After listening to Ambassador Kaoz’s response, Jerome Bonaparte displayed an intrigued smile at the corner of his mouth and then leisurely asked Ambassador Kaoz, "Ambassador Kaoz, may I ask you a question to which I hope you will answer truthfully?"

"Your Majesty, please go ahead!" Ambassador Kaoz responded respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Is your country hastily completing this cross-national marriage at this time in order to draw the Kingdom of Prussia into the Liberal World?" Jerome Bonaparte candidly inquired of Ambassador Kaoz.

After a moment of contemplation, Ambassador Kaoz shook his head and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, this marriage carries no additional political factors. It is purely because Prince Albert noticed that both Prince Frederick of Prussia and our Eldest Princess are not getting any younger, so they decided to marry in the near future!

Your previous speculation about the Kingdom of Prussia joining the Liberal World is purely subjective.

However, our Kingdom of Britain does not reject any country wishing to join the Free World."

While Ambassador Kaoz’s words seemed to deny Jerome Bonaparte’s point, they indirectly confirmed that the Kingdom of Britain indeed considered courting the Kingdom of Prussia, hence the decision to arrange the marriage between the Princess and the Prince of Prussia.

"I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and responded to Ambassador Kaoz, "The French Empire likewise welcomes the Kingdom of Prussia to join in maintaining a peaceful and free environment in Europe!"

Subsequently, Ambassador Kaoz left Jerome Bonaparte’s room.

Jerome Bonaparte, after spending a long time alone in the study, called for the butler, Bashirio, and instructed him to summon Minister Dico of the Ministry of the Navy.

Bashirio followed Jerome Bonaparte’s orders and left. After a long while, Bashirio appeared again in Jerome Bonaparte’s room, followed by the French Empire’s Minister of the Navy, Dico.

At this moment, Dico looked at Jerome Bonaparte with a puzzled expression. Just a moment ago, he had been examining new warship design blueprints at the Ministry of the Navy when Bashirio inexplicably brought him here.

"Your Majesty, what do you need from me?" Minister Dico inquired respectfully of Jerome Bonaparte.

"Bashirio, please leave for now!" Jerome Bonaparte did not answer Dico directly but instead ordered Bashirio.

After Bashirio left the room and closed the door, Jerome Bonaparte then solemnly addressed Minister Dico, "Mr. Dico, my apologies!"

Minister Dico was initially taken aback by Jerome Bonaparte’s words, and then felt a bit anxious.

Thus, Minister Dico promptly asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, what exactly has happened?"

"Here’s the situation!" Jerome Bonaparte slowly yet with dignity replied to Minister Dico, "Just now, Ambassador Kaoz came to my office and accused that the actions of the French Navy in the Mediterranean are seriously threatening the balance in the Mediterranean."

"What!" Minister Dico expressed disbelief as he replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "The French Navy threatens the hegemony in the Mediterranean!"

"Indeed! That’s what Ambassador Kaoz said!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded as he addressed Minister Dico.

"Why didn’t he mention that Britain’s Navy is the true culprit disrupting the entire balance in the Mediterranean!" Minister Dico retorted passionately, "I believe the British Navy is the real force that undermines the balance in the Mediterranean!"

"Since Ambassador Kaoz has said so, we must also show our stance!" Jerome Bonaparte slightly lowered his tone, "Therefore, I promised Ambassador Kaoz that I would arrange for a meeting between you and the British Secretary of the Navy to discuss how the number of fleets maintained by England and France in the Mediterranean Region should be balanced for optimal allocation..."

Despite Jerome Bonaparte’s gentle demeanor, Minister Dico still detected a tone of compromise from his words.

Thus, Minister Dico answered stiffly, "Your Majesty, I personally think the fleet numbers of the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain in the Mediterranean should be 1:1! Only thus can the peace and stability of the entire Mediterranean be maintained!"

"Dico!" Jerome Bonaparte frowned, his tone slightly displeased, "A 1:1 fleet ratio will only lead England and France into endless military build-up over Mediterranean issues!

Today you build a warship, tomorrow I build one as well!"

"Your Majesty, then let’s prepare for war! I refuse to believe that the Kingdom of Britain can keep building indefinitely!" Minister Dico expressed indignation as he replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Minister Dico!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his voice toward Dico, "The purpose of this meeting is not for you to act stubbornly, but to prepare you mentally for the negotiations!

If you persist, I might just dismiss you from your position as the Minister of the Navy!"

"Dismiss me if you will!" Minister Dico mumbled quietly.

"What did you say?" Jerome Bonaparte, pretending not to have heard Minister Dico clearly, inquired once more.

"Your Majesty, since we are about to cripple ourselves anyway, severely restricting naval expansion, what is the point of me continuing as the Minister of the Navy?" Minister Dico responded self-pityingly to Jerome Bonaparte, "Might as well head home early!"

"Dico, what nonsense are you talking about!" Jerome Bonaparte responded sternly to Dico, "We are merely slowing down the pace of fleet construction slightly, limiting the number of fleets!

How did it come out from your mouth as if I am about to abolish the entire navy!"

"Your Majesty, how is this different from abolishing the navy!" Minister Dico retorted to Jerome Bonaparte, stiffening his neck, "The maintenance of France’s maritime supremacy relies on one fleet after another. Without enough fleets, we cannot safeguard our interests!"

"Minister Dico, I only ask you one question!" Jerome Bonaparte raised a finger, solemnly addressing Dico, "If you can answer this question for me, then I will abandon the agreement on limiting expansion with the Kingdom of Britain!"

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Minister Dico quickly said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Minister Dico, how confident are you in annihilating the British fleet?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Dico shockingly.

Upon hearing this, Minister Dico’s expression froze immediately. After a while, Minister Dico began to reply to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, although our future is bright..."

"Minister Dico!" Jerome Bonaparte interrupted Dico before he could finish, "I am asking you directly: how confident are you in annihilating the British Fleet? You don’t need to beat around the bush!

Just answer this question directly!"

"I..." Minister Dico fell silent again. After a moment, he let out a bitter smile and said, "Your Majesty, given the current strength of the French Fleet, we absolutely cannot annihilate the Kingdom of Britain!

In my view, it would already be an achievement if the French Empire Fleet is not completely annihilated by the Kingdom of Britain during the war!"

After hearing Minister Dico’s answer, Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and said to Minister Dico, "Minister Dico, since you know that the fleet of the French Empire cannot defeat that of the Kingdom of Britain, why are you so obsessed with expanding the fleet to fight to the death with the Kingdom of Britain?

Are our fleets simply blown in by the wind?

Besides, our French Empire has always been a continental nation focused on land. We cannot, like the Kingdom of Britain, put all our focus on the navy!

Without an army, Britain can rely on its sea power to confront any country.

But our French Empire cannot. Without an army, a powerful navy is merely an illusion!

Therefore, we must focus on the army.

Hence, we cannot achieve the utmost in naval construction.

In such circumstances, how can we compete with the Kingdom of Britain!

Should we make the entire French populace tighten their belts to survive?"

"Your Majesty, we need to maintain a fleet sufficient to safeguard French maritime security and long-distance voyages!" Minister Dico said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"The current fleet is already more than enough!" Jerome Bonaparte rebutted Minister Dico, "I do not need a fleet that can threaten the British Fleet. Britain is a country with very fragile nerves.

Once their sea lifeline is threatened, they will spare no cost to maintain their maritime security!

Even if it means turning their guns on their allies!

Dico, our current target is not the Kingdom of Britain, but the rising German Great Powers. The annexation of Savoy and Nice has already made the Kingdom of Britain wary of us, and I do not wish to provoke them again over Mediterranean issues.

Therefore, the French Empire Navy’s fleet might be reduced in the upcoming negotiations.

I hope you can understand me!"

Minister Dico fell into deep thought again. After a while, he replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I understand!

I will have a good discussion with the British Secretary of the Navy upon his arrival!

Please rest assured!"

After speaking, Minister Dico rose from the sofa, bowed solemnly to Jerome Bonaparte, and then staggered step by step out of Jerome Bonaparte’s room.

Watching Minister Dico’s despondent back, Jerome Bonaparte also felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart. It was he who had forged Minister Dico’s naval dream, and now it was also he who had destroyed Dico’s naval dream.