The entire council chamber was deathly silent.
Apart from the councilors from the Central China Region, the people from the other four regions were almost all stunned.
Everyone knows that Central China's current strength is extraordinary, having actually surpassed the former number one region. However, Central China has always been low-key and moderate, and has never been so powerful before. For a moment, everyone felt that it was both reasonable and somewhat strange.
"This colonel."
Finally, after a long silence, the North America Region could no longer remain silent. The leading senator stood up and said, "Please watch your words!"
"This should be said to you," Wu Xiaoli said coldly, looking at the North America Region representative.
" Mr. Zhou, does this woman's statement represent the views of your Central China Region?"
The elderly man leading the Central China Region didn't even raise an eyelid upon hearing this, and said indifferently, "Colonel Wu Xiaoli is our representative. Since she is a representative, her words naturally represent the Central China Region. But you, Mr. Wells, that female congresswoman who is a journalist, can her words represent your North America Region?"
As the old man finished speaking, he slowly opened his half-closed eyes and looked quietly at the other person. The old man's words made the hearts of people throughout North America Region skip a beat!
" Mr. Zhou, what do you mean?" the congressman named Wells asked through gritted teeth.
"Mr. Wells, don't you understand?" The old man surnamed Zhou's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "I'll say it again, old man: can that lady represent your North America Region? If not, then only she will leave today. If she can, then Mr. Wells, please take your people and leave!"
Everyone: "."
At this moment, not only were the councilors from other districts stunned, but many councilors from the Central China Region were also stunned. They had never seen the Central China Region act so blatantly arrogant when facing outsiders.
Perhaps they've been keeping a low profile for too long, and even they themselves feel it's a bit unreal.
People from other regions glanced at the elderly in Central China, then looked towards North America Region. This time, no one stood on North America's side. No matter how unreasonable the former Laoda of the Western camp was, he always had a large following. But this time, no one made a sound, because everyone knew the consequences!
The North America Region councilors were ashen-faced, the atmosphere chillingly gloomy, but no matter how angry they were, at that moment, not a single one dared to utter a single defiant word.
The reason is simple: no one would willingly give up this world where they can live almost forever!
After an unknown amount of time, Mr. Wells, who was in charge, finally stood up, a gentle smile melting across his face, "I admit that Councilor Aiver was too rude just now. This is not the intention of our North America Region. She is young and inexperienced. We will let her go back and calm down. Please don't mind, Mr. Zhou."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhou withdrew his gaze and returned to his previous half-closed, resting state. "Mr. Wells, you're too kind. This old man wouldn't hold a grudge against a young girl. So, as you said, let's leave it at that."
Mr. Wells said a few more words with a forced smile, then turned to look at Aiver, his eyes as cold as a hawk. "Congressman Aiver, go back and calm down."
Aiver was pale. She opened her mouth to say something, but found that all the councilors were looking at her coldly. At that moment, she knew that she had been abandoned.
It's even possible that this project will be permanently irrelevant to her.
She wanted to lash out, to berate the spinelessness of her compatriots, but in the end, she swallowed her words under countless cold stares. She knew very well how serious the consequences would be if she did!
In the end, under everyone's cold gaze, Aiver left the conference room somewhat disheveled and staggering.
Colonel Wu, Mr. Wells, looked gently at Wu Xiaoli in the middle. "Please continue."
Wu Xiaoli frowned as she looked at the group of North America congressmen. She used to think they were just arrogant, but now she realized she had been too naive. They could change their expressions in an instant, their emotions controlled like machines. Just a moment ago they were filled with righteous indignation, but now, every one of them had a gentle smile on their face, as if the humiliation they had just suffered had never happened.
Indeed, politicians are only shameless, not simple.
"Regarding the issue of Samsara, our original condition was that Chen Qing grant us a quota in the Underworld, the size of a prefecture, no smaller than Liuzhou, Nanming Prefecture, Nanyang City, etc. We would govern the Underworld there, making it the base for the Federation's Reincarnator. We would then expand and grow as needed. Chen Qing would both protect us and grant us certain powers, and the price would be that we would fully support Chen Qing."
"Oh?" Wells' eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Then where are we assigned to? If we are given the power of the Underworld, how do you plan to distribute it?"
"Unfortunately," Wu Xiaoli shook her head, "He didn't agree!"
"What?!" All the councilors were stunned for a moment, then became excited.
You haven't even been able to convince them, meaning you haven't been able to control them, yet you're asking us for resources?
If Central China hadn't acted so aggressively just now, and if this project hadn't been so tempting, they probably would have already turned on each other and started making a scene!
"Please calm down, everyone," Wu Xiaoli said calmly. "Although we couldn't reach an agreement on this matter, the other party still offered other conditions. His reason for refusing was that rules cannot be broken; his faction has its own rules. If he were to forcibly allocate a Underworld to us, it wouldn't be convincing. Therefore, if we want a position in the Underworld, we can only fight for it ourselves!"
"Fight for it yourself?" The Western Europe Region councilor asked, bewildered. "How do you fight for it?"
"This is the purpose of inviting you here today." Wu Xiaoli waved her hand, and the huge screen reappeared in the center of the council hall. On the screen, Jiangnan was currently conducting its first selection of Underworld officials!
"All positions in the Underworld are limited to ten-year terms and are rotated, much like our modern official system. Furthermore, the conditions for becoming Underworld administrator are quite democratic. First, one must become an administrator within Chen Qing's faction. Then, one must achieve certain political achievements and reputation within the administrative region under their jurisdiction. Those ranked highly can participate in the selection of Underworld administrators for that administrative region. The selection is judged by the Underworld Lord of the prefecture and Chen Qing himself, and also by a vote of the prefecture's citizens!"
Everyone was stunned. They hadn't expected Chen Qing to adopt their Western voting system.
For a moment, this group of people who emphasized democracy were speechless with rebuttal!
"Although this method doesn't allow us to immediately have a base, it gives us more opportunities. If our people are capable, we might even have the chance to control most of Chen Qing's power in the Underworld."
"What makes you say that?" This time, the question came from someone within the Central China Region. One of the councilors frowned. "Are our people guaranteed to get so many positions?"
"Of course!" Wu Xiaoli said confidently, "According to intelligence, the academy founded by Chen Qing is based on science and engineering, and its advanced magic path is also research-oriented, somewhat like Western alchemy. How could our modern science and engineering level be inferior to that of the ancients? In addition, there are modern advanced management thinking and administrative capabilities. Which of these can the ancients compare to? If they can't even compete in these areas, how useless would they be?"
"The premise is fairness!" Wells began. "We naturally believe that our people can obtain their due status through fair competition, but the question is, is it fair with Chen Qing?"
"He has to be fair. After all, we can shut down the project at any time, and he will always need our support and help him deal with those veteran players who have been around for who knows how many years."
As she spoke, Wu Xiaoli pointed to the screen and said, "Everyone, just watch quietly. All the selections are public. I don't think anything could be fairer than this method."
--
At this moment, not only the Westerners in the parliament, but also the Westerners who entered the game world were looking at the so-called selection conference with great curiosity.
It's quite interesting to see democratic elections in such an ancient feudal era.
They all watched intently, because they knew that, if all went well, one day they too would step onto this stage and use their most familiar Western methods to fight for their rightful rights!
"Next, please welcome Liu Xie, the Assistant Administrator of Luming County!"
One more chapter to go!