Chapter 220 : The Alliance Won’t Abandon Us, Right?
Chapter 220: The Alliance Won’t Abandon Us, Right?
At the very start of the meeting, the envoy representing the Tsar immediately revealed his fangs.
He demanded that the Rebel Forces be directly stripped of their qualification to participate in the conference, arguing that an organization that was not a legitimate regime could represent no one.
And that the Tsar was the supreme ruler and emperor of the Roshek Tsardom!
However, his statement was refuted point by point with solid reasoning and evidence by Wellington.
Wellington presented detailed data and records comparing the living conditions of serfs before and after the Tsar’s rule, as well as the restored production in regions occupied by the Rebel Forces.
At the same time, Wellington bluntly stated that with the help of the Alliance, his country would soon receive material aid and begin transitioning toward industrialization, steadily improving the living conditions of the people.
Hearing this, everyone present instinctively turned their gaze toward Coy Ackerman Astal. Coy nodded slightly and spoke into the microphone:
“作为大陆中占据一席之地的国家将会作出表率，本着人道主义原则无偿为罗谢克人提供战后援助，帮助其恢复正常的生产秩序以及生活。”
“Of course, this is not a special case. This is the Alliance’s next-stage objective. We will establish a peacekeeping force with no specific agenda and no political inclination, which will intervene in war-torn regions to ensure the safety of innocent civilians.”
“At the same time, depending on the situation and distance, we will assess affected populations and provide survival supplies necessary to maintain a minimum standard of living. Here, in my capacity as an Alliance Representative, I call upon all nations to join this great initiative and contribute to world peace as major powers should.”
The representative of the Britian Empire couldn’t help but twitch his eyelids upon hearing this.
What kind of “peacekeeping force” was this? Could it be aimed at them?!
At present, aside from the regions near the Britian Empire, most other countries had already ceased hostilities. Wouldn’t that mean the Alliance’s peacekeeping force could only be deployed into their empire?
Coy’s sudden shift in tone successfully derailed the Britian representative’s train of thought, filling his mind with concerns about how this would negatively affect them. He subconsciously ignored the Tsarist representative beside him, who was practically blinking himself into a spasm trying to signal him.
“Ahem! Ahem, ahem, ahem!”
The Tsarist representative was anxious, but could only remain so.
Many things could be said in private, but in public, no one would be too blatant—everyone maintained the façade of noble gentlemen.
In the end, the Tsarist representative could only stand up and leave the venue. The first bilateral peace talk ended on an unhappy note.
However, the remaining representatives did not leave, as there were still two more negotiation sessions between the empires.
Compared to the internal disputes of the Tsarist Nation, which still had room for argument, the negotiations between the empires progressed rapidly. It seemed they had already reached a basic agreement in private, and this conference was merely a formality.
Thus, the first day passed.
In the following days, during fierce verbal exchanges, Wellington and other Rebel Forces representatives took turns speaking, leaving the Tsarist representative speechless.
But gaining the upper hand on the surface was of little use. Ultimately, the outcome depended on the final judgment of the three major powers—the two empires and the Alliance.
As long as the Tsar remained in power, the entire nation was his personal property. Therefore, behind the scenes, the Tsarist representative made extensive promises to various countries, including—but not limited to—ceding disputed border territories.
At the same time, he approached Coy, proposing that if the Alliance supported the Tsar, the majority share of non-ferrous metal mining rights within the Tsarist Nation could be given to the Alliance, with both sides forming a joint company for development.
In addition, he submitted an enormous order for military arms and civilian supplies—ranging from simple washbasins to airborne transport airships and heavy transport aircraft.
The payment for this order could be directly deducted from mining dividends, with any shortfall compensated using other resources.
This was what it meant to prescribe the right remedy.
The Alliance’s obsession with profit was now common knowledge across the continent, and the Tsar targeted this weakness with precision.
However, Coy had already received clear instructions, so he would not waver at such a critical moment. He politely declined the massive order, telling the Tsarist representative to discuss it later within Alliance territory.
The Tsarist representative left in anger.
“Later”? Who knew if the Tsarist Nation would even still exist by then? Coy’s words were nothing more than a polite refusal.
After closing the door, Coy sat on the balcony and continued sipping wine. Not even a few minutes later, there was another knock.
Coy set down his glass, walked to the door, and opened it in one smooth motion—as if he had already expected it.
Pulling the door open, even he was momentarily stunned by the group standing outside.
“Why are all of you here? Never mind, come in first.”
Wellington gave an awkward smile and led the group into the suite.
“Out of the five of you, how many studied in the Alliance?” Coy casually asked as he poured each of them a cup of black tea.
“Three… Kent and Bellman came from the military. They’re the youngest officers.”
Coy extended his hand. “A pleasure.”
Bellman instinctively extended his right hand, but his empty sleeve swung in the air. He gave an awkward smile and instead offered his left hand, shaking Coy’s.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Comrade Coy.”
Seeing Coy’s confusion, Wellington quickly explained:
“The students who returned have been teaching our comrades in the Rebel Forces, passing on the knowledge we learned in the Alliance.”
At this point, Wellington’s tone carried a hint of pride.
“We had nothing, and we were all the same. So we handed over the land and farm it together. The harvest is shared, food and clothing are shared—we are all brothers and sisters.”
Coy thought about the backward industrial conditions of the Tsarist Nation and hesitated, but then, considering that most of the Rebel Forces came from serf backgrounds, he felt relieved.
Perhaps the current level of productivity could not achieve their ideal state. But even if production was insufficient and they sometimes went hungry, their lives were still far better than when they were serfs.
Serfs weren’t even qualified to eat rice or flour. As walking livestock, their masters would have preferred them to eat grass. At least now, they had food to eat.
“The Alliance will send you some potato seeds. Their yield is high—it should allow most people to have enough to eat. But don’t plant only potatoes; that could cause problems.”
“Industrial equipment and agricultural machinery will also be delivered to you in batches. You’ll need to send people to the Alliance for training.”
“Food supplies will also be delivered gradually, via maritime transport and air transport from the Kingdom of Suria. But these are only temporary solutions. Long-term food security depends on your own efforts.”
“We will also send experts and scholars to help guide your future development in a systematic and structured manner.”
Coy explained everything one point at a time.
The group listened with shining eyes, their gazes filled with hope for the future.
Only late into the night did they finally rise to take their leave.
As they said their goodbyes outside the door, Wellington hesitated before asking:
“We actually know what the Tsarist representative is doing. From the beginning, we didn’t place any hope in the other kingdoms—they’re all the same, the privileged class described in books.”
“But… the Alliance won’t abandon us, right?”
Coy didn’t hesitate for even a moment.
“Of course!”
“Just for that one word—‘comrade.’ As long as you don’t betray your original intentions, the Alliance will always be your strongest harbor!”