64: Chapter 64 A Simple and Direct First Encounter

Rome Airport.

The tires of the private jet frictioned against the asphalt runway, letting out a piercing screech.

The sound seemed exceptionally abrupt on the silent apron.

No flashbulbs.

No reporters.

Only a few glossy black Mercedes-Benz sedans crouched in the distance like silent behemoths.

A squad of soldiers dressed in red, yellow, and blue striped uniforms held halberds, their postures as upright as pines.

"Brother, look! Is that the Swiss Guard?"

Lin Wan pressed her face against the porthole, her nose leaving a small white mark on the glass.

"Are those living antiques? They look like they stepped right out of an oil painting."

Lin Zhou reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing over his sister's well-tailored silk dress, smoothing out a stray wrinkle.

"From this second onward, they are not antiques; they are your guard of honor."

His voice was as cold as ice from the deep sea.

Lin Wan's heart jolted, and she reflexively pulled her head back.

She immediately straightened her back, folding her hands over her lower abdomen.

Her originally lively face instantly tightened as she strove to project the dignity befitting a princess of a sovereign state.

The cabin door slowly opened.

A wave of heat, mixed with the scent of Mediterranean sea salt and the aroma of ancient history, rushed toward them.

At the bottom of the gangway, an old man with snow-white hair, dressed in a red robe, stood quietly.

He held a crucifix in his hand, his gaze gentle yet possessing a composure that made one hesitate to look him in the eye.

"Head of State, that is the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin."

Qin Yue leaned close to Lin Zhou's ear, her breath fragrant as orchids and her speech rapid.

"The number two figure of the Holy See, effectively the Prime Minister. By greeting us personally, Vatican City has shown us great respect."

Lin Zhou nodded slightly and stepped forward without expression.

The sound of his leather shoes treading on Roman soil was dull and powerful.

Leading his team and Lin Wan, he was like an unsheathed sword piercing straight into this ancient land.

"Welcome, Mr. Lin, Head of State of the Cyber Freedom Republic."

Cardinal Parolin stepped forward on his own initiative, his extended right hand thin but strong.

He spoke in Chinese.

Although his pronunciation was somewhat rusty, it was clear and resonant.

"His Holiness the Pope has been waiting for a long time."

Following behind, Chen Yuan and Zhang Zhe exchanged a look, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes.

For the prestigious number two figure of the Holy See to have specifically learned Chinese just to welcome the head of an emerging nation?

This level of hospitality was heavy enough to be oppressive.

"Thank you for the welcome, Your Eminence."

Lin Zhou shook his hand, his expression as composed as if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard.

"It is an honor for the Cyber Freedom Republic to receive His Holiness's invitation."

There were no superfluous pleasantries.

The motorcade quickly set off.

Escorted by police cars, the black Mercedes-Benzes swept past the edge of St. Peter's Square.

It was crowded with tourists from around the globe, but none knew that the young man who would change the world's landscape was passing right by them.

The cars turned into a side gate and drove into a core area closed to the public.

The flagstone road jolted the car bodies; on both sides were stone walls and statues of saints that had weathered centuries of wind and frost.

Those stone statues bowed their heads as if scrutinizing this group of intruders who carried an aura of technology.

Finally, the motorcade stopped in front of a majestic building.

Apostolic Palace.

The heart of Catholic power.

A faint scent of incense filled the air, making one involuntarily soften their breathing.

Inside the reception room, Raphael's paintings covered the ceiling.

Gold leaf shimmered under the lights with a low-key yet luxurious glow.

Lin Zhou met the old man.

Pope Fontain.

He wore only a simple white robe and sat in a wide wooden chair.

The wrinkles on his face were as deep as ravines, but his eyes were startlingly bright.

It was as if they could see right through the skin and peer into a person's soul.

The attendants withdrew silently, leaving only the core members.

The room was so quiet that the ticking of an old-fashioned clock could be heard.

The Pope smiled and spoke in English with a heavy Latin accent.

"Mr. Lin, I heard that you performed a miracle in the deserts of Africa."

As his voice fell, Qin Yue's breath hitched instantly.

She reflexively clenched her fists.

Here it comes.

At this level of dialogue, there is never any idle talk.

"That was no miracle, Your Holiness. That was science."

Lin Zhou met the Pope's gaze, his voice steady without a hint of a ripple.

"Heh heh..."

The Pope chuckled softly, his voice raspy like wind blowing through dry leaves.

"Child, science is merely a tool bestowed upon humanity by God to understand the world He created."

"In essence, there is no difference."

He picked up the plain water beside him, his movements extremely slow as if performing some sacred ritual.

"The scorched earth of Africa, the thirst of the Middle East—these sufferings have tormented humanity for far too long."

"And your air-to-water technology has shown us the hope of ending that suffering."

The Pope set down the water glass, his gaze turning sharp like two scalpels.

"The Holy See possesses tens of thousands of charities, hospitals, and schools across the world."

"Especially in those poorest, most water-scarce parts of the Third World."

"Our priests and nuns are there, walking alongside the suffering."

He leaned forward, his voice carrying an irresistible sense of allure.

"We hope to cooperate with you."

"To bring this 'gift from God' to every soul thirsting for water."

The dagger was finally revealed.

What Vatican City wanted was certainly not just a few machines.

They wanted to become the global spokesperson for this technology.

Once successful, the Holy See's influence in the Third World would reach an unprecedented peak.

In the eyes of tribes fighting for water, the one who could conjure water would no longer be a machine, but a priest.

This was using technology to expand the territory of faith!

Chen Yuan's breathing grew rapid, and fine beads of sweat broke out on Zhang Zhe's forehead.

The temptation was too great.

Once he nodded, the Cyber Freedom Republic would instantly gain the Holy See's diplomatic endorsement worldwide.

Sovereign recognition? That would be just a bonus.

They even could leverage the Holy See's foundations in Europe and America to completely escape diplomatic isolation.

Everyone's eyes were fixed intently on Lin Zhou.

Waiting for him to nod.

Waiting for him to accept this grand gift that could change the nation's destiny.

Lin Zhou, however, just sat quietly.

He looked at the Pope, then at the statues of saints on the walls who looked down with compassion on all living beings.

Time ticked away second by second.

The oxygen in the reception room seemed to have been sucked dry, the oppression making it hard to breathe.

After a long while.

Lin Zhou finally spoke.

"Your Holiness, I am very willing to cooperate with the Holy See to let technology benefit humanity."

The corner of Cardinal Parolin's mouth curled into a reserved arc.

Qin Yue breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling her back already soaked with sweat.

But in the next second, Lin Zhou's voice abruptly turned cold.

"However."

He drew out the word, causing that smile to freeze on Parolin's face.

"There is one small problem."

The Pope maintained his benevolent posture, his gaze profound.

"Child, under the guidance of the Lord, any problem can be resolved."

Lin Zhou smiled.

It was a mocking sneer, one belonging to merchants and politicians.

He leaned forward slightly, enunciating every word, his voice echoing through the entire hall.

"The exclusive patent license for this technology was already presented to Egypt as a national gift at the time of our founding."

"Currently, the Cyber Freedom Republic only holds 10% of the patent royalty rights."

"If the Holy See wishes to promote it, I'm afraid you'll have to go to Cairo and talk to those generals."

Dead silence.

Absolute dead silence.

The saints beneath Raphael's paintings seemed to have stopped breathing.

For the first time, Pope Fontain's profound eyes showed a look of bewilderment.

The red carpet he had meticulously laid out.

The sacred mantle he had prepared.

In this instant, they were torn to shreds by Lin Zhou's nonchalant words.

What he gave was not cooperation, but a hot potato.

A deadlock that forced the Vatican to go head-to-head with a core nation of the Islamic world.

Lin Zhou leaned back against the chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

"Your Holiness, you said just now that any problem can be resolved before the Lord."

"So now, regarding this problem, how does the Lord intend to resolve it?"