2: Chapter 2 No Money to Build a Country? Live Crowdfunding Goes Wild with Netizens!

The first thing Lin Zhou did when he got home was open his computer to look up Bir Tawil's geographical location, climate characteristics, and transportation options.

The more he researched, the clearer it became that this place was practically a forbidden zone for humans. Located deep in the desert, it had no infrastructure, a harsh climate, and scarce water. The severance pay in his card wasn't enough to build a country; it wasn't even enough to buy a decent desert off-road vehicle.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the desk.

"System, I don't have any money," Lin Zhou asked directly.

"The host must resolve resource issues independently. The system only provides guidance and assistance," the system responded in a flat tone.

Lin Zhou sighed. This system really was pushing everything onto him.

Money. This was the most fundamental problem of building a nation.

He opened his banking app and looked at the balance. It was barely enough for a down payment in a second-tier city, but for nation-building, this money was like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water. Moreover, this money was his final savings. As a calculating egoist, how could he possibly invest all of his nest egg?

He had to find a way to raise funds quickly without hurting his own foundation.

A bold idea surfaced in his mind.

Crowdfunding. Livestreaming.

In this era, any novelty can find supporters online. If he could package "founding a nation" as a grand project with "universal participation," he might actually attract the attention of some "trolls" or "rich folks."

He acted immediately.

First, he registered a brand-new social media account and a livestreaming platform account.

Then, he began building a simple website. On the homepage, several large characters stood out prominently:

"The Universal Nation-Building Plan!"

Below it, several paragraphs were attached:

"Are you tired of the 996 grind? Tired of the rat race? Do you dream of having your own land and living freely?"

"I, Lin Zhou, a programmer discarded by capital, am now going to do something unprecedented—establish a country that belongs to us!"

"Location: Bir Tawil, one of the last terra nullius on Earth!"

"Goal: Establish a technological utopia where 'every resident has a home and every worker earns their due'!"

"Reward: All early donors will receive national citizenship and, based on the size of their contribution, will be granted titles of nobility!"

"That's right, donate money and become a noble! This is no joke; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Would those wishing to join this grand event please click the link to register at the [Temporary National Identity Registration System (Version 1.0)]!!"

As Lin Zhou typed these words, the corners of his lips curled up slightly into a smile. He knew these words were "novel" enough and had enough "gimmick."

Once the website was set up, he began his livestream.

For the first stream, he didn't show his face. He only displayed a satellite map of Bir Tawil with stirring music in the background. He spoke into the microphone, his voice steady and persuasive.

"Everyone, I am Lin Zhou, a man who is about to change the world. Today, I stand here not to beg, but to invite you to witness a miracle!"

"We all know Bir Tawil, that land forgotten by the world. But today, it will welcome a new master, a new civilization!"

"I need money. Not for myself, but for our country!"

"Every donation will become a cornerstone of our nation. A donation over ten thousand makes you a first-generation citizen. Over a hundred thousand, a Viscount. A million, a County Earl. Ten million, a Duke of the State! There is no upper limit!"

"Come! Invest your 'troll coins' to trade for a brand-new future!"

Initially, the number of people in the livestream room was sparse, just a few individuals. Everyone in the bullet chat was spamming "Scammer," "Money laundering," and "Daydreaming."

"Bro, wake up. You're still dreaming, right?"

"A programmer turned con artist? These days, you don't even dare to be unemployed without a side hustle, huh?"

"Building a country? I'll donate fifty cents if you make me a Village Chief first."

Lin Zhou ignored the mockery. He knew this was a necessary path. What he needed to do was persist and then wait.

Without saying much more, he directly spent ten thousand yuan on traffic promotion; initial investment was necessary.

Sure enough, as his novel rhetoric fermented online and was reposted by marketing accounts, the number of people in the livestream room began to skyrocket.

"Holy crap, is this for real? Building a country?"

"Bir Tawil? Does such a place actually exist?"

"Bro, you're awesome. I'll donate a hundred, count me in!"

A user with the ID "Filthy Rich" directly tipped a hundred thousand.

"Whoa, someone actually fell for it?"

"Incredible, this guy actually dared to donate!"

"Greetings, Viscount!"

"Filthy Rich" sent a bullet message: "Bro, if for nothing else, just for your imagination, I'll treat this money like I'm throwing it in the water for a bit of fun. If it actually gets built, I'm with you!"

Lin Zhou saw this message in the chat, and his lips couldn't help but curl up. This was exactly the kind of "troll" he wanted.

"Many thanks to Viscount 'Filthy Rich'!" Lin Zhou's voice held uncontainable joy. "You will be the first noble of this nation! Your title will be etched into our country's history!"

This interaction ignited the livestream room. People started tipping one after another. Although most were small amounts of tens or hundreds, the total was climbing rapidly.

In just a few hours, over a hundred thousand yuan flooded into his account.

"Now, it's time to choose a name for our country!" Lin Zhou threw out a new topic.

"The National Naming Contest begins! The person whose name is chosen will receive the title of 'Founding Hero'!"

All sorts of novel names poured into the chat.

"Goudan Nation!"

"Oligie Republic!"

"Linzhoustan!"

Lin Zhou almost laughed out loud when he saw "Linzhoustan." He tapped the screen: "Everyone, please be serious! This is the country we will be living in in the future!"

Finally, amidst the endless stream of bullet messages, one name was mentioned repeatedly and gained the approval of the majority.

"Cyber Freedom Republic!"

Lin Zhou thought for a moment. Cyber Freedom Republic? It sounded like netizens were just memeing, but he couldn't change the rules he'd set. Since this name had the most votes, he had to accept it.

"Good! Our country shall be called the 'Cyber Freedom Republic'!" Lin Zhou made the final decision. "Next up, the national emblem and flag!"

He displayed the basic national flag and emblem design provided by the system.

Flag: An azure blue background representing technology and the ocean; in the center is a golden gear surrounding a shining five-pointed star, symbolizing industry and hope.

Emblem: Also a combination of a gear and a five-pointed star, supported below by ears of wheat and an integrated circuit pattern from Silicon Valley, symbolizing the fusion of agricultural civilization and technological progress.

"What do you all think?"

The bullet chat in the livestream room boiled over again.

"Whoa, this design actually looks the part!"

"Professional! It looks like a real country could be built!"

"I like this flag! Simple and grand!"

Lin Zhou struck while the iron was hot: "Now, we have a name, a flag, and an emblem! All we're missing is a national anthem! The National Anthem Solicitation event officially begins!"

"We currently have 12,580 citizens. Total funds raised: 285,000 yuan!"

Lin Zhou looked at the backend data, excitement surging in his heart. He understood that most people were just here for the fun, but regardless, the money was real.

It wasn't a lot of money, but it was enough for him to take the first step. He'd go plant a flag in the desert first, and worry about the rest later.

He closed the livestream. The money wasn't much, but it was enough. He didn't want to wait for this craze to dissipate. He wanted to strike while the iron was hot and get things done directly.

He wanted to show those who mocked him what real initiative looked like.