Upon hearing the other party's words, one of the leaders behind Philippe of Spain picked up a roll of parchment and slammed it onto the table with a "bang".
"Nonsense! Do you have any evidence to prove it? I have a list here!"
"Look everyone! This list shows the names and destinations of soldiers who left our army in the past three months to become mercenaries in Kree!"
“These people were originally serving in Kerry’s army!”
The debate grew louder and louder, and the room gradually split into two distinct factions.
One side supports sanctions against Spain, while the other side strongly opposes them.
Lin Ke discovered that the people behind Pericles were very united, and they were working together to fight against Spain.
Other civilizations that had close trade ties with Spain formed a faction of supporters.
Of course, whether it was spontaneous or pre-arranged in private, no one knows.
"We can't go on like this!"
"The actions taken by Spain have led to soaring prices in the country, and people are already living in dire straits!"
"Our ships can't dock at Spanish-controlled ports, so raw materials can't be shipped out and finished products can't be sent in! The entire trade chain is paralyzed!"
"The situation is getting increasingly serious. Is Spain really going to choose to ignore this information?"
As expected, after a leader behind Pericles reiterated his point, someone behind King Philip of Spain rose again.
"That's because there were contraband items in your cargo! We discovered military equipment disguised as agricultural implements being transported on a ship from your port!"
"This is blatant smuggling!"
Upon hearing this, the leader's voice became even more agitated.
"Armaments?! Those are just ordinary farming tools!"
"Your customs officers have no idea what farm tools are, yet they're confiscating them as weapons! This is blatant harassment!"
Lin Ke observed that this debate, ostensibly about the Spanish invasion, had actually evolved into an occasion for countries to settle old scores with each other.
Each leader took the opportunity to raise the dilemmas facing their country, and without exception, these issues were closely related to the policies of Spain or other civilizations.
“There is an even more serious problem. I have received reliable intelligence that someone is secretly organizing a multinational mercenary force, which includes retired professional soldiers and outlaws.”
"The destination of this army is unknown, but its large size could pose a serious threat to regional security."
"Their presence is far too dangerous. It is now certain that if the conflict between Spain and the Cree continues, the war will likely spread to more kingdoms and civilizations."
This statement immediately heightened the emotions of both sides in the argument.
Some suspect it is a secret Spanish force, others believe it is a reserve force of the Cree civilization, and still others speculate that it may be a third party taking advantage of the situation.
But those civilizations and kingdoms closest to Crete and Spain were the ones that strongly protested against this.
"Enough!"
Bolívar of Gran Colombia once again slammed his fist on the table.
"We must get back to the issue itself! Please share your opinions on whether Spain's actions violated the World Conference Charter!"
"We will ultimately make the final decision through a vote! Ladies and gentlemen!"
But his appeals were powerless to reverse the current situation.
The confrontation between the leaders of the various factions intensified, with some resorting to regionally discriminatory language and others threatening retaliatory measures.
Lin Ke even noticed that several leaders around him were secretly giving him meaningful glances, clearly hinting at some unspoken desire for cooperation.
In other words, they wanted Lin Ke to "take sides".
Just as the chaos reached its peak, Lin Ke's gaze swept over the key figures in the center of the venue once again.
Spain's supreme ruler, his face ashen, was arguing with a key leader of a neighboring country, occasionally casting undisguised contemptuous glances at the leaders behind Pericles.
As for the grassland queen, she had a playful expression on her face, as if she were watching an interesting circus performance.
Most notably, Nader Shah of Persia, the "King of Kings," sat there expressionless, neither participating in the discussion nor expressing support for either side.
Clearly, the Persian monarch was secretly observing the reactions of all parties and weighing the pros and cons.
Although the others maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, their clenched fists and shifty gazes revealed that they were under immense external pressure.
Lin Ke understood that Spain's military action was merely the fuse that ignited the conflict; the real struggle lay in the intricate network of relationships and conflicting interests among the nations.
Of course, although it was very chaotic here, Lin Ke knew very well that this was an opportunity for him and for Holy Egypt.
Lin Ke's mind began to race, and his original plan to promote the name of Holy Egypt was immediately changed.
Just as the debate was reaching its climax, King Felipe of Spain stood up again, this time with an even colder expression and a voice that seemed to be suppressing his anger.
"I must point out that the purpose of the World Conference at its inception was to promote exchange and cooperation among civilizations, not, as Gran Colombia claims, merely to prevent war."
"After all, the culprit who started this war was not Spain."
"But today's discussion has completely deviated from this original intention."
"If you continue to hold such strong views on this matter, which are contrary to ours and harm our opinions, then I will take necessary measures."
Furthermore, if the final vote results in a way that harms Spain, then Spain will withdraw from the World Conference, effective today!
King Philip of Spain's words caused an uproar in the audience.
It seems no one expected that Philip would say such a thing.
The leaders behind Pericles immediately changed their expressions, and even Pericles himself frowned slightly.
Even the leaders behind the King of Spain immediately fell silent.
Silence.
He then paused, his gaze fixed on Bolívar in Gran Colombia.
"Furthermore, Spain's actions against Crete have been blessed by the gods, so this is not an invasion at all, but a symbol of our Spanish will."
"Any voice opposing this action is a challenge to the sacred faith of Spain!"
"Now, there's no need for us to continue these pointless arguments."
"Let's just vote!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
