That evening, Lin Cuo proved through his actions that Li Xingke and Cao Yuanming had made an extremely wise choice in keeping their diplomatic distance from him.
The Palace Television Bureau had originally planned only to broadcast the news of the Ordnance Standards Committee's establishment.
At the last minute, Lin Cuo demanded a global broadcast so he could personally respond to the recent rumors about the E.U. delegation, Leila's detention, Great Han's political credibility, and reforms to the armored vehicle industry.
He had learned his speaking style from a certain United States president in another worldline who had started out as a property developer-a peculiar brand of rhetoric that could turn failure into unprecedented victory, investigations into political persecution, and unprepared improvisation into the truest form of leadership.
Lin Cuo stood before the camera, his right hand resting on the podium.
"Recently, some people have said that Great Han detained the E.U. delegation. Completely wrong, utterly wrong. You could even call it absolutely ridiculous."
Reporters tuning in around the world immediately looked up.
"They're simply staying in Great Han long-term. They're housed very well, fed very well, and have the best hospitals in the world, the best laboratories, and the most complete Kashgar data. Paris canceled their return budget itself. Great Han is merely respecting the E.U.'s democratic decision. No country respects E.U. democracy more than we do. They hold meetings, we pay. They don't make decisions, we make their decisions workable for them."
Several members of the Paris Committee rose to their feet at once.
Lin Cuo continued, "Some people also say my credibility is very low. That's even more ridiculous. If my credibility is so low, why has India mobilized over five million people? Why has Area 11 sent its best pilots into Common Defense? Why did Britannia