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"One of the prerequisites is that we must establish a black slave employment system," Niccolo said, his hands clasped together, his tone calm and composed.
Compared to the reckless youth from a few years ago, he was now a young man with a steady gaze and confident stride.
"This is an essential condition."
"Wait, why?" Henry VII furrowed his brow. "You know, we might just need to pay those chieftains a sum of money, and they’ll happily sell their own people, friends, and family to us like livestock."
"And we have to pay wages to the slaves? Provide them with necessary protection treaties?" Another leader next to him frowned. "Perhaps Italy is rich enough—but we may not be able to bear that cost."
"More important than wealth is order and rules," Niccolo said again, mentally wishing his teacher from Rome would show up to help him out, but maintaining a calm demeanor without revealing any hesitation. "At first, we might trade with the chieftains, but later, it could turn into plundering and fighting."
"Do any of you believe that we will profit more during the chaos of looting and killing?"
He paused, his gaze turning to the calm-eyed queen, feeling a sense of reassurance, and his voice lifted slightly. "Once a hired army from any nation rises in rebellion, the colonies of neighboring countries may also rally in response, like an uncontrollable wildfire."
"I believe this is a result none of us wish to see."
The Five-Nation Alliance took four months to move from its formation to signing the agreements.
Like guests sharing a pie, they divided the Americas into six sections and signed treaties regarding mutual defense and commercial cooperation.
Although no one directly said or mentioned it, they all knew what Spain and France, who had been excluded, would face.
Once the overseas cooperation was confirmed, numerous domestic European projects began to be negotiated and adjusted.
They all needed to open each other's markets and find more business opportunities.
Hedy maintained a humble and cautious attitude throughout the process, not fighting for attention or interfering too much, keeping her presence as minimal as possible.
She knew exactly what she wanted and where her boundaries lay.
After yet another meeting concluded, Dechio entered with a piece of paper.
"This is a telegram from Rome," he said softly. "The radio station has been set up."
The queen froze for a moment, and the face of her brown-haired lover immediately appeared in her mind.
She hummed, unfolding the telegram.
../.-../---/...-/./-.--/---/..-
Using the Da Vinci cipher, the message came from Rome.
But when translated into Morse code, it read...
"I love you."
Across thousands of miles and spanning five centuries.
——
"Your Highness—the afternoon tea is ready!"
"Wait a moment!"
Leonardo leaned against the radio transmitter, uncertainly tapping his fingers on the dashboard.
According to the plan, they were supposed to finish assembling this machine in five days, but he had completed it ahead of schedule, and at least from the indicator lights on the dial, the machine seemed to be running.
