112: Chapter 112 The Head-on Confrontation on January 1st

The first day of the New Year.

The eyes of the world were focused on the barren desert in northeastern Africa known as Bir Tawil.

At nine o'clock sharp in the morning, the Egyptian National Television station began its global broadcast on time.

In the footage, banners fluttered at a military base in Cairo as a well-equipped mechanized infantry company drove out of the camp gates to the sound of solemn military music.

Leading the column were two upgraded T-62 main battle tanks, followed by over a dozen BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles and various logistical support vehicles. The soldiers were fully armed, high-spirited, and impeccably turned out.

General Mubarak, the Egyptian Minister of Defense, personally attended the scene and delivered a passionate speech.

He declared that this deployment was to fulfill a defense agreement with their friendly neighbor, the Cyber Freedom Republic, aiming to maintain regional peace and stability and to assist their ally in establishing a comprehensive national defense system.

Between the lines of his speech, there was an abundance of the "Big Brother" caring for and guiding the "Little Brother," striking a pose of absolute superiority.

In the live streaming rooms of major global media outlets, the comment sections were quickly flooded with all sorts of remarks.

"Egypt is simply a modern version of 'protective garrisoning'; it's an open secret!"

"Poor Cyber Republic, just founded and already about to have their neighbor riding on their back. President Lin Zhou must be furious, right?"

"This is the tragedy of a small nation. Without powerful military strength, sovereignty is just a piece of waste paper."

"Don't say anymore. It's said this was one of the conditions promised at the beginning of the nation's founding. Sigh! Every action has a price."

However, just as global netizens were generally feeling sympathy and regret for the Cyber Republic, the situation took a turn.

At 9:30 AM, just as the Egyptian broadcast was halfway through, a new live streaming window popped up simultaneously on the official website of the Cyber Freedom Republic and several of the world's largest streaming platforms.

The title of the broadcast was simple and blunt: "Inauguration and Garrison Ceremony of the Cyber Freedom Republic Police Force."

As the screen lit up, the camera, using a drone's bird's-eye view, swept over the prototype of a futuristic city—the "Oasis One" settlement.

The city's main thoroughfare was wide and straight. On both sides of the road, two building complexes, almost identical in appearance and scale, had already been completed. One of them was the very military camp that the Egyptian forces were about to enter.

The other one, however, bore the national emblem of the Cyber Freedom Republic and a sign reading "National Police Headquarters."

In front of the gates of the Police Headquarters, a unit had already finished lining up.

One hundred and fifty police officers, dressed in deep blue combat uniforms designed based on the game "future police," were equipped with high-tech helmets and tactical vests. Each of them held the latest model of assault rifle from the East. They stood tall with immaculate formation, and that stern aura made people feel tense even through the screen.

In front of the unit, two "Mengshi" high-mobility armored assault vehicles sat silently. The 30mm autocannons and anti-tank missile launchers on their roofs glinted with a menacing metallic luster under the desert sun.

There was no grand ceremony, no impassioned speech.

He Jun, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Security, stood at the very front of the unit and announced to the camera in a booming voice:

"I hereby announce that the Cyber Freedom Republic Police Force is officially established! From this moment on, we shall shoulder the sacred duty of maintaining national security and protecting the lives and property of our citizens!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the one hundred and fifty police officers saluted the national flag in perfect unison.

The entire process took less than five minutes—clean and efficient.

This sudden live broadcast immediately ignited the global internet.

"My god! Is this a tit-for-tat against Egypt? You hold a military parade departure ceremony, so I'll hold an on-site garrison ceremony!"

"These police uniforms are so cool! And those two armored vehicles—their firepower looks much fiercer than what police should have!"

"I take back what I said earlier. President Lin Zhou wasn't furious to death; instead, he backhanded Egypt with a resounding slap in the face!"

"One is driving in, the other is already standing guard at their own doorstep—the difference in caliber is immediately obvious!"

In the Egyptian live stream room, the direction of the comments instantly reversed. Countless netizens who loved watching the drama flocked in, and the screen was filled with jokes like "Look next door" and "The police are on duty."

At the Cairo command center, General Mubarak's face was ashen, looking extremely ugly.

The show of sovereignty he had meticulously planned had been ruthlessly undermined by the other side, turning it into a joke in the eyes of global netizens.

"Lin Zhou! Where is he?!" Mubarak roared into the communicator. "Why didn't he, as the President, appear at the ceremony?"

Intelligence personnel quickly gave a reply, a reply that almost made Mubarak vomit blood on the spot.

"Report, General. According to confirmation from multiple intelligence sources... President Lin Zhou... he is currently still in Beijing and has not traveled to Bir Tawil."

Not even attending his own armed forces' establishment ceremony?

This was no longer just a provocation; it was contempt!

Meanwhile, in Bir Tawil, the colonel in command leading the troops, Abdel Fattah, saw the broadcast from the other side on his vehicle-mounted screen.

His soldiers were all filled with righteous indignation, clamoring to give those "police" a taste of their own medicine.

Fattah just stared at the screen calmly, his expression unchanged.

As he watched that well-equipped, imposing unit, he began to weigh things in his mind.

The stronger, the better.

The more powerful this force was, the greater the role it could play in his future plans.

When the Egyptian convoy drove into the military camp gates, they saw that the police on the other side of the road had already dismissed their formation and begun setting up guard posts around the Police Headquarters, patrolling, and entering normal working status.

That posture indicated that they didn't care at all about the arrival of this neighboring army.

After settling the troops, Fattah's first act was to send an official letter to the other side.

"I hope to have a friendly meeting with your country's President, Mr. Lin Zhou."

Half an hour later, the reply arrived.

"We are very sorry, Colonel Fattah. Our President is currently on a state visit abroad and will be unable to return in the short term. You may handle all your affairs with our Minister of Internal Affairs and Security, Mr. He Jun."

Seeing this reply, Fattah gripped the paper, feeling a sense of absurdity.

A foreign army was stationed right at his doorstep, and he, the head of state, actually had the mood to be "visiting" abroad?

Is there anyone who visits for years without returning home?

What on earth is this Lin Zhou thinking?

Having no other choice, Fattah could only proceed according to the original plan. He called over his adjutant and issued his first order.

"Notify the Police Headquarters across the road. Tell them that in order to enhance defense exchanges between the two countries, our unit will hold a live-fire military exercise three days from now in the desert area west of the settlement. Please advise them to be careful and not to approach the exercise area."

This was a classic show of force.

On your territory, using my cannons, to tell you who is in charge.