32: Chapter 32 No Nationality? Here's a Five-Star Card for You!

A brief silence fell in the reception room.

Director Zhou clasped his hands together and placed them on the table, surveying Lin Zhou with a scrutinizing gaze.

He had seen too many negotiation opponents—some aggressive, some eloquent, and some as cunning as foxes. But this was the first time he had encountered someone like Lin Zhou, who laid out his predicament and demands so bluntly, and cleverly tied them to the other party's matters of principle.

He wasn't begging; he was conducting a logical exchange.

"If you want me to comply with the legal principle of 'renouncing Chinese citizenship,' then you must provide the tools that will allow me to complete this 'legal closed loop.'"

"You want a full set of national-level population information management systems?" The legal expert frowned. "This is no small matter; it involves a series of complex issues such as data security and technical standards."

"I don't need anything complex," Lin Zhou responded immediately. "I only want the most basic version. As long as it works, that's enough. I know the country has many foreign aid projects, and the administrative systems provided to some countries in Africa are probably all pre-packaged. I just want a 'beggar version' like that."

When the term "beggar version" came out, even the military man, who had been straight-faced the whole time, had the corner of his mouth twitch.

Director Zhou tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his brain working at high speed.

Agree to him?

This meant that at the national level, they would provide sovereign-level technical support to a young man engaged in "cyber nation-building." There was no precedent for this in diplomatic history.

Refuse him?

Then the nationality issue would become a dead end. Lin Zhou would remain in a gray area of "theoretically having lost his citizenship, but practically unable to change it." For the always rigorous Chinese legal system, this was a flaw, however small.

More importantly, Lin Zhou as a person, and the technology in his hands, were too valuable.

To push him away because of a software system, leaving him completely outside of their control, would truly be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

"Your proposal is quite novel," Director Zhou finally spoke, with an unreadable tone. "In principle, we can consider your request. After all, helping you perfect your national framework is also conducive to the development of our subsequent work."

He changed the subject.

"However, in exchange, you also need to cooperate with us in resolving another issue."

"Please go ahead." Lin Zhou knew the real meat of the matter had arrived.

"After you resolve your identity issue and officially become a citizen of the 'Cyber Freedom Republic,' your legal stay, work, and life in China as a foreign head of state will require a clear legal status."

Director Zhou pulled a sample card from the folder beside him and pushed it toward Lin Zhou.

The card was deep blue, featuring the Great Wall and the national emblem on the front, with "Permanent Residence ID Card for Foreigners of the People's Republic of China (Temporary)" embossed in gold underneath.

"This card is popularly known among the public as the 'Five-Star Card,'" Director Zhou's voice was steady. "It is the highest honor granted by the Chinese government to outstanding individuals who have made outstanding contributions to China's economic and social development, or who are recognized by the world. Holders enjoy almost the same treatment as Chinese citizens within China, except for political rights and a few specific rights."

Lin Zhou picked up the sample card.

The texture was firm, and the design was solemn.

He understood what the other party meant.

Giving up his household registration and ID card in exchange for this "Five-Star Card" that represented the status of a top-tier foreigner.

This was a substitution of identity.

Going from an ordinary Chinese citizen to a "foreign friend" certified by Chinese officials with special status.

"I have no objections." Lin Zhou put down the card.

"Time is too tight this time. We will issue you a temporary permit first, and it will be replaced with an official one later."

Lin Zhou nodded.

This result was better than he had expected. He had originally thought that returning to the country in the future would become very troublesome, but he didn't expect the other party to directly offer the highest treatment.

This showed that his value had already been recognized.

"Very good." Director Zhou nodded, very satisfied with this result.

The deal was reached, and the atmosphere softened considerably.

"Regarding the system you mentioned, we will arrange for engineers from relevant departments to coordinate with you. Within a week, a basic version of the 'National Information Registration and Document Management System' will be delivered to you."

Lin Zhou's heart skipped a beat; getting the system so quickly was astonishingly efficient.

"Thank you."

"One last question regarding nationality," Director Zhou looked at him. "Your immediate family members, such as your parents and sister. What are your plans? Do you need us to handle them in the same way?"

This question came somewhat suddenly.

Lin Zhou fell silent.

He thought of his parents' wrinkled faces and their complex expressions of both pride and worry regarding his "nation-building."

Ask them to give up their Chinese citizenship too, and become citizens of a desert nation?

They wouldn't agree.

"This... I need to go back and communicate with them." Lin Zhou gave a reserved answer.

Just then, a crisp electronic prompt, audible only to him, rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host's nationality status has been officially changed!]

["Utopia System" module updated... "Achievement System" has been activated!]

[Congratulations to the host for unlocking the first achievement!]

A virtual system panel unfolded before Lin Zhou's eyes.

The interface, which originally only had a few simple modules like funds and technology, now had a golden flashing badge icon.

He focused his mind on the icon.

[Achievement System]

[Achievements unlocked: 1 / ???]

[Achievement Name: The First Citizen]

[Description: From nothing to something, you have become a brand-new variable in this world. As the founder and first legal citizen of the Utopia, your very existence is a monument.]

[Achievement Reward: National Development Fund $100,000,000.]

Lin Zhou's breathing stopped for a moment.

One hundred million!

US dollars!

He looked at the number in the "National Development Fund" column on the system panel, which had jumped from "$1,000,000,000" to "$1,100,000,000."

Just by completing the nationality change and becoming the first "legal citizen" of his own country, he was rewarded with one hundred million?

Then... what if there was a first family, a first newborn, or a first army in the future?

He looked down at the achievement list, where rows of gray question marks were full of unknown temptations.

So, the system's wealth password was hidden here.

"Mr. Lin?" Director Zhou's voice pulled him back from his ecstasy to reality.

Lin Zhou quickly composed himself, with no changes visible on his face.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about family matters," he replied nonchalantly. "My parents are older and it is hard to leave their homeland; they likely won't change their nationality. My sister... I will respect her own choice."

"Understandable." Director Zhou nodded, ending the topic.