Chapter 108: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

In the rest area, the atmosphere among the members of the various national teams, which had been tense due to their competitive nature, unexpectedly became oddly harmonious after Fang Ziyang’s performance. The power of his “white lotus” act, especially when combined with a touch of “green tea essence,” was not to be underestimated. Fang Ziyang had perfectly demonstrated what it meant to say, “Don’t mess with me, or I’ll cry in front of everyone!”

These days, it’s not the tough ones you fear—it’s the soft ones. Before you even make a move, the other side starts crying. What can you do in front of a global audience? You can’t exactly lose your temper on such a public stage.

Fang Ziyang might not care about losing face, but the others did. For a moment, the looks directed at Fang Ziyang by the other contestants were filled with mixed emotions. Regardless of anything else, his courage to cry in front of the entire world without worrying about his image was something worth acknowledging!

The surrounding gazes were intense, yet the Hua Nation team remained as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened. Fang Ziyang, in particular, seemed completely unfazed by his earlier crying episode. He cheerfully popped a mint into his mouth, tilted his head, and began eating with a smile.

Naturally, the interview was broadcast live to the networks of various countries.

The reaction from international viewers was surprisingly uniform: everyone found it hilarious.

“Haha, is he really a member of the Hua Nation team? He looks so young—has he even come of age yet? And what he said was so funny. Was that on purpose? The reporters looked so confused, haha.”

“Of course it was on purpose! That reporter probably saw how young he was and tried to trap him, since the other Hua Nation members were too careful in their answers and didn’t give any juicy news. But this guy didn’t take the bait at all.”

“Is this the so-called ‘white lotus’?”

“I even got a strong ‘green tea’ vibe, haha, perfect representation…”

“But what did he say earlier? It seemed like an ancient Hua Nation text; even the live translators couldn’t keep up.”

“While I do think Hua Nation is still behind the leading tech countries, the way these reporters were clearly targeting them is a bit embarrassing. It’s not very gentlemanly at all…”

“There’s a lot of misinformation in the media reports. Some people I know, who don’t go online much, still think Hua Nation is full of pigtails, mud huts, and filth. But when I visited, the place was full of skyscrapers!”

“Being overly arrogant just blinds you. I think this competition will give us all a more accurate understanding of the world’s countries, instead of being manipulated by the media.”

The live streams from various countries were filled with different comments, but the general sentiment was positive.

Everyone could see that Fang Ziyang was intentionally dealing with reporters who were trying to trap him. No one thought much of it, and in fact, in many countries, using one’s own language in such interviews is seen as a matter of pride and identity.

The public can be very discerning, and there are plenty of rational people out there.

However, this discussion didn’t last long because the opening ceremony quickly concluded, and the event organizers began their speeches and announced the competition rules.

The first round of the technology competition was called “Battle of Offense and Defense.” In simple terms, this round was focused on information security, or more bluntly, a hacker battle. After all, if a scientific achievement cannot ensure its security, how could it be confidently showcased? The security of scientific research results is crucial and must be tested.

Of course, the term “hacker” isn’t exactly a positive one, so it couldn’t be openly used. Although the competition was essentially a test of hacking skills, the name was certainly changed for the sake of appearances.

The “Battle of Offense and Defense” was divided into two parts. The first part was a one-on-one match, and the second was a team battle. Both competitions were conducted in a free-for-all mode, with participants from nearly 200 countries. In the end, only the top 10 would advance. So, without absolute strength, it would be nearly impossible to break through.

In such a scenario, even if some participants wanted to manipulate the results, it would be very difficult. Of course, if some participants reached an agreement during the competition and decided to jointly target someone, this kind of open conspiracy couldn’t be fully prevented. After all, nothing can guarantee absolute fairness.

“… Those are the rules for the first round, first match. Now, we ask the main participants from each team to bring their computers and enter the designated areas according to their numbers.”

With the announcer’s declaration, the contestants from each country quickly composed themselves, grabbed their computers, and moved into their respective zones.

To ensure fairness and to thoroughly test each person’s capabilities, the battle zones were divided by strength, starting with the strongest and gradually decreasing. The participants in the No. 1 zone were all team leaders, the No. 2 zone had the second strongest members, and so on.

In the Hua Nation team, Fang Ziyang was ranked second, so he was placed in the No. 2 battle zone.

Previously, most people didn’t take Fang Ziyang seriously, assuming he was someone with connections, put on the team for the sake of gaining some prestige—a typical underperformer. After all, Fang Ziyang’s youthful appearance led most people from Hua Nation to think he was around seventeen or eighteen years old.

For foreigners, who often struggle with distinguishing Asian faces and are used to more mature-looking peers, he appeared even younger. No matter how talented a young person is, how skilled could they possibly be? Talent is certainly a gift, but experience is also crucial for technical experts.

However, when they saw him actually entering the No. 2 zone, everyone became unsettled.

At this moment, no one would think Fang Ziyang was just there to coast along or for the sake of prestige, because no country would joke around in such a serious setting. This seemingly just-of-age young man was in the No. 2 zone? He was ranked second in his team? Were the talents in Hua Nation’s team really so lacking, or was this young man truly exceptional?

Even the Hua Nation viewers were equally shocked.

“Although I’ve accepted that Fang Ziyang is participating, is he really ranked second in the team? Why do I feel like I’m dreaming?”

“You’re not alone; I’m also feeling bewildered…”

“Actually, it’s not impossible. You guys might have forgotten that Fang Ziyang is Tang Xun’s younger brother. Tang Xun became famous in his teens, remember?”

“Like brother, like brother. It’s said that the Lu family’s talents are particularly strong in heredity. Several generations have been scientists, so it’s not surprising that Fang Ziyang is just as extraordinary as his brother.”

“That’s not necessarily true. The saying goes, ‘Dragons give birth to nine sons, each different from the others.’ Look at Lu Yan… Well…”

“Come on, I had almost forgotten about that, until you brought it up. After Fang Ziyang’s ungrateful dad and ungrateful big brother, now we have an ungrateful uncle too. Fang Ziyang seems to have a knack for dealing with ungrateful family members…”

“Let’s not mention these people. Please don’t insult my favorite char siu bun, thanks!”

“…”

The discussion gradually veered off-topic.

As Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun continued to shine, Fang Yandong and others were regularly dragged out for a public shaming. Sometimes, netizens have excellent memories and relish gossip about celebrities and powerful families. When in a bad mood, bashing scumbags brings them no small amount of joy.

The live chat was lively with discussion.

In the No. 2 competition zone, the other participants were equally shocked to see Fang Ziyang, all with expressions that seemed to ask, “Little brother, are you sure you’re in the right place?”

Abbas was from Country B, and his spot was right next to Fang Ziyang.

Country B and Hua Nation had always maintained a good relationship, even earning the nickname “iron brothers” in private. So compared to participants from countries like A and G, Abbas’s attitude towards Fang Ziyang was relatively friendly. Seeing Fang Ziyang’s youthful appearance, Abbas couldn’t help but kindly and tactfully ask,

“Little brother, are you really ranked second in your team at such a young age?”

The underlying message was: “Little brother, are you sure you didn’t grab the wrong badge? Better check!”

Fang Ziyang, not as young as he appeared, naturally picked up on Abbas’s subtle hint, so he responded with a friendly smile.

“Of course. My brother is Tang Xun, who is known as one of the world’s most outstanding geniuses. Have you heard of him?”

Fang Ziyang smiled brightly, “I’m definitely not any worse than my brother. Do you think you have a shot at the top 10? If you’re worried, I can help you.”

“Your brother is Tang Xun?!”

Abbas didn’t pay much attention to Fang Ziyang’s last words, thinking he was just joking. His focus was entirely on the mention of Tang Xun’s name.

Anyone in the tech world would be familiar with Tang Xun. Outsiders might only know that Tang Xun was remarkable, but they didn’t grasp the full extent of his achievements and what his intellect represented. When Tang Xun graduated from HF, several leading tech countries tried to recruit him, and even the president of HF stepped in to persuade him, offering countless benefits. This highlighted Tang Xun’s importance.

But in the end, Tang Xun declined all the offers and chose to return to Hua Nation to continue his work, much to the regret of many prestigious research institutions.

Everyone had initially thought that Tang Xun’s development would be hampered by the limitations of Hua Nation’s tech environment. But no one expected that, just a few years later, Tang Xun would collaborate with the Hua Nation government to develop the chip-based ID, a technology so ahead of its time that it shocked the entire scientific community and made other nations feel threatened.

Abbas wasn’t familiar with Fang Ziyang’s reputation in his own country, but hearing that he was Tang Xun’s younger brother was shocking enough.

The other competitors around them, hearing this, also became more alert. Their attitudes towards Fang Ziyang shifted from casual to serious.

Everyone sitting in this competition wasn’t foolish. After all, those with negative emotional intelligence like Jin Yu were rare.

Fang Ziyang had a good impression of Abbas. While he didn’t need friends during the competition, he didn’t mind helping Abbas. After all, he knew that some people would likely team up to attack him later, and having Abbas as an ally would make things easier for him.

Ignoring the stares from those around him, Fang Ziyang gave Abbas a sweet smile.

“Big brother, my name is Fang Ziyang. What’s your name? Which country are you from? How about we team up later?”

The suggestion was quite sudden, especially since their respective strengths were still unknown. Plus, his youthful appearance didn’t inspire much confidence.

Moreover, with the prior bet, it was almost certain that the M Nation competitors would gang up on him during the competition. Teaming up with him didn’t seem like a wise choice.

But Abbas didn’t mind.

His team had come to this competition without any real expectations of advancing, taking a “it’s the participation that counts” approach. After all, technology isn’t something you can win by effort alone; absolute skill is required to achieve a good ranking.

In reality, everyone pretty much knew which countries had a real shot at making it to the top 10.

So, even if Fang Ziyang wasn’t that capable, Abbas didn’t mind. After all, his team was just there for the experience.

“My name is Abbas, from Country B. We’re like iron brothers. Good luck.”

Abbas smiled and extended a fist towards Fang Ziyang as a sign of agreement and friendship.

“Good luck!”

Fang Ziyang responded with a bright smile.

The two, having just met, formed a tentative partnership.

The other competitors around them couldn’t help but shake their heads.

At first, they thought that since Fang Ziyang was Tang Xun’s brother, he must have some serious skills. But seeing him team up with Abbas, they assumed he was just there to coast.

They were familiar with Abbas’s level, which was average at best. Teaming up with him was a sure way to drag yourself down. Unless Fang Ziyang’s abilities were truly extraordinary, there was no way he’d stand a chance.

With that in mind, the competitors in the No. 2 zone became more confident. Even if they couldn’t advance, having one less strong competitor made their own rankings look better, saving them some face back home.

Although these exchanges seemed to take a while, they actually happened very quickly.

Ten minutes later, with all the competitors in their designated areas, the host announced the start of the competition:

“You have 30 minutes to build your firewalls. After 30 minutes, the attacks will begin. Competitors, carry the expectations of your countrymen and the honor of your homeland. Good luck!”

With the host’s words, the competition officially began.

The competitors, who had been casually chatting just moments before, instantly switched into high gear. They became like machines, their fingers flying over the keyboards, creating afterimages as they typed at lightning speed.

Although most of the audience on-site and in the live stream didn’t fully understand the technical aspects, it didn’t stop them from marveling at the competitors’ impressive speed.

To ensure that the viewers, even those unfamiliar with the technology, could still enjoy the competition, each competitor was accompanied by a commentator to explain and enhance the excitement of the event.

Of course, to maintain the confidentiality of the technology, these commentators could only see the names of the firewalls the competitors were building. They would then explain to the audience how amazing these firewalls were, but the core content remained hidden.

Because of the earlier wager, the M Nation and Hua Nation competitors were particularly under the spotlight, with the live stream focusing heavily on them.

The M Nation competitors had a reason to be proud. In every area, when the commentators learned the names of the firewalls the M Nation competitors were constructing, they were shocked and then became overly excited, almost yelling into the camera:

“Oh my God! Do you know what firewall the M Nation competitor next to me is building? It’s the KIO Ultimate Defense! Most of the viewers might not have a direct understanding of this, so let me put it this way: this firewall is as its name suggests, the ultimate defense. It is currently the world’s number one defense system…”

“Even a simplified version built by one person is extremely difficult to break through… and it has anti-tracking capabilities. Once you’re caught in a counterattack, there’s no escape!”

The commentator went on and on, summarizing the main point: This is incredibly impressive! This is super amazing! This is absolutely the most powerful system out there!

After introducing the M Nation competitor, the camera naturally shifted to the Hua Nation competitor, given the wager between the two teams. A comparison was inevitable.

And then…

Then, the commentators, who had been so excited just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.

Because…

They couldn’t understand it…

They had never heard of the firewall’s name…

In the live broadcast, each area’s commentator suddenly froze.

Audience: This year’s commentators seem to be a bit off their game, huh?

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