The hall fell silent in an instant.
All Carlos IV and the others could hear was the thundering thump-thump of their own hearts.
It was not that they were inexperienced. Spain was, after all, still one of Europe's foremost powers, and they had seen their share of grand occasions.
But 300 million Escudo Gold Coins was something they had truly never seen.
Forget seeing it—they had never even dared dream of a number that large in front of gold coins.
Last year, when Joseph had helped the government of Spain obtain several million Escudos from the church, these ministers had been overjoyed, as though the goddess they had secretly loved since childhood had suddenly agreed to marry them.
But what the Crown Prince of France had just mentioned was "300 million"!
That was like having more than a hundred goddesses suddenly appear at once...
Several seconds passed before Campos carefully asked,
"R-really?"
He looked as though he were afraid of waking himself from a dream.
Joseph nodded with utmost seriousness. "Absolutely true."
Campos raised his voice slightly. "This mine will not drag us into a struggle with other countries, will it?"
"Of course not. You will have absolute mining rights there."
The hearts of the ministers from Spain pounded even harder.
They exchanged glances, then sought confirmation from Carlos IV with their eyes. Finally, Count of Floridablanca gave a light cough and said,
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, if it is truly as you say, then it is enough to exchange for Louisiana."
Campomanes could no longer bother with diplomatic etiquette and asked impatiently, "Where exactly is it, Your Highness?"
"On the West Coast of North America, in the California Region."
Joseph did not conceal it and stated it outright.
First, in a formal diplomatic setting like this, Spain could