22: Chapter 22 Exciting Lineup

"This discovery is just the beginning."

"We explore, we salvage, we protect, and we share. Thank you."

The brief speech ended without any exaggerated sentimentality, consisting only of calm statements, powerful evidence, and clear business logic.

But the effect was explosive.

As the media Q&A session began, countless hands shot up instantly.

The first few questions were relatively mild, focusing on salvage technology, artifact preservation, and the exploration process.

President Chen Ran answered concisely, attributing the technical details to his excellent collaborative team and advanced technological equipment.

Soon, the sharp questions arrived.

"Mr. Chen, I am Richard Clark from the New York Post." A middle-aged white man with thinning hair and an aggressive gaze was given the floor. He spoke rapidly, "You claim everything is legal, but as everyone knows, the Spanish Government holds strong sovereign claims over ships that sank in its history carrying wealth."

"How can you guarantee that you won't be dragged into a long and expensive international lawsuit?"

"Or rather, have you already reached some sort of... deal with the Spanish Government in private?" The question was filled with insinuation.

All eyes in the room focused on President Chen Ran.

In the fifth row, the Spanish cultural counselor sat up straight.

President Chen Ran's expression remained unchanged, and he even revealed a faint smile: "Mr. Clark, the law is not based on what is 'commonly known' or strong claims, but on facts and evidence."

"We have already provided sufficient evidence to prove that the san antonio was a private merchant ship that sank in international waters."

"International law has clear provisions regarding this."

"As for a lawsuit," he looked at Samuel Colt, "my legal team, Lawyer Colt and his colleagues, possess extensive experience in handling such international maritime disputes."

"We respect the right of any nation to express its claims through legal channels, and we are fully confident in upholding our legitimate rights and interests within the legal framework."

"As for a private deal, that is pure nonsense."

"All of our procedures are open, transparent, and legal."

His reply was neither humble nor arrogant, demonstrating both an attitude of respecting the law and showcasing a powerful legal backing and confidence.

Colt stood up at the right moment, took the microphone handed to him by a staff member, and added in his calm, precise, and authoritative tone: "As the legal representative for Mr. Chen, I can state clearly here: we have fulfilled all necessary legal procedures in accordance with the united nations convention on the law of the sea and relevant international practices."

"Regarding the nature and location of the shipwreck, we possess a complete chain of evidence that can withstand the scrutiny of any court."

"We have noted that there may be different interpretations from certain parties, but we firmly believe that in the face of law and fact, our position is impregnable."

"Any baseless accusations or speculation will be regarded as an infringement upon my client's reputation, and we reserve the right to pursue legal accountability."

The lawyer's tough stance caused the room to fall silent.

Clark pursed his lips and sat down.

Immediately after, a female BBC reporter asked: "Mr. Chen, with such a massive amount of wealth suddenly appearing, what are your personal plans?"

"This seems to be a story of life-changing overnight success. How do you view this huge shift in destiny?"

"How do you think this wealth will change you?"

This question touched on a personal level.

President Chen Ran pondered for a moment, then said slowly: "Wealth is one of the results of this expedition, but it is not everything."

"It gives me the opportunity to do things I couldn't imagine before, such as supporting ocean exploration and conservation efforts, or studying the history of humanity and the ocean more deeply."

"As for change... I believe that what truly defines a person is not how much wealth he possesses, but how he uses that wealth, and whether he remains the same person before and after that wealth arrives."

"I will strive to keep my original intent."

This answer appeared restrained and profound, winning some appreciative nods.

The press conference headed toward its conclusion as planned.

However, just as the host was preparing to announce the end, the Spanish cultural counselor in the fifth row suddenly stood up. Without requesting to ask a question, he spoke loudly in accented but clear English: "Mr. Chen! I represent the government of the Kingdom of Spain, and I must make a solemn declaration here! The san antonio and its cargo are an inseparable part of Spain's historical and cultural heritage!"

"Its ownership has never been relinquished!"

"Your salvage operation is a serious infringement on the dignity of our nation's history and culture!"

"We demand an immediate halt to all auction preparations and formal negotiations with our government regarding the return of the artifacts!"

A sudden official confrontation on the spot!

The whole room was in an uproar!

All cameras instantly turned toward the counselor, then quickly swung back to President Chen Ran on stage!

This was simply a dramatic conflict! The reporters were trembling with excitement—this was big news!

There was not a trace of surprise or panic on President Chen Ran's face.

He watched the slightly agitated counselor quietly until the other party finished speaking and the room became slightly quiet again.

Then, he looked at Samuel Colt and nodded slightly.

Colt stood up again, walked steadily to a small podium at the front of the stage, and even adjusted the height of the microphone with unhurried movements.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Colt's voice came through the speakers, as calm as if he were reciting a legal statute, "First, I must correct several factual errors in this gentleman's statement."

He opened the tablet in his hand, and the large screen behind him simultaneously displayed images of various documents.

"First, regarding national cultural heritage."

"According to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its relevant interpretations, there are strict standards for the recognition of national cultural heritage, which are usually connected to items or sites that have prominent national symbolic significance or are directly related to major national historical events or figures."

"The san antonio was a private merchant ship belonging to the Cadiz American Trading Company; its purpose for sailing was purely commercial trade, and the cargo it carried consisted of private goods."

"It was not a royal vessel and did not participate in any major historical battles or diplomatic missions."

"Generalizing it as an inseparable part of Spain's historical and cultural heritage lacks legal basis and is an abuse of the concept."

The screen displayed photocopies of the historical registration documents of the Cadiz American Trading Company, as well as cargo manifest records from the ship's many commercial voyages.

"Second, regarding the claim that ownership was never relinquished."

"Abandonment in international maritime law does not refer merely to verbal or written statements."

"When a ship sinks in international waters, and its original owner has not taken any actual action to salvage, locate, or claim ownership over a considerably long historical period—usually decades, let alone nearly three hundred years—and the ship is generally considered lost or destroyed, it can be legally deemed as presumed abandonment."

"From its sinking in 1745 until it was discovered by my client in 2023, during these 278 years, has your government or any alleged successor in interest ever organized a single recorded search or salvage operation targeting the san antonio?"

"No."

"Therefore, according to the principle of first possession of ownerless property and long-established international practice, my client's claim of ownership is legal and valid after discovering and salvaging the ship at great effort and cost."

Colt's tone was steady, yet every word was like a blade, citing classics and legal sources.

"Third, and most crucially," Colt looked sharply at the counselor, whose face was becoming increasingly unsightly, "the shipwreck site is located at 35°47′ North Latitude, 45°12′ West Longitude."

"Ladies and gentlemen, these are coordinates in international waters, more than 1,000 nautical miles from the nearest coastline of Spain and a considerable distance from the territorial waters or exclusive economic zone of any nation."

"According to Article 89 of the united nations convention on the law of the sea, no State may validly purport to subject any part of the high seas to its sovereignty."

"For shipwrecks on the high seas, salvage law applies rather than sovereignty law."

"Our actions fully comply with the principle of freedom of the high seas and relevant international salvage practices."

On the large screen, a clear chart of the North Atlantic Ocean appeared, with the coordinate point highlighted and a clear 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone boundary marked around it, showing that the point was far from the jurisdictional waters of any country.

"Therefore," Colt concluded, his voice decisive, "my client's ownership of the salvaged items from the san antonio has a solid foundation in international law and factual evidence."

"Your government's claim lacks effective legal and factual support."

"We understand your country's sentiments regarding its own history, but sentiments cannot replace the law."

"We are willing to engage in civilized dialogue with all parties on the basis of respecting facts and the law."

"But if your country insists on claims based on erroneous perceptions, or even attempts to interfere with the legal commercial auction process, we will have no choice but to take all necessary legal measures to defend my client's legitimate rights and interests."

"This includes, but is not limited to, filing counterclaims in your country or other relevant jurisdictions to demand confirmation of rights and compensation for all losses caused by unreasonable claims."

"Counterclaim! Compensation!"

Colt's response was no longer defensive; it was a strong warning of a legal counterattack!

Reasonable and well-founded, calculated at every step, and in the end, he even bared his sharp fangs.

The Spanish counselor's face turned livid. He opened his mouth, but under Colt's icy gaze and the lenses of all the media present, he was momentarily tongue-tied, not knowing how to refute, and finally, under the whispered persuasion of an accompanying assistant, he sat back down indignantly.

The room was silent for a few seconds, and then erupted into even more intense shutter clicks and whispers!

This was spectacular!

This was no longer a simple press conference, but a high-level legal and diplomatic skirmish!

President Chen Ran's lawyer, with absolute professionalism and strength, completely crushed the Spanish official's on-site confrontation!

The press conference concluded at this climax.

Under the protection of Victor and others, President Chen Ran quickly left the stage, passed through the excited crowd, and disappeared into the backstage.