Just as the Russians were busily ravaging France, Morocco across the strait stirred up trouble again. A Spanish immigrant town was overrun by native tribes, and more than a thousand people were slaughtered to the last.
Once the news spread, the whole of Europe was shaken. No one knew who started it, but the media outlets all splashed the same bold headline across their pages: Morocco Massacre.
Governments across the continent eagerly joined in, issuing forceful statements one after another. For a time, cries of "Kill them!" and "Crush them!" rang without cease throughout Europe.
Backed into a corner, the Spanish Government had no choice now but to grit its teeth and announce a military retaliation.
Both sides were playing at massacre. The Russian Army could commit atrocities in France without consequence, yet when Moroccan native tribes struck at Spanish colonists, all of Europe erupted in cries for blood.
There was no helping it; the world was simply this realistic. The Russian Bear was powerful in battle, and its hide was thick enough to take a beating. One glance told everyone it was not something to be provoked lightly.
Calling for war was easy, but if those calls truly caused trouble, someone would have to send troops to intervene. Who was willing to fight the Russian Bear for the sake of French interests?
Besides, the Russians did not dare run wild in France without something to rely on.
Though the Anti-French Alliance said nothing openly, its member states had supported the Tsarist Government through their actions.
This was the nineteenth century. Europe could stand for the international community, and the Anti-French Alliance could stand for Europe.
There had never been such a thing as sanctioning oneself. As a member of the Anti-French Alliance, no matter how wildly the Russians went