"You want us to fire on your own transport ships?" Antonio repeated, his eyebrows raised in surprise at French General Desaix's audacious proposal.
"If you fire upon our ships, we can use it as a justification for war, providing us with a legal basis to invade Spanish colonies in Cuba, Florida, and the rest of North America," Desaix explained with a calculated calmness.
Antonio leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the worn wooden table. "I see. So, in return, I'll receive a substantial sum of money. Your offer is undeniably tempting, but I must remind you, General, that persuading my crew won't come cheap. It'll cost more than what you're currently offering."
Desaix's lips curled into a wry smile as he recognized Antonio's bargaining tactics.