The elder council, or Gerousia, consisted of elder citizens that were elected for life. Twenty eight in total, with two kings leading the negotiations with Tao. While the elders promised not to speak during the negotiations, they would have a final say in what to do by the end of the negotiations. Shida and Ezra only served as spectators and protectors. Spartans thought lowly of them for having women warriors, but Tao wanted to use that misjudgement to his advantage.

Demaratus and Cleomenes, the two kings, sat at the front rows of the stadium, watching intently as the man from eastern Asia took the center of the assembly. A well, which was styled more like a massive pit, was at the center of the stadium, making Tao eerily uncomfortable since he'd speak dangerously close to it.

A woman sat next to a white-dressed woman within the Gerousia audience. The woman's name was Gorgo, Cleomenes' middle-aged daughter. Unlike women in Athens, girls and boys alike were expected to partake in political affairs for Sparta. A little girl was holding Gorgo's hand, it was Demaratus' seven-year-old daughter, Doris, brought there to partake in the diplomatic event.

"Adorable," Shida said elbowing for Ezra to notice the little girl.

"Knock it off," Ezra said, "we're on duty."

Shida tried waving at the little girl, but Doris only squinted suspiciously at Shida's gestures.

Tao rubbed his chin slowly at the assembly, biding his time before truly addressing them. He had one chance to sway them, and he decided to take a little time to give off an aura of mystery before speaking. "Spartans," Tao said bowing his head down to the kings.

"The king of Persia has asked for assistance from Sparta, to end the tyranny that is democracy in Athens."

This caught the attention of the elders. Athenian democracy was a common debate among the people of Sparta. It was often referred to as 'the law of the mad mob' among the citizen body. Tao raised a head up to smile at the kings.

"The philosophy of Athens is a direct danger to the men and women of all of Greece. People need order, rule, and harmony with their people. Kings' rule, aristocrats rule, oligarchs rule, never should the low minded and diseased have the right to rule a city."

Many of the elders nodded, and Tao continued. "Sparta, in the past, installed a king in Athens to save them from their own corruption. But as you know, Isagoras, the man this same council installed, was exiled from Athens by men gone diseased with power."

Tao extended his arms to the elders, like he was giving a giant air hug. "I appeal to this council today, help Persia install a rightful ruler to Athens. One that lives up to Spartan and Greek virtue. So that the philosophy of madness can never spread back to Sparta someday. Athenian philosophy is diseased, and only Sparta may stop it from spreading."

The elders whispered among themselves, highly intrigued by Tao's language. Spartans were arrogant enough to believe their way of life was more worthy than others, so he took advantage of their own pride. By praising Sparta as the better of the two states, he directly contrasted Athens as a rogue state and a threat to Spartan lifestyle.

And he didn't just speak about the necessity to bring order, but also the necessity to bring morals. Like Athenians were unjust and needed to be saved. Like a liberation campaign, because the idea of freedom was highly valued among Greeks everywhere. This was the job of a Persian diplomat, to make others believe that an alliance was for their own mutual benefit.

"And how," Clemones said standing up in the stadium, "do you intend for Sparta to help in your puny endeavor?"

The Spartan king spoke in a hardened, battle stern tone. Those were words of combat and skepticism designed to discredit Tao's talking point.

"Earth and water," Tao said with a smile. "Our navies will come, our people will come. The march of Persians alone can shake the lands, but only Greek men should defeat Greek men. Persians are not fit to subjugate Greeks, but a Spartan leading other Greeks? That isn't just natural, its destiny. Sparta is destined to rule over Athens."

The elders in the stadium nodded their heads in approval. Their longtime rivalry with Athens was beginning to show. Many of them remembered the days before Athens become a democracy, and missed the days when Sparta was a force to be feared by them.

Cleomenes only scowled, but Demaratus interrupted him. Demaratus was a much younger king, almost half of Cleomenes' age or the same age as Tao himself. The younger king only watched Tao with intrigue and curiosity, like Tao was an animal to be studied.

"So you ask us for a tyrant? Is that it? Your men take Athens, while we install the king?"

"Yes and no," Tao bowed his head quickly in a sign of humility. "King Darius is ready to offer Sparta glory and riches if an alliance is to be secured. But in order to do so, Spartans must show they are worthy as allies through combat with the Athenians."

The council laughed, and even Cleomenes laughed at the comment. Tao glanced around curiously. Demaratus said, "Emissary, we are Spartans. We've nothing to prove to Persians. Let your people break through the gates and take the city, and we'll take rule afterward."

Tao swallowed. They essentially wanted all of Athens without the work. "That wouldn't be possible, your kingship." Tao bowed his head again, this time to hide his face. "I'm afraid if Sparta isn't willing to aid in Athen's conquest, then there is nothing to give to Sparta."

Hushed whispers filled the crowd. Demaratus said, "so what, you're prepared to take Athens, with or without Sparta?"

"...Yes, your kingliness."

The councilmen began grumbling at each other, almost scowling at Tao's presence now. Cleomenes said, "tell me emissary, under what pretenses did Persia decide to embark on a reign of conquest toward Athens?"

Why do you want Athens?

This was the moment of truth. The justification for war that Tao needed them to understand. Tao slowly clearly his throat, "Athens, broke its Oath to Persia once. Twenty years ago, when Isagoras was overthrown in Athens, Athenian emissaries came to Persia asking for assistance against a potential invasion from Sparta." Tao pointed to the king, "they wanted Persians to fight Spartans. We agreed, in exchange for their complete subjugation. But when the time came for tribute, they refused, saying they no longer needed Persian protection from Sparta."

There were gasps from the crowd, like an entire people had committed a crime in cold blood. Not only did Athenians insult Spartan adversity, but the idea of getting foreigners to fight for them disgusted the Spartans. Tao continued, "now, it's time they pay. They insulted Persia, the Gods, and virtue itself by their constant lies and unwillingness to follow the natural order of kings. Athens must be destroyed. And if they do not kneel willingly to a Greek king, then the city is doomed to be destroyed by a Persian king. They walk down the path to their own destruction, either by men or by the wrath of Gods."

Tao didn't believe in Gods, but they didn't need to know that. The council began applauding to Tao, like he'd gained their respect as a man of principals and morals.

Cleomenes suddenly stepped back from Tao's presence. Aghast that a strange-looking man could speak such powerful words. In truth, Isagoras was his friend. Cleomenes and Isagoras were together in Athens when the people overthrow him. Athens almost slaughtered 300 of their fellow supporters before being allowed to escape. The old wounds of shame were torn open again, and Cleomenes suddenly desired vengeance. "Those animals," Cleomenes said with his fists clenched, "rotten oath breakers to the core."

Demaratus stared at Tao agape. He'd never seen the council so riled up before, it was as though Tao had some supernatural power coming out of his mouth. Before he could call for an assembly vote, the little girl from the stadium walked up to Demaratus and squeezed his hand, "father," Doris said in her toddler like tone. "He's corrupting us with trickery."

Demaratus stared back at Cleomenes' daughter. Gorgos was sitting on the stadium silently, glaring at all of them all with her arms crossed in anger. It was like she was scolding them, silently punishing them for siding with the foreigner.

Demaratus looked around at the crowd. He's just a foreigner, Demaratus remembered. Barbarians to the core. They were rallying behind a man whom Greeks technically didn't consider human. Demaratus stared at Tao with a newfound disdain in his eyes.