95: Chapter 95 The Route to the United Nations

Marburg-24 virus. A strange name, but its hazards were terrifying.

Lin Zhou's gaze fell on the screen. The emergency report from the World Health Organization forwarded by Zhao Li was shocking.

High fever, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and eventually leading to internal and external bleeding. The virus spreads through bodily fluids, is highly contagious, and currently has no specific medicine or vaccine.

The hardest-hit areas were precisely those countries in West Africa, some of the poorest in the world with the most fragile medical systems.

Lin Zhou instantly understood the Egyptians' intentions. Offering the tempting condition of joining the African Union at this point in time was essentially a political transaction.

They were hinting, or even explicitly telling Lin Zhou: You want to join our circle and become a member of the African family? Fine, show your sincerity first.

Right now, your African brothers are in trouble. Should this new country, which claims it will build a technological utopia on the African continent, do something about it?

This was an open conspiracy and a test.

If you stand by and watch, all the previous slogans about benefiting humanity and using technology for good will become a joke, and the future diplomatic path in Africa will be impossible to walk.

If you help, for a new nation whose treasury has only just become sufficient, it would be an astronomical expense.

Furthermore, it would provide more opportunities for financial manipulation later on.

"They want us to bleed out!" Wang Dong said indignantly from the side. "We're still short on money to build Oasis One ourselves, where would we get spare cash to mind other people's business!"

Minister of Finance Chen Yuan also frowned, analyzing it from a purely fiscal perspective: "Head of State, once the floodgates of humanitarian aid are opened, it's hard to close them. This will be a bottomless pit; our treasury cannot withstand such consumption."

In the office, everyone's eyes were fixed on Lin Zhou, waiting for his decision.

Lin Zhou did not answer immediately.

He looked at the West African countries marked in deep red on the map, and what surfaced in his mind were the lives struggling in agony under the torture of the virus.

What was his original intention for establishing this country?

It was to build an ideal nation where every resident has a home and every worker receives their due.

This ideal was not just for his own citizens.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear.

"Minister Chen, check how much liquid capital we currently have available in the treasury."

Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment but immediately reported a precise figure: "Reporting to the Head of State, after deducting all planned budgets and special loans, we have over 830 million US dollars in free funds that can be deployed at any time in our central bank account."

This number represented the entire country's foundation.

Lin Zhou nodded.

"Wang Dong."

"Here!"

"In my name, contact the largest medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers in China. I want to purchase 100 million dollars worth of supplies."

Lin Zhou's speaking pace was steady, but the content shocked everyone present.

One hundred million US dollars!

"The procurement list: negative pressure ambulances, mobile P3 laboratories, ventilators, protective suits, testing reagents, and... all possible broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. I have only one requirement: regardless of cost, I want stock on hand, and I want it at the fastest speed."

"Head of State, you..." Chen Yuan grew anxious, wanting to dissuade him. This was too impulsive. Throwing out 100 million dollars just like that without even hearing a splash.

"Old Chen." Lin Zhou turned around and looked at the elderly man who worried over the national finances. "I know what you want to say. I know that spending this money is a huge burden for us."

"However, the accounts cannot be calculated this way."

"The Egyptians have given us an exam question, and the whole world is watching us. Since we want to join the African Union, there are certain obligations that must be fulfilled, even if it means emptying the treasury. If at this time, we remain indifferent to a human disaster right on our doorstep, then what leadership can we talk about in the future? What morality? Would we even have the face to talk about joining the AU?"

"More importantly," Lin Zhou's voice deepened, "we cannot let Bir Tawil become an isolated island surrounded by plague. Helping them is also protecting ourselves."

"This 100 million dollars buys the entry ticket to dozens of African countries, the safety guarantee for our future citizens, and the... conscience of the Cyber Freedom Republic as it stands in the world."

His words were powerful.

Chen Yuan fell silent. He looked at the young Head of State before him and suddenly realized he might have underestimated him before.

He not only possessed the shrewdness of a businessman and the wrist of a politician, but he also had a grander vision and an almost naive... idealism.

And this, perhaps, was a very important quality for a founding leader.

"I understand." Chen Yuan nodded slowly. "I will arrange the fund transfer immediately."

"Good." Lin Zhou said no more. He picked up the phone and connected with Zhao Li again.

"Zhao Li, reply to Deputy Minister Saleh immediately. Tell him that the Cyber Freedom Republic, as a new member of the African continent, feels the suffering of our brotherly nations as our own, and we will never stand by and watch."

"The first batch of medical aid worth 100 million dollars will be shipped from China within seventy-two hours and donated free of charge to the seven West African countries most affected by the epidemic. If it's not enough, we can increase the aid intensity later."

"In addition, relay a message for me to General Mubarak and the Egyptian leadership behind him."

"What message?" Zhao Li held his breath.

"Tell them, thank them for pointing out the door to the United Nations for us."

Hanging up the phone, the atmosphere in Lin Zhou's office was completely different from before.

On everyone's faces, there was a glow ignited by a sense of mission.

What they were participating in was a great cause that was truly beginning to influence the global landscape, not just a simple nation-building game.

[Ding! Detected the host making a major national-level humanitarian decision, aligning with the core philosophy of the Ideal Nation!]

[Special Achievement 'Heart of Compassion' unlocked!]

[Reward: $200 million National Development Fund!]

[Current usable treasury funds: $930 million!]

The long-absent system notification sounded in Lin Zhou's mind.

He was slightly startled, then felt relieved.

It seemed the system also approved of his 'profligate' decision.

This unexpected reward instantly offset the financial pressure brought by the aid, with even a surplus.

He didn't make a scene, silently injecting the money into the national development reserve fund.

Meanwhile, in Cairo.

When Deputy Minister Saleh heard Zhao Li's reply, especially that last sentence, the smile on his face became somewhat profound for the first time.

He picked up the phone and called General Mubarak.

"General, our little friend has taken the bait. And he's smarter and more magnanimous than we imagined."

"He seems... unable to wait to join this game."