Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

After hearing Sean's (Xiao Ce's) words, everyone shook their heads and said, "No...we don't have any requests..."

"That's right, we didn't make any requests. We just don't know if we have any right to make recommendations..."

Some of the rulers then asked questions.

Hearing these rulers speak, Xiao Ce smiled and then said, "Of course, Vice President Ed White must have told you all about it and given you the appropriate solutions, right..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, the rulers all nodded in agreement.

Xiao Ce stopped there; there were many things he couldn't say any more about...

After all, many things can no longer be said openly, but fortunately, these rulers are not fools...

Seeing this, Xiao Ce continued, addressing the crowd, "Everyone, you all have this expression...it's obvious you have no objections, right?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, everyone nodded in agreement...

Seeing this, Xiao Ce took a deep breath, because what he was about to talk about was the sensitive issue of local governance.

Therefore, Xiao Ce's voice became exceptionally cautious.

Xiao Ce glanced at the people present with unhurried speed, and the kings became wary upon seeing his expression.

Xiao Ce continued, "The Western Alliance respects history and reality! While we welcome everyone to join the alliance, we will absolutely respect everyone's ideas!"

"The Alliance solemnly promises that all member states that have joined the Alliance will maintain their existing territories, royal titles, noble titles, internal governance structures, including laws of succession, local legal systems, and social customs, provided that the Alliance’s core interests are followed, and the Alliance will not interfere! This is the principle of ‘sovereignty resides in the state, and the right to govern is autonomous.’"

When everyone saw Sean's (Xiao Ce's) expression, their faces were incredibly tense. But when Xiao Ce offered this reassurance, the kings, who were initially quite nervous, visibly relaxed. Even the most arrogant Leclerc's expression softened considerably.

Their thinking was quite simple: as long as they had the crown and scepter, everything else was negotiable.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce changed the subject: "However, now that we have formed an alliance, we still need to unite! In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the alliance's orders, efficient allocation of resources, unified military operations, and effective coordination of relations between countries, as well as to supervise the implementation of the alliance's laws, especially those involving talent mobility, trade rules, and military cooperation, the Illuminati will establish provincial-level administrative units in all member states, whose geographical scope basically overlaps with the existing kingdoms."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the kings:

“Each province will have a governor. The governor will be directly appointed by the president of the Illuminati and will be responsible to the president and the Alliance Council. The governor’s office will be located in the capital or an important city of each kingdom.”

"The Governor's Office's powers and responsibilities include, first and foremost, representing the Alliance, supervising and coordinating the Kingdom's government in implementing the Alliance Parliament's resolutions and Alliance laws. It also manages all Alliance property and resource allocation within the province, such as the Alliance's requisitioned troops, supplies, taxes, and military facilities. Furthermore, it commands the Alliance's standing army stationed in the province!"

It possesses priority jurisdiction over major cases occurring within the province that involve the interests of the Alliance, transnational affairs, or violations of Alliance law. It has the right to be informed of and question regarding the movement of the Kingdom's troops, particularly their departure abroad or large-scale mobilizations, and, when necessary, can request the Kingdom's troops to cooperate with Alliance military operations, subject to authorization by the President or Parliament.

As Xiao Ce spoke, the atmosphere in the room had already begun to change noticeably.

"Bang!" Leclerc slammed his hand on the heavy table, making the cups rattle softly. He stood up abruptly, his eyes blazing with anger!

He didn't look at Sean (Xiao Ce); he bypassed Xiao Ce and stared angrily at Nie Bing, saying, "President Nie Bing! This governor's power is like that of an emperor emeritus! He holds military, financial, and legal power, and he even wants to supervise the mobilization of our troops? How is this any different from annexation?! The sword of France only recognizes its own king!"

Charles Bourbon, Medi, and the others didn't slam their fists on the table, but their faces were extremely grim. Okayama Bolton clenched his fists, while Tels looked worried.

The atmosphere in the council chamber instantly plummeted to freezing point, thick with tension. The kings' anger and vigilance reached their peak. Victor King observed silently from the rear, while the clan leaders, including Cassivs, held their breath, watching how Nie Bing would handle this greatest challenge yet.

Nie Bing's expression remained unchanged, his gaze as cold as ice as he met Leclerc's: "King Leclerc, please calm down. The position of governor is not for seizing power, but for coordination and integration, and to ensure the efficiency of the alliance."

"The commitment to sovereignty remains valid. The governor has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of any country, such as the king's appointment of ministers, collection of domestic taxes (except for those stipulated by the alliance), and handling of domestic civil and criminal cases. The main body of the kingdom's army is still under the king's command, and the governor has no right to interfere in daily training, defense, and bandit suppression."

“Only when it involves the overall strategy of the alliance, cross-kingdom operations, or dealing with a common enemy, does the governor, as the representative of the alliance, have the right to coordinate, question, or request cooperation on the orders of the council or the president. This is the way of ‘shared sovereignty and coordinated governance’.”

"If we don't govern in this way, and everyone continues to do their own thing, what's the point of forming this alliance?"

Seeing this, Sean (Xiao Ce) added in a timely manner: "Your Majesties, please consider this. Without the coordination of the Governor-General, how can the Alliance ensure that its million-strong army can be deployed as one's own arm during wartime? How can it ensure that resources are transferred from the most abundant places to the places most in need? How can it prevent the Alliance's grand plan from being hindered by the selfish interests of a single country?"

The Governor's Office is not the government office above the Kingdom, but rather a bridge between the Alliance and the Kingdom, a key gear ensuring the efficient operation of the Alliance's massive machine. Its core lies in coordination and supervision, not in rule.

The Illuminati promised that the selection of governors would prioritize individuals familiar with the local situation and of high moral character, and would fully consider the opinions of the king of the host country.

Your Majesty Leclerc, the 'military power' you are concerned about is actually the 'joint command' of the alliance.

The sword of France is loyal to the King, but under the banner of the Alliance, when pointed at our common enemy, it will become the sharpest spearhead of the West! Wouldn't you like to command such an iron torrent, a fusion of all the West's elite forces?

Leclerc stared intently at Xiao Ce, his chest heaving.

Sean's words struck a chord with his inner desire to command a stronger army and win greater glory.

Charles Bourbon also fell into deep thought, weighing the costs of restricted sovereignty against the enormous strategic benefits that could be gained by joining the alliance, including technology, markets, and security guarantees.

Medici was more concerned about whether the church's status would be interfered with. After receiving Ed's clear reply that "religious affairs are internal matters and the governor has no right to interfere," his expression softened slightly.

Just when things were at a stalemate, Nie Bing offered his most tempting bargaining chip: "Talk is cheap. The Illuminati will prove the alliance's value far exceeds its costs through concrete actions such as technology sharing and industrial efficiency!"

Her gaze then turned to Sean (Xiao Ce).

Sean (Xiao Ce) understood and gestured towards the outside of the hall.

Two iron-clad guards carried a square object, about half a person's height, covered with a black cloth, into the hall. Everyone's attention was drawn to it.

As the black cloth was lifted, advanced cannons and firearms were revealed, along with several inactive robots...

These weapons, firearms, and even the robots were all completely unheard of and unseen by these kings...

Xiao Ce slowly walked forward and introduced the weapons to each of the kings.

Excitement gleamed in their eyes...

"Ladies and gentlemen, you've probably never heard of these weapons before. Indeed, these are the most advanced weapons imaginable; their power and range far surpass what you currently possess..."

"These weapons are the most advanced ones our leader brought, but we need to optimize our technology and upgrade our processes. We are willing to share the manufacturing methods. Only when we work together to figure out how to mass-produce these weapons and robots will we far surpass the Tianji Academy in East Asia..."

Xiao Ce's words were highly persuasive, and those around him had a gleam in their eyes.

Xiao Ce continued, "Gentlemen, this is just the beginning! Once the alliance is established, the Illuminati will open up part of its technology library and set up a Genesis Workshop in the Alliance City. Skilled craftsmen from all nations are welcome to join!"

"We promise that by integrating Western resources and optimizing production processes, the efficiency of the Alliance's arsenals will increase by at least three times! The construction cycle of major warships, such as the new Tier III battleships, will be shortened to one-third of the original!"

Imagine, when our fleets fill the oceans, our legions armed with the finest artillery and the toughest armor, what will East Asia use to defend itself?

"Boom!" Okayama Bolton suddenly stood up, his face flushed with excitement, his huge body almost touching the chandelier!

"Good! Now that's real power! Swords, spears, and halberds are nothing but trash before these cannons! Mr. Sean, this so-called Iron Man robot—may I let my Bolton warriors test its power? And those weapons—we've only heard you describe them; we haven't really experienced them firsthand. I think seeing them with our own eyes will give us a much clearer understanding..."

His interest in technology far outweighs his debates on governance.

Leclerc's breathing became noticeably heavier, and the anger in his eyes was replaced by intense desire.

As a pure soldier, nothing could impress him more than more powerful weapons and more efficient war machines. He stared intently at the robots and those advanced weapons... as if he could see through their internal structure.

Kings such as Charles Bourbon and Medici could not hide their shock and excitement.

The patriarchs of the twelve families gleamed with shrewdness, seeing a huge business opportunity and new leverage to consolidate their positions.

Who will be the first to master or distribute these technologies?

Xiao Ce nodded to Gangshan: "His Majesty Bolton's bravery is admirable. Tomorrow, the Illuminati will arrange a live-fire demonstration at the firing range on the outskirts of the city. All Your Majesties and clan leaders are welcome to witness the power of those cannons and several other... 'trinkets.' And these iron men are also welcome; you are all welcome to spar with them..."

He gave Viktor King a subtle look.

Viktor immediately understood that this demonstration was also a stage for him to demonstrate his abilities, and a crucial step in psychologically intimidating the kings and the heads of the twelve families.

The promise of a technology demonstration acted as a powerful catalyst, instantly easing the tension surrounding the governor's power.

Leclerc slowly sat down, his expression still cold and hard, but his tone softened considerably: "The advanced technology... is indeed impressive."

"However, I feel that the governor's powers and responsibilities are still too broad! There needs to be clear and detailed rules to restrict him and make it clear that he must not interfere with the kingdom's core internal affairs such as daily military and political affairs, finance and taxation, and personnel appointments and removals."

As with its jurisdiction, it should be limited to cases that clearly violate Alliance law and should be coordinated with the Kingdom's judicial authorities. The size, location, supply sources, and command chain of the Alliance's standing army, especially in peacetime, must be subject to a clear, multi-nation oversight mechanism.

He put forward specific requirements, rather than rejecting the entire proposal.

Charles Bourbon calmly added, "The Illuminati should consult fully with the monarchs of each country beforehand regarding the selection of governors, and the recommended list should include people familiar with the conditions of that country..."

"Furthermore, the operating expenses of the Governor's Office should not be entirely borne by the kingdom where it is located; the Alliance should allocate special funds for it." Medi reiterated the absolute autonomy over religious affairs.

Seeing that the other party was starting to haggle over the details rather than completely objecting, Nie Bing knew that they had passed most of the hurdle. She and Xiao Ce exchanged glances.

Nie Bing decisively made the decision: "His Majesty Leclerc and His Majesty Bourbon are quite right. The specific details of the Governor's powers and responsibilities, the supervision mechanism, the consultation procedure for the selection of candidates, and the proportion of expenses can be drafted by a special committee led by Vice President Ed, with representatives from various countries and the twelve families forming a special committee within ten days, and submitted to the Alliance Parliament for review."

"The principle is: core interests, strategies, resources, and military coordination belong to the alliance, while daily governance, domestic affairs, people's livelihood, and basic defense belong to the kingdom. The governor serves as a link, not to suppress you. If the draft details fail to satisfy all parties, this clause can be reconsidered."

She left a way out, demonstrating "sincerity" while also exerting pressure: if you want the benefits of technology, you have to compromise on governance rights.

The kings exchanged glances.

Finally, Charles Bourbon, representing the strongest, spoke: "Since the Chairman has already said all this, and the Illuminati is so sincere, we are willing to discuss the Governor's detailed rules."

"Of course, we still hope that the final terms will be as the chairman said, ensuring that sovereignty truly resides in the country," Leclerc said coldly...

Nie Bing smiled and then said, "Don't worry, everyone. All the restrictions I've imposed are actually for your own good."

"To be honest, we have absolutely nothing to do with your control of those countries. Our goal is to defend against foreign aggression..."

"At the same time...our greatest interest..."