Chapter 1435: Chapter 441: Has Reuel Bible assassinated the Pope? Chapter 1435: Chapter 441: Has Reuel Bible assassinated the Pope? Even in normal business negotiations, there’s no lack of verbal sparring back and forth.
And all the more so for negotiations that involve the very survival of the parties, each side will inevitably strive as much as possible to achieve the results they desire.
In the eting room of New World Base, the atmosphere was very serious, and the discussions extrely intense.
“Now, the situation on the Old Continent is very grim. According to the latest intelligence from seven days ago, the South Continent Holy Court has issued an expansion edict, allowing the aristocrats of the three great kingdoms to develop lands on the Old Continent and conquer new territories. In other words, the Old Continent is now tacitly considered their territory by the people of South Continent. Not only are there hunters and rcenaries coming to the Old Continent from the three kingdoms now, but also a large number of noble armies. The pressure we face from the Allied Forces is now a hundred tis greater than before…”
“And on the East Wilderness front, it was previously just the Iris Legion of the Red Dragon Kingdom as the main attacking force, but it’s different now—the Holy See has ordered that all three Royal Families must participate. The situation will be very grim for East Wilderness in the future…”
“Therefore, we hope to establish a deeper strategic alliance with your side and jointly develop chanical technology… Mr. Steve, I hope you will seriously consider my proposal…”
“…”
This was a eting attended only by the high-level representatives of the Alliance Army and New World.
Only eight people sat around the round table.
Three ca from the Alliance Army—a woman in white commander’s attire, looking dashing and imposing, Catherine Carter; the old Family Head of the Lionheart Family, ‘Silver-eyed Lion’ Car; and the current Federal Deputy Commander General Rogers.
On the New World’s side sat the fat man Lew Williams, in his tailcoat; the always ticulous Mr. Dove, in a black suit; Douglas, the president of the chanics Alliance; and lastly, Seven Brown.
These seven were the core managent layer of both sides of the negotiation.
And then there was one more person, an outlier—Leonard Churchill.
In principle, such negotiations between two great forces should have made Leonard a complete outsider, and moreover, he hadn’t said a word throughout the entire negotiation process.
He just sat quietly in the corner, listening.
But sohow, his presence was vitally important.
He was more like a notary or a witness.
Whenever the negotiators ca across so fiercely contended issue and discord seed imminent, they would glance at Leonard before speaking, and the tension would subtly ease.
Especially for propositions that required a foundation of trust, as long as Leonard remained silent, they could be smoothly reached.
He was like a bridge of communication and a foundation of trust more effective than any contract.
The topics of discussion were many and varied, and the negotiations stretched on for hours.
…
Catherine Carter was very assertive at the negotiation table.
The quality of a superior was ever more refined in her.
Even though she moderated her behavior due to Leonard’s presence, the invisible and domineering aura exclusive to an emperor still made breathing in the eting room feel constrained.
It was clear to everyone that she was a qualified leader—a skilled negotiator.
However, for the counterpart in the negotiation, it felt like they were under great pressure.
Lew William’s chubby face was covered with a sheen of sweat, and throughout the negotiation process, he simply felt completely overrun.
He dared not imagine how dominating the Silver Mist Rose would have been without Leonard there.
Additionally, what the other side was saying wasn’t wrong; the two parties were interdependent, with a relationship akin to ‘if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.’
In a sense, these demands for cooperation were also necessary warti asures.
But now, the core chanical technology developnt of the Song Family had been transferred to the independent organization “New World Machinery City,” and the chanics did not wish to be constrained by outdated authorities.
And powerful chanical technology naturally signified formidable combat capabilities; if not under the control of power, there would inevitably be conflict.
Thus, while other forms of cooperation could still be discussed, this issue remained at a stalemate throughout the negotiation.
Leonard silently listened on the side.
Both parties were friends; he knew that if he spoke up, either side would take a step back to achieve cooperation.
But then, that would have interfered with certain original lines of cause and effect.
Leonard’s current ability of “I am the world” allowed him to foresee events far, far into the future.
He could, of course, see that both sides’ proposals had their pros and cons.
In the short term, Catherine Carter’s proposal seed reasonable and feasible.
With the military controlling technology developnt and all resources, it would certainly be able to deploy them more efficiently and positively impact the war. However, this would an all research would be geared towards military needs, which inherently posed severe restrictions on technological developnt and many hidden risks of power corruption.
Just like how once the mighty Taren Dynasty, despite having great weapons like the Titan Battle Armor at the disposal of the Augustus Dynasty, failed to mass-produce them due to the concentrated power in the emperor’s hands and the personal reasons of the Mad King, ultimately taking them to his Tomb.
Therefore, in the long run, an independent New World was indeed better.
Only then could a technology tree grow without limits, and a brand-new technological civilization would inevitably be born in the future…
So Leonard just listened silently.
He rely acted as a witness, not intervening in any negotiation content.
The two sides were already in an equal cooperative relationship, respecting each other, with fairness and justice, seeking mutual benefit. And so, the deadlock persisted.
They negotiated from noon until evening.
While the negotiations ultimately didn’t conclude entirely, ninety percent of the proposals did pass, serving the purpose.
The remaining issues would be discussed slowly in the future.
Off the negotiation table, Catherine Carter no longer displayed her strong presence, with Leonard there, she showed the elegant and ladylike side befitting a noble daughter.
And Lew Williams played the hospitable host, showing the Alliance Army’s top brass around the Machinery Workshop and even holding a grand reception dinner.
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