My whole family is involved in diplomacy, so you dare to flex your muscles?

"Brother Gu, the car is here," Xiao Wang reminded him from the side.

Gu Yun nodded, turned around, and got into the car.

Outside the car window, the city's neon lights rushed past.

This city, located in a neutral country, remains both bustling and indifferent.

"Brother Gu, shall we go straight back to the hotel?" Xiao Wang asked.

"Hmm." Gu Yun said with her eyes closed, "I'm a little hungry. Let's get something to eat."

"Okay! I'll arrange it right away. What would you like to eat? Western food or...?"

"A whole bowl of noodles, please," Gu Yun said. "Braised beef noodles, preferably with lots of chili."

"Yes, sir!"

Back in her hotel room, Gu Yun took a hot shower and changed into loose-fitting loungewear.

The noodles arrived quickly, steaming hot, topped with several large chunks of beef, with red oil floating on top, making it look incredibly appetizing.

Gu Yun picked up her chopsticks and had just taken a bite when her phone rang.

It's a video call.

On the screen appeared an old but vigorous face.

Grandpa Gu.

"Grandpa." Gu Yun put down his chopsticks and sat up straight.

"Eating?" The old man looked at him with a smile. "It looks good, better than the food here."

"If you'd like some, I'll make it for you later," Gu Yun said with a smile.

"Stop being so glib." The old man's smile faded, and he said seriously, "I watched your performance today. Not bad, reasonable and well-founded, neither humble nor arrogant. Especially that last move, the 'free vaccine,' that 'retreating to advance' tactic, was brilliantly executed."

"They forced me to do that." Gu Yun took a sip of soup. "You can't reason with thugs, so you have to flip the table."

"Yes, well done." The old man nodded. "But you have to be careful. Your outburst today has affected too many people's interests. Those Western capitalists are ruthless."

"I know." A glint of light flashed in Gu Yun's eyes. "We'll meet force with force, and water with earth. Let them use whatever tricks they have up their sleeves."

"The second phase is about rules, right?" The old man seemed to have expected this. "You need to be careful about that young man from the US, Charles. I know his father; he's a shrewd old fox who specializes in international law. You need to be wary of them using 'treaties' as leverage."

"Treaty?" Gu Yun sneered. "Grandpa, don't worry. I'll show them what 'historical documents' really mean."

The old man paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Good lad! You're awesome! Okay, I'm relieved to see you have this drive. Don't worry about home, your parents are fine, it's just that your mom is a little worried that you won't be used to the food there."

"That's good, there are noodles here."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Yun finished off the rest of the noodles.

After eating and drinking his fill, he walked to the window and looked at the night view outside.

In the distance, you can see the hotels where representatives from other countries are staying.

The place is brightly lit; I bet many people won't be able to sleep tonight.

What is Scott doing? Is he smashing things?

What is Hamilton doing? Is he frantically reviewing legal statutes overnight?

And then there's Yamamoto, and Park Dae-chang...

Gu Yun stretched.

"Let the storm rage on!"

Anyway, I have an umbrella.

......

The next day was a rare rest day.

Although there are no competitions, the show's popularity remains undiminished.

In order to maintain viewership, the production team launched a "contestant life live stream" mode.

This involves setting up cameras in the hotel's public areas to live stream the players' daily interactions.

This was supposed to be a relaxed session, where everyone could have coffee, chat, and show that "friendship comes first."

But after yesterday's "doomsday scenario," the atmosphere is now extremely awkward.

In the hotel's buffet restaurant.

Gu Yunyun was holding a plate, choosing her breakfast.

He took two steamed buns, a bowl of soy milk, and a fried dough stick.

The production team prepared a wide variety of food to take care of the contestants from different countries.

He had just found a seat when he saw a group of people walk in.

It is a "small Western group" led by Scott.

Scott seemed to be recovering well, except that he was still a little pale and his eyes remained sinister.

He was accompanied by Charles, Pierre, and others.

However, Gu Yun keenly noticed that this small group didn't seem as close-knit as before.

Pierre deliberately kept his distance from Scott, and the two didn't even make eye contact when getting their food.

Clearly, yesterday's experience of being "tricked" in the simulation, though virtual, has left a rift in this fragile alliance.

Upon seeing Gu Yun, Scott paused for a moment.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred.

But he didn't react immediately because there were cameras all around.

He carried his coffee and walked straight to sit down opposite Gu Yun at the table.

"You have a good appetite, Mr. Gu," Scott said with a forced smile. "Did you sleep well last night? Did you dream that you became the savior of the world?"

Gu Yun took a bite of her steamed bun and mumbled, "It was alright, I didn't dream, and slept soundly until dawn. But Mr. Scott, you have really dark circles under your eyes. Are you still worried about that $500 vaccine?"

"You!" Scott nearly choked on his coffee.

This is really rubbing salt in the wound.

"Gu Yun, don't get too cocky," Scott said in a low voice, in a tone only the two of them could hear.

"Yesterday was a simulation, a game. You could do whatever you wanted, you could disregard the rules."

But tomorrow, on the real stage of law and rules, I'll show you what professionalism is.

"Oh?" Gu Yun raised an eyebrow. "Specialty? You mean the kind of specialty where 'I'm in charge'?"

"Hmph, we'll see," Scott sneered. "I'll use the most rigorous logic and the most comprehensive laws to nail you to the pillar of shame."

I will prove that your so-called "rise of a great power" is nothing more than a barbaric destruction of the existing international order.

After saying that, he took the coffee and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Gu Yun shook his head.

"Why can't this child learn from his mistakes?"

Just then, a figure sat down opposite Gu Yun.

It was Pierre, the representative of the French Republic.

He seemed hesitant, but still spoke up: "Good morning, Mr. Gu."

"Good morning, Pierre," Gu Yun replied with a smile.

"Um..." Pierre rubbed his hands together, "Thank you for the vaccine in the simulation yesterday. Even though it was fake,... the feeling was very real."

"You're welcome," Gu Yun said. "If it's true, we'll do the same."

Pierre was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed.

"Actually, I know that Scott and his team sometimes go too far. But... you know, we depend on them in many ways. Security, finance, technology... we have no choice."

This is the truth. It reflects Europe's current predicament.

"The choice is one's own." Gu Yun looked into his eyes. "Pierre, General de Gaulle once said that France must be independent. I think that statement still applies today."

Pierre was startled.

He didn't expect Gu Yun to mention de Gaulle.

That is the god in the hearts of the French people, and also the symbol of the French spirit of independence and autonomy.

"Thank you." Pierre gave Gu Yun a deep look. "I'll think about it carefully."

After saying that, he picked up the plate and left.

Watching Pierre's departing figure, Gu Yun seemed lost in thought.

The fortresses of the West have never been monolithic.

If you swing your hoe well, no corner is too big to dig down.

The reception was held as scheduled in the afternoon.

This was the highlight of the show, and also a warm-up before the start of the second stage.

The banquet hall was brightly lit and filled with elegantly dressed people.

Athletes from all countries changed into formal attire.

Gu Yun was dressed in a well-fitting Zhongshan suit, which made him stand out among the group of people in Western suits.

He stood in the corner, holding a glass of juice (he didn't drink alcohol), observing the situation on the field.

Scott was pulling representatives from several small countries aside, talking animatedly, presumably conducting pre-match "ideological mobilization" and "bonding of interests."

Charles, holding a glass of red wine, flirted elegantly with several female contestants, displaying an air of aristocracy.

Yamamoto and Park Dae-chang, on the other hand, flanked Scott like two lackeys, bowing and scraping from time to time.

"What a chaotic mess!" Gu Yun thought to himself.

Just then, the host, Mark, walked onto the stage.

Good evening, everyone!

"On this beautiful night, before the start of the second stage of the competition, we'd like to announce a new rule!"

The whole place fell silent.

"To increase the competitiveness and professionalism of the competition," Mark announced loudly, "in the second phase, we will introduce an 'off-field assistance' mechanism!"

"Each country's representative may invite one of their country's top experts to serve as an advisory group, participating in the preparation for the debate and on-site consultations!"

wow——

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Need outside help?

This is getting interesting.

Scott's face lit up with ecstasy.

He immediately looked at Gu Yun, his eyes full of provocation.

Because he knew that in the field of international law and rule-making, the West had overwhelming expert resources.

They have countless prominent lawyers and scholars serving in the International Court of Justice and the World Trade Organization.

And China?

This field started relatively late, and there are only a handful of truly outstanding experts.

"Gu Yun, you're dead this time!" Scott laughed wildly in his heart. "I'm going to bring my advisor, the dean of Harvard Law School! I'm going to have him use professional legal terminology to utterly refute you!"

Gu Yun was also taken aback when he heard this rule.

Need outside help?

The production team really seems to want to stir up trouble.

but……

Gu Yun's lips curled up slightly.

Is it a competition to call in more players?

Sure.

Let's see if your Harvard dean is more capable, or my "special" friend.