19: Chapter 19 A Secret Meeting with a Third Party!

Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich.

Lin Zhou, Qin Yue, and Zhang Zhe walked along the street known as the "richest in the world" like ordinary tourists.

They didn't check into the hotel where the meeting was scheduled, choosing instead an inconspicuous boutique hotel located on a street corner.

From their room window, they could clearly see the main entrance of that five-star hotel.

This was Lin Zhou's decision.

"In the enemy's home turf, we must first occupy a favorable observation position."

There were still six hours left before the appointed time.

Qin Yue and Zhang Zhe were both somewhat nervous, repeatedly checking their documents and contingency plans in the room.

Only Lin Zhou, acting as if nothing was wrong, brewed himself a cup of tea and sat by the window, admiring the scenery of Zurich.

"Mr. Lin, you don't seem nervous at all?" Qin Yue couldn't help but ask.

"Why be nervous?" Lin Zhou took a sip of tea. "They are the ones who should be nervous. We are the ones holding what they want, aren't we?"

He paused and continued, "Remember, the meeting later isn't a negotiation; it's an interview. They are interviewing me, a potential future partner, to see if I'm qualified and if I'm worth the political risk."

"So, we don't need to show our hole cards; we only need to show our strength, confidence, and vision. Let them believe that cooperating with me brings more benefits than disadvantages."

These words allowed Qin Yue and Zhang Zhe's taut nerves to relax slightly.

Once again, they were impressed by Lin Zhou's composure and sense of control that surpassed his age.

At dusk, the three of them headed to the five-star hotel on foot, arriving half an hour early.

Following the instructions in the email, they arrived at the door of a presidential suite on the top floor.

There were no bodyguards at the door, nor was there anything unusual.

Qin Yue stepped forward and rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly.

The person who opened the door was an "old acquaintance" who was unexpected yet within the realm of reason.

It was Mubarak, the high-ranking official from the Egyptian General Intelligence Service who had personally deported Lin Zhou from Cairo back then.

Mubarak was still wearing that same sharp suit, with a professional, temperatureless smile on his face.

"Mr. Lin, we meet again."

"Mr. Mubarak, I hope you have been well." Lin Zhou also responded with a smile, as if the unpleasantness in Cairo last time had never happened.

Mubarak was the only person in the suite.

There was no negotiation table, only a set of comfortable sofas.

The atmosphere didn't feel like a diplomatic meeting; it felt more like a private visit.

"Please, sit." Mubarak pointed to the sofa.

After both sides were seated, he didn't mention anything about "founding a nation" or "technology." Instead, like an old friend, he chatted about the weather and scenery of Zurich.

Lin Zhou cooperated, engaging in casual small talk.

Qin Yue and Zhang Zhe sat to the side without interrupting, but they both knew that the real confrontation had already begun within this seemingly peaceful small talk.

This was a psychological probing and a contest of wills.

After about ten minutes, Mubarak finally got down to business.

But the question he asked caught both Qin Yue and Zhang Zhe by surprise.

"Mr. Lin, if I may be so bold, why exactly are you doing all this? Is it just for money?" He stared into Lin Zhou's eyes, his question very direct.

This wasn't a question a diplomat or intelligence officer would ask; it was more like the curiosity of an elder toward a junior.

Lin Zhou didn't answer immediately.

He fell silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"Money is just a tool to achieve a goal, not the goal itself," he spoke slowly. "If it were for money, after my successful desert livestream, I could have packaged the technology and sold it to whichever country or company offered the highest price, then moved to an island to live out the rest of my life in comfort."

"My company was forcibly dissolved after being acquired by a national fund. All my efforts were powerless before the might of a nation. From that moment on, I understood one truth: an individual's fate is fragile and can be crushed at any time if they don't have a powerful entity to rely on."

His voice was calm, yet it carried a deep, etched sense of conviction.

"So, I want to establish an entity of my own. A nation founded on technology, one that can protect all 'citizens' who identify with my philosophy—an ideal world where 'every resident has a home and every worker receives their due.'"

"That sounds like a Utopian fantasy." Mubarak's expression didn't change.

"All reality originates from an initial fantasy." Lin Zhou met his gaze squarely. "Before the steam engine, the light bulb, and the internet were born, weren't they also just fantasies in some people's minds?"

Mubarak fell silent.

He looked at the young man before him, waves of emotion churning in his heart.

He had seen countless politicians, businessmen, and ambitious men.

They were either greedy, cunning, or cruel.

But he had never seen someone like Lin Zhou.

His person was a mix of a programmer's obsession, a businessman's shrewdness, and an almost missionary-like idealism.

This complex set of traits made him difficult to define and difficult to control.

Mubarak changed the subject, his tone turning serious.

"Is there really no support from another country behind you? For instance, your Chinese government?" This was his greatest concern.

Lin Zhou smiled.

"Mr. Mubarak, if China were standing behind me, do you think I would be the one sitting here talking to you today? I'm afraid our Minister of Foreign Affairs would have already been in Cairo having coffee with your President."

This answer was clever and powerful, leaving Mubarak with no way to refute it.

"Then, let's talk about your technology." Mubarak finally brought the topic to the core. "Why should we believe that you will hand it over to us completely and without reservation? And why should we believe you won't sell it to our neighbors again?"

This was a question of trust.

"First, the core of this technology lies in a special adsorbent material. Its preparation process is currently known only to me. Without my guidance, even if you had the blueprints, you wouldn't be able to replicate it."

"Second, the reason I chose Egypt instead of other countries is precisely because I value Egypt's leadership in this region, as well as your extreme dependence on and anxiety over the Nile River's water source. To you, this technology is strategic. To other countries, it might just be the icing on the cake."

"As for trust..." Lin Zhou leaned forward, saying each word deliberately, "Trust isn't built on words. It's built on shared interests. By handing over my 'nation's' military and diplomacy to you, I am essentially tying my life and fortune to the fate of Egypt. We are in the same boat now. Isn't this kind of binding enough to prove my sincerity?"

Mubarak didn't speak for a long time after hearing this.

He had originally prepared a whole slew of questions and traps, but in the face of Lin Zhou's open and direct way of speaking, they all seemed redundant and ridiculous.

Lin Zhou's logic was simple: I'll give you everything—technology, future sovereignty, even myself. I want nothing but for you to give me a legal 'status.'

If the Egyptian government refused this deal, it would only prove they were incredibly foolish.

After a long while, Mubarak stood up.

This "interview" seemed to be coming to an end.

"Mr. Lin, your frankness surprises me." He walked to the window, his back to Lin Zhou.

"Your proposal... is also very interesting. However, talk is cheap. We've seen the videos and the theory. Now, we need to see it with our own eyes."

He turned around, his face returning to that impenetrable expression.

"We hope you can bring your equipment to Egypt. On our soil, under the supervision of our scientists and military, we will conduct a field test."

"If you can do it, then everything is negotiable."

"If you can't..." He didn't finish, but the threat was self-evident.

This was the ultimate test.

It was also the final probe from the Egyptian side.

Lin Zhou stood up without hesitation.

"No problem. You decide the time and place."

He extended his hand.

"I hope that the next time we meet, we'll be discussing the details of signing a formal agreement."

Mubarak looked at the extended hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally shook it.

"A pleasure doing business with you."