Darkstone Code-Chapter 842 - 840: There Is No Such Thing as Traveling Light
Just as Lynch and Mrs. Trish were discussing how to expose the brutality of the Suge people surrounding Mike’s younger brother’s fiancée, Mr. Truman was also talking to the President about this matter.
"Mr. President, the entire society is now more inclined to seek revenge for these Federation people. This is a cry from the people, and we cannot ignore it."
Mr. Truman sat on the chair, facing the President as he spoke these words. However, it was apparent that the President did not want to expend too much energy on this issue.
He looked at the fellow sitting across the table, with his fingers interlocked on the table, "These things have already passed. Although they often say they want revenge for those people, we cannot treat their momentary angry words as an order to be followed."
"The whole world is leaning towards peace now. If we initiate a war on our own accord, we will become everyone’s enemy. And forgive me, but I cannot let the entire Federation stand in opposition on the international stage for the sake of a few Federation people!"
In the President’s view, Mike and those merchants indeed had some issues; people died, but didn’t the Suge Central Government also send photos?
The row of headless photos, to be honest, were quite visually impactful. The President saw an unedited version, even more brutal and bloody, and he almost felt sick.
This actually already showed the attitude of the Suge Central Government and the Grand President. They did not want any unpleasantness with the Federation. If we do anything more at this point, it would instead be unreasonable from the Federation’s side.
Of course, the most critical reason was his inner hesitation; going to war right after taking office was too radical.
Seeing that the President seemed unwilling to change his mind, Mr. Truman made one last effort, "Mr. President, in the past, the Gafura people always clamored to eliminate all their enemies in the world."
"They were so arrogant that even minor conflicts would lead them to dispatch fleets to bombard the opponent’s territory or raid the opponent’s merchant ships on the sea."
"Their actions were so vile, yet their allies increased, and nobody ever said that the Gafura people were wrong. People would only say that others provoked the Gafura first."
"If we are only speaking of interpersonal interactions, respect indeed should be mutual."
"But for nations, respect is not because you respected other countries, so other countries will respect you."
"It’s force that makes people understand who deserves more respect."
The President shook his head, "I remember you told me before, if we put too much pressure on the international community, Gafura would rally a group and form a new coalition to erode the advantage we hold through encouragement."
"But now, you’re asking us to become tougher, even considering the preemptive use of force to pursue justice. Wouldn’t this just give the Gafura people an opportunity?"
These were indeed words Mr. Truman had said before. He furrowed his brow; the President had found a reason to counter him, indicating strong resistance to his persuasion.
He made one last effort, "That was under normal circumstances; we wouldn’t actively harm others. The situation now is different; someone has shown malice towards us, and we should defend our rights."
"We should retaliate fiercely against these malicious attacks!"
The President had many shortcomings, but he had one advantage: he could patiently listen to others finish speaking.
Anyone who has ever been a salesperson knows that the hardest part is not selling the product to a customer but getting the customer to listen to you as a salesperson.
Listening to what Mr. Truman had to say, the President seemed to waver again.
Seeing the wavering on the President’s face—a look Mr. Truman had seen countless times over the past few years—he immediately added, "We might not really need to use force; we just need to show that if they can’t give us what we want, we’ll find out the truth and uphold our rights ourselves!"
"Attitude is what’s most important!"
The President considered carefully for a moment, "Just a stance?"
Mr. Truman breathed a sigh of relief, "Just a stance!"
At one o’clock in the afternoon, the spokesperson for the Bail Federal President’s Mansion Press Office sent a news release to major media outlets regarding the recent Suge Mac massacre.
In the announcement, the President straightforwardly stated that he does not commit to abandoning other methods for seeking justice for already victimized Federation citizens.
This news immediately sparked public uproar, with many people spontaneously taking to the streets to cheer for the President’s tough stance. The public believed he would be the toughest President in the Federation’s history.
Listen to what he said; he actually wants to retain the right to use force first!
This gave the Federation people, who had been "weak" and "avoiding" for several years or even decades, a taste of something different—
We are rising, and this time it’s not just talk!
However, every matter has its positive and negative sides, at least according to the President. For example, Mr. Fei Qi called the President.
"Some people called me; they think there’s been a change in the Federation’s international policy..." Mr. Fei Qi’s tone was very steady and gentle, without the impression of someone wielding terrifying power behind the scenes, just like an ordinary elderly man.
"There are people from the Conservative Party, our own folks, and even some foreign ambassadors."
"You have to appease these people, explain to them the reasons and thoughts behind your decision..."
Mr. Fei Qi’s call seemed a troublesome matter for the President. Even as President, there were still people in the Federation surpassing him.
For example, Mr. Jeruno, Mr. Fei Qi, the chairman of the Conservative Party Committee...
These individuals might not even have a fatal rate in the general populace of one in ten thousand or even one in a million, but each possessed powers even a President could not resist.
After hanging up, the President called Mr. Truman again, "Many people expressed concern about our statement, believing there might be changes in our international policy. This is your job, right?"
Mr. Truman happened to be the first Minister of the Ministry of International Affairs, and matters of international policy, no matter how they are, fall under his work scope.
After he finished speaking and got a affirmative response from Mr. Truman, he hung up the phone, still feeling somewhat aggrieved, feeling wronged.
Mr. Truman wasn’t surprised by the President’s attitude.
He had known from the start that the President was someone easily persuaded, someone who could be swayed by him but also easily by others or ongoing events.
He then gathered the office members and began deliberating on holding a press conference for questions and answers...
International affairs are never isolated events at any time.
"If today we do not stand up to speak for Suge and Suge’s ambassador, then in the future, if we encounter the same problem, I’d like to ask everyone, will anyone speak for us?"
The Gafura diplomat was a hereditary count, a noble title already regarded as very prestigious even in Gafura’s homeland.
Hereditary, meaning he did not have to curry favor with the Secretariat and His Majesty the Emperor, as long as he reported the succession of the title, it could continue indefinitely.
At this moment, he was sitting in the very middle of the room, with soothing music playing in the background. The comfortable environment, along with non-harsh lighting, made everyone feel very comfortable there.
However, today, the gentlemen who usually spent their time here were all seriously facing this Gafura diplomat, listening to what he said.
"I do not deny that the Federation is a powerful country, and you all know that in that not-really-to-be-mentioned naval battle, we lost completely to the Federation people."
"Even if now someone tells me the Federation is the number one military power in the world, I would agree with this view."
"Before today, I never worried about this, because I knew the Federation is a peace-loving country; they never took the initiative to use force, so I never worried about them."
"I am not worried they will invade anyone, nor am I worried they will coerce anyone to do anything."
"But, gentlemen, today everything has changed."
"From the position that came out of the President’s Mansion, we can see they are becoming tougher, and if they succeed this time, what about next time?"
People were undoubtedly absorbed in the narrative of the Gafura diplomat, and without a doubt, humans are inherently lazy creatures. Before the previous successful experience is outdated, they seldom consider solving problems through new methods.
This is why, often, methods of solving problems might not change for hundreds or thousands of years; it’s not that there are no new methods, people are just too lazy to try them.
Once the Bail Federal starts getting accustomed to using military power to solve problems they encounter in international society—who doesn’t encounter problems?
Then, when that day comes, what will everyone do? 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"They will continue using the method they find simplest and most effective to solve these problems: force!"
"Gentlemen, among these troubles, it could very well be you, or it could be me!"
"None of us can guarantee every Federation businessman in our countries is absolutely safe; we can’t even assure the safety of our own businessmen, so why assure someone else’s?"
"Once we can’t meet their demands, they will use force. This is currently the greatest threat the international society faces!"
"A force is vigorously trying to undermine the hard-earned peace!"
"Gentlemen, we must stand together!"
