Yang Mingzhao pretended he hadn't seen the other man's expression and decided to continue being an emotionless secretary and adviser: "The Barkweian Shipping Treasury has declared bankruptcy. The Katai people's domestic situation has grown even more dire since the Battle of Gibraltar. Their attempt to divert internal contradictions through a foreign war was a dangerous gamble to begin with. Once the war dragged on and they could no longer profit from it, they would implode on their own without even waiting for us to counterattack."
Yang Mingzhao paused. "I agree with Chairman Maxwell's opinion. If only the Barkweians and the Katai people enter the war, then even if the expeditionary fleet and those four Lord God-class ships can't return, we still hold every advantage. As long as everyone performs their duties, victory will absolutely not change hands."
Of course, that depended on there truly being only those two countries involved—and on "everyone performing their duties." Normally speaking, the latter was even much more difficult than the former.
The President seemed not to have heard the implication at all. "Mingzhao, I originally thought that when we achieved so many victories on the New Continent, this government would have earned enough military accomplishments. But I was wrong. The new government I lead is a coalition of multiple parties. If I want to accomplish anything, I need even greater prestige. Wouldn't you agree?"
He seemed to be talking to himself, and a hint of fanaticism appeared in his expression.
Yang Mingzhao did not answer. He simply waited in silence, preparing to be the most qualified listener possible.
"However, when I was Chairman of National Defense, I strengthened our national defense precisely because I hoped to use the Katai people, this most unruly neighbor, to restore humanity's glory. Those starving big cats are all