216: Chapter 216 Each Has Their Own Calculations

Lin Zhou sized up Su Zhenbang for a moment before reaching out to shake his hand with a moderate grip.

“Mr. Su, a pleasure to meet you.”

His tone was flat, no different from how he would treat any business partner he was meeting for the first time.

Su Zhenbang didn't mind this aloofness at all; instead, the smile on his face deepened.

“Mr. Lin is truly young and promising. Those two children, Wanqing and Lin Xi, haven't caused you any trouble, have they?”

He spoke like a kind elder, casually brushing off Su Wanqing and Lin Xi's approach as nothing more than young people playing around.

“Miss Su and Miss Lin are both very interesting people,” Lin Zhou replied plainly, shifting his gaze toward the two women who were watching the scene.

Su Wanqing still maintained her gentle and intellectual demeanor, though a hint of amusement was hidden in her eyes.

Lin Xi was much more direct, making a playful face at Lin Zhou.

Su Zhenbang took the initiative to start the conversation, and under his mediation, the atmosphere in the private room relaxed quite a bit.

The group exchanged pleasantries for a while, discussing the weather in the capital and the dishes at this Japanese restaurant, making it seem like a simple gathering of friends.

After a few rounds of drinks, Su Zhenbang gently set down his sake cup and looked at Su Wanqing and Lin Xi.

“You two, step out for a moment. I have some serious matters to discuss with Mr. Lin.”

“Uncle, even if it's serious business, can't we just listen?” Lin Xi muttered, somewhat unwillingly.

“Don't be silly.” Su Wanqing pulled her back and bowed slightly to Su Zhenbang and Lin Zhou. “Then we won't disturb you.”

With that, she pulled Lin Xi out of the private room, gently closing the shoji door behind them.

Only Lin Zhou and Su Zhenbang remained in the room. The forced relaxation from before vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy sense of gravity.

The smile on Su Zhenbang's face faded, and his expression became serious.

He didn't speak immediately, but personally filled Lin Zhou's cup with a steady, unhurried hand.

“Mr. Lin, I know you must have many questions in your heart regarding our appearance,” Su Zhenbang finally spoke.

Lin Zhou remained silent, just looking at him, waiting for him to continue.

“I am a second-generation Chinese born in America.” Su Zhenbang's tone lowered. “My father's generation took root in that land by washing dishes and opening restaurants. Relying on an Ivy League degree, I worked my way up to the position I hold today. To outsiders, it's glamorous—an elite of Wall Street.”

He laughed self-mockingly.

“But we know for ourselves that the invisible glass ceiling is always there. We are always 'them' and never 'us.' No matter how much money we earn or how high our social status, we are merely the wealthiest guests in this country.”

These words were indeed beyond Lin Zhou's expectations.

He hadn't expected this Wall Street tycoon to be so candid from the very beginning.

“You are different, Mr. Lin.” A hint of envy seeped into Su Zhenbang's tone. “You have achieved something that generations of us didn't even dare to imagine. In the desert, from nothing, you built a kingdom that truly belongs to you. A land where you can set your own rules and control your own destiny.”

“So, Mr. Su didn't come today for Blackstone's business?” Lin Zhou spoke up, interrupting the narrative atmosphere he was building.

“Of course not just for that,” Su Zhenbang admitted frankly. “Today, I represent not only myself but also a group of friends behind me.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“This group of ours comes from all over the world. There are financiers from Wall Street, tech upstarts from Silicon Valley, descendants of Old Money families in Europe, and tycoons who made their fortunes in Middle East oil. Our only commonality is that we are tired of living under someone else's roof.”

“We hope to contribute our strength to the construction of Future City.”

“Be specific,” Lin Zhou replied concisely.

“We want to buy land,” Su Zhenbang said word for word. “Not as a commercial real estate investment, but to buy large tracts of land with permanent ownership. we want to build our own community there, a true home. We will bring our families, our wealth, and all the resources we possess to that place.”

These words made Lin Zhou completely understand their intentions.

They weren't here to invest; they were here to 'naturalize.' They were making a massive gamble in the form of a community of interests.

They wanted to establish a 'state within a state' inside the Cyber Freedom Republic, becoming the first 'new nobility' of this nascent nation.

Lin Zhou tapped his fingers on the table a few times, not answering immediately.

The proposal was extremely tempting, representing an astronomical amount of capital and a group of 'new citizens' with top-tier resources.

But the risks behind it were equally staggering. This group was too powerful; if they lost control, it would be enough to turn the tables on the host.

“The Cyber Freedom Republic welcomes any form of investment,” Lin Zhou said, giving a non-committal response. “Regarding the policy on land purchases, especially permanent ownership, it is a major matter that requires special meetings and discussions by the Privy Council and the Cabinet. Personally, I cannot give you an answer on the spot.”

Su Zhenbang had already anticipated this outcome and wasn't disappointed.

“That is only natural. We have enough patience to wait.”

He then changed the subject and added, “Mr. Lin, once the concerns of our group are resolved, I personally hope to have the opportunity to secure a seat on your Strategic Advisory Committee, much like Mr. Thompson.”

This was an expression of deeper goodwill.

A revolving door, a binding of interests.

“Of course.” Lin Zhou showed his first sincere smile of the evening. “The doors of the Cyber Freedom Republic are always open to friends like Mr. Su.”

Having spoken to this point, it was enough.

The atmosphere became warm again, and the two began to toast each other like true friends.

By the end of the banquet, Lin Zhou was 'dead drunk,' his steps unsteady, supported on either side by two bodyguards sent by He Jun.

Su Wanqing and Lin Xi came out from the adjacent room, intending to approach.

“Ladies, please stay back,” the bodyguards blocked them with cold expressions. “The Lord needs to rest.”

With that, they unceremoniously ushered Lin Zhou into the car that had been waiting at the entrance of the alley.

The car door closed, cutting off the view from the outside.

Leaning against the back seat, the blurriness in Lin Zhou's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by total clarity.

He picked up an encrypted phone and dialed Jack directly.

“Investigate Su Zhenbang and his so-called ‘friends from all over the world.’ I feel that things aren't simple; there are likely shadows of Jewish capital and Japanese zaibatsu behind this.”

Jack's voice came from the other end.

“Understood. However... Lord, our funds are nearly bottomed out. Many recent operations have been settled in cash.”

Lin Zhou rubbed his temples.

“I'll talk to Chen Yuan. For the remainder of the year, add another hundred million US dollars to the intelligence budget. If that's not enough, add more.”