The newly appointed PLANT diplomatic commissioner, having exhaustively described the dangers of Mobile Dolls equipped with strong Artificial Intelligence from every possible angle, looked at Reid with a dry throat.
He then noticed that Reid seemed to be watching him with great interest before saying,
"Please continue. This sci-fi story sounds quite good. I think it could easily be adapted into a script and made into seven or eight movies—they'd definitely be blockbusters."
After hearing this, the PLANT diplomatic commissioner took a sip of water and said helplessly,
"Chairman Reid, I'm not telling a sci-fi story."
Reid feigned a surprised expression and asked,
"What? Not a sci-fi story? But the Artificial Intelligence you're talking about is completely different from what I understand. I've done some research on AI myself, but what I've developed is quite far from what you're describing. It seems you must be a leading authority in the field of Artificial Intelligence. You must share your insights on AI with me sometime."
Everyone present could tell that Reid was mocking the PLANT diplomatic commissioner for spouting nonsense without knowing anything.
However, those in the room also realized something: Reid Isaac was not merely a politician or a soldier.
Above these two identities, he was also a world-class researcher whose fields of study encompassed everything from mechanical manufacturing to Artificial Intelligence. Trying to persuade him with scientific theories was like waving a spear before Guan Yu—a humiliating display of one's own inadequacy.
The PLANT diplomatic commissioner immediately fell silent, knowing full well he was in no position to debate Artificial Intelligence with Reid. Continuing would only make him look foolish.
After going in circles, it was ultimately the East Asian Republic's foreign minister who once again advised,
"Mr. Reid, may I ask if your country truly plans to extensively develop Unmanned Machines? To lead a global explosion of Unmanned Machines? You must understand that Weapons of Mass Destruction would be quite effective against Unmanned Machines."
The East Asian Republic's foreign minister spoke very tactfully, hinting to Reid that if the New Misurugi Kingdom really intended to massively develop Unmanned Machines, other countries would have no choice but to follow suit for self-defense. In that case, the Earth Sphere would be flooded with Unmanned Machines.
To counter Unmanned Machines, Weapons of Mass Destruction would naturally have to be developed. After all, the current international community wasn't about to grant machines human rights, so many inhumane weapons could be deployed.
Reid naturally understood the East Asian Republic's implication: if he insisted on not restricting Unmanned Machines, the other nations would use it as an excuse to develop Weapons of Mass Destruction and shift the blame onto the New Misurugi Kingdom, claiming they were forced into it.
In truth, Reid had never planned to extensively develop Unmanned Machines in the first place. They were ultimately just a transitional measure for when there was a shortage of troops.
After all, if PLANT truly delved into the unmanned field, even if they couldn't develop Unmanned Mechanized Forces with the same level of intelligence in the short term, they could very likely create viruses specifically targeting Unmanned Machines later on.
So, after deliberately thinking for a moment, Reid said,
"Our country can refrain from extensively developing Unmanned Machines and limit their numbers. However, it's impossible to impose restrictions now."
Seeing Reid relent, the others quickly seized the opportunity. The Eurasian Federation's foreign minister said with a smile,
"This can be negotiated. Disarmament matters should always proceed gradually. Mr. Reid, how much time do you think is needed?"
Facing this question, Reid once again picked up the draft agreement and said:
"That depends on the progress of other negotiations. For instance, this clause regarding restrictions and monitoring of weapon holdings.
The number of weapons such as Mobile Suits and naval vessels is to be limited. Each nation's quota will be determined based on comprehensive national strength calculated from factors like population, GNP, and unemployment rates.
I have significant objections to this clause. You must understand, our country is currently experiencing rapid growth in national power. I cannot agree to restrictions based on our current strength.
Furthermore, there are prohibitions against military applications of Anti-Neutron Jammer technology, bans on Mirage Particle Stealth Technology, and restrictions against using Solar Mirror Reflectors for purposes other than Colony Satellite construction.
Why don't you just explicitly state 'Advanced Technologies Targeting the New Misurugi Kingdom' in the document header? That would make everything perfectly clear to everyone."
After Reid's blunt remarks, the foreign ministers from other nations could only exchange glances while pretending not to understand.
However, they all knew these provisions would impose severe restrictions on the New Misurugi Kingdom. Without concessions in other areas, passage would be impossible.
Thus, the PLANT foreign commissioner spoke up again:
"Commissioner Reid, these restrictions apply equally to everyone. But please feel free to state your conditions - everything is negotiable."
This was precisely what Reid had been waiting to hear.
Truth be told, both the Earth Alliance and PLANT had underestimated him. Their so-called restrictions didn't actually target the crucial areas.
It was like a group of people trying to restrain someone by tying up a few thick leg hairs instead of binding their hands and feet - just a slight sting, and the bonds could be easily broken.
Then those who attempted the restraint would themselves face charges of unlawful confinement for restricting others' freedom.
Now began the real negotiations. If they wanted to restrict the New Misurugi Kingdom's technology, the Earth Alliance and PLANT would have to make concessions elsewhere or provide various forms of compensation.
After a week of intense discussions, the new draft of the Earth Sphere Peace Agreement emerged as follows:
[1] Restrictions and Monitoring of Weapon Holdings
The number of weapons such as Mobile Suits and naval vessels is limited. Each nation's quota will be determined based on comprehensive national strength calculated from population, GNP, unemployment rates and other factors.
Addendum 1: The New Misurugi Kingdom's military equipment quota shall be the average between the East Asian Republic and Atlantic Federation, not calculated based on current national conditions.
[2] The Atlantic Federation, New Misurugi Kingdom, East Asian Republic, Eurasian Federation, and PLANT must unconditionally and without limitation accept inspections.
Inspection teams will consist of personnel from all five nations, with inspectors not participating in inspections of their own countries.
Inspectors may not enter national scientific research institutes but may examine detailed military expenditure records.
(Note: The original provision included third-party neutral organizations like the Junk Guild participating in inspections, but this was removed due to the protagonist's firm opposition.)
[3] Restrictions on Military Applications of AI Machinery
Limits are placed on fully autonomous military AI machinery corps, with each nation required to reduce such units to under 2,000. The number of machinery for police and security purposes is limited to 5,000 units.
Appendix 1: The New Misurugi Kingdom must reduce its intelligent mechanical forces to treaty standards within five years, with the first batch of intelligent weaponry to be decommissioned within three years at a rate no lower than 50%.
[IV] Prohibition of Military Use of Solar Ray Reflectors
Complete prohibition of solar ray reflection systems. All solar ray reflection systems in all countries must be dismantled.
After the signing of this treaty, solar ray reflectors shall return to civilian use but shall be monitored by the five treaty nations during purchase and use. Purchasers must submit construction plans in advance and may not request delivery of mirror components before the main structure has commenced construction.
[V] Prohibition of Military Application of Anti-Neutron Jammers
Installation of Anti-Neutron Jammers (NJC) on any weaponry is prohibited, including Mobile Suits, warships, missiles, fortress defense cannons, etc.
Military equipment currently equipped with Anti-Neutron Jammers must be dismantled after the treaty signing.
[VI] Prohibition of Mirage Particle Stealth Technology
Complete prohibition of stealth technology using Mirage Particles. This prevents the concealment of large strategic weapons and covert operations of potential limited strategic weapons such as Mirage Colloid-stealthed Mobile Suits/vessels.
[VII] Reorganization of Military Bases Within Earth's Sphere
To safeguard the interests of treaty nations within the Earth Sphere and address related needs for protecting expatriates.
The Atlantic Federation shall transfer its Ascension Island base to the New Misurugi Kingdom.
The Eurasian Federation shall transfer the port city formerly belonging to the Misurugi Empire and ten kilometers of surrounding land to the New Misurugi Kingdom as a Mediterranean base.
PLANT shall retain the Gibraltar base and has the right to establish one new military base in South America.
All other military bases on Earth shall maintain their current ownership, but no nation with more than five military bases may establish additional ones.
The New Misurugi Kingdom may increase its military bases to five through negotiations with other nations. PLANT may possess no more than two military bases.
[VIII] Allocation of Space Colony Satellites
While retaining the Star Palace Colony Satellite, the New Misurugi Kingdom shall receive one fully functional colony satellite from each of the other four signatory nations, to be allocated from their respective holdings in the L3 Colony Cluster.
PLANT must provide one military satellite near its territory to serve as a permanent base for monitoring delegations from the Atlantic Federation, New Misurugi Kingdom, East Asian Republic, and Eurasian Federation, also functioning as their embassy in PLANT.
The New Misurugi Kingdom and PLANT must ensure the reconstruction work of the other three nations in the L4 Colony Cluster remains unthreatened.
PLANT shall assist the East Asian Republic in reconstructing the Nova Colony.
[IX] Designation of Lunar Neutral Zones
The entire lunar territory is designated as a neutral zone, with each of the five treaty nations permitted to establish one lunar base.
[X] Restoration and Demarcation of National Borders
For all signatory nations except the New Misurugi Kingdom, terrestrial borders and national territories shall revert to their pre-war status as of C.E. 70.02.10.
The territorial area of the New Misurugi Kingdom shall be defined as the sum of its territory at the time of treaty signing plus areas specified for transfer within this agreement.
Appendix 1: The Atlantic Federation shall retain ownership of the Panama Base, with ten kilometers surrounding the base excluded from South American Union jurisdiction.
This draft agreement has essentially reached a level acceptable to all parties involved.
Of course, Reid was inwardly overjoyed—this agreement imposed virtually no real restrictions on the New Misurugi Kingdom.
Restricting the military use of intelligent machinery? Never mind that he had five years to reduce the numbers to the agreed standard, the fact that he only needed to cut 50% in three years was already a win. After all, the events of the CE Universe movie would conclude in just three years, rendering this restriction irrelevant to the ensuing war.
As for why the first reduction would only happen after three years, Reid naturally cited the time required for soldier training. In most nations, training a soldier from the day they enter boot camp takes about a year to barely qualify as a non-commissioned officer, and another two to three years to develop the military acumen needed for a commissioned officer. The other four nations had no choice but to agree to the New Misurugi Kingdom's demand to phase out Mobile Dolls only after their soldiers were fully trained—because if they disagreed, Reid threatened to settle it in a fight right there in the meeting, with Queen Angelise taking on all four ambassadors at once.
Next, the prohibition on military use of Solar Ray Reflectors—Reid actually wanted to ban those himself. Despite being easy to dismantle, their low cost made them a nuisance; deploying a Solar Ray System near a fortress was just plain annoying.
As for the ban on military applications of Anti-Neutron Jammers, the other four nations probably thought they had it made, expecting Reid to dismantle his handful of terrifying top-tier Mobile Suits immediately upon signing. But Reid had a trick up his sleeve: right after signing, he would publicly reveal the existence of Minovsky Particle Fusion Reactors. Since he hadn't used a single Anti-Neutron Jammer, no MS would need to be scrapped. Plus, even tripling his current number of high-end units would still keep him within the weapon possession limits.
Once the agreement was signed and set in stone, the most others could do was issue verbal condemnations. After all, such a high-profile treaty couldn't be altered on a whim.
And let's not forget—this was controlled nuclear fusion technology. Whether the other nations would even want to restrict it by then was another question entirely.
Then there was the ban on Mirage Particle Stealth Technology. Reid wasn't worried; he had a lower-tier alternative in Electronic Camouflage, guaranteed to use zero Mirage Particles. As for the Mirage Particle Beam Distortion Device, that wasn't covered by the restrictions anyway.
Besides, in the original storyline, every nation ignored this ban—the Phantom Pain Unit used it openly, while PLANT was only slightly better, at least researching it in secret.
From Article 7 to Article 10, the terms were essentially explicit compensations for the New Misurugi Kingdom. These included ceding territories, Colony Satellites, and military bases, instantly and significantly expanding the kingdom's influence on Earth and in space.
And that was just the public part. Under the table, aid supplies from the four nations were already being shipped to various locations in Australia and the Star Palace Colony Satellite.
Knowing that the other nations would likely feel cheated and renege on these covert supplies after the signing, Reid insisted that half must be delivered before he put pen to paper—otherwise, he wouldn't sign.
For now, the Atlantic Federation, East Asian Republic, Eurasian Federation, and PLANT were breathing a sigh of relief. Though the concessions were painful, they had achieved their ultimate goal: curbing the military power of the New Misurugi Kingdom.
After analysis by think tanks from various nations, they all reached the same conclusion: if left unchecked, during this period of recovery and consolidation, the New Misurugi Kingdom could very well expand into a colossal entity.
By then, even a joint effort by four nations might not be enough to defeat it.
After all, the New Misurugi Kingdom had Reid Isaac, a scientific genius who played by no rules, coupled with the fact that they had already implemented the practical application of new-type particles while others were still researching how to produce them. The technological gap between them was no longer something that could be closed in just three to five years.
If Reid Isaac were to develop some superweapon, just as he had invented the nuclear bomb in the previous era, it wouldn't be surprising if the world ended up unified under the New Misurugi Kingdom.
How could politicians from other nations sleep soundly with such a threat? Now that the agreement had been signed, everyone could openly observe the development of the New Misurugi Kingdom. Although their own developments were also made public, at least they had some peace of mind and didn't have to worry about losing sleep over it.
In truth, if Reid were to learn of this idea, he would probably hide in the Royal Palace and laugh at the Earth Alliance's three nations and PLANT for two or three hours straight.
What the inspection teams from the five nations could uncover was merely the tip of the iceberg.
As for estimating through government military expenditures, one could only say: when had Reid's technological advancements ever relied on government funding?
The government was only responsible for the material purchases and labor costs of the publicly known factories (though the natives would work without pay, to maintain the act, they were paid in full).
If the inspection teams from the five nations were to examine the government's military expenditure reports, they would undoubtedly think the reports were fake. Une would have to find a way to fabricate fake military expenditure reports in the future, at least to make the funds appear more realistic.
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