143: Chapter 143 Global Live Broadcast: A National Treasure Makes its Debut!
Dragon Country National Convention Center East Hall, the dome is high and wide, bright and magnificent, yet filled with a near-solid murderous aura.
9:50 AM.
The hall, capable of seating two thousand people, is packed, yet it is so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. In the front row are high-ranking officials of Dragon Country, top military brass, and leading figures from the Academy of Sciences, all sitting upright with solemn expressions. In the middle and back rows, cameras and equipment from over three hundred mainstream global media outlets are already set up. Reporters are holding their breath, fingers hovering over the send buttons, waiting for the moment that might change the world's perception. The online live streaming channel opened to the world ten minutes ago, and the number of online viewers is currently soaring at a terrifying rate of millions per second, with major platform servers bearing unprecedented pressure.
In the air, besides the faint sound of equipment running and suppressed breathing, only the soft hum of the central air conditioning vents remains. Everyone can feel that this is by no means an ordinary press conference. On the background wall of the rostrum, beneath the huge Dragon Country flag and national emblem, there is only one concise line: "Special Press Conference on Major Scientific Breakthroughs and National Security of Dragon Country."
No more information. It is this extreme conciseness and the highest-spec formation that brews the immense pressure before the storm arrives.
Pretty Country, White House Strategic Intelligence Room. The President, the Secretary of Defense, the acting CIA Director (the successor after Craig fell), NASA Chief Scientist Dr. Green, and others are sitting around the screen, their faces looking worse than one another. They have just received the top-secret briefing that "Ghost" has completely lost contact and the "Scavenger" was captured immediately after activation. At this moment, the solemn and heart-palpitating scene of Dragon Country on the screen makes their ominous premonition reach its peak.
"What on earth are they going to announce? A new type of weapon? Or..." The Secretary of Defense's voice is dry.
"No matter what it is, it must be related to 'Patriot X' and that Lin Mo!" The acting CIA Director gritted his teeth. He is bearing immense pressure from all sides, yet he is almost blind to everything happening within Dragon Country.
Dr. Green stares fixedly at the screen, her nails almost digging into her palms. Every leap Dragon Country makes in the field of technology is like a heavy hammer smashing into her faith and pride. She is both fearful and has a twisted sense of anticipation, wanting to see what else the other side can pull out.
Neon, Goryeo, European Union... The decision-making levels and intelligence agencies of countless countries have locked their eyes here. Ordinary netizens have flooded major social platforms, with comments of speculation, questioning, anticipation, and mockery filling the screens frantically.
"Making such a big scene? Are they really going to show their cards?"
"It must be related to the recent Moon Base and that 'Golden Crow' fusion!"
"I heard several spies were caught. Is this a show of force?"
"Could it be that the legendary 'Patriot X' is about to appear?"
Time, in the near-stagnant air, crawls second by second toward ten o'clock sharp.
Beneath the National Convention Center, the core preparation room.
Lin Mo stands in front of a full-length mirror. In the mirror, the young man is dressed in a well-tailored, exquisitely made dark cyan Zhongshan suit, standing tall with a handsome face. The tension, pressure, anger, and determination of the past several days have settled into a composure and tenacity beyond his age on his face, with only those eyes remaining clear and bright, shining with the light of wisdom and determination.
Long Zhantian stands half a step beside him, having changed into a crisp Major General's service uniform, with ribbons symbolizing countless blood-and-fire merits pinned to his chest. His face still carries the fatigue and a trace of scars that have not yet faded after the fierce battle at the docks, but his eyes are sharp as an eagle, his posture like a pine, exuding an imposing aura of an iron-blooded guard. He has received confirmation that "Ghost", "Viper", and "Scavenger" have all been completely controlled, the port area has been completely cleared, and the perimeter security of the press conference is as solid as a fortress.
"Engineer Lin, one last confirmation." Long Zhantian's voice is low. "You are already familiar with the procedure. After going on stage, Elder Chen will give the introduction first, then you will appear. The speech draft is on the teleprompter, but you can improvise. I and the 'Candle Dragon' team will be in the closest position off-stage, and Su Xiaowan will monitor all abnormal signals from the backstage through 'system' and 'Weaving Net'. All exits, passages, and high points are under absolute control."
Lin Mo nods and gently straightens his collar: "I am ready, Director Long."
At this moment, the door of the preparation room is gently pushed open, and Elder Chen walks in. The old man has also specially changed into a solemn Zhongshan suit today, his hair combed meticulously, his eyes filled with both excitement and deep expectations. He walks up to Lin Mo, reaches out, and firmly pats Lin Mo's shoulder; a thousand words are left unspoken.
"Child," Elder Chen's voice is slightly hoarse, "remember, from the moment you walk out of this door, you are no longer just yourself. You are the representative of the wisdom and hard work of countless Dragon Country scientific and technological workers, the symbol of the nation's rise, and even more, the source of our confidence in facing future challenges. We are all behind you."
"I understand, Elder Chen." Lin Mo responds solemnly.
Su Xiaowan's figure also appears at the door. She is wearing a sharp professional suit, holding an encrypted tablet, and nods slightly to Lin Mo and Long Zhantian to signal that everything is normal. Her gaze meets Lin Mo's, her eyes carrying encouragement and a trace of imperceptible concern.
On the wall, the countdown clock points to 9:59:30.
Inside the East Hall, all the lights are dimmed slightly, and a spotlight hits the center of the empty rostrum. In the extreme silence, heartbeats seem to be amplified.
Time is up.
Ten o'clock sharp!
The side door slides open silently, and Elder Chen walks out steadily, steps onto the rostrum, and walks toward the podium. All cameras focus instantly, the sound of shutters rings out like a storm, and the flashes form a sea of blinding white light.
Elder Chen stands still, his gaze sweeping over the audience steadily. Without too much pleasantry, he speaks directly, his voice clearly spreading throughout the hall and to the whole world through the high-quality sound system:
"Distinguished guests, media friends, the people of the whole country in front of the screens, and all international friends who are paying attention to this press conference, good morning."
"Today, we are holding this special press conference here, aiming to solemnly announce to the people of the country and the whole world some facts that have already happened but have not been made public due to confidentiality needs; aiming to commend an outstanding young man who has made indelible, epoch-making contributions to the country, the nation, and the scientific progress of humanity; aiming to clarify Dragon Country's principles, achievements, and determination on issues of scientific and technological development, national security, and the common future of humanity."
Getting straight to the point, magnificent and imposing!
"Over the past period, Dragon Country has made a series of breakthrough progress in fields such as space exploration, energy revolution, and information technology. The 'Guanghan Palace' Moon Base has been initially built, 'Golden Crow' controlled nuclear fusion has achieved stable operation, and the 'Mozi' quantum communication network has been put into application... These achievements embody the hard work of countless Dragon Country scientific researchers and, even more, cannot be separated from the outstanding contributions of a key core figure."
It's coming! The key point is coming! The whole audience holds their breath, the whole world listens.
Elder Chen's voice rises abruptly, full of irrefutable power and pride:
"Today, we no longer address him by code name. Today, we invite him to the front of the stage to accept the highest respect and gratitude that the motherland and the people should give!"
"He is the core technology provider and key promoter of major projects such as 'Moon Base', 'controlled nuclear fusion', and 'quantum network'!"
"He is the anonymous 'Patriot X'!"
"He is the youngest and most outstanding strategic scientist of our Dragon Country — Comrade Lin Mo!"
"Boom —!!"
Although there had been speculation and foreshadowing, when the name "Lin Mo" was directly linked to heavy-hitting terms like "Patriot X" and "strategic scientist" and announced in such a high-spec official channel, the shocking effect was still at the nuclear bomb level!
Inside the East Hall, although the Dragon Country attendees knew in advance, they still couldn't help but burst into thunderous applause filled with excitement and pride! Many old academicians were in tears.
The media area exploded completely! Exclamations, sounds of disbelief, and excited discussions almost blew the roof off! All cameras turned frantically toward the side door of the rostrum!
The bullet comments and comment sections of the global live stream were instantly flooded by a tsunami-like "!!!!", "My God!!", "Is it really him?!", "Patriot X! Lin Mo!", freezing the screens completely!
In the White House Strategic Intelligence Room, there was dead silence. The President's coffee cup fell to the ground and shattered. The acting CIA Director looked ashen, slumping in his chair. Dr. Green covered her mouth tightly, her eyes widened to the extreme, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, with only two words in her mind: It's over.
The climax of North Heaven Gate is not over yet!
At the moment when Elder Chen's voice fell and the applause and noise reached their peak —
The side door of the rostrum opened again.
Accompanied by Long Zhantian, who acted like the most loyal guard (which he actually was), Lin Mo walked out slowly, dressed in a dark cyan Zhongshan suit, standing tall with a calm and solemn expression.
The spotlight locked onto him instantly.
All cameras, all gazes, the eyes of at least one billion people globally, at this moment, focused on this twenty-two-year-old youth!
He walked to the center of the rostrum and stood side by side with Elder Chen. Elder Chen stepped aside, leaving the core position to him.
Lin Mo's gaze swept calmly over the excited crowd below and the flashing cameras, as if he could penetrate the screens and see the shocked, ecstatic, fearful, and venomous faces around the world.
He took a slight breath and leaned toward the microphone on the podium.
All sounds in the entire East Hall, and even the whole world paying attention to this place, seemed to be erased by an invisible hand in an instant, leaving only his clear, steady, yet power-laden voice spreading across the universe through radio waves:
"Hello everyone."
"I am Lin Mo."
"Code name, 'Patriot X'."
Simple three sentences, like three heavy hammers, completely smashed all doubts, all speculations, and all hopes of luck into pieces!
He is the source that turned the world landscape upside down!
He is the legend who lit up the Dragon Country technology tree with his own strength!
He is standing here now, under the sun, on the most solid stage built for him by his motherland!
The young face, in stark contrast to the shocking achievements and the supreme glory represented, was deeply imprinted in the hearts of every witness.
Long Zhantian stood behind him, his hand on the pistol at his waist, like a statue of a war god guarding a deity, declaring to all potential enemies with his actions: This is a national scholar, touch him and die!
Backstage, Su Xiaowan looked at the radiant figure on the screen, the corners of her mouth lifting involuntarily, and her eyes flashing with pride.
Elder Chen stood to the side, looking at Lin Mo with gratification, his heart filled with comfort.
At this moment, the anonymous era belonging to "Patriot X" officially ended.
At this moment, the era of "Lin Mo" as the peerless national scholar brilliantly began!
At this moment, Dragon Country showed the world its sharpest "sword", its most solid "shield", and its most brilliant "star"!
Global broadcast, the nation's heavyweight weapon, shockingly revealed!