Chapter 256 National Policy
"It's like this. I heard from those gangsters that you are a greedy and incompetent king. The country has become what it is now entirely due to your connivance. I want to hear what you have to say."
Vic slowly questioned a king. He wanted to see whether this king was greedy and incompetent as the fourth brother said, or something else.
"Since you heard these things from them, you must have told them their identities, right? So you just killed them all and covered up the truth?"
The old king's eyes were deep, as if he saw through everything. The king's words made Vic's eyes shrink, and he almost drew his sword to chop someone, but he forced himself to hold back.
"So you also know their identities. I'm a little confused as to how you know. Would you mind telling me?"
Vic now feels that the old king is definitely not an incompetent person. Maybe Zero and the others have been deceived by the king. It is because the power of this country is too weak and it is completely unable to resist the tricks of the World Government.
"Please allow me to tell you a story. Thirteen years ago, a man who claimed to be a representative of the World Government came to see me. At that time, I was teasing my granddaughter, so I had him summoned in.
When the man came in, I saw that he was wearing a white suit, a top hat, and a white cape. The strangest thing was that he was wearing a strange mask when he met the king.
When I saw that man, I asked someone to take my granddaughter away. That man was too murderous, and I was afraid that he would scare my granddaughter.
The masked man said that he was an envoy sent by the World Government to discuss with my country about joining the World Government as a member country.
He also told me a lot of benefits of joining the World Government, but I had to pay a fee of astronomical gold every year. I asked how much, and he told me an astronomical figure.
Although our country has a suitable climate and produces a lot of grain every year, how much is the grain worth? The sea is chaotic and it is difficult to sell it. Citizens have almost no money left except for their own food and clothing.
I couldn't take out that much heavenly gold even if I didn't eat or drink, so I thought about it for a moment and rejected him. In the following year, he came several times again, but I still rejected him. "
The old king was a little unable to continue at this point. Perhaps the story that followed was too cruel and the old king needed to calm his mind.
"Your repeated refusals angered the World Government? Then Zero and the others came, right? But how do you know that Zero and the others are also from the World Government?" Vic knew that this was more or less the content to come, so he gave the old king a heads-up.
"Yes, just as you said, the next year, Ling brought the ninth, third and fourth brothers, as well as a large group of people in black suits, to the island.
At first, they did not take any action but settled down on the island. Relying on their powerful military force at sea, they transported the excess food on the island and sold it. Then, they introduced some scarce goods on the island and started trading.
After they had established themselves, they found me. The four of them came to the palace together and tried to sell me a kind of flower, saying that this flower could be sold at a high price outside, and asked me to encourage the common people to plant it. I was very hesitant at the time and didn't want to agree to their request.
However, they were too powerful, and I was afraid that if I refused forcefully, they would do something, so I could only tell them that I needed to think about it, but in fact, I just wanted to drag it out.
They didn't press me, and left after hearing what I said. After they left, my little granddaughter ran out from the back and asked me if the weird guy from a year ago was here again.
The weird person she was talking about was the masked man from the World Government. I told her that there was no such person, why did she ask? My granddaughter told me that she smelled the familiar smell of that person.
I realized that the World Government had not given up on making this country a member, they just changed their tactics.
My little granddaughter has been gifted since she was young. She will never forget any smell she has ever smelled. That is why I know that they were all sent by the World Government.
They would not stop until my country was included in the World Government, and they were still gangsters. I knew they would use force if I didn't agree, so I had no choice but to agree to their request.
But I didn't expect that the flower they were talking about would be such a harmful thing. They want to destroy this country!"
The old king said this with endless hatred in his eyes. He threw the fireworks that Xiaonan had picked and placed on the table to exchange for money to the ground, stomped on them hard a few times, and then stepped on the withered flowers and crushed them back and forth, as if he was stepping on Zero and the people of the World Government, releasing the tremendous hatred in his heart.
"Um... Your Majesty, please don't get too angry. Let's talk about the future plans of this country.
Your Majesty, the minions of the World Government have been removed, but if no other measures are taken, there is no guarantee that the World Government will not continue to send people here, and the result will be the same. What do you think about this matter?"
Seeing the old king like this, Vic was afraid that he would have a cerebral congestion and pass out in the next second, so he could only divert the old king's attention.
"Brother, this is exactly what I want to ask you. Do you have any solution? Our country's military strength is too weak. People nowadays are unable to raise their weapons. They can't even beat the pirates who can reach this island!"
The old king's attention was indeed diverted, and his expression changed from resentment to helplessness, in a seamless switch.
"Since you have no solution, let me tell you what I think.
The pollen from fireworks is addictive. Now everyone in your country has been infected. So the cultivation of fireworks cannot be stopped now, but the cultivation must be reduced year by year to allow the people to gradually adapt and quit.
This is my opinion on the physiological treatment of this addiction. The details need to be confirmed by our ship's doctor, and you, the king, need to cooperate with the operation.
Another thing is that this country must become a member state. I know you have a lot of money in your treasury. It should be no problem to pay the gold now. You can apply for naval protection by becoming a member state.
My teacher is the former admiral Zefa. I went to him for help to build a naval base on this island, so that we won’t be afraid of pirates. Otherwise, no matter how much money we have, we won’t be able to defend it. What do you think? "Vic said his solution.
"Really? Can we really build a naval base on the island? Of course I'd like to become a member state, but wouldn't we be unable to pay the sky gold at that time?
I have saved all the money I got from trade, just in case I need it at a critical moment. I won’t even let my children use it, so I’ll have to trouble you to help me!”
The old king naturally agreed with what Vic said. After all, if a country is not protected, it will inevitably be taken advantage of by pirates, and no amount of money can protect it. Vic's method is indeed the best and fastest.
A navy with connections is different, the old king sighed in his heart!
"But there is one thing Your Majesty must agree to!" Vic said seriously.