26: Chapter 26 A Century-Long Deal! Sovereignty for Technology

The location for the signing ceremony was set in Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, at a viewing restaurant overlooking the Citadel of Saladin.

The Egyptian side clearly wanted to turn this cooperation into an international PR event to showcase its openness and vision for the future. They invited dozens of journalists from major international media outlets, and the scene was filled with cameras, lenses, and a flurry of flashes.

Lin Zhou wore a sharp, dark suit instead of his usual casual wear, and his hair was meticulously styled. He stood before the signing table, appearing calm and confident. Beside him were Qin Yue and Zhang Zhe, also dressed in formal attire.

On the other side, Saleh, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, was beaming with joy. The military general had also rarely swapped his uniform for a suit, his face carrying an irrepressible smile.

Under the watchful eye of the global media, Lin Zhou and Saleh solemnly signed their names on two documents with gold-embossed covers.

One was the "Joint Communiqué between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Cyber Freedom Republic on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations."

The other was a hundreds-of-pages-long "Package Cooperation Agreement."

The moment the two exchanged documents and stood up to shake hands, the flashes on-site flickered frantically, freezing this historic moment in time.

The core content of the agreement was soon made public by the official Egyptian spokesperson:

First, the Arab Republic of Egypt formally recognizes the Cyber Freedom Republic, established in the Bir Tawil region, as an independent sovereign state.

Second, the Cyber Freedom Republic voluntarily entrusts the establishment and command of its national armed forces, as well as its foreign diplomatic powers, to the Egyptian government for management until it possesses the capacity to independently exercise said powers.

Third, Egypt will open its borders to the Cyber Freedom Republic, establishing dedicated land ports and air routes to guarantee the free passage of its citizens and goods.

Fourth, the entirety of Egypt will recognize passports issued by the Cyber Freedom Republic and grant its citizens visa-free entry.

Fifth, both parties will jointly establish a joint venture company to promote "Solar Atmospheric Water Collection Technology" globally, with the patent ownership shared by both parties.

Sixth, both parties have decided to exchange ambassadors and establish ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations. In view of the practical situation, the functions of the Egyptian Embassy in the Cyber Republic will be temporarily held concurrently by the Egyptian Ambassador to Sudan.

As soon as the news broke, world opinion was in an uproar.

No one expected that this seemingly absurd "nation-building game" would ultimately conclude its current stage in such a realistic and creative manner.

Lin Zhou had traded what almost everyone considered the core of a nation—its "sovereignty"—for the "existence" of the nation itself.

This transaction was interpreted in starkly different ways depending on the observer.

In the eyes of critics, this was blatant "treason," establishing a complete puppet regime.

But in the eyes of supporters, it was a work of genius, the smartest survival choice a small nation could make in a world ruled by the law of the jungle and surrounded by giants.

For Lin Zhou himself, all of this was merely a means to an end.

The moment he signed his name, a system panel that only he could see unfolded before his eyes.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the main mission: Establish a Country (Obtain recognition from at least one sovereign state)!]

[Time taken: 95 days]

[Mission Evaluation: Perfect (Leveraged the maximum possibility with minimum cost, laying a solid foundation for subsequent development)]

[Mission rewards being distributed...]

[Reward 1: National Development Fund. A special fund of 1 billion USD has been injected into your exclusive encrypted account. Note: This fund can only be used for infrastructure construction, scientific research investment, and public services for the Cyber Freedom Republic; it cannot be used for personal consumption.]

Lin Zhou's heart skipped a beat. One billion... US dollars! Although there were usage restrictions, this money was enough for him to build a settlement of considerable scale from scratch in that desert!

[Reward 2: Key Technology Pack. Congratulations on obtaining the "Desert Rapid Greening Technology Pack," which includes:]

[1. "Sand-fixing Bacteria" Cultivation Technology: A gene-edited microorganism that can reproduce rapidly in sandy soil to form a biological crust, effectively fixing shifting sands.]

[2. "Salt-Alkali Resistant Rapid-Growth Plant Seed Bank": Contains dozens of plant seeds that can survive in extreme drought and high-salinity soil, forming shrubs or even small trees within one to two years.]

[3. "Rapid Soil Improvement Liquid" Synthesis Formula: A highly efficient organic composite liquid that can quickly improve the structure of sandy soil, enhancing water retention and fertility.]

Seeing this reward, Lin Zhou's breathing quickened slightly.

If the water collection technology was about "survival," then this greening technology pack was about "living"! It could turn the barren land of Bir Tawil into an oasis in just a few short years! This held incalculable value for attracting citizens, developing tourism, and establishing a livable environment!

[Reward settlement complete.]

[New main mission released: Become a Normal Nation.]

[Mission Objective: Without tearing up existing agreements, gradually break free from Egypt's excessive influence in military, diplomatic, and economic fields, and establish an independent internal affairs and national defense system. The ultimate goal is to reclaim all entrusted sovereignty.]

[Mission Deadline: None]

[Mission Failure Penalty: None]

Looking at this new main mission, a curve formed at the corner of Lin Zhou's mouth.

No deadline, no penalty.

This indicated that even the system believed this would be a long, arduous game that would require the efforts of generations.

But wasn't that the most interesting part of this "nation-building" game?

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Head of State Lin, congratulations."

Lin Zhou looked up and saw the military general walking toward him with a wine glass, an enigmatic smile on his face.

"Now, can we discuss what the organization of the first batch of 'security advisory groups' stationed at your border should be?"