Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Chapter 625: The Trial

Davos continued to wait, but there was only silence.

He raised his head and looked at Kunogelata, whose eyes were closed and still, with a pang of melancholy.

He knew that the old man who had worked hard for Theonia's founding and growth had left…

. . . . . . . . . . . .

“…teacher Lysias defended by saying, ‘The Sikeloi are Theonia's ally, and there is no law that prohibits the private dealings of the kingdom's statesmen with our allies' envoys. On the contrary, it had become a tradition for our allies and foreign envoys who come to Thurii every to contact the statesmen to learn about the kingdom and ask them to speak for their own city-state before formally meeting King Davos and the Senate. So why is it that if it was other statesmen, these are just normal interactions, but in Ladician's case, he became a sinner who betrays the kingdom's interests?!’

The public prosecutor Praxileos immediately retorted, ‘It was Ladician’s privately dealing foreign envoys and accepted a huge sum of wealth to speak for the Tanikian tribes' interests instead of the kingdom every time. They also allowed the Tanikian tribe's repeated annexation of neighbouring tribes to go unnoticed by the Senate to the point its strength has grown where they could threaten the safety of our fertile Catanian Plain! If this isn't treason, then what is it?!’ After saying that, he also brought out quite a lot of evidence of Ladician's acceptance of bribes, as well excerpt of its record of speaking for the Tanikian tribe in the Senate…”

“With such conclusive evidence, how did your teacher defend it?” Cynthia asked curiously.

“Teacher calmly said, ‘There is no such law of the kingdom that prohibits statesmen from accepting gifts from visitors. Although such a situation was no longer as obvious after the Pollux Case, it is by no means uncommon. Especially in the case of statesmen who serves as praetors, which among the statesmen went empty-handed when assuming their post but came back with two to three fully loaded wagons?! It is also uncommon for statesmen to develop good opinions, so it is only natural for them to speak up for them in the Senate. And if the Senate checks the minutes of its meetings, I believe you will find many such cases, so Ladician's behaviour isn't against the law. As for allowing the Tanikian tribe to threaten our territory's safety, this isn't something that we should blame Ladician. After all, it is one thing to make a proposal, but the proposal's final approval still needs the joint decision of the Senate. So why were all the statesmen unaware of the Tanikian's scheme?…’”

“Outstanding defence!” Cheiristoya exclaimed. Then she asked with curiosity, “How did Lysias explain the lands Ladician owns in Sikeloi?”

“He said that there was no conclusive evidence for this matter, and it was also possible for the slaves to exaggerate the facts to earn credits after seeing their masters' downfall, which they shouldn’t use as evidence for the judgment,” Crotokatax replied.

“That's just sophistry.” Cheiristoya frowned slightly and said, “The fields are all in Sikeloi, so it's impossible to go get evidence.”

“Teacher also has no other way. In the face of so much evidence and the court's audience denouncing Ladician for being a traitor, the teacher can only do whatever he can to turn the situation around.”

Just as Crotokatax defended Lysias, the rear courtyard's gate was pushed open, and Davos, who was at the gate quietly listening for a while, entered the garden.

“Father!” Crotokatax and Cynthia shouted at the same time.

“How is Lord Kunogelata?” Cheiristoya asked with concern as she remembered that Davos had rushed out in the morning after hearing Kunogelata's condition had worsened, and he had fallen into a coma.

“He went to Elysium…” Davos said sadly.

The three people who were talking just now fell into silence for a while.

Cheiristoya then asked, “When is the funeral?”

“In a few days, his family still needed to prepare as it would be a grand funeral. When the time comes, we will be there, and so will all the statesmen. And since Kunogelata has made massive contributions to Theonia, he would be laid down in the Hall of Sages!” Davos said deeply, and his words could be regarded as Kunogelata's conclusion.

Cheiristoya immediately understood her husband's intention, “Sister Agnes and I would take the children to prepare properly.”

Davos nodded. He then looked at his son and asked, “Did you go to the court today?”

“Yes, father.”

“What was the result?”

“The jury concluded that Ladician, Lasiperatus and other statesmen were not guilty of treason but guilty of malfeasance. Supreme Judge Tritodemos sentenced Ladician and Lasiperatus to three years in prison while the others served a year or two sentences, confiscated the proceeds of their bribes and imposed a substantial fine. However, in the end, you, father, will have to make the final decision*.” (A power and responsibility given to the king after Theonia Union's transformation into a kingdom.)

“Should I call this verdict back and ask for a retrial? Or agree with the verdict?” Davos asked while looking at his son.

Crotokatax knew that his father was testing him, so he immediately calmed down and began thinking. After a while, he replied earnestly, “I think we should agree with this judgment!”

“Oh?”

“Since no one falsely testified or played favouritism, the trial was conducted fairly and justly. Although the audience was clamouring for severe punishment of the traitors before the trial started, they eventually stopped and agreed with the verdict made by the court. Father, I don't know if this verdict is what you expected, but it is the jury's final verdict in accordance with Theonia's legal procedure specified in the Law of Theonia. And to accept this judgment is to respect the sacred Law of Theonia that was drafted under your leadership for more than ten years-”

“Croto, how can you speak to your father in such a tone?” Cheiristoya, who was beside him, immediately scolded him in a low voice.

Davos smiled, “I'm glad you have such insight! As a king, you must not do anything as you please since you should also abide by and respect the law. Only when the king sets a good example can citizens not do anything at will, which would guarantee the order of the nation!”

“Understood, father,” Crotokatax replied respectfully.

Cheiristoya looked at her husband and son with a smile. How could she not know that her husband was educating their son to be the future king?

Cynthia was also happy for her younger brother. Although her own brother is the oldest son of Davos, she never thinks Davos will pass the throne to Adoris. After all, he is only an adopted son, while Croto has the blood of Hades running through his vein.

“Do you know why I have the final decision?” Davos asked again.

This question made Crotokatax thought for a while but then didn't speak.

Davos saw through his thoughts, so he asked, “Son, do you think I covet this right of judgment?”

Crotokatax's complexion changed, and he shook his head.

Davos smiled and said, “The rules are dead, and people are alive. With people judging criminals, how can it be completely fair and just?! What's more, although the law is sacred, it does not fully conform to the morality recognised by the people.”

“Completely conform to the morality recognised by the people?”

Seeing his son seemingly not fully understanding it, Davos explained, “For example, the sentence of the Sicilian statesmen is in accordance with the Laws of Theonia, but the harm and damage they caused to the kingdom far exceeds their years of imprisonment. And since war would soon erupt in Sicily, there would be a lot of fighting and chaos if the measures taken weren't appropriate. Another example would be the trial of Phragres tomorrow, the son of Ladician, the beast who killed six young girls!”

Once Davos said that, Cheiristoya and Cynthia became angry.

“If Lysias were to defend him, with his ability, it is likely that this murderer will be exempted from the death penalty because Theonia's laws don't stipulate that the killing of slaves and freemen is punishable by death, but is this in line with our conscience? Does it conform to Hades' will?!”

“Father, this man has committed a heinous crime that everyone wants him to go to hell for the three judges to judge him!” The always gentle Cynthia interjected at this time.

Crotokatax hurriedly said, “That's why teacher Lysias didn't accept the request to defend that man.”

“If that is the case, Lysias is still wise and calm. Otherwise, his reputation will become terrible even if he succeeds in defending him.” Davos then said to his son with a serious expression, “See, the Law of Theonia still has defects. On the one hand, we need to improve the law. On the other hand, we need to hold the final decision so that once we find obvious errors in the judgment, we need to request a retrial to get the final result in line with the morality agreed by the majority…”

Crotokatax listened and thought for a while. After hesitating, he asked, “Father…you just said that ‘people are alive’, but you have the final decision power…so how can you ensure that you have no selfishness?”

That question took Davos aback while Cheiristoya shouted, “Croto!”

Davos waved his hand to stop his wife's scolding. He then patiently and proudly said, “My son, you are daring to think and brave to question without blindly going along, which made me happy as it means that your study in the Akademia wasn't in vain! Let me tell you this, compared to the people of the kingdom, I am the least selfish because I am the king, and the whole kingdom is my home, so how can I allow those lawbreakers to destroy my home and steal my wealth?! If I have selfishness, that selfishness is to protect the kingdom's prosperity and stability, and-”

He looked at his young son and said solemnly, “To preserve the rule of the House of Davos in the kingdom! That's why we could stand above the common people's interests in trials and are better able to be fair and just in all kinds of judgments. And the more we remain fair and impartial, the more we will get the support of the kingdom's people.”