Leverage and pressure at the boundary: Ghost-Spider's unauthorized investigation

Gwen Stacy received the "imperial sword" personally bestowed upon her by Lynn, but she knew that this sword had no edge.

The phrase "leading the research" carries little weight. The real power lies in the collaboration between Hela and Wanda's departments.

If they genuinely cooperate, she is an imperial envoy. If they outwardly comply but inwardly resist, she is merely a mouthpiece with a nominal title.

To transform a nominal position into a real one, we must find a fulcrum that no one can ignore to break this stalemate.

The coordinates she secretly marked might just be the fulcrum.

She didn't make a fuss, nor did she immediately report those unusual life signals.

Reporting directly would certainly be a blow to Wanda, but it's a double-edged sword. Lynn might appreciate her keen insight, but he's more likely to be wary of her cunning. Someone who's been parachuted in and is already eager to betray others isn't someone you can trust.

The best approach is to put things out in the open and, under the guise of work, let the truth come to light.

Gwen Stacy requested collaboration from Hela and Wanda's departments, citing the need to "conduct on-site investigations of Vibranium vein distribution and establish a three-dimensional geological model."

The reasons are justified and beyond reproach.

Hela was quite decisive, sending a team of silent Undead Soldiers to handle perimeter security and excavation. They made a grand gesture, but that was all.

Wanda's response was much more subtle.

She approved Gwen Stacy's request, agreeing to open collaborative scanning access to most areas, but temporarily restricted access to the residential ruins, citing that "the Chaos Energy field is not yet stable and there is a risk of secondary collapse, so it must be cleared by our professional staff before entry is allowed."

The attempt to cover it up only makes it more obvious.

Gwen Stacy looked at the reply and felt reassured.

She didn't press the issue or raise any questions; instead, she sent an official letter stating that she understood and respected the professional judgment of the Technology Integration Department, and that the survey work would bypass the area and be carried out again after the restrictions were lifted.

Everything seemed so orderly and conventional.

But the very next day, Gwen Stacy appeared at the edge of that restricted area.

She was dressed in light combat gear, without any weapons, and only carried a portable environmental scanner, looking like an ordinary technician.

She didn't cross the invisible red line drawn by Wanda; she simply collected data at a leisurely pace along the edge.

"The curvature of the space here has a slight anomaly, which will affect the accuracy of the gravity model."

She was talking to herself into the Communicator, as if she were recording work logs.

"The background gamma radiation level is also too high, and the probe needs to be calibrated."

She paced along the edge of the ruins, the scanner occasionally beeping softly. She walked slowly, as if searching for the best survey point, but with each step, she got closer to the marked coordinates.

A Scarlet mist began to quietly spread through the air.

The temperature seemed to have dropped a few degrees.

Gwen Stacy stopped and looked up.

Wanda stood silently on a section of broken wall not far away, like a red statue.

"This is a restricted area."

Wanda spoke, but her voice betrayed no emotion.

"I know." Gwen Stacy didn't avoid her gaze, waving the scanner in her hand, her tone calm. "The peripheral data is interfering. I need a reference point to calibrate the equipment and ensure the report submitted to Lynn is accurate. It's my responsibility."

She pronounced the words "Lynn" and "report" very clearly.

"My department will handle the interference here." Wanda floated down from the broken wall and stood in front of Gwen Stacy. "Your work area doesn't include this place. Now, please leave."

"I'm afraid that won't work." Gwen Stacy shook her head, even offering a slightly apologetic smile. "Mr. Lynn requested a 'comprehensive and accurate' assessment report. Any missing data would be irresponsible towards this report, and also irresponsible towards him. I cannot allow my work to be flawed."

She took a step forward, getting closer to Wanda.

"Of course, if the Wanda representative is willing to provide a written statement now, proving that the anomalous energy in this area will not have any structural impact on Sokovia's overall Vibranium reserves, and to take lifelong responsibility for the consequences of this statement, I can attach this information to the report. I think Mr. Lynn will understand."

Wanda's pupils suddenly contracted.

This is a blatant threat.

They outmaneuvered her using the rules of the system.

Issuing a written statement? Once the matter of those Mutants is exposed, this statement will be irrefutable evidence of her "deceiving her superiors and subordinates."

"Are you threatening me?" Wanda's voice turned cold, and the Scarlet Mist around her began to surge ominously.

"I'm just stating a procedural issue," Gwen Stacy retorted. "Wanda, we're all working for Lynn. My job is to assess resources, your job is to consolidate order. But now, I've discovered something that could affect the resource assessment, and might even be an unregistered 'significant asset.' What should I do according to regulations?"

"Concealing information is dereliction of duty. Overstepping one's authority is a violation of regulations. I'm just a researcher; I don't have that kind of guts."

She looked into Wanda's eyes, speaking each word carefully.

"Therefore, I can only ask you, the head of this jurisdiction, for advice. Should I classify these... 'assets' that you protected with Chaos Magic as 'risks to be addressed' or 'resources to be developed' in the report?"

The truth has come out.

The air seemed to freeze between the two of them.

The color drained from Wanda's face.

She hadn't expected that this seemingly useless newcomer would be so troublesome. Instead of making a scene or directly complaining to Lynn, she used the most standard procedures and the most watertight language to corner her.

use force?

Taking action against someone personally appointed by Lynn here, regardless of the reason, would be seen by Lynn as a crime of "factional infighting and disregard for the overall situation."

She cannot afford the consequences.

"What do you want?" Wanda's voice became a little hoarse.

"I don't want anything." Gwen Stacy put away the scanner, her smile fading. "I just want to finish my work and prove my worth to Lynn. That's all."

She paused, then added.

"Of course, if my work can also help you improve the department's asset list and avoid some unnecessary misunderstandings, I think that should also be considered part of 'maintaining overall stability'."

Wanda stared intently at her, her chest heaving violently.

She lost.

In this battle without gunfire, she was caught by an "outsider" with no official position or troops, who seized her most fatal weakness.

Just as the two were locked in a standoff, the atmosphere reaching its most tense point.

Far away in another part of Negative Zone, Jean Grey is floating in mid-air with her eyes closed.

As the head of the Mutants Management Committee, she has built Psychic Network that covers the entire planet, monitoring every known and potential Mutants signal.

Just now, on the map of Sokovia, in an area tightly shrouded by Chaos Magic, an extremely violent emotional fluctuation suddenly erupted.

Anger, resentment, and... a hint of panic.

That energy belongs to Wanda.

At the center of Wanda's energy field, besides a few faint signals that were suppressed to the point of being almost imperceptible, another unfamiliar yet equally powerful spiritual source suddenly appeared.

Jean Grey slowly opened her eyes.

interesting.

A slight smile curved her lips as she reached out and gently tapped the air in front of her.

An application report was quietly generated.

[Subject: Request for permission to travel to the Sokovia region to provide operational guidance and technical support to potential Mutants Survivor.]