The second lieutenant who was called also recited it fluently: "Section 2, Article 4, the scope of the use of force by the armed forces of the republics within the territory of the Union is limited to the areas owned and claimed to have jurisdiction by the republics to which they belong.

"

Then the third lieutenant: "You, Section 2, Article 8."

"Section 2, Article 8. Without the consent of the Alliance Parliament and the Allies, the republics shall not send armed forces to the Allies, nor may they conclude agreements or treaties with the Allies."

Finally, Colonel Scull pointed to the captain sitting in the first row of the Tiefeng County sector: "Section 2, Article 10."

Winters stood up and replied sonorously: "Section 2, Article 10, Republics shall not go to war with allies unless they have been invaded or are in imminent danger!"

Colonel Scull solemnly listened to the lieutenants reciting the "Charter of the Alliance". From his expression, others could suddenly feel the sacred mood of those who concluded the great covenant back then when they wrote these words.

.

"Alder Felt." Colonel Scull looked at Major Felt and asked with piercing eyes:

"Are you a soldier of the Plato Republic?

“Is the newly reclaimed land an area owned and claimed by the federal province?

"Have you obtained the permission of the Alliance Council and the Plato Republic?

"Or has the United Provinces been invaded and is in imminent danger?

"Or is the United Provinces Republic already at war with the Plato Republic?"

Colonel Skull's tone became more and more severe, like a sledgehammer, hitting everyone's heart.

Even though the colonel was not asking the question, people still held their breath subconsciously.

By the time the colonel asked the last words, the great meeting hall was so quiet that one could hear the flapping of birds passing through the skylight.

Major Felt was speechless.

He also knew the "Charter of the Alliance" recited by the lieutenants by heart. However, after more than ten years of wasted time and hardship, he had long regarded the Seven Sections and Thirty-Six Articles as empty words and nonsense.

When the transfer order to the Kings' Castle appeared in front of him, rather than the mission of 'defending the alliance' as mentioned by Jason Cornelis, he regarded the transfer more as a step for promotion and agreed without hesitation.

Likewise, when faced with the opportunity to lead an independent army into the war, he immediately grabbed it.

Guilt? Maybe a little, maybe not at all.

However, no matter how many reasons he had, he could not answer the colonel's question.

Therefore, he could only lower his head.

"Major Alder Felt." Colonel Scull put away his anger, sat back on the judge's chair, and launched a rigorous accusation: "As a serving soldier of the United Provinces, you commanded troops and participated in battles in Plato.

Caused casualties and property damage.

"You, as well as the Federal Provincial Army Command who ordered you, and the instigators behind the Federal Provincial Army Command, as a whole endowed with public power, have in fact trampled on the relevant provisions of the "Union Charter" regarding the armed forces of the republics.

.”

Colonel Scull asked coldly: "Are you still 'no comment'?"

"I..." Major Felt hesitated.

"Skull Mecklen!" Colonel Nagy yelled, interrupting Major Felt's thoughts: "Are you the only one who can memorize the Charter of the Alliance?!"

The attention of everyone in the big meeting hall was also attracted by Colonel Najib.

Colonel Nagy turned to the surrounding audience as if giving a public speech. He also picked up the "Charter of the Union" as a weapon: "Section 4, Article 4, the Union must safeguard the republican form of government and protect the republics from invasion by foreign enemies.

, and shall, at the request of the parliaments or chief executives of the republics, assist the republics in suppressing civil strife."

Colonel Skull couldn't help but frown.

"Major Alder Felt and other allied soldiers came to Plato at the request of the Grand Council to help quell the rebellion..." Colonel Nagy deliberately emphasized the word "quell the rebellion": "Why not?

"

"Suppressing civil strife is the responsibility of the 'Union Army'." Colonel Scull immediately retorted: "It is not an excuse for the Union Provincial Army."

"Whether it is the United Provincial Army or the Palatine Army, they are originally part of the Alliance Army." Colonel Najib responded tit-for-tat: "Although they belong to different republics, the nature of the Alliance Army has not changed."

"Absurd! The Alliance Army has long been disbanded. How can the armed forces of the republics and the armed forces of the Alliance be confused?"

"There is no provision in the Charter of the Union that stipulates that the armed forces of the republics cannot be the armed forces of the Union."

One of the two colonels was sitting on the judge's bench, and the other was standing on the trial bench. They were arguing with each other, and they were having a great time arguing, which made the free people sitting on the steps dumbfounded.

…

In the Tiefeng County seating area, Nandor poked the people on both sides: "Uh... who won?"

"The one who stands has the upper hand." Richard from Blackwater watched the debate intently.

…

Perhaps thinking that continuing to debate the definition of "Union Armed Forces" would be fruitless, Colonel Scull took the initiative to change: "You claim that Alder Felt came to Plato 'at request'. Who requested it?"

?Who approved it?"

Seeing that Skull Mecklund had retreated, Colonel Nagy immediately pursued the victory and shouted: "Of course it is a request from the Grand Council! Approved by the Alliance Government!"

Colonel Skull asked sternly: "What evidence do you have to prove that the Puppet Parliament of the Kings Castle issued a request? And what evidence do you have to prove that the Alliance Government approved it?

Colonel Najib asked calmly: "Then what evidence do you have to prove that the Grand Council did not issue a request? The coalition government did not give approval?"

…

"The one standing will win." Richard from Blackwater Town in the Tiefeng County seating area suddenly spoke again.

"Ah?" Nandor was shocked: "Isn't that guy quibbling?"

"This is a trial!" Richard said with certainty, stroking his stubble, "As long as you can muddy the water, you have won."

…

Most of the discerning free people have already seen that Colonel Skull, who values ​​logic and rationality, has been disgraced by Colonel Red Rose's haphazard strategy.

As Richard of Blackwater said, this is a trial, a trial that builds the basis of the legitimacy of the new regime.

The party sitting on the judge's bench wants a complete moral and legal victory, rather than simply destroying the person being judged physically.

If it was just for the latter, there would be no need to go to such great lengths, as a single executioner could handle the matter beautifully.

It was precisely in response to the enemy's core demands that Najib Modaki, who stood on the trial bench, launched a counterattack.

His way of counterattack is to tell a lie, a lie that everyone knows is false but cannot be falsified legally.

And use this lie as a starting point to drag all the judges who must be spotless into the cesspool.

As long as he achieves this, then even if Najib Modaki is sent to the gallows as soon as he walks out of the Grand Council Hall, he will still be victorious in death.

…

"Any resolution passed by the Great Council must be published in the Di Di newspaper and made public. You said that the Puppet Parliament of the Kings Castle issued a request, but why is there no record in the recent Di Di Bao?"

"The Dibao is sent out every quarter. If it is not in the previous issue of the Dibao, it does not mean that it is not in the next issue." Colonel Najib responded eloquently: "What's more, after the New Reclamation Army dispatched troops to suppress the New Reclamation Corps headquarters,

, the King’s Castle will no longer send the newspaper to the newly cultivated land, right? How do you know what is in the latest issue of the newspaper?"

"You claimed that the Puppet Council of the Kings Castle sent a request." Colonel Scull wiped the sweat from his forehead gently and started with the details: "When was the request sent?"

Colonel Najib smiled and said: "I am old and can't remember the specific time."

"Can't you remember the specific time?" Colonel Scull suddenly narrowed his eyes, caught the other party's fleeting flaw, and asked in a deep voice: "That means there is a specific time, but you can't remember it."

Colonel Nagy also became cautious: "I told you, I can't remember clearly."

"You should know the approximate time." Colonel Scull pressed forward step by step.

This time, Colonel Nagy did not answer immediately. He pondered for a long time and gave an answer that could never be falsified: "After March, before April."

Colonel Scull compared this time with his memory. After a moment, he sighed: "What a coincidence. The newspaper is published every quarter, but December, January, and February are issued in the same issue, and March, April, and May are published in the same issue."

It’s the first issue. You believe that I only have the last quarter’s Dibao, so you say it’s after March; there was a coup in Guitu City on April 1st, and Alder Felt and others received the transfer order on April 3rd, so you

Said it was before April."

Colonel Najib responded lightly: "If what I said is false, it can be easily proven by looking for the second quarter report."

"Stop pretending, Naji Modaki." Colonel Skull's gaze pointed directly at Colonel Naji's eyes: "After the second coup of the Kings Castle, the Di newspaper was completely stopped. In the second quarter, the Di newspaper

There is no such thing as retribution.”

"So." Colonel Nagy laughed and unbuttoned his clothes, opened his arms, and exposed his chest to everyone present: "Why don't you just strike here with a sword, it will be much easier than engaging in this trial trick."

"Skull Mecklen." Colonel Nagy turned to look at his old classmate and said calmly: "When you put us on the trial bench, it was a gamble. The last time you and I played against each other, I lost.

Yes. But this time..."

Colonel Najib was sure of victory: "You lost!"

Colonel Scull's face was expressionless.

The Great Council Hall was silent, and the free people did not even dare to breathe, for fear of offending Colonel Skull and becoming a victim.

After a moment of silence, Skull Mecklen clapped.

"Ever since childhood school, you have been able to beat me every time." Colonel Scull took off his judge's mask and talked about the past with emotion. Then, he suddenly changed the subject: "But this time, you are the loser.
To be continued...