207: Chapter 207 You call this diplomatic negotiations?

Lin Zhou's eyelids twitched as he saw the second message sent by Jack.

He got up and walked to a blind spot near the window of the room, where the signal was cleanest, before clicking on the encrypted message.

"Lord, through technical means, we have recovered a destroyed overseas exchange program application form from Su Wanqing's doctoral studies. In the emergency contact column of the application, she didn't fill in her parents, but a man named Su Zhenbang."

"Su Zhenbang?" Lin Zhou had no impression of this name at all.

"Yes. According to our database tracking, Su Zhenbang is Su Wanqing's uncle. In his early years, he went to the US on a government-sponsored scholarship, later became a US citizen, and became a famous M&A lawyer on Wall Street. Currently, he is... one of the executive directors of the Blackstone Group and Mr. Davis's deputy."

Jack's message continued.

"As for Lin Xi, her background is simpler, but also stranger. We found that all her tuition and living expenses during school came from an anonymous overseas trust fund. And the manager of that fund is precisely Su Zhenbang."

The message ended there.

Lin Zhou stood in place, not moving for a long time.

Su Wanqing was the niece of a Blackstone Group executive.

Lin Xi was someone who had been long-term funded by this executive.

And the Blackstone Group was Lin Zhou's largest community of interest in the United States.

So, those three bizarre 'chance encounters' weren't some conspiracy or trap at all, but rather... informal contact carefully arranged by friendly forces?

Even that hospital trip that stripped him of his dignity, and even his hemorrhoids, were all part of a precisely designed setup?

What was even more terrifying was that they had already studied him thoroughly, even calculating exactly which hospital he would go to.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhou's face flushed hot and then turned pale.

He would rather believe that these two women were spies sent by the CIA than accept this ridiculous reality.

How exactly do these finance people's brains work? They wanted to get close to me, and they used this method?

He suppressed his anger and forcibly banished this episode from his mind.

Now, there was no time to dwell on these things.

At ten o'clock the next morning, Department of State, Truman Reception Room.

Lin Zhou, accompanied by Qin Yue and Chen Yuan, met the US Secretary of State known for his toughness and shrewdness, Anthony Thompson.

Thompson was around sixty years old, white, with his hair meticulously combed, and a politician's standard warm expression on his face.

"Welcome, Your Excellency Lin Zhou. Your arrival has brought the vitality of the African desert to Washington." Thompson proactively extended his hand.

"It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Secretary." Lin Zhou shook his hand and responded politely.

After some empty pleasantries, both sides took their seats.

Thompson did not waste time and went straight to the point.

"Your Excellency Lin Zhou, the United States greatly appreciates the achievements you and your country have made. We are willing to fully support the Cyber Freedom Republic in joining the United Nations and becoming a responsible member of the international community."

He dangled a massive bait.

Lin Zhou smiled, waiting for what came next.

"Of course, as an important future partner, we hope both sides can reach a deeper consensus in some key areas." Thompson's tone took a turn.

"Please, go on."

"First," Thompson held up one finger, "to ensure regional peace and stability, and the future coordination capabilities of our two countries' armed forces, we suggest that the Cyber Freedom Republic's defense procurement should fully shift to NATO standard systems. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are both willing to provide you with a package of solutions at favorable prices."

Chen Yuan's eye corner twitched.

This was an attempt to monopolize arms sales and completely cut off their possibility of purchasing weapons from China.

"Second," Thompson held up a second finger, "the 'African Data Ark' project is very grand, but we have concerns about its data security and privacy protection. We propose that Microsoft or Amazon join the project as technical partners. Meanwhile, all non-sovereign country customer data should be encrypted and backed up in data centers in Nevada."

Qin Yue's hand holding the pen tightened.

This was more direct than robbery; they wanted to turn their future gold mine directly into an American overseas asset.

"Third," Thompson looked at Lin Zhou, his smile deepening, "to enhance mutual trust, we hope the Cyber Freedom Republic can issue a statement consistent with our position on some recent international hotspots, such as freedom of navigation in the South China Sea."

No one spoke in the reception room; even the sound of flipping documents stopped.

These three conditions were each more demanding and more malicious than the last.

This was no longer a diplomatic negotiation; it was signing a total 'traitorous treaty'.

If Lin Zhou agreed, the Cyber Freedom Republic would completely become a vassal of the United States, with its military, economic, and diplomatic lifelines held firmly in the other party's hands.

Lin Zhou's expression did not change.

He even nodded, as if seriously considering the rationality of these conditions.

"Mr. Secretary, thank you and your country for planning such a... thorough future for us." He spoke slowly, his tone revealing no emotion.

"In principle, I personally do not object to your suggestions."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Yue and Chen Yuan both looked at him in shock.

Meanwhile, Thompson and several deputy secretaries across from him showed satisfied expressions.

They were afraid Lin Zhou would flip the table on the spot; as long as he was willing to talk, everything was negotiable.

"However," Lin Zhou paused, "these three conditions all involve huge commercial interests and complex technical issues."

He shifted his gaze to the deputy secretaries of the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Defense: "For example, regarding military procurement, I certainly appreciate the F-35 and Patriot missiles, but as you know, my country's finances are very tight. I wonder if Lockheed Martin and Raytheon would be willing to accept the future ten-year revenue rights of the 'Miracle Seed' as collateral for loans?"

He turned back to Thompson: "As for data backup, that's no problem at all. However, our data center business is deeply tied to the Blackstone Group. Regarding technical standards and fee issues for data migration and backup, Microsoft and Amazon might need to reach an agreement with Mr. Davis and his team first. We fully respect the opinions of our business partners."

Finally, he leaned forward slightly, his tone incredibly sincere: "Issuing a statement is an even smaller matter. But as a sovereign state, any of our diplomatic stances need to be discussed by the Privy Council and voted on by the parliament. I cannot make any promises to you here that bypass our legal procedures. However, I can guarantee that after returning home, I will push the relevant agenda as soon as possible."

Lin Zhou's words were watertight.

He didn't reject a single condition, but he set an almost unavoidable prerequisite obstacle for each one.

Using the future revenue of the 'Miracle Seed' as collateral? How could the US government intervene in such a commercial guarantee?

Letting Microsoft talk to Blackstone? That was letting the giants fight each other while he watched from the sidelines.

Going through domestic legal procedures? By the time he finished the process, the opportunity would have long passed.

The smile on Thompson's face was barely holding up, and the muscles in his cheeks were tight.

He realized that the young man in front of him was much more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

Like a loach, the tighter you gripped it, the faster it slipped away.

"It seems Your Excellency Lin Zhou is a very rigorous leader." Thompson readjusted his expression, "No matter, we have plenty of time. I hope you enjoy yourself at the White House dinner tonight."

The meeting ended in a bizarre atmosphere of 'friendliness'.

Walking out of the Department of State and getting into the car back to the hotel, Chen Yuan finally let out a long breath.

"Lord, that was terrifying just now. I really thought you were going to agree to them."

Lin Zhou leaned back against the seat, his shoulders relaxing. "We have to make them feel there's hope, but hope that's always just out of reach. We'll drag it out slowly until we join the United Nations, then everything will be easier to handle."

Just then, Lin Zhou's phone vibrated.

It was a top-level encrypted communication from Jack.

Lin Zhou opened it; there was only one picture and one sentence.

The picture was a candid photo of Lin Xi smiling beautifully.

And the sentence was: "Lord, Lin Xi's aunt is the wife of Secretary of State Mr. Thompson."