An emperor's allocation of resources, a three-way balance of new powers

In Negative Zone, deathly silence is the Eternity keynote.

Lynn sat enthroned on the Throne forged from the bones of countless living beings, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrests. Each tap was like a heartbeat, deep and rhythmic, echoing in the domain he absolutely controlled.

The three figures standing before him were themselves a microcosm of the power structure.

Jean Grey stood beside the Throne, closest to him. Her head was slightly bowed, her long, fiery red hair cascading down like a waterfall, obscuring half her face, but unable to conceal the undisguised joy and submissiveness unique to the victor. Her very presence was a silent declaration to the other two.

Hela and Wanda stood several meters apart beneath the Throne, their auras clashing intensely like two repulsive magnets.

Hela stood ramrod straight, like a sword. On her dark green War Armor, the wails of the undead seemed frozen into materialized Runes, flowing slowly. She had just returned from the killing fields of Siberia, still carrying the bitter cold of the icy plains and the metallic scent of blood. Like a triumphant lioness, she couldn't wait to show her spoils to her male lion, her eyes filled with pride and anticipation.

Wanda, however, appeared somewhat uneasy. The Scarlet Energy surrounding her was no longer as stable as usual, but rather churned and contracted like boiling water, revealing her extreme unease. On the Siberia snowfield, her master's whispered words about the "twin bond" still pierced her soul like an invisible needle. She dared not look directly into the eyes on the Throne, fearing that she would once again be pierced by that all-knowing and all-powerful gaze.

"The situation in Siberia has been handled well."

Lynn finally spoke, breaking the suffocating silence. His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion, yet it made the three Skyfather-level powerhouses below tense up simultaneously.

"Master, the remnants of Hydra's forces have been completely transformed into nourishment for the Undead Legion." Hela immediately stepped forward, one hand on her chest, her voice carrying a perfectly timed boast, "This newly formed army is ready to flatten any city on Earth for you at any time."

Her words were filled with the domineering confidence of the Goddess of Death, while also subtly belittling Wanda's work—you merely Sweep the traces, while I created an army.

Wanda's body trembled almost imperceptibly. She bit her lower lip and took a step forward to stand beside Hela, but deliberately kept a distance.

"All scientific data and experimental information have been sealed away. I used Chaos Magic to reconstruct the physical structure of the entire base. Any mortal investigation will only lead to the conclusion of a natural ice cave." Her voice was lower Hela's, with a respectful tone as she was eager to defend herself.

Lynn's gaze slowly swept over the two of them, finally landing on Hela.

"An army needs a qualified commander," Lynn said. "Hela, from this day forward, you will have full command of this Undead Legion, and all its future servants transformed from the dead. I permit you to expand its size in the Asgard way."

Hela's eyes instantly lit up with wild joy. This was not just an appointment, but a recognition! The highest affirmation of her role as the priestess of death! She could even sense in this authorization that her master tacitly approved of and indulged her way of doing things.

"I will not disappoint you, my master!" She knelt on one knee, the Night Sky Sword held in front of her, and gave a standard Asgardian military salute, her posture devout and fanatical.

Seeing this, Wanda's face grew even paler. The Scarlet Energy in her palm contracted violently, almost spiraling out of control. Hela had gained command of the army, but what about her? Her little schemes had been seen through; what would she get now? Punishment, or... oblivion?

Just as Wanda was in a state of utter confusion, Lynn's gaze turned to her.

"Wanda," Lynn's voice remained calm, "Hydra's legacy extends beyond those modified soldiers. Their expertise in technology, particularly in Artificial Intelligence and energy research, has some merit."

He flicked his finger, and a crystal made of spiritual energy, shimmering with complex Data Stream, slowly floated in front of Wanda.

"These are the core documents from Pierce and Crossbones' memories regarding all of Hydra's technological projects. You handle them; I need you to sift through them to extract the valuable parts and build our own Technological Bastion."

Wanda stared blankly at the Psychic Crystal before her, momentarily unable to reach out and take it.

Technology? Let her work in technology?

What is this? Logistics Department?

Hela commands the undead army, responsible for conquest and destruction; Jean Grey serves at her side, enjoying unparalleled favor; while she, the Scarlet Witch, wielder of Chaos Magic, is destined to sort through those mortal, cold, aesthetically unappealing bottles, jars, and data codes?

A powerful sense of humiliation and the panic of being marginalized gripped her heart instantly. This was more unbearable than direct punishment. It was a silent, cold-blooded "making the most of what one has."

However, when she met Lynn's calm, unwavering eyes, all her resentment and grievances instantly transformed into a chilling fear. She understood that this was both a warning and a blessing. Her master hadn't stripped her of everything because of her deception; instead, he had given her a new arena where she could prove her worth. If she couldn't even do this well, or showed any dissatisfaction, then what awaited her would be a hundred times worse than what she was experiencing now.

"... Yes, Lynn." Wanda took a deep breath, suppressing all her surging emotions, and reached out her slightly trembling hand to accept the Psychic Crystal. The moment her fingertips touched the crystal, she felt as if she had touched her own precarious position.

From his Throne, Lynn took in everything, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

The art of checks and balances lies in precisely grasping each person's desires and fears. Giving Hela an army satisfies her desire for conquest; giving Wanda technology exploits her fears, keeping her busy in unfamiliar territory, thereby weakening her ambitions in other areas.

Now, it's time for the last, and most important, piece of cake.

Lynn's gaze fell on Jean Grey, who had remained elegant and silent throughout.

"The zither."

"I'm here, Master," Qin responded immediately, her voice sweet and submissive.

"Hela holds the power of 'death,' Wanda touches the realm of 'technology,'" Lynn said slowly, his words like a sacred coronation, "And you, I will entrust the 'future' to you."

"The future?" A hint of confusion flashed in Qin's eyes.

Hela and Wanda both looked up at the same time, their eyes filled with confusion and wariness.

Instead of answering directly, Lynn projected the Top Secret file about the Siberia Mutant Gene-Fusion Experiments from Pierce's memory into the air using his Psychic Power.

On screen, powerful Mutants Genes sequences are analyzed, recombined, and stitched together, ultimately giving birth to a terrifying biological weapon like "Winter General".

"See that?" Lynn's voice carried a chilling laugh. "Mortals' greed for power has led them to tread on territories they shouldn't. They see Mutants as 'resources' to be used at will; that's arrogance, and that's foolishness."

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Jean: "But their thinking has given me some inspiration. Mutants, this race rejected and feared by humans, yet possessing limitless potential, are indeed a tremendous asset. I don't like the word 'resource'; I prefer to call them... the cornerstone."

"From this day forward, I authorize you to unite all Mutants forces on Earth."

Boom!

These words were like a mental nuclear bomb, exploding in Hela and Wanda's minds!

Wanda's body swayed violently, and she almost lost her balance.

Mutants! The master actually assigned the entire Mutant Race to Jean Grey!

She went to great lengths, risking rejection from her master, to secretly harbor five young Mutants, including her own brother, hoping to use them as her future base and leverage. But now, with just a word from her master, Jean Grey has become the "manager" of all Mutants!

Her little schemes seemed as insignificant as a speck of dust compared to her master's magnificent plan.

Hela's face also turned extremely pale. She saw further than Wanda. The Undead Legion, though powerful, originated from the dead, from the "past"; Hydra's technology, though advanced, was ultimately a creation of mortals, from the "present."

Mutants represent evolution, infinite possibilities, and the "future"!

The master personally handed the "future" into Jean Grey's hands!

This is no longer favoritism, this is establishing an heir apparent!

Jean Grey's breathing quickened, and Dark Gold flame ignited in her emerald eyes. She finally understood the weight of her master's words.

Command all Mutants!

This is not merely power, but a divine mandate! Professor X's ideals and Magneto's ambitions will all become meaningless before their master's casual remark. From this day forward, the Mutants world will have only one voice, Lynn's voice, which she will convey.

"Master..." Qin's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "What... should I do?"

"Do whatever you want." Lynn's tone was full of absolute indulgence and trust. "Use the flames of the Phoenix to burn away all futile resistance; use your Mind Stone to listen to the voice of every member of your people. Let them understand that the old era has ended, and new Deity have descended. X-Men, the Brotherhood, the Hellfire Club... whoever they may, submit or... become dust beneath your feet."

Lynn slowly stood up, opening her arms as if to embrace the whole world.

"Hela's Undead Legion, Wanda's Technological Bastion, and your Mutants Empire. Death, order, evolution... a new tripartite balance will officially take shape beneath my Throne."

"Go," he said, glancing at Qin one last time, a hint of encouraging amusement in his eyes, "Let Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr experience what true Dimensionality-Reduction Strike really mean."

In Jean Grey's eyes, the Dark Gold Phoenix Force surged completely. She seemed to see a fiery Phoenix stretching across the sky above the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, slowly spreading its wings.

What expressions of despair will those so-called X-Men and Magneto display before her reign?