85: Chapter 85: A Grand Giveaway of Nobility Titles! The Most Hardcore Warning in History!

Three days later, Beijing.

It was the same five-star hotel, and the same grand banquet hall.

But this time, the scale was more than ten times larger than the last.

The banquet hall was packed with people. Reporters from over a hundred global media outlets, carrying their cameras and equipment, surrounded the entire venue, leaving no room to move. The camera flashes were going off frantically, as if they were free, almost blinding everyone.

"Old Wang, did you secure a spot? This is the headline of all headlines!"

"I can't squeeze in! Damn it, it's like fighting for Spring Festival train tickets!"

"Quick, look at the online livestream! It's crazy! It hasn't even started, and the online viewer count has already exceeded eight million!"

"Ten million! And it's still rising! My god, what kind of monster is this Cyber Freedom Republic? An appointment ceremony, and they've made it like a World Cup final!"

The eyes of the world were once again focused on this peculiar country, which had been born only a few weeks ago but had already stirred up global turmoil.

Everyone stretched their necks and pricked up their ears, urgently wanting to know what big news the young head of state would create today, after establishing diplomatic relations with Vatican City.

Ten o'clock in the morning, sharp.

The lights in the hall dimmed, and then a spotlight hit the entrance of the podium.

Lin Zhou appeared.

He was still wearing a well-tailored dark suit, his pace steady. The freedom star medal on his chest was very eye-catching under the lights.

Behind him, Chen Yuan, Zhang Zhe, Qin Yue, He Jun... a group of core cabinet members filed in.

Click! Click! Click!

The sound of shutters became a chorus.

Lin Zhou walked to the center of the podium and stood still. He didn't look at any speech notes but scanned the audience, finally locking his gaze on the livestream camera in the center.

He knew that behind the lens were tens of millions, perhaps even hundreds of millions of eyes.

"Good morning, everyone."

Lin Zhou spoke directly. His voice, transmitted through the microphone, clearly reached every corner of the venue and every livestream room around the world.

"Today, we are here mainly to do two things."

"First, to appoint officials."

"Second, to confer titles upon meritorious officials."

As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters below were practically wearing out their keyboards.

Two things? Just like that? This style is so damn Lin Zhou!

Lin Zhou didn't give anyone time to react and picked up the first appointment letter.

"I announce the appointment of..."

Five new Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary were appointed one by one, and Lin Zhou personally presented them with their letters of credence.

Immediately after, came the main event.

"I announce the appointment of Mr. Zhang Zhe as the acting President of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Cyber Freedom Republic!"

The gray-haired Zhang Zhe stepped forward, took the appointment letter from Lin Zhou, and bowed deeply to the audience and the camera, his demeanor calm.

"I announce the appointment of Mr. Gao Jian as the Chief Procurator of the Supreme Procuratorate of the Cyber Freedom Republic!"

Gao Jian!

As soon as this name was mentioned, many reporters familiar with the inside story became restless. It was this young man who had been debating with everyone online just a few days ago.

Gao Jian marched forward with a standard goose step, his young face flushed red with excitement and a sense of mission. He took the appointment letter from Lin Zhou, then turned sharply to face the camera, raised his hand, and gave a standard salute.

At that moment, through the high-definition livestream lens, the whole world saw the determination in the eyes of this young procurator.

"I announce the appointment of Mr. He Jun as the Minister of Interior and Security. Concurrently serving as the Director of the Police Force!"

He Jun still had that expressionless face. He strode forward, accepted the appointment letter, gave a standard nod, and returned to his position. The whole process was crisp and efficient.

The appointment of the three judicial heads made everyone realize that things were not simple.

Courts, procuratorates, police.

These three are the cornerstones of a state apparatus. Was this online country finally going to show its hardline methods?

The appointment ceremony ended, and the atmosphere in the venue was heated.

But Lin Zhou's next words made the scene instantly boil over.

"To commend the outstanding contributions made by everyone during the founding of the country, and upon approval by the Legislative Yuan, I will hereby confer hereditary titles upon the first batch of members of our cabinet."

Boom!

The entire venue was in an uproar!

The bullet comments in the online livestream instantly flooded the screen, so dense that the image couldn't be seen.

[????]

[Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! What did I just see? Conferring titles? Counts?]

[This guy is playing for real! Founding a country, establishing diplomatic relations, conferring titles—this monarch is really generous!]

[No choice, this is the only thing he has to show off!]

Ignoring the uproar below, Lin Zhou's voice remained steady and powerful.

"I confer upon Minister of Finance Chen Yuan the title of Founding First-Class Count."

"I confer upon Legislative Yuan President Zhang Zhe the title of Founding First-Class Count."

"I confer upon Minister of Foreign Affairs Qin Yue the title of Founding First-Class Countess."

"I confer upon Minister of Interior and Security He Jun the title of Founding First-Class Baron."

...

Item after item of conferment was announced by Lin Zhou.

Although Chen Yuan, Zhang Zhe, and the others had known about this, when they heard their own names linked with words like 'Count' and 'Baron' in front of the whole world, their hearts still raced uncontrollably.

This was not just an honor; it was a contract.

An ancient contract that bound their own fates, and even the fates of their descendants, to this newly born country.

Amidst warm applause and camera flashes, the conferment ceremony was completed.

Everyone thought that enough news had been announced for the day and that the ceremony should be ending.

However, Lin Zhou raised his hand and pressed down gently.

The venue instantly went quiet.

Everyone held their breath; they had a premonition that something more important was yet to come.

Lin Zhou's expression became very serious, and his voice deepened, carrying majesty.

"Finally, I need to take this opportunity to reiterate one thing to the whole world."

He spoke word by word, each word clear and powerful, so that everyone present could hear it clearly.

"The Cyber Freedom Republic, regarding its land located between 22 degrees to 22 degrees 45 minutes north latitude, and 30 degrees 40 minutes to 31 degrees 50 minutes east longitude—"

"The land named 'Bir Tawil'..."

"Possesses indisputable, complete, and independent sovereignty."

As the words fell, the whole venue was shocked.

"This land is the sacred home of all citizens of the Cyber Freedom Republic. Every blade of grass, every tree, every grain of sand, and every stone is sacred and inviolable."

"Any individual or organization that enters our territory without the permission of our government, in any form, will be regarded as an illegal invasion."

"Any behavior attempting to challenge our sovereignty and territorial integrity will be regarded as..."

Lin Zhou paused, emphasizing his tone.

"A! SERIOUS! HOSTILE! ACT!"

The venue was dead silent.

Everyone understood.

These words were a declaration of war, an ultimatum sent to all provocateurs via global livestream.

Although he didn't name that Japanese influencer, everyone knew who these words were meant for.

"Our newly established Police Force, as well as the relevant judicial institutions, have made full preparations."

"They will act in accordance with our laws and take all necessary measures to defend the dignity and security of the country."

After Lin Zhou finished speaking, he stood quietly for a few seconds.

Finally, in a calm tone, he said that phrase which carries great weight in the history of the Eastern superpower.

"I have said my piece."

"Do not say that you were not warned."

Having said that, Lin Zhou didn't look back and turned to walk off the podium.

What he left the world was a resolute back.

The ceremony was over.

But the subsequent turmoil caused by this matter had only just begun.

That night, Capital International Airport.

An international flight to Sudan was about to take off.

Five young men in brand-new police uniforms, led by He Jun and Gao Jian, walked quietly through the VIP passage.

Their police uniforms were dark blue, reflecting light under the airport lights. On their left chest, the national emblem of the Cyber Freedom Republic, composed of 0s and 1s, was very conspicuous.

He Jun, Director of the Police Force, was in charge of operations.

Gao Jian, Chief Procurator of the Supreme Procuratorate, was in charge of legal principles.

They didn't bring an army, only five temporary police officers and one high-definition livestream device.

But the whole world knew that behind this small team stood a newly born country that had just announced its existence to the world—and it was not to be trifled with.

A border standoff watched online by over ten million people worldwide.

A standard act of asserting national sovereignty.

Was about to unfold.