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Is the Sargonian mission due to arrive today?

...I think so.

Hmph. Should I be grateful or angry that Lydia still remembers me?

She should pull all the teeth out of my oars, or simply throw me in jail, so that I never get the chance to meet the Sargonian envoys coming to visit their old 'stomping grounds'.

*pant* *pant* Excuse me! Can we get a ride across?

Too many people at the other crossings. We'll be late.

You said your ambassador has been delayed by... certain circumstances?

I mean no offense, as that is precisely the case.

I beg your understanding, Astynomos. The Minoan vistas are beautiful, while Her Excellency is young and curious. She is bound to commit some... youthful indiscretions.

I say again, as deputy chief of mission, and as the man invested with the titles of the Ancient and Exalted Sargonian House of Enshi-Pah, I am equally empowered to act on the Empire's behalf.

Of course. I have the utmost confidence in you, Kýrios Behnui.

When do the Athenians intend to hold the ceremony, then?

What ceremony?

The exchange ceremony.

Our two nations formally established diplomatic relations at the beginning of this year. As part of our cultural exchange, we are repatriating our relics of Kereseira, the founding hero of Minos, to Athenius.

In exchange, we will receive the technical legacy that the Sargonians left behind during the construction of Athenius, Corinia, and Lachedamon... surely you have not forgotten, Honored Astynomos?

Of course not... Your Excellency.

We stand now in the Astynomos' Office, instead of... elsewhere... because of the non-aggression pact that was signed following the last major battle between our two nations in the Minoan borderlands.

Hmph...

Sorry, I have been rather overworked lately. I'm sure you saw the vast construction sites and passionate craftsmen as you passed by the agora by the river when you entered the city.

Yes.

It's the rebuilding of the First Temple. One in five Athenians are involved in the project.

The First Temple...?

As you said yourself, Kereseira is the founding hero of Minos. Perhaps you've heard of her deeds.

At the very beginning, she led refugees from scattered tribes out of war and plague, and brought them to a garden encircled by mountains.

Those who followed Kereseira built the First Temple of Minos here, and thus began the bloodline of heroes.

After that came Athenius, and the land of a thousand poleis.

That First Temple was lost to the fires of war. Now, it is being rebuilt by the people of Athenius themselves... I'm sure the significance is not lost on you.

...I understand.

To obtain the stone needed to rebuild the temple, however, we've kept Athenius by Mt. Hymnoi for an entire week.

And it's apple season. Fresh apples need to be ferried out through the crossings, while unripe fruits need plenty of sunlight.

The quality of the apples will be compromised if the city does not move to an area with more sunlight soon. I'm sure you saw the fruit farmers gathered at the crossing.

Yes, I did.

The people need to commemorate their heroes. The farmers need to ensure that their harvest is not ruined. You understand that an Astynomos does not have all that much power in the Minoan administrative system.

I need the priests' approval for everything.

I confess that I am rather overwhelmed right now.

Perhaps looking for excuses has eaten up too much of your time.

Your Excellency misunderstands.

I'm of the younger generation myself. At a time when all the centrum powers are actively seeking change, I believe smaller nations like ours must keep up with the times.

The exchange of Kereseira's relics for the data from the Three Poleis has been at least six months in the making.

It is an honor to play a small part in facilitating the new friendship between Sargon and Minos after years of conflict.

Hmph. We'll see about that.

I suggest you and your mission take some time to see the city. The Athenian sights are spectacular, and I'm sure you'll find it well worth your time.

Perhaps you could even visit the site of the First Temple's rebuilding... after all, it is Kereseira's relics that you are returning. Maybe this was ordained by fate.

Minoans love drama and philosophy. We enjoy the rigor of preparation and logical deduction, but we also hope for pleasant surprises.

As for the exchange, we will hold a formal ceremony in a couple of days.

By Minoan tradition, ceremonial occasions begin with a play directed by the priests, imploring the heroes to bless the occasion and ensure that everything goes smoothly.

However, Athenius created the post of Astynomos two years ago to reduce the burden on the priests and simplify procedures. Therefore, I've already assigned someone to begin preparations.

My trusty aide and Grammateús here will make comprehensive arrangements for you during your stay. Seek him out if you have any issues... Hekádemos!

Here.

Hekádemos, Nobody of Minos, the Blaring Megaphone, at your service... during working hours.

I have no use for some pretty boy.

I mean, it's been a long journey and I am tired. I will wait at the hotel until the arrangements for the exchange ceremony are made.

As for visiting the First Temple rebuilding site, I will leave the opportunity to Her Excellency the Ambassador. She is a museologist, full of energy. I'm sure she'll be very interested.

I see. I will have Hekádemos speak to Ambassador Medjehtiqedti directly.

I look forward to what 'pleasant surprise' you have to offer, Astynomos.

But—I hope I don't learn you are stalling for time, or hiding some ulterior motive.

I could say the same to you, Kýrios Behnui.

Look out the window. The morning mist on the Delphi Canal is just beginning to dissipate. This peace wasn't easy to win. I hope we can all be honest with each other.

What a shame that I didn't have the opportunity to see Kyría Mashayer today. Young and promising, yet mercurial... what is she like?

Ugh—

Oh, purr-lease. You've only just put one foot on the boat. Look at you.

(Whisper) It's tipping!

It's a boat. It's supposed to do that.

Didn't you say you signed up for the yacht club when you studied in Max D.C.?

(Whisper) I-I was too busy with my studies. Most of my time was spent either in the restoration room, or at archaeological sites... I only ended up going there twice.

So you're from Columbia. I had thought, by your garb, that you were...

Master Xanthos.

What?

She's boatsick.

A rare occurrence.

I-I'm not. M-My legs are just tired from all the walking and buckled a little...

What do we do?

Take the luggage onto the boat. I'll go and get something.

Take her into the cabin. The waves are not strong today and the boat should sail steady. The Delphi Canal treats those with good intentions kindly.

We'll go to the main crossing once we've delivered her, to see that Sargonian ambassador... can't let the Astynomos' heads-up go to waste, can we?

I'll come with you, Master Xanthos. I must keep an eye on you.

...Bring the passenger's luggage first.

...They weren't listening to me.

(Whisper) You're missing the point! They've got a vendetta against you!

(Whisper) It's not too late to switch your nationality to Columbian! Don't—

Please be careful. This is very important.

Hey— You—

Forget it. Let's get on the boat.

It's really heavy. What is it?

It's...

Movie figurines from Wrankwood that we're planning to sell here. We've even got ones from the latest hit, <i>Lady Dupont</i>.

But there are no cinemas in Athenius.

That's the point. You want to sell shoes, you do it in a country where everybody is barefoot.

Did you say 'the Delphi Canal will treat those with good intentions kindly', Master Ferryman?

(Nods)

The source of the Delphi River is on Mt. Hymnoi, flowing through the plains between the Minoan mountains, past the former sites of Athenius and Corinia from before they became nomadic cities...

It helped our warriors fend off the iron hooves of the Sargonian raiders.

It has been turned into a canal now, but it continues to nurture singers and debaters, and the culture of Minos.

Yes, the Delphi Canal will treat those with good intentions kindly... except Sargonians.

Perhaps there are Sargonians who understand and love Minoan culture.

The last Sargonian who introduced herself with those words was the sister of the Shahanshah, Malla, Queen of the Far Shore.

She burned every Minoan city but the Three Poleis to the ground, closed the temples, banned the plays, imported Sargonians, and assimilated Minoan culture in every way possible.

She brought the darkest age upon our country. She showed her 'understanding' and 'love' by bleeding the heroic blood of the Minoans dry.

Is this 'ambassador' from far away another shameless noble who seeks to be the next Queen of the Far Shore by trampling Minos underfoot?