51: Chapter 51 Clash at the Banquet

Two days before the New Year, in Beijing.

The core embassy district under the shroud of night was solemn and majestic.

A black Hongqi sedan, after strict verification, slowly drove into the Egyptian Embassy in China.

Outside the car window, national flags fluttered, and Armed Police with live ammunition stood straight on guard, their eyes sharp as torches.

The air here carried an invisible pressure.

Lin Wan nervously gripped the hem of her dress, her palms sweating.

The car came to a steady stop.

After the Armed Police at the door checked the invitation, they solemnly gave a standard military salute toward the car!

"Swish—!"

That movement was crisp and neat.

Lin Wan's heart also trembled along with it.

A few days ago at those so-called business elite annual meetings, the siblings had faced endless ridicule and contempt.

But here, what they received was a salute from the armed forces of a sovereign state!

A world of difference!

In that instant, all the grievances, anger, and unwillingness accumulated in her heart vanished in an instant.

She suddenly turned her head to look at her brother beside her.

Lin Zhou remained calm; all of this was only natural.

The waiter pulled open the car door.

Lin Zhou, in a well-tailored black suit, stepped out of the car composedly.

Lin Wan quickly followed, her light blue dress looking exceptionally elegant under the lights.

"Mr. Lin, Miss Lin, good evening. The Ambassador is waiting for you both."

An embassy staff member immediately came forward to meet them, with a respectful posture, guiding them in fluent Chinese.

Inside the banquet hall, the air was filled with the scent of perfume and the clinking of glasses.

Amidst the melodious classical music, guests conversed in low voices, everyone maintaining just the right amount of politeness and distance.

The atmosphere here was completely different from the money-scented cocktail parties of a few days ago.

There was no noisy banter, only well-mannered elegance and subtle confrontation.

Lin Zhou and Lin Wan's appearance immediately attracted the attention of the whole room.

Gazes swept over, filled with curiosity, inquiry, and scrutiny, but notably lacking that nauseating contempt.

Those invited by the Egyptian Embassy with the highest specifications could never be ordinary people!

"Oh! My dear friend, Leader Lin! Welcome!"

A slightly chubby middle-aged man walked over quickly with a face full of enthusiasm, proactively opening his arms.

It was exactly the Egyptian Ambassador to China, Saleh.

After a warm hug, Saleh's gaze fell on Lin Wan, making no effort to hide his admiration: "This beautiful lady must be the Princess of the Cyber Freedom Republic?"

"This is my sister, Lin Wan," Lin Zhou introduced simply.

"Beautiful Princess, good evening." Saleh bowed slightly, took Lin Wan's hand, and performed a standard hand-kissing salute.

Lin Wan had never seen such a display; her pretty face turned beet red instantly, like a startled little rabbit.

A wave of well-meaning chuckles sounded around them.

After simple pleasantries, Lin Zhou picked up a glass of champagne but had no intention of clinking glasses with Saleh.

He got straight to the point.

"Ambassador Saleh, there is something I need your country's help with."

The smile on Saleh's face paused for a moment but immediately regained its warmth: "Please speak, my friend! Between us, there's no need for a formal word like 'help'."

"Very well." Lin Zhou nodded. "To fulfill the agreement as soon as possible, my side dispatched a construction team with heavy equipment, preparing to build a simple road from your country's border to Bir Tawil. We have obtained all legal approval documents from the local government."

He looked at Saleh calmly.

"However, my construction team was intercepted by one of your country's border defense units three days ago. The reason given was a suspicion of espionage. Now, my people and equipment are being detained at the border post."

The smile on Ambassador Saleh's face completely disappeared.

The muscles at the corner of his eyes twitched involuntarily.

This was originally meant to be a diplomatic probe, a show of strength. They wanted to see how much weight this young "Leader" actually carried.

But he never expected that Lin Zhou would be so direct, bringing the matter to light in front of so many people!

"Oh? Such a thing happened?" Saleh reacted extremely quickly, immediately putting on a shocked and angry expression. "This is definitely a huge misunderstanding! Leader Lin, please calm your anger! Those fools in our military are far too sensitive about border security! Rest assured, I will communicate with the home country immediately! Right now! I guarantee your project can proceed smoothly at once!"

"That's good." Lin Zhou remained unperturbed. "My people are all honest and hardworking workers who don't understand international politics. They just want to finish the road early and contribute to the friendship between our two countries."

He swirled the champagne glass in his hand, the golden liquid reflecting a blurred light under the lamps.

"I do not wish for them to suffer any unfair treatment, and I certainly don't want their work to affect the technological exchange between our two countries because of some people's 'sensitivity'."

"Of course, of course! Absolutely not!" Ambassador Saleh's forehead had already broken out in a layer of fine cold sweat.

If this matter wasn't handled well and affected the handover of the 'Atmospheric Water Generation' technology... Saleh could not bear that responsibility!

"Additionally," Lin Zhou continued, "regarding our Cyber Freedom Republic's application to join the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), I also hope your country can mediate and provide some support."

Joining the ISO!

Saleh's expression changed instantly.

This was truly an outrageous demand!

Once they became a member of ISO, it meant that this so-called 'Cyber Freedom Republic' had effectively taken an important step toward becoming a normal state!

"This... Leader Lin, you know that the ISO's review process is very complex and requires a vote from all member states..." Saleh looked troubled.

"I believe that with Egypt's immense influence in Africa and the Arab world, it shouldn't be difficult to persuade some friends to cast a vote for us."

Lin Zhou finally raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Saleh's.

A crisp "ding" sounded.

"We are allies, aren't we?"

Lin Zhou looked directly into his eyes and spoke word by word:

"Between allies, we should help each other and achieve success together."

Looking into Lin Zhou's eyes, which were as calm as a pool without a ripple, Saleh felt an inexplicable chill in his heart.

"Very well, Leader Lin." Finally, Saleh squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying and downed the champagne in his glass. "I will convey your request to Cairo exactly as it is."

"Pleasure doing business with you."

Only then did Lin Zhou reveal a slight smile and take a sip of champagne.

Having resolved two major issues, his entire aura relaxed.

He took Lin Wan's hand and moved through the banquet hall, actively communicating with diplomats from other countries.

When he introduced himself in fluent English as 'Lin Zhou, Leader of the Cyber Freedom Republic,' most people showed friendly and curious expressions.

They might not yet understand this new country in the desert, but they respected the Egyptian Government's choice, and even more so, they respected Lin Zhou's current status.

Lin Wan followed behind her brother the whole time like a little assistant.

She watched her brother chatting and laughing in front of these distinguished diplomats, neither humble nor arrogant, possessing a natural composure of someone in control.

This was what her brother truly looked like!

A world away from the silent, enduring image from a few days ago who was ridiculed by thousands!

...

After the party, on the way back to the hotel.

Lin Wan looked at the neon lights flashing past the window and finally couldn't help but ask, "Brother, will that chubby Ambassador really return our bulldozers? I don't think he looks like a good person."

"He will." Lin Zhou leaned back in his seat and smiled with his eyes closed. "Not only will he return them intact, but he will also send people to escort them and write an eight-hundred-word self-reflection."

"Why? He looked very reluctant."

Lin Zhou opened his eyes, looked at his sister, and explained patiently, "Because they need that road to Bir Tawil more than we do."

"That road leads not just to a barren land, but to a future that can completely solve their country's thousand-year water crisis!"

He showed a confident smile.

"Xiao Wan, remember, a weak nation has no diplomacy."

"But the premise is that this 'weak nation' has nothing. However, if this 'weak nation' holds something in its hands that others cannot refuse and that is enough to change the destiny of a country, then the situation is entirely different."