158: Chapter 158 The Big Fish That Escaped the Net

The news of Vikram's arrest was strictly contained within a secret service point in Beijing.

This former elite lawyer didn't hold out for long. Once his psychological defenses collapsed, he spilled everything like beans, and even gave up the Indian intelligence broker who had acted as his contact while posing as a Reuters reporter: Rajeev.

He had another identity: Third Secretary at the Embassy, Suresh.

"The chain of evidence is complete," Zhang Zhe said, holding the interrogation records, his face looking exceptionally grim. "But, Lord, there is a deadlock. Suresh enjoys diplomatic immunity, and he is currently hiding in the embassy district outside Dongzhimen. That is 'territory' beyond our reach; we cannot touch him."

"Furthermore, this is China. We have no law enforcement authority here; we can only wait and see what the Chinese side can do."

Lin Zhou looked at the deep autumn backdrop of Beijing outside the window, a bone-chilling coldness in his eyes. He remained silent for a long time before picking up the red secure phone and dialing Director Zhou's number.

"Director Zhou, we have captured the man, but the big fish has entered a 'safe haven'." Lin Zhou got straight to the point, a hint of frustration in his tone. "Suresh, the Third Secretary of the Indian Embassy. I want to know, what is the stance of the home front?"

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, then Director Zhou's voice remained steady: "Little Lin, I understand your feelings. But on the chessboard of international diplomacy, rules are a double-edged sword. We are a country ruled by law and a responsible major power. Storming an embassy to make an arrest would break a century-old rule and trigger uncontrollable chain reactions."

"So we just let him get away completely unscathed?" Lin Zhou's voice sank.

"Get away? It's not that simple." Director Zhou's voice took on a hint of sternness. "We will follow the procedure. First is a routine inquiry. Although we all know what New Delhi will say, this procedure must be followed; it is an ultimatum to them."

Two hours later, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Asian Affairs.

A Chinese official sat expressionless behind a desk, facing the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indian Embassy in China, who had rushed over.

"Regarding the matter of your embassy secretary Suresh being suspected of engaging in illegal espionage activities and bribing employees of our friendly nations to leak commercial secrets, we need a reasonable explanation from your side." The Chinese official pushed several blurry surveillance screenshots and a copy of Vikram's confession across the desk.

The Indian Deputy Chief of Mission didn't even glance at them before denying everything in heavily accented English: "These are baseless accusations! Secretary Suresh has always been committed to promoting news and cultural exchanges between China and India. Your behavior is blatant harassment of diplomatic personnel. This so-called 'evidence' is invalid under any legal system. Our side expresses strong protest against this!"

The Chinese official seemed to have anticipated this reaction, not even a flicker of emotion in his eyes, just mechanically checking a box on his notebook: "In other words, your side refuses to cooperate with the investigation and denies that Suresh has any connection to this, correct?"

"It's not a connection; such a thing doesn't even exist!" The Deputy Chief of Mission stood up arrogantly. "If there is nothing else, I have many important foreign affairs activities to attend to."

Watching the other party's retreating back, the Chinese official coldly closed the folder and whispered into his headset: "The procedure is complete; the other party refuses to communicate. You may issue the official document."

Lin Zhou soon received the feedback brought back by Qin Yue.

"Lin Zhou, we must understand international rules." Qin Yue sighed. "The Chinese side has done their best. Since the other party refuses to admit it and uses this as a pretense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has just officially summoned the Indian Ambassador, delivered the strongest protest note, and announced on the spot: Suresh is listed as a 'Persona Non Grata' due to engaging in activities incompatible with his status, and is ordered to leave the country within forty-eight hours."

"Are we just going to let him walk away so brazenly?" He Jun slammed his fist on the table. As a soldier, he could not accept this "legal" escape.

The next afternoon, Beijing Capital International Airport.

Lin Zhou stood behind the one-way glass of the VIP lounge, watching coldly as Suresh, surrounded by several Indian embassy personnel, walked head held high toward the boarding gate.

Suresh seemed to sense something. Before stepping into the cabin, he even turned back to look in the direction of the terminal, a mocking smile on his lips.

It was a blatant contempt for the Cyber Freedom Republic, this "micro-nation," and a silent retaliation for that failed routine inquiry.

"He won't face any punishment after returning home, and might even be promoted for his 'meritorious service'," Zhang Zhe whispered, his voice filled with suppressed frustration.

Just as Zhang Zhe predicted, the Indian side adopted a completely dismissive attitude on the diplomatic level. New Delhi even publicly claimed at a subsequent press conference that this was "political framing by a certain party against an Indian diplomat" and refused to recognize the existence of the Cyber Freedom Republic as a sovereign entity.

"This feeling is truly unbearable." Lin Zhou watched the Boeing passenger plane cutting through the sky—the direction Suresh was leaving in.

Five hundred thousand dollars, a traitor, and an enemy spy who got away unscathed—it had taught this newborn republic a cruel lesson called "great power games."

That night, Vikram was hooded and escorted onto a chartered plane back to Bir Tawil. He would face a severe trial there under the "National Security Law" of the Cyber Freedom Republic. But this was merely an internal accountability; the "frustration" regarding the external situation still weighed heavily on Lin Zhou's chest.

On the private plane returning home, Lin Zhou gathered his core members.

"This incident has exposed our greatest weakness." Lin Zhou pointed to the photo of Suresh on his notebook, his tone becoming exceptionally calm and resolute. "We have laws, we have an army, and we even have some economic foundation, but we lack 'eyes' and 'ears', and even more so, a 'sharp blade' that can strike back from the shadows."

He looked at Zhang Zhe and He Jun: "We cannot always rely on the protection of China. In this world where the strong prey on the weak, if we don't have our own intelligence network, and the ability to track and eliminate threats across borders, we will forever be nothing more than an 'expensive experiment' in the eyes of others."

"Just like this time, this was just a casual move by the Indians. Their main target wasn't even us, yet we still paid a huge price! The lesson is a bitter one!"

Lin Zhou paused and wrote a few words on a blank sheet of paper.

"Pass on my order. Effective immediately, the 'Cyber Freedom Republic National Security Agency' (abbreviated: NSA) is hereby established. He Jun will concurrently serve as the first Director, and Zhang Zhe will be responsible for the construction of the legal framework."

"We must build our own firewall, solve various confidentiality issues first; this kind of thing cannot happen again! Suresh was able to leave with a smile today, but I guarantee that from now on, anyone who dares to reach out will pay the price of leaving a hand behind."

The plane cut through the thick clouds, and the lights of Bir Tawil flickered in the distance. Lin Zhou knew that although the leaking storm had subsided, in this arena called a "nation," the real shadow war had only just begun.