
Alcibiades said helplessly:
"Lord Pericles suddenly got the plague. This is really a heavy blow to Athens. Athens is obviously in the most difficult time now, but the archon has encountered such a problem. From my personal point of view, I wonder if this is a symbol of Athens abandoned by the gods?"
"The gods have indeed not abandoned Athens. Otherwise, how could I become the oracle of Lord Apollo? This plague is not entirely a bad thing. The abstract artist said that there will be a rainbow after the storm. This plague is like a storm. As long as we endure it, it is likely that everything will become clear."
This is what Kryon said.
This made Alcibiades frown slightly.
Can a plague be a good thing?
When Cleon said this, Alcibiades knew that in this man's heart, the lives of the people of Athens were probably not worth mentioning. You know, this plague was a disaster that seriously damaged Athens on the surface, but when it came to each person, it was a heartbreaking tragedy. Even the most outstanding tragedy writer could not write such a tragic story.
Alcibiades did not dare to commit suicide. He could not visit the patients in person like Pericles did. He just returned to his home and learned that some of his family members were also suffering from the plague and were now being taken care of. Looking at the suffering of the patients and their families who were in grief and despair but could do nothing, Alcibiades could feel very clearly that the misery brought by this plague was completely indescribable.
Pericles understood this.
He could feel the pain of others.
But this is not the case with Creon.
Alcibiades didn't know Cleon very well, but as an Athenian, he was very clear about what Cleon had done over such a long period of time, and the attitude he showed today made Alcibiades completely disappointed in this man.
"Then congratulations to Master Cleon."
Alcibiades bowed slightly.
"In this way, Athens will have two oracles, and will be able to cope with the Spartan attack."
"Hahaha! You're right! Although Athens is suffering from the plague now, it is safer than before! As long as I am here! As long as Rhodes and I can unite, Brasidas outside the city wall will not be a threat to Athens! I will defeat Brasidas myself!"
Cleon's words were full of confidence, but Alcibiades felt it was very ironic. He spoke in high-sounding words, but he did not take any actual action to go out of the city to fight Brasidas. So Alcibiades just smiled and said, "Don't worry, our Byzantine Kingdom is a member of the Delian League and will always provide necessary support to Athens."
"With your words, I feel relieved."
Cleon smiled and nodded.
"After I defeat the Spartans, I will definitely go to the Byzantine Kingdom in person to thank His Majesty Hilde for his help."
"Then let's look forward to that day."
After that, Alcibiades left.
Originally, Cleon wanted to take this opportunity to ask Alcibiades about further cooperation. After all, the Byzantine Kingdom was now in its heyday. If Athens could seize this opportunity, its current situation would be much better, and at the same time, it would be able to get more of what Cleon wanted.
But Alcibiades' attitude made Cleon feel very unhappy. He was obviously just a messenger, but he teased Cleon in his words, and seemed to be very dissatisfied with some of Cleon's statements and ideas. Cleon could feel it, but he changed his mind and felt that this was unlikely to be Alcibiades' personal attitude. This might also be Hilde's attitude.
Cleon's guess was correct.
Hilde doesn't like Cleon either.
The reason why Alcibiades dared to express such an attitude was because he knew Hilde's attitude. As an envoy, it was very important to maintain the same attitude as his monarch. Alcibiades understood this very well, and at the same time he did not like Cleon. Some of Cleon's words and deeds today made Alcibiades very disgusted.
Section Responsibilities
However, today's incident.
It also proves a point.
Creon has his eye on them.
Hilde's evacuation plan was indeed favored by Cleon.
Perhaps Cleon didn't care about the situation of those people, but he couldn't allow Hilde to take these Athenians away from Athens so openly. This was an act that undermined Cleon's dignity. Therefore, Alcibiades knew that Cleon might make trouble. Of course, he was unlikely to stop it directly. Whether it was Cleon or Pericles, they needed the Byzantine Kingdom as their backup force. Cleon couldn't do such a thing as tearing his face.
Alcibiades returned to his temporary residence.
At this time, Rhodes was also here.
"Were you called over by Cleon?"
After seeing Alcibiades coming back, Rhodes walked up to him anxiously.
"What's going on!?"
"It's okay. Cleon noticed our plan, but it's not a secret. He knows it if he knows it." Alcibiades shook his head helplessly, then sat aside and explained to Rhodes, "This matter is nothing, but I think Cleon will definitely interfere with the subsequent evacuation plan and try to sabotage it. He can't just watch us transport so many people out of Athens."
"Then what should we do?"
When Rhodes heard this, he was also a little panicked.
But Alcibiades waved his hand, trying to calm Rhodes down.
"Don't panic. You are also an oracle."
"Ah... yes, yes."
Rhodes looked at the people around him.
Now, Pericles has fallen ill, so these people regard themselves as the successor who can take power. In fact, Pericles has been training Rhodes to become a qualified politician, but unfortunately, the time left for Rhodes is too short, and Rhodes has not learned anything at all. As a result, the plague broke out in Athens, and the current situation has emerged. Pericles has also fallen ill. Therefore, in the current situation, Rhodes also knows that he must cheer up.
"Lord Rhodes."
Alcibiades bowed slightly.
"Although I shouldn't say this, since you need to take over Lord Pericles' position now, you should do what Lord Pericles should do. Right now, Athens is troubled by two things, one is the plague and the other is the war. Cleon chose to be a coward, not daring to face the plague or the Spartans. Therefore, this is a good opportunity for you. You should take the initiative and unite those Athenians who are willing to support Lord Pericles. Cleon is a madman. If he becomes the consul, the final result will be unpredictable."
"……Um."
Rhodes clenched his fists tightly.
"I know, but I..."
"If you don't try it, how will you know?"
Alcibiades smiled.
"His Majesty Hilde's situation was much more difficult than yours. A stranger who came from a foreign land was able to create such a great empire. His Majesty Hilde could not guarantee success, but if he did not do anything, nothing could be changed. The same is true for Athens... I'm afraid that Lord Pericles' illness cannot be cured, so there is only one thing we can do now, and that is to realize Lord Pericles' long-cherished wish as much as possible."
"Master Alcibiades is right!"
Demosthenes also agreed and said:
"Lord Rhodes, you have to cheer up!"
"...Yes, I understand. Thank you."
Rhodes seemed to have overcome the fear in his heart.
Now she raised her head and looked at the two people in front of her.
"I know what I should do now."
"Okay, Lord Pericles, leave him to our care." Demosthenes turned around and looked at Alcibiades. "Lord Alcibiades, I know you are an envoy from the Byzantine Kingdom, but you were once an Athenian, and you must be worried about the problems Athens is facing now."
"Yes."
"Don't worry, there are still many people standing with us."
When Demosthenes said this, his brows slightly frowned.
Alcibiades noticed this small detail.
However, he didn't say anything, but smiled and nodded, pretending that he didn't see anything: "Okay, I'll rest assured."
"Athens can still be saved. Lord Rhodes, please go back and prepare for the future." Demosthenes nodded to Alcibiades, and then took Rhodes back to Pericles' mansion. After watching the two leave, Alcibiades sighed, turned around, and walked quickly in another direction.
After walking for an hour, Alcibiades came to the door of a house. He did not knock but walked in directly.
"teacher."
In the middle of the room sat a middle-aged man.
Alcibiades said respectfully:
"I am back."
"Alcibiades, you shouldn't have come."
"We came here on the orders of Her Majesty Hilde, but we didn't expect such a plague to break out." Alcibiades walked behind Socrates. He could feel that his teacher was very sad because to Socrates, Athens was everything to him. But now, Socrates saw with his own eyes that the whole of Athens had become what it is now.
"do not talk."
Socrates stood up.
He smiled kindly and looked at Alcibiades as if he were his own child.
"I already know the good intentions of His Majesty Hilde. I...will not leave Athens."
"But the plague is so serious now, and the Spartans are at the gates of the city. Cleon... doesn't plan to do anything about the current situation. Today, I saw him, and he was already immersed in his dream of power. Isn't it a very bad thing to let such a person govern Athens!?"
“But this is Athens.”
Socrates patted Alcibiades on the shoulder.
"I can't leave her."
"But!"
"Even if Athens is destroyed, I will be here to watch it fall with my own eyes. Don't worry, I can take care of myself, and this epidemic has not affected me." Socrates smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Besides, I know what Her Majesty Hilde means. She has invited me several times, haha, but I refused."
(Normal updates will resume tomorrow, and I’ll be asking for your monthly votes!)
Chapter 8: Where the conspiracy lies
Alcibiades heard this.
He shook his head helplessly.
"Teacher, how can you do this..."
"I told you that I will not leave Athens. I understand what you mean, and I appreciate your kindness, Your Majesty."
Socrates walked up to Alcibiades, stretched out his hand, and patted his shoulder, as if to encourage him: "Son, don't worry about my affairs for now. Don't you have anything to say about the current situation in Athens?"
"very bad."
"That's it?"
"...I'm afraid it's not just that. What I've seen and heard in Athens these past two days has already frightened me." Alcibiades looked at the door, and after making sure that no one was there, he lowered his voice and said, "In fact, I think this plague in Athens is probably closely related to Cleon."
"Why do you think so?"
"First of all, what kind of god is Apollo? He is the god of light, Phoebus Apollo. He is also the being in charge of cleanliness and healing. When the plague broke out, people would choose to worship Apollo in order to pray that they would not be defeated by the disease. In this way, people's faith would gradually shift from Lady Athena to Apollo. As the oracle of Apollo, Cleon can be said to be the biggest beneficiary of this epidemic, no doubt about it."
"Well, you continue."
Socrates rarely asked any questions.
Instead, he listened attentively.
Alcibiades thought for a moment and continued, "During the Trojan War, Apollo was the patron saint of the Trojans. At that time in Troy, the daughter of Apollo's priest Cruces was captured by Agamemnon's army. He wanted to redeem his daughter, but was rejected by Agamemnon, who also said that his daughter would be a slave for life. Finally, Cruces, who was desperate, begged Apollo, so Apollo shot down the arrow of plague, allowing the plague to run rampant in Agamemnon's army. This shows that Apollo can not only eliminate the plague, but also bring it."
"This is... from the Iliad."
The Iliad, from Homer's epic poem, tells the history of the Trojan War.
There is indeed such a passage in the epic.
"God of the Silver Bow, defender of Krusei and holy Kira,
Tenedos, ruler, rat exterminator, hear my prayer,
If I had ever built a temple roof to please you,
Or burn for you the fat thighs of oxen and goats,
Please hear my prayer, my wish will come true,
Let the Danaans pay for my tears with your arrows."
