Not only the people in the square, but also the representatives and monks on the stage were silent.

"Who else could it be?" Ge Angqi repeated softly.

Mitney's voice came from the back: "Old Ge Angqi, Her Highness Catherine entrusted Rapids City to you, surely you are not going to allow this petition for a re-election of the autocratic duke to enter the review process under your administration?"

Ge Angqi ignored the murmuring crowd below and fell into confusion and contemplation.

"But." The attendant next to him asked softly, "If we don't review it, what do we do with these mobs?"

Not only Ge Angqi realized this issue, the representatives gradually came to understand it, and Liborole also noticed it.

Gathered in the square were not all the urban poor involved in the riot.

Among nearly ten thousand dock strikers, less than two thousand were present on site.

Even if Rangbang persuaded everyone at this moment, it couldn't change the status quo. If the petition wasn't approved, the strike and the blocked docks couldn't be resolved.

Liborole, like grasping at a life-saving straw, loudly shouted: "Facts speak louder than words... I request the petition to enter the voting process."

Rangbang stepped to an arm's length beside Liborole, standing parallel: "This is a reckless order, I request the Advisory Council not to review it!"

The representatives began to engage in quiet discussions, and some even stood up and moved to other places to communicate.

As for the people below, it seemed that they were overwhelmed by Rangbang's previous imposing manner, either in contemplation or annoyedly repeating Liborole's "fallacies".

Under many gazes, Ge Angqi stroked his cane, turned his head, and said to Mitney: "I'm old, can't move around, please convey a message for me."

Mitney took out a small notebook and a Dick's pen, but Ge Angqi pressed it down with his hand.

Ge Angqi's cloudy eyes were half-covered by his eyelids: "Just say, I'm old, can't clearly discern the matters, cancel the proposal I made for unanimous approval earlier, let them vote as they wish."

"But if they vote not to review, and the dockworkers don't work..."

"At that time, I'll write you a note, as for finding workers after suppressing the citizens, let the farmers come, after working for these five days, switch them to city household registration!"

Mitney held Ge Angqi's hand: "You've finally made up your mind."

"It still depends on the other representatives' opinions, cough cough." Ge Angqi looked at Rangbang, who stubbornly stood in the center of the square, "The Holy Alliance is my country after all, she has never let me down, so how can I let her down?"

Soon, Ge Angqi's words spread among the representatives, and their discussions became more intense.

Some representatives even went down to ask for public opinions, and Ge Angqi's statement, with no sense of confidentiality, flowed into people's ears.

Hearing this statement, Liborole was startled, but quickly regained composure.

Even so, what could be done?

Previously, they had already done enough work, and the facts were before them, the situation was pressing.

Could these representatives dare to bear the responsibility of shelling civilians?

This undoubtedly indicated that Ge Angqi was favoring them, because everyone knew that in the upcoming Advisory Council election system, it would be based on literate adult citizens voting.

How many farmers could read? Wouldn't they have to rely on city citizens?

Once they voted against, their reputation would be tarnished, who would still vote for them?

The initial shock, confusion, and shame faded away, leaving only anger and unexplainable heartache in Liborole's heart.

However, he knew this anger came from humiliation and previous failure, but where did the heartache come from?

"Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen." Liborole stepped forward, "The sooner we vote, the sooner we can restore transport in the dock area."

After a moment of silence, Ge Angqi was the first to speak: "Then, let's start the voting."

"...Mitney votes against, one vote."

"...Macart votes in favor, one vote."

"...Kovendo votes against, one vote."

As the host announced the votes, interested parties in the audience took out paper and pencil to tally them.

Liborole, standing at the front of the stage, began calculating in his mind directly.

Wait a minute, these voting patterns seem a bit off.

Since it was a recorded vote, Liborole began counting from the start.

Initially, it was roughly one vote in favor, one vote against.

But as more representatives began voting, it turned into two votes in favor, one against, and eventually four or five votes in favor, before there was one against.

"Are you, are you crazy?" Although the voting wasn't over, Liborole already shouted, "Do you want to bear the responsibility of shelling civilians?"

The team of voters quieted down, and a few representatives turned their heads without concealing their disdain and contempt.

"Rare, truly rare, there are such shameless individuals in this world."

"How were you initially mistreated by the big merchants and nobles, have you forgotten? You enjoy eating meat, but scream in pain when it's your flesh?"

Faced with accusations from several representatives and monks, Liborole still held his neck stiffly: "I have a clear conscience."

Mitney walked from the ballot box to the front of the stage, overlooking Liborole.

"Did you experience the flood in 1448? Do you remember what the flood in 1444 was like?"

Liborole raised his head, glaring back at Mitney unflinchingly, but had to clasp his hands behind his back to prevent them from trembling.

"The Holy Alliance is a beautiful nation, even a gem." Straightening his body, Mitney ignored Liborole and instead addressed the crowd loudly, "From ancient times to the present, in the empire's history—

No kingdom has ever existed for all believers, no king has ever worked for the happiness of all believers.

Yet the Holy Alliance is such a country that she has sacrificed greatly to protect us.

The Saint's Grandson works tirelessly every day, not for personal luxury, but for everyone's happiness.

Monks work diligently every day, accomplishing more in one year than the empire does in three, not to mention their justice and integrity.

The Holy Alliance is strong, yet fragile.

She protected us when we were most vulnerable, protected us who pursue a better world, protected those fools and unlucky ones.

She is so tolerant, willing to protect everyone, how dare you betray her at her most fragile moment?"

Turning his gaze back to Liborole, Mitney, usually a smiling tiger, showed anger and murderous intent for the first time: "No matter the cost, I will not allow a single speck of mud to stain His Majesty's crown, the white skirt of the Holy Alliance!"

"Bravo!"

Unexpectedly, cheers erupted from the crowd in the square.

No matter how those previously lurking in the crowd stirred them up, they could no longer become as agitated as before.

"Damn! Damn! Bastard!" Dunosov even stood up from his seat and directly opened the window.

This was completely beyond his expectations; those representatives were merely artisans, farmers, and small-town folks a few years ago.

Do they understand what Mitney and Rangbang said? How can they be so united?

Some have never even seen Horn's face!

"Vote tally completed!"

Upon hearing this, Dunosov gripped the window frame tightly.

As speaker, Ge Angqi first handed a slip to Carl, who had changed into hunting attire, and then stood up, leaning on a cane.

After coughing twice, with snow-white eyebrows hanging down, Ge Angqi tried his best to straighten his chest: "Gentlemen, today, I can inform all of you of the voting result: over two-thirds of the Advisory Council representatives disagree, so..."

Turning, Ge Angqi threw the emphatic words to the ground: "Not accepted!"

Dunosov's hand released the window frame, not hiding his disappointment: "Get those people to act; at least the chaos can last a few more days!"

As for the square, Liborole fell to the ground, sitting with a thud. Had these people gone mad?

He couldn't care about much anymore, directly sitting on the ground and yelling at Ge Angqi: "Aren't you afraid something will erupt at the dock right now? Aren't you afraid..."

"Afraid of what, you scoundrel!" Ge Angqi's cane slammed heavily on the ground, "You, junior official, have no right to question me."

Once a schemer from the docks, Ge Angqi finally showed some of his old demeanor.

"I warn you, I know many of you among them, and you also know my methods on the docks back then.

If you listened to some slander, took some money, no matter what you did before.

If you dare cause trouble, not just you, but your entire family, even the dog, I will hang them all.

Anyway, I don't have many years left, is face or reputation important? What if you call me the Saint's Grandson's dog?

I tell you today—woof woof woof!"

"Whoosh—"

At the moment Ge Angqi bent and bowed to mimic a dog's bark, a crossbow arrow buzzed past his head.

The square suddenly fell silent; even Ge Angqi himself was stunned, just touching his hair.

"Protect the Speaker!"

Pulling out a shield from beneath his seat, Mitney didn't care much, grabbed the back collar of Ge Angqi, and dragged him behind the overturned long table.

Helmeted warriors rushed out from all sides, among the crowd, some even pulled out short swords and started hacking away at civilians freely.

The smell of burning spread in the air, Rangbang, who had originally hidden his head, stood up.

His gaze roamed the sky until it settled in the direction of the dock area.

Thick black smoke was rising over there.