Chapter 506
[Urge Update Sign-in]
Chapter 580 Clumsy Disguise (4K)
President?
Faced with Shi Lei's request, Kristen felt there was no need to hide anything:
"Mister Zhongli, to be frank, it's extremely difficult to meet with the president. Even when I deal with government agencies, I don't have that opportunity. Usually, it's the Secretary of State or a general from the Ministry of Defense who communicates with me."
Shi Lei predicts that the final destination of this Cross-border Network Signal project will be in Columbia.
Sami is sparsely populated, and Bolívar and Sargon are too remote. Branch lines can only be built and cables and Optical Cable laid during the Second Phase Project.
Borrowing land from other countries to build base stations certainly requires the consent of that country's leadership. To force it without reaching an agreement would be tantamount to abusing power.
Shi Lei had tried to learn about the Colombian President, who rarely appeared in the media. However, the intelligence he could obtain was extremely limited.
All I know is that his name is Mark Max, the founding general of Columbia. He is the greatest contributor to Columbia's independence and its current status.
It's unclear whether the president has some unspeakable secret or is simply too ugly to be seen in public. So many years have passed, and no photos of him have been leaked to the public, making him seem very mysterious.
If the above reasons apply, it's understandable. But if someone with a normal appearance deliberately hides it, it only shows that this Colombian President is extremely cunning.
"Sure, as long as we can find someone who can influence this matter, that will suffice. All the national leaders I passed through this time agreed. As a country that pursues scientific advancement, Columbia shouldn't have any reason to refuse, right?"
Columbia is actually the country that has built the most Cross-border Communication Network projects, but many have gone bankrupt due to Catastrophe and high maintenance costs. They are not unfamiliar with this Cross-border Communication Project.
Moreover, the Columbia government doesn't need to spend a single penny on laying cables, Optical Cable, and base stations. They only need the nod of approval from the person in charge to reap the benefits.
"No problem, Mister Zhongli. I'll contact the Columbia government agencies shortly to inquire about their intentions. Are you traveling alone? I'll have Muelsyse arrange your accommodations for the next few days."
"I brought my family with me this time, eight people in total. We'll find our own place to stay, so please don't worry about it."
Kristen nodded to herself, then asked casually:
"You must have passed through many countries on your way to Trimon. Did you meet Saria?"
Shi Lei knew that she and this person had once been close schoolmates and business partners, but they eventually parted ways due to some differences in their philosophies. He shook his head and said:
"Sorry, I haven't seen her. However, I ran into the Doctor and Amiya a week ago when I passed through Scherzag. If she's not on a field mission, she should be on Rhodes Island's This Ship. You can contact her directly by phone after the multinational project is completed."
Kristen wanted to get some information about Saria from him, but she wouldn't call him herself. She didn't want to delve any deeper and changed the subject.
"Alright, we'll talk about it later. Even if you find your own hotel, I'll still need Muelsyse to accompany you so we can stay in touch. I'll notify you as soon as the government responds."
"Okay, thank you for your help."
Trimont City, Hexagonal Building.
Unlike other countries, Columbia is a country comprised of many states and Mobile Cities.
The Federal Government is an official body that coordinates the interests of all people. Each state has relatively independent legislative power, and there are significant differences in the content of their laws.
The country is home to multiple ethnic groups and has attracted a large number of foreign immigrants who came to the country shortly after its founding.
The Hexagonal Building is one of the president's many temporary offices. He might be in Fortress Mountain City today, Cast Iron City tomorrow morning, and then head to the Black House to work.
Apart from frontier areas like New Manchester, almost every state had temporary Federal Government offices.
The Hexagonal Building's Chief of Staff is a Liberi woman of Sargon descent and an openly gay lesbian. Her daily task is to report to the president on local affairs via phone or email.
This president rarely reveals his true face to outsiders. It seems that only the vice president, the Secretary of State, and a few veteran generals from the Ministry of Defense know the inside story.
Rumors circulate within the Federal Government that the president is not human, but rather a machine with astonishing computing power.
Although the Chief of Staff had never met the president in person, he agreed with this speculation. After all, more than eighty years had passed since the founding of Columbia. The president's voice still seemed so young, showing no signs of aging.
It's worth noting that the Witch King of Sargon underwent a drastic personality change only after he turned over a hundred years old. He went from being a wise and benevolent ruler admired by the world to a cruel tyrant.
If the president were truly a machine, the Chief of Staff wouldn't necessarily see it as a bad thing. Because machines have no lifespan concerns, they could perpetually unite the various autonomous states under the federation, ultimately allowing Columbia to dominate the continent!
"Your Majesty, the next step concerns the industrial pollution treatment plan. The Orwell Family of Saint Sophie City has paid political donations in hopes of a six-month delay. They stated that they will begin cleanup work on the contaminated area only after this year's orders are completed. Residents within the affected area will be relocated to Ticaren Do City..."
Ticaren Do City is a pioneering city similar to New Manchester. Businesses, unwilling to pay resettlement fees, relocated residents to the outskirts of the city.
In Columbia, a country that strives for freedom and democracy, the lives of ordinary people are cheap. No personal appeal is as important as the gradual improvement of the country's economy.
The president has always been somewhat 'unapproachable' when it comes to matters involving his family.
"We'll send a professional team to conduct an on-site assessment, and the fine will be paid based on the severity of the pollution. Currently, a three-month extension has been approved; if you want a six-month extension, you'll have to pay another fee."
The Chief of Staff took notes and continued the report:
"Your Excellency, there is one last matter. Christensen, the Director General of Rhine Lab, has requested Zhongli meeting with you to discuss a project to establish Cross-border Communication Network. Should I politely decline on your behalf, or postpone it?"
"Zhongli?"
The president's tone rose slightly as he confirmed:
"Check, is it Zhongli from Liyue City?"
In the past, the president would never have remembered those fleeting names. But after the 'Sky-Splitting Incident' a month ago, news of Zhongli stopping the war and recruiting 30,000 Sarkaz began to surface.
His name comes in like snowflakes in winter, and he has been involved in various major events around the world recently.
The Ministry of Defense even developed a countermeasure plan, which the president was aware of and tacitly approved.
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Let's arrange to meet this afternoon. Call the Secretary of State back and have him represent me in the negotiations with Zhongli."
The current Vice President of Columbia is handling drug and abortion laws in Newburgh City. It's quite far from Trimon, so he won't be able to return anytime soon.
Therefore, following the order of seniority, the president decided to have the third-ranking Secretary of State, act as his spokesperson. It would have been somewhat disrespectful to have the fifth or sixth-ranking official receive him.
You can be disrespectful in private, but you can't be disrespectful to others.
"Yes, Your Excellency. What about tonight's group meeting? Should we postpone it for you?"
"Okay, postpone it to the same time tomorrow. Meeting with Zhongli is the highest priority."
"Yes, Mr. President. That concludes today's conference call. I will contact the Secretary of State immediately."
August 2, 1098, 3:50 pm
After submitting her application to the Federal Government through personal channels, Kristen went about her own business, quietly awaiting an official response.
Muelsyse, who has her own unique insights into fashion, took Shi Lei's girlfriends shopping at the Trimon Shopping Plaza. They bought some of the season's hottest items, as well as award-winning clothing from fashion shows.
What puzzled her, however, was that they showed absolutely no interest in jewelry and accessories. You see, back then, Columbia experienced a gold rush, which gave rise to several jewelry brands with eighty-year-old establishments.
After receiving the Chief of Staff's reply, Kristen called Muelsyse to inform Zhongli to meet him at the Presidential Office in the Hexagonal Building at 7 p. m. that evening.
Upon hearing the news, Shi Lei made no comment and continued carrying various shopping bags, acting as a mere tool.
Since they rarely come to Trimon, they can buy whatever they like without worrying about saving him money.
Once the Cross-border Communication Project spanning over a thousand kilometers is completed, the service fees alone will generate a fortune.
Even if goods can be used to offset costs in the early stages, the cost can be recovered within a year, and after a year it will be pure profit.
By then, Shi Lei won't need to farm Crimson Pure Gold like crazy; the profits will be enough to cover the expenses of Liyue City and Guili City.
At 6:40 p. m., Shi Lei and Kristen drove to the entrance of the Hexagonal Building campus. After passing identity verification, they were told that only Zhongli was allowed to enter.
Kristen expressed her understanding and said she would wait for him at the door. After his request to go see the universe was granted, she had nothing else to do for the time being.
She had been working on this for over a year, and still needed the help of the Pre-Civilization to break through the Star Pod.
As a result, Zhongli casually went to the universe and made all his previous efforts seem like a joke with just one sentence.
Kristen admitted that this was indeed incomparable.
Preparing space equipment and sample collection devices only takes two or three days; the rest of the time there's nothing to do.
Shi Lei rode in a green jeep guarded by the park's security personnel, passing through layers of Sentry Post to reach the lobby of the Hexagonal Building. He then took an elevator to the floor where the president's office is located.
After exiting the elevator, a long red carpet was laid out in the corridor. On both sides of the passageway, which could accommodate three people, hung more than twenty portraits of middle-aged men.
According to the text below the portraits, these people are the vice presidents of Columbia since the founding of the country.
Shi Lei found it interesting; it really was a case of the president remaining constant while the vice presidents changed. In other countries, Imperial Palace were adorned with portraits of the emperor, but here it was completely different.
The security guard leading the way reached the end of the corridor and loudly announced into the half-open door:
"Sir Philip, Mister Zhongli has arrived."
"Please let him in."
Upon hearing this, the security personnel gestured for him to proceed. They then stood at the door, ready to respond at any moment.
Shi Lei didn't waste any words with him and pushed the door open to enter.
The first thing that catches the eye is a middle-aged Liberi man in his forties who is overweight and is teasing a white pigeon next to his desk with food.
This pigeon has a unique shape, with a small frame of glasses on the tip of its nose, making it look honest and cute.
"Mister Zhongli, I have long admired your name."
After shaking hands with Philip, Shi Lei got straight to the point. The whole thing was simple; all that was needed was for the Columbia government to agree to the project being implemented locally.
Philip did not give a clear answer, but waited until he finished feeding the child before slowly speaking:
"This transnational collaboration will bring our country a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We need to strengthen trade relations with Liyue City to maintain long-term, healthy, and stable development. Based on the principles of transparency, equality, and mutual benefit, we should expand cooperation in the academic field..."
Shi Lei felt a headache coming on from this kind of argument, and turned his gaze to the White Dove, whose head was tilted to the side.
"Give me a straight answer, whether you agree or not. Don't send someone to be a mouthpiece and say a bunch of useless things."
Let alone the Colombian President, even if Kal'tsit were to speak rudely to him, he would still retort without hesitation.
Seeing him talking to the pigeons, Secretary of State Philip immediately broke out in a cold sweat and tried to get his attention back:
"Mister Zhongli, I'm here. What are you saying to a pigeon?"
Shi Lei rolled his eyes at him, then turned his gaze back to the White Dove. He had seen several creatures like the Beast Lord, which existed only in legends and stories.
The boss of Penguin Logistics, the Emperor, is the Beast Lord of Penguins. There is also Wolf Lord Zaro of Syracuse, and the Wolf Lord was dismembered and sealed away.
With more experience with Beast Lord, one can easily see through their disguises. No matter how much the White Dove pretended to be stupid, in Shi Lei's eyes, it was all an incredibly clumsy performance.
"Mister Zhongli, we can agree to let you build base stations and lay cables and Optical Cable within our territory. But please don't keep talking to pigeons, it's a bit creepy."
Shi Lei ignored Philip's frantic attempts to justify his actions, tilting his head to stare at the silent White Dove in front of him. It wasn't like it was doing anything shameful; why did it need a messenger?
Perhaps sensing that the other party was trying to extract information, White Dove remained silent for two minutes. Only when she noticed the other party's growing impatience did she finally break the silence:
How did you recognize me?
Shi Lei wouldn't say that he Psychic Scan and discovered it was Mechanical Dove, so he changed the subject:
"How you recognize me isn't important. What's important is whether you agree to this project."
Respecting others' fate and choices has always been Shi Lei's motto; some things simply cannot be forced.
If Columbia doesn't agree, the final destination of the Cross-border Communication Project will be set in Kazimierz. If the Supervision Committee receives this news, they'll probably be laughing in their sleep.
The president stared at the man before him, his mechanical eyes scanning back and forth but yielding no useful information. He abandoned his attempt to provoke the man, choosing instead to temporarily avoid confrontation.
"Mister Zhongli, it's a pleasure doing business with you."
[Urge Update Sign-in]
Chapter 581 The Mature Woman's Journey in the Snow (4K)
After Shi Lei left, the Secretary of State stared at the White Dove on the bird stand, and said with some anxiety:
"This Zhongli has been making headlines lately; if left unchecked, he could become a major problem in the future."
"Your Majesty, don't be fooled by the fact that this Cross-border Communication Project doesn't cost us anything. He's actually using these small favors to win people over and enhance Liyue's international reputation. Do you think we... are necessary?"
The White Dove shook its head; its empty gaze could not be reconciled with that of Columbia national hero.
"An experienced hunter only bares his Fangs the moment he attacks his prey. Any actions before that are merely probes and deceptions."
You immediately assemble a diplomatic mission to Liyue City under the guise of business cooperation. You personally lead the team and gather as much useful intelligence as possible.
The City on the Snow Mountain is unknown to most people. We must first unveil this veil of mystery and understand their true nature before taking action.
Also, tell everyone in the diplomatic corps: conduct your investigations thoroughly, and don't give anyone any ammunition against you. If conditions don't allow it, absolutely do not force it."
"I understand, Your Excellency."