Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 536 537. Arrival

Then, they came to a certain point on this trail. The roads here were tightly blocked by villages consisting of various shacks and tents, and the people living in these villages were all gray-faced people with dull eyes. .

Not long after, they stepped over the bodies of those who were still sleeping, and barely squeezed a way out of the huddled tents.

"I have never seen so many people trapped behind the city wall before." Cassandra murmured.

"These are the so-called country folk," Herodotus said softly.

"They are the people who have suffered the most because of Pericles' policies. After all, they have to leave their hometowns, move out of the valleys and wilderness where they originally lived, and then huddle here like beggars. No matter how you look at it, they are suffering."

Then, Kassandra noticed that those on guard behind the towering battlements on the exquisite city wall were the Athenian heavy infantry.

These soldiers looked very much like the enemies she had faced and defeated in Megaris.

These people looked like they had no time to spare. While giving orders, they also talked about the big and small things that happened in the countryside. What worries them so much?

Out of some new curiosity, Cassandra extended her perception in that direction and heard some conversations.

"It's getting more and more uneasy outside the city. Who would have thought that there are so many Ares believers hiding in those deep caves?"

They didn't dare to raise their voices too loudly, as if they were forbidden by discipline to talk about these things.

"I heard that they have bloodbathed many villages. It's so horrific. Damn it! Is Pericles unmoved by the horrors outside the city walls? The Athenians actually have to rely on a mercenary to solve the situation outside the city walls?"

"That is the [Son of the Titan], not an ordinary mercenary, please be respectful! Also, Pericles had already let those people enter the city. It was because they were reluctant to part with their property and could not come in!"

"To put it lightly, do you want to give up your farmland, hunting grounds and farms to become a beggar?"

"Then if we don't give up these things, why don't we go out of the city to confront the Spartan heavy infantry? That's the Spartan infantry phalanx! Xerxes's army was bleeding like a river in front of them! Do you want to Let your child lose his father and your wife sleep with someone else?"

"Haha, it's like saying that if he doesn't die, his wife won't sleep with anyone else."

Complaints were quickly escalating into arguments, then into vicious personal attacks, and finally a shouting match between soldiers was silenced in the passing of a man who was clearly a senior officer.

[Son of Titan]? Is Lan En going to clear out Ares believers here?

Kassandra was born in a typical classical militaristic city-state like Sparta, and she could not imagine that anyone would discuss such a thing in private in a high-pressure army.

The Athenians' defeat at Megaris was deserved.

She thought this just because Herodotus next to her was an Athenian, so in order to avoid affecting the friendship between them, she did not say anything out loud.

Herodotus led Kassandra to a large podium with ease.

Such a scene is too unfamiliar to Cassandra, who was born in Sparta.

Here, thousands of luxurious robes wrap the bodies of thousands of people, and thousands of bald heads shine in the sun. And the owners of these bodies are raising their arms and loudly throwing critical remarks at each other.

On the podium in the center of the crowd, Pericles stayed there like a lonely boat in the sea.

"That's the person we're looking for," Herodotus said. "He is Pericles, the commander-in-chief of Athens."

Cassandra did not have the same luck as Lane, being able to directly hear Pericles' famous speaking skills.

Because when she and Herodotus arrived, there was a man with a beard who looked younger than Pericles who was chasing him and questioning him.

"How long are we going to let this liar ride on our heads? Pericles still showed his 'strengths' this time: timidity, hesitation, repeated compromises but unable to obtain satisfactory results. It seems, He doesn't know anything at all and will only focus on boosting the ambition of his enemies and destroying the prestige of his own family."

It was said that he was questioning Pericles, but even a newcomer like Cassandra could see that this person was more inclined to convince the audience and let the crowd's voice directly identify Pericles.

No, it would be better to say that it was precisely because Cassandra was a newly arrived foreigner that she could see this person's speech strategy.

The local Athenians have basically been overwhelmed by emotions.

Herodotus then pointed to the person who was making trouble and said: "Cleon is a guy who stirs up trouble. This man spends his days saying what people want to hear, regardless of whether it is true or not."

"I'm not defending my employer. Since Pericles entered politics, he has experienced many debates and military battles. But, he is also the first to face an opponent like Cleon. See you once.”

"If you reason with him, he won't accept it. Instead, he will directly stir up the emotions of the audience. And when you want to take advantage of the emotions, this guy will turn around and use reason against you, saying how can you be unreasonable? ."

Cassandra immediately felt a sense of disgust, which was a direct reflection of her upright character.

Finally, the speech ended in a commotion, during which the excited Athenians threw a rotten apple at Pericles, leaving him in a panic.

The purpose is to accuse Pericles of ignoring the farms and fields outside the city and his policy of being weak and avoiding war in the face of the Spartans.

Cleon made a big fuss out of this.

Herodotus, acting as the intermediary, led Cassandra towards Pericles.

As they approached, Cassandra discovered that the statuesque solemn look on Pericles' face when he stood on the stage was no longer there. His face now only showed fatigue and frustration. .

"Old friend?" Herodotus greeted him first, and then Pericles raised his head.

When he saw Herodotus' appearance, his expression softened a lot, as if a man had finally seen the sun after several days of rain.

"Ah, my old friend, you are back."

Pericles asked the guards to step aside, and the two embraced each other.

Kassandra noticed that Herodotus whispered something in his ear while embracing Pericles.

Then Pericles looked at her much softer.

It seemed that Herodotus was serious about saying good things about her, which would make her next actions much smoother.

"Do you want to attend my party?"

Pericles asked politely, and Cassandra nodded and spoke according to Herodotus' previous instructions.

"I want to find a woman, my mother. This is not only my business, but also related to an organization that is very dangerous to Athens. In short, I am seeking the wisdom of your close colleagues."

"The reception should be a private enough place for me to tell you my secret."

Pericles was noncommittal about this. He was the consul of Athens. Everyone in this city of hundreds of thousands wanted to talk to him and tell him how urgent his matter was and whether he could jump in line and get priority.

Herodotus, on the other hand, observed the situation and gave his own suggestions unhurriedly.

"You are worried that inviting foreigners to the dinner will cause dissatisfaction among the Athenians. This is very likely. But we can make some preparations first."

"Cassandra can give you a few favors first, so that others will think she is a helper doing things for you, not a guest."

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