4: Chapter 4: A One-Night Trip to Cairo, Blacklist Experience Card!

The plane landed at Cairo International Airport.

As soon as Lin Zhou stepped out of the cabin, notifications about his livestream kept popping up on his phone.

The video of him planting the flag had already surpassed hundreds of millions of views, and countless "citizens" of the "Cyber Freedom Republic" were looking forward to his next move.

He had just started the livestream when a man in a khaki uniform blocked his path.

The other party's expression was polite, but his movements were decisive, gesturing for him to follow.

Lin Zhou knew exactly what was happening; it was all within expectations. He calmly turned off the livestream and made a pause gesture toward the camera.

The "citizens" in front of the screen immediately erupted, and the bullet chat was so dense that it was impossible to see through, everyone speculating about what had happened.

Lin Zhou was taken in an inconspicuous sedan to a heavily guarded building in the suburbs of Cairo.

Inside a meeting room, two men in plain clothes sat across from him and gestured for him to sit down.

"Mr. Lin, welcome to Cairo," one of the men said in fluent English. "We have some questions we'd like to ask you."

Lin Zhou nodded. "Please, go ahead."

"We are already aware of your actions in Bir Tawil." The man pushed a document in front of him, which contained photos of him planting the flag in the desert as well as various online reports.

Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair with a calm expression. "I am establishing a nation on terra nullius. This does not violate any international laws, nor does it infringe upon the interests of any sovereign state."

"The definition of 'terra nullius' is complex in international law." The official's tone grew heavier. "Let's put that aside for now. Let's talk about the definition of a 'state.' According to the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, a state must possess four basic elements: a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. To be frank, your 'Republic' does not fully meet these conditions."

The opponent had begun to challenge him from his legal foundations.

The corners of Lin Zhou's lips twitched slightly as he responded composedly, "You are quite right. First, regarding the defined territory, the borders of Bir Tawil are clear and easily identifiable on a map, with no disputes."

"Secondly, regarding an effective government, I myself am the founder and Interim Consul. Our constitution and governance structure are being built through online communities and blockchain technology; it will be more transparent and efficient than any traditional government."

He looked into the other man's eyes and continued, "As for a permanent population, that is indeed the cornerstone of traditional state theory. But we are a 'Cyber' Republic; our citizen base consists of digital identity adherents spread across the globe. Physical residents will move in as infrastructure is established, but our first batch of citizens has already existed in cyberspace for a long time. This is a new type of community based on shared ideals rather than geography or bloodline."

"Finally," Lin Zhou's tone sharpened, "the capacity to enter into relations with other states... Sir, aren't we currently engaged in a frank 'diplomatic talk'? This in itself proves our willingness and preliminary capacity."

The two officials glanced at each other, both showing surprise on their faces.

They were well aware that the uniqueness of Bir Tawil put Egypt and Sudan in an awkward position. Lin Zhou's interpretation of the elements of international law, while showing idealism, was logically self-consistent, making it difficult to simply dismiss as absurd.

With a Chinese man coming here to plant a flag and found a nation, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find sufficient grounds to condemn him legally.

"Mr. Lin, we do not wish to make things difficult for you. However, actions like yours could trigger unnecessary regional instability. We hope you can cooperate with the investigation and stay here for a few days while awaiting further instructions from higher authorities."

Lin Zhou had long expected this outcome.

His goal was never to reach the heavens in a single step, but rather to draw attention. Being "invited" for coffee and engaging in a quasi-diplomatic legal debate was already part of the plan.

"No problem. I believe facts will prove that the existence of the 'Cyber Freedom Republic' is a symbol of world peace and technological progress." Lin Zhou's tone was calm, yet it carried an unwavering will.

He was arranged to stay in a comfortable guest room with meals provided by dedicated staff, but his phone was taken away.

Outside the window, the trees were lush and green, a stark contrast to the desert landscape.

He knew that these few days would be a significant turning point on the road to founding his nation.

Meanwhile, in the distant Chinese Embassy, an overseas call was made to the Ambassador's desk.

"Ambassador, a Chinese citizen named Lin Zhou planted a flag to found a nation in the 'Bir Tawil' region and has now been detained by the Egyptian side."

The Ambassador adjusted his glasses, a look of surprise flashing across his brow.

"Lin Zhou? Cyber Freedom Republic?" He repeated the name that sounded like an internet meme. "Where did this influencer come from to pull such a stunt?"

"At the moment, it looks like performance art. But the Egyptian side is taking it very seriously, concerned it might trigger an international dispute."

The Ambassador pondered for a moment.

Regardless of the motive, Lin Zhou was ultimately a Chinese citizen.

"Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt immediately to understand the situation," the Ambassador ordered. "Tell them that Mr. Lin Zhou is just an ordinary citizen with romantic ideals, not someone with political intent. Furthermore, request that the Egyptian side ensure his safety and release him as soon as possible."

The embassy was very efficient; in less than half a day, word came from the Egyptian side agreeing to hand Lin Zhou over to the Chinese Embassy.

Two days later, Lin Zhou was taken to the Chinese Embassy.

The Ambassador's expression was serious, but his tone was calm: "Mr. Lin Zhou, your actions this time have caused quite a stir in global Chinese circles. Do you know the potential international impact of your actions?"

Lin Zhou stood tall and responded calmly, "Mr. Ambassador, everything I have done is based on the framework of international law. Bir Tawil is indeed terra nullius, and I have not infringed upon the interests of any sovereign state."

The Ambassador shook his head. "International law is one thing; international politics is another. National sovereignty is not something that can be easily recognized just by planting a flag in the desert. In the eyes of some countries, your actions are a provocation."

"I know," Lin Zhou did not argue. "But I believe that as long as my philosophy is correct, it will surely gain recognition."

The Ambassador gazed at him for a few seconds, his eyes showing complexity.

"The Egyptian side has now agreed to let you leave, but they require you to wait in Cairo for further notice and will not allow you to leave Egypt for a short period of time. I also hope you will be cautious in your words and deeds during this time and not do anything else out of line."

Lin Zhou took the opportunity to make a request: "Mr. Ambassador, I have one more request. My identity and actions on the internet have drawn widespread attention, but I hope the Embassy can protect my personal information, especially my home address and relative's details. I don't want my family to suffer unnecessary disturbance because of this."

The Ambassador nodded slightly in understanding. "Rest assured on this point. Protecting the legal rights and privacy of Chinese citizens is the duty of our embassy. We will coordinate with relevant domestic departments to do our best to prevent your personal information from being exploited by criminals."

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Ambassador." Lin Zhou nodded again.

"All right, go back and rest. You are still a Chinese citizen, and the embassy has a responsibility to protect your rights." The Ambassador waved his hand.

Stepping out of the embassy, Lin Zhou felt a sense of relief wash over him.

He got his phone back and immediately started a livestream to tell the anxiously waiting "citizens" that he was safe.

"Citizens of the Cyber Freedom Republic, I, Lin Zhou, am safe!"

He smiled tiredly at the camera.

"I promise everyone that the journey to founding the Cyber Freedom Republic will not stop here!"

The bullet chat surged again, with countless "666" and "Streamer is awesome" filling the screen.

After the livestream ended, Lin Zhou immediately called his parents. He felt a bit apprehensive, fearing they might have seen the news online and be worried.

On the other end of the line, his mother's voice was as calm as usual, asking when he would be home. Lin Zhou carefully probed and found that his parents and the relatives and friends around them seemed to know nothing about the "flag-planting and nation-founding" incident on the internet, and no one had been disturbed because of him.

This finally allowed his heart to settle; it seemed everything was peaceful.

Over the next few days, Lin Zhou lived a rare "tourist life" in Cairo. In his livestreams, he showed netizens the ancient sites and local customs of Cairo, just like an ordinary person visiting Egypt.

But deep in his heart, his belief in building his nation had never been extinguished.

He knew that the real challenges were still ahead.

He needed to use this time to think carefully about his next move.

How could he get his "nation" recognized? This was the core problem he needed to solve.