Facing Fang Zheng's inquiry, Speaker McDowell remained silent for a long time, while Ellie looked at her grandfather uneasily. Fang Zheng stood in front of the window, looking at the scenery outside the window with a smile, as if he didn't care at all.

Finally, Speaker McDowell spoke.

"Why...why do you do this?"

"It's simple, I need a piece of land."

"……………Why?"

Perhaps Fang Zheng's answer was so direct that Speaker McDowell didn't react for a while.

"Sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean..."

"What I mean is that I need a piece of land to implement my next plan, but now that the sphere of influence of this Samlian continent has been decided, I can't even find a piece of wild land.

At this time, I suddenly discovered, hey, there is a piece of Crossbell here... Then I came here, investigated the history of this land, and then conducted discussions with the people here.

Communicate, and then I found that this place is very suitable for me to implement my plan, so I want to help Crossbell become independent."

"So, what you're saying is, you want this land?"

"Yes, that's pretty much what it means."

Fang Zheng nodded.

"I want this land to transform it into an independent kingdom like Liber. It's really interesting. Compared with Crossbell, Liber's land area is not much larger, but it has gained the empire.

With the recognition of the Republic, it stands on this continent with an independent attitude. On the other hand, Crossbell is like this. I think this is also the reason why Ellie went to study abroad in Liber."

"…………Ah, um…………"

Hearing Fang Zheng's question, Ellie was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"So did you get your answer?"

"I………………"

Ellie lowered her head and gritted her teeth.

"I think I know the answer. Liber was also invaded by the Empire, but when talking about the Hundred Days War, the Liber people were full of pride and pride. They believed that they could defeat the invasion of the Empire and protect their own country.

They are proud of their territory. Although there are sacrifices involved, they resolutely protect their homeland..."

At this point, Ellie couldn't go on. In other words, she had actually seen the gap between Crossbell and Liber.

"...Although Crossbell is more prosperous than Bilibel and its location is more important, we lack such a spirit..."Grandfather, we have nothing to be proud of. We are just talking about how we have wealth and how we have it.

We have attracted much attention, but we don’t have the same pride as the Liberians, the kind of pride that everyone from the nobility and high-level people to the most ordinary civilians have."

"And you can't ask for something like this."

Fang Zheng put his hands behind his back and looked at the old man.

"You can buy land, honor, beauty, and even life with money, but you can never buy pride. Because pride is not something you talk about. It needs to be defended with blood, with an indomitable spirit, and never give up.

The price is paid for faith——and blood and corpses. And the latter is the most important."

"But, I can't do it."

Speaker McDowell slowly shook his head.

"We want to protect the people of Crossbell. We don't want them to fall into conflict and destruction."

"That's why I'm saying this."

Fang Zheng snorted softly.

"You see, in the final analysis, this is Crossbell, who is afraid of death and destruction, and therefore chooses to lower his head and become the slave of others. Since we are all slaves, then whose slave are you not? At least I can

Guaranteed, I will be a better master than the Empire and the Republic."

"………………"

Speaker McDowell gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists on the desk.

"So, you want to be a king and a dictator. This anti-democratic approach is wrong!"

"Democracy? I'm really surprised that you have the nerve to talk about democracy?"

Fang Zheng chuckled.

"For the sake of your immediate prosperity, you allowed the atrocities of the Empire and the Republic to suffer, and allowed the innocent people of Crossbell to suffer, while you just lowered your heads like ostriches and said 'no way' and everything was fine, using their pain to

In exchange for peace at Crossbell, now you talk to me about democracy? Talk about mistakes?"

"This is what most Crossbell people..."

"That's just the tyranny of the majority."

Fang Zheng coldly interrupted Speaker McDowell.

"The upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. You leaders keep your eyes closed all day long and pretend to be blind. So what else can the people below do except pretend to be blind like you? Can they still rise up and overthrow your rule?

Speaker McDowell, what you want to do is one thing, what you do is another, and unfortunately, I will only judge a person by what he does."

Having said this, Fang Zheng picked up the tea cup again and shook it towards Ellie. The latter quickly picked up the teapot and poured Fang Zheng another cup of tea.

"Do you know why I came here to tell you this? Speaker McDowell?"

"...I'm also very confused."

Speaker McDowell seemed to have gradually regained his composure at this moment. He raised his head and looked at Fang Zheng.

"With your ambition and your strength, you can wait until you become a member of Crossbell Council before doing all this. I don't understand why you are saying this at this time. Aren't you afraid?

Do I stop you from becoming a member of Parliament and tell others what you said?"

"hehe………"

Fang Zheng drank the red tea again and looked at the night view outside the window.

"It's very simple, I'm not afraid."

"…………………Why?"

"Speaker McDowell, do you know? Now, after IBC was acquired by Starlight Technology, the financial circulation of the entire Crossbell area is completely in the hands of our Starlight Technology. In addition, our office in Almorica Village

The tourism and food processing projects, as well as the secondary development of the mining town in Mainz, have been completed. Now almost all the residents of these two places work in Starlight Technology. We have also funded the police force and the Crossbell Police Department.

, it can be said that as long as I give an order, all work and activities in Crossbell will come to a standstill tomorrow."

Having said this, Fang Zheng turned his head and looked at Speaker McDowell.

"In this case, does it matter to me whether I am a member or not?"

"You, you actually..."

"Please don't make it sound like I'm up to some conspiracy."

Looking at Speaker McDowell's red face, Fang Zheng sighed.

"I'm not that idiot like Dita. I have to secretly make some conspiracy behind the scenes. Every investment made by Starlight Technology in Crossbell has been reviewed and approved by the city council, and Speaker McDowell.

Signed by, your memory can’t be so bad, right?”

Having said this, Fang Zheng looked at Ellie.

"Ellie, you have to remember now that a political entity can never allow capital to intervene in the political field, otherwise it will become like this. That's me. To be honest, if it were a despicable and shameless guy,

Come here and say that he wants you to be his lover, I guess your grandfather can only nod in agreement. Are you wondering now why the Crossbell Council didn't think of this?"

"Ah...hmm!!!"

At this moment, Ellie was also in confusion. Listening to Fang Zheng's inquiry, she nodded subconsciously, while Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

"It's very simple, they don't have this awareness at all. What everyone thinks about is how to make profits from it. After all, you see, every investment in Starlight Technology can not only solve Crossbell's urgent needs, but also provide benefits to the market.

Parliament has brought a large amount of tax revenue and profits, so they naturally have no reason to disagree. But that's it, they don't care to what extent a huge capital entity can control Crossbell. Guess what the reason is?

"

"Uh...this..."

Ellie now felt as if she was standing in the classroom again, being asked questions in public, but faced with this question, Ellie seemed to have no answer for a moment. However, at this moment, Ellie suddenly thought of something, and her eyes lit up.

"Could it be...the Empire and the Republic?"

"If the answer is correct, ten points will be added."

Fang Zheng snapped his fingers.

"As you said, Crossbell is an autonomous state in name, but in the final analysis it is still a slave of the Empire and the Republic, and their idea is that no matter what, this land is also managed by the Empire and the Republic, so even if Starlight Technology does

If anything goes too far, the Empire and the Republic will take action without them taking action to suppress us. By that time, they might still be able to wave flags and shout from the side and get a share of the pie."

After saying this, Fang Zheng couldn't help but laugh.

"Hahahaha, it's interesting, isn't it? On the one hand, they don't want to be slaves, but on the other hand, they expect their masters to make decisions for them. Maybe they think they are particularly smart and can play with the Empire and the Republic at the same time. So.

I said this group of people really can’t stand up to the wall... Hahahahaha..."

After hearing Fang Zheng's words and merciless ridicule, Ellie turned pale with anger. She turned her head and looked at Speaker McDowell.

"Grandfather, is this really what Mr. Fangzheng said? Is this the reason why the Crossbell Council has done nothing?"
To be continued...