Chapter 1389: Chapter 99: Rebuilding the Nation (26)_2

“The Torlede Agreement never allowed you to form an army, the Torlede Agreement never permitted you to wage war, and the Torlede Agreement never permitted you to treat the Assembly of Free Citizens as a mere plaything.

“You call the Military Council’s control in Jiangbei Province territorial secession, yet your—the New Reclamation Legion’s control over the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province is even more entrenched than the Military Council’s domination of Jiangbei Province.

“Colonel Skur Meklen, please answer me, who granted you the authority to allow you to secede in the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province?”

Colonel Skur raised his head, facing hundreds of pairs of eyes filled with the same questioning intent.

Invisibly, Gaspar Berent transformed into the spokesperson for the free citizens of the Newly Reclaimed Lands, fearlessly voicing the unspoken concerns towards the New Reclamation Legion.

Yet Colonel Skur stood steadfast like a steep cliff on the coastline, unswayed by the tempestuous waves.

“Just as the Various Republics relinquished their rights, thus the Alliance was formed,” Colonel Skur calmly responded, “the existence of the Republic of Palatu is similarly based on the rights relinquished by the various states at the founding, which are today’s provinces.

“Therefore, when the vehicle holding the relinquished rights—the Grand Council—can no longer fulfill its function, the provinces automatically reclaim all the rights they delegated.

“As the administrator of the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, the New Reclamation Legion thereby becomes the new carrier of the ‘national authority’ delegated by the province…”

Faced with Colonel Skur’s lengthy discourse, the free citizens in the Grand Council were all bewildered.

The only one able to grasp the meaning was Gaspar Berent, who was racking his brain to decipher contradictions in Colonel Skur’s argument.

After a moment’s silence, he loudly countered, “What you speak is merely one interpretation of the Alliance Charter and the Republic Charter! There has never been a definite conclusion whether republic rights are ceded by secondary entities or by the smallest entities!”

…

[Iron Peak County Seating Area]

Richard from Blackwater Town, hearing the words of the Blue Rose officer, struck his leg in frustration.

After observing three trials, Richard saw more clearly than any other observer—when it comes to legal expertise, even if everyone in the Grand Council was bound together, they would not match Colonel Skur Meklen alone.

“At this moment, shouting louder is all that matters!” Richard screamed in his heart, “How can you keep following Colonel Skur’s lead?!”

…

However, adapting swiftly and rousing the crowd was never Gaspar Berent’s forte—Colonel Skur Meklen understood this even better than Gaspar himself.

“Gaspar! Are you still not admitting it?” Colonel Skur thundered, “No matter whether the rights are ceded by the citizenry or by the province, the Military Council has no right to seize it!”

Colonel Skur pressed forward step by step, with increasingly severe accusations:

“If it is the province delegating rights to the state, then where is your regime’s Free Citizens Assembly?

“If it is the people delegating rights to the state, then where are your regime’s people?

“You have unlawfully seized the rights belonging to the nation without any permission, in fact constituting treason! What else can you say?”

A substantial portion of the free citizens hadn’t yet untangled the logic, but saw the silver-haired Blue Rose officer bow his head.

When the silver-haired officer raised his head again, the former air of nonchalance was gone, his brows knitted tightly together, and bloodshot eyes appeared.

“Why be so hypocritical? Skur, why so hypocritical?”

Gaspar no longer desired to engage in this hopeless debate with Colonel Skur, there were over a thousand “judges” in the Grand Council, yet he only questioned one man, Skur:

“I know, you know, everyone present knows! If we truly relinquish power, what will the outcome be, won’t it be?”

“The so-called free citizens and Free Citizens Assembly lack both the capability to fight for Palatu and the inclination or even the desire to do so.

“The New Reclamation Legion arrives, they comply! The Military Council arrives, they comply! The pseudo council arrives, even the United Provincials arrive, they too comply!”

“Isn’t that the case?” Gaspar’s gaze swept across the free citizens, with more sadness than anger in his tone, “You?”

A few free citizens glared indignantly back, but more avoided the silver-haired officer’s eyes.

“Only you, me, we—us soldiers, will fight for Palatu!” Gaspar’s voice gradually turned hoarse, as he pointed to the officers seated in tiers, then toward the free citizens in other sections:

“If we strictly adhere to the Charter, you—and you, you all know what will happen! The Kingdom of Galloping Horses will cease to exist, Palatu will become a puppet and a vassal of the Federated Provinces. Then it will be Vineta, by then, the Alliance will be in name only.”

Colonel Skur said nothing, the Grand Council resonated only with Gaspar’s voice.

“So we cannot relinquish power! Just as you cannot give power to them.” Gaspar faced Colonel Skur’s indifferent eyes head-on:

“You accuse us of being criminals, traitors. I cannot win this argument against you! I surrender!