35: Chapter 35 Constitutional Monarchy? No, now we need a dictatorship!

During the two days spent waiting for the state seal and state credentials to be made, Lin Zhou did not sit idle.

He adopted Director Zhou's suggestion and decided to start with the most core issue of "state structure" to build a political framework for the Cyber Freedom Republic.

He started a live stream once again.

This time, there was no showing off technology, no selling of titles; the background of the live stream was just his simple hotel room.

"Good evening, citizens." Lin Zhou faced the camera with a serious expression. "Today, we are going to discuss a fundamental issue concerning the future of our nation—what kind of government structure should our country adopt?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the screen was instantly flooded with comments.

"Holy crap! Are we finally talking about this? The main event is here!"

"Waited so long for this! A national constitutional convention?"

"Leader, you've sold so many dukedoms and earldoms, it wouldn't make sense not to have a monarchy, right?"

"I support a constitutional monarchy! The leader becomes the king, and we become the nobles—perfect!"

Lin Zhou watched the scrolling comments and raised a hand to signal for silence.

"I know many people hope for us to become a constitutional monarchy. I personally tend toward this model as well. However, we must face reality."

He pulled up a satellite map of Bir Tawil, showing endless yellow sand.

"Right now, we have nothing. No population, no industry, not even a single building. On such a blank slate, attempting a complex constitutional monarchy or parliamentary elections would only lead to endless internal friction and administrative inefficiency."

"Therefore, I have decided to hand this power of choice over to all of you, to everyone who has walked this path with me."

As he spoke, he initiated the first official vote in the live stream.

[Topic: The government structure of the Cyber Freedom Republic during its early founding stage (defined as before the resident population reaches 100,000)]

[Option A: Constitutional Monarchy (establishes a monarch, but a democratically elected parliament holds real power)]

[Option B: Absolute Monarchy (the monarch holds the supreme power of the state)]

As soon as the voting began, support for a constitutional monarchy took a massive lead.

Most netizens, especially those "nobles" who had purchased titles, hoped for a modern, civilized government structure that could also preserve their special status.

Lin Zhou looked at the voting results, not surprised at all.

Just then, a viewer with the ID "Crossroads of History" requested a video connection.

Lin Zhou glanced at their profile and discovered they were a moderately famous creator in the history category who specialized in producing various hardcore political and historical educational videos.

He approved the connection request.

A middle-aged man wearing glasses, with a wall full of books in the background, appeared on the screen.

"Hello, Leader. Hello, fellow citizens." The creator got straight to the point. "Regarding the issue of government structure, I have a different perspective."

"Please, go ahead." Lin Zhou adopted a listening posture.

"A constitutional monarchy is fine, but it requires a prerequisite—a mature civil society and an elite class. It requires enough people who understand politics, economics, and law to form a parliament, oversee the government, and enact laws. But do we have that right now?"

He scanned the audience in the live stream.

"What we have right now is a bunch of passionate trolls, a group of investors harboring dreams, and a group of tech geeks. If we let people like us hold a parliament, the result might just be arguing for three days and nights over whether the national anthem should be 'SpongeBob SquarePants' or 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf'."

These words were too real, drawing a wave of "hahaha" and "stop roasting us, stop roasting us" in the comments.

"Therefore," the creator emphasized, "in the 'infancy' of our nation's development, what we need is a strong core, a 'patriarch.' We need to concentrate all power and resources in the hands of one person, so they can make the most efficient and correct decisions."

"I support an absolute monarchy. But that does not mean a permanent dictatorship."

He looked at Lin Zhou and proposed a constructive plan.

"We can set 'constitutional monarchy' as our ultimate goal and write it into our first constitution. For example, explicitly stipulate that when the Cyber Freedom Republic's resident population reaches 100,000 and the first generation of infrastructure is completed, the state will automatically initiate the constitutional process, convene a constitutional convention, and return power to the people."

"Before that, what we need is a 'founding dictator,' not a 'constitutional mascot.'"

These words were clear in reasoning and tight in logic, instantly turning the tide of the live stream.

The netizens calmed down from their emotional frenzy and began to think rationally.

"Holy crap, the creator makes sense!"

"Centralize power to develop first, then democratize and establish a constitution later—this logic is sound!"

"The dictatorship system of the Roman Republic! I get it! This is to tide us over the crisis!"

"I've changed my mind, I'm voting for B! Leader, for the sake of the country, please be a dictator!"

Watching the voting data, the support for Option B began to climb rapidly, soon overtaking Option A.

Lin Zhou faced the camera and nodded solemnly at the creator.

"Thank you for your suggestion. It is very constructive."

This was exactly the result he wanted.

But he could not propose it himself; that would make him appear greedy for power.

By having it said through the mouth of an influential "citizen" and then confirmed via a "democratic vote," it bestowed an irrefutable legitimacy upon the "dictatorship."

When the voting ended, absolute monarchy won with an overwhelming 82% majority.

The dust had settled.

"Since everyone has made their choice," Lin Zhou faced the camera, his voice steady, "then I will respect the will of the people."

"From this day forward, I will lead the Cyber Freedom Republic as an 'absolute monarch' until the day the constitutional conditions stipulated by the constitution are met."

The live stream ended, and Lin Zhou immediately took action.

He opened the official website again and issued the second presidential decree—or perhaps it should be called a "King's Decree" now.

[King's Decree No. 1: Recruiting constitutional lawyers and legal experts globally to form the 'Legislative Yuan (Temporary) of the Cyber Freedom Republic,' responsible for drafting the nation's first constitution and basic laws.]

[Requirements: Proficiency in both civil law and common law systems; preference given to those with legislative experience in sovereign states.]

[Compensation: Citizenship, founding titles, and a salary sufficient to achieve financial freedom in any country.]

As soon as the news was released, the entire internet was abuzz.

If the previous recruitment only attracted trolls and adventurers.

Then this time, those attracted would be true top-tier legal elites in the industry.

Using the smartest minds in the world to build the most solid throne for him, this "founding dictator."