"I will be like that in the future!" Secrian shouted confidently, filled with hope for what lay ahead. "Untie the ropes; let's head to the estuary!"
Lysias watched Secrian disappear with his fishing boat before turning to observe the patrol captain who stood before him. He asked, "Are you a citizen of Amendolara?"
The captain, a sharp-eyed man with a disciplined bearing, glanced at him and replied, "No, we are citizens of the Amendolara-Thurii Alliance."
"Oh, my apologies," Lysias said politely and then inquired further, "May I ask about the condition of the Crotonian soldiers you captured?"
The captain's expression turned serious. "I cannot tell you their exact location because that is a military secret," he said firmly. "But I can assure you they are doing well for now. Lord Juleios even ordered that the hospital treat the injured among them. However, if your negotiations fail, their circumstances may not remain so favorable."
