The Stability Maintenance Office's Rash Impulse, a Stern Reprimand at the Standing Committee
After Wanda's report was delivered, a subtle calm fell over the White Bone Hall.
This calm made Hela feel extremely irritated.
Standing in the operations command room of the Stability Maintenance Office, looking at the 14-B Subway Station marked as a "detention point" on the holographic sand table, she felt an inexplicable anger rising in her chest.
In her view, it should be that simple: capture the enemy, interrogate them, gather intelligence, and then eliminate them.
But now, it started with written correspondence, followed by online meetings, and finally turned into a technical analysis meeting about factional struggles within the enemy's ranks.
Hela neither understood nor wanted to understand this process.
All she knew was that the enemy was there, while her most elite Undead Legion was doing nothing but carrying out so-called "physical isolation" tasks outside the subway station.
That man named Kang made a harsh statement across time and space, but Lynn not only didn't Thunder a rage, he instead ordered the Department of Technology to write some kind of vulnerability assessment report.
In Hela's mind, this was a sign of weakness.
She could not tolerate this weakness.
Lynn could wait, but she couldn't. The dignity of the Stability Maintenance Office couldn't wait either.
Since Lynn was unwilling to do it, she would do it for him.
Hela's gaze turned cold.
She accessed the communications channel of the Undead First Assault Squad, an elite force composed of the most fearless death knights, who were directly under her command.
"Target: Detention point at 14-B Subway Station."
Her voice was completely flat.
"Bypassing the external surveillance of the Liaison Office, enter the premises and conduct physical interrogations of all detainees."
"I need intelligence; survivors are unimportant."
The order was given without any hesitation. A deep "Yes, sir!" came from the other end of the channel, and the commando team's energy signal immediately disappeared from the sand table, turning into a shadow and silently stealthily moving towards the target.
Hela turned off the communication, and the frustration in her chest eased slightly. She believed that within half an hour at most, a blood-stained intelligence report would be delivered to her.
Then we'll see how Lynn can talk about procedures and rules.
However, an urgent communication request appeared in front of her at almost the same time.
Red, the highest level of mandatory summons.
From: Lynn
Reason: Emergency expanded meeting of the Negative Zone Standing Committee.
Hela's brows furrowed.
When she entered the White Bone Hall, Lynn was already seated on the Throne. Wanda and Gwen Stacy stood on either side, their expressions solemn.
The Holographic Projection in the center of the hall did not display a subway station or an image of Kang, but rather a document.
The document is titled "Several Provisions on Reaffirming Wartime Discipline in Negative Zone and the Reporting and Approval Process for Cross-Departmental Actions".
Hela's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and stood still in her place.
"Everyone's here, let's start the meeting."
Lynn's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.
He didn't look at anyone; his gaze was fixed solely on the document in front of him.
"The reason for this unexpected call to action is to discuss a Discipline issue."
"The Stability Maintenance Office has submitted an action request." Lynn said, gesturing in the air, and a new document was projected onto the screen. It was the action order Hela had just issued to secretly mobilize the commando team, only disguised as an "action Contingency Plan."
"Request to conduct 'psychological intervention under high-pressure conditions' on the detainees inside 14-B Subway Station in order to obtain urgent intelligence."
Lynn finally lifted his gaze from the documents and placed it on Hela.
"Hela, you're in charge of the Stability Maintenance Office. Can you explain what this 'high-pressure environment' specifically refers to?"
Hela met Lynn's gaze without changing her expression.
"Report. Given the urgency of the current situation and the inefficiency of routine talks, I suggest that professionals from the Stability Maintenance Office intervene to break down the target's psychological Defense Line by creating extreme survival pressure in order to obtain crucial intelligence. This is the responsibility of the Stability Maintenance Office."
Her words were presented in a grand and dignified manner, cleverly disguising "physical interrogation" as "psychological intervention."
Gwen Stacy stood to the side, eyes downcast, saying nothing. She knew this was no longer a business discussion.
Scarlet light flickered briefly at Wanda's fingertips before quickly disappearing.
"Professional personnel?" Lynn repeated, his voice still calm. "Do you mean the Undead First Assault Squad, which has bypassed the Liaison Office's blockade and is infiltrating the Core Zone of the subway station?"
These words made Hela's pupils shrink sharply.
She hadn't expected that Lynn not only knew, but knew so much about it, even down to the unit designation.
The air inside the hall seemed to freeze instantly.
"Did I not emphasize that all actions targeting detention centers are coordinated by the Liaison Office, with relevant departments cooperating?" Lynn's voice took on a cold tinge for the first time.
"Did I say that no one, no department, may act without my approval?"
Hela's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Faced with overwhelming evidence and questioning from the top leader, any defense would appear weak and ineffective.
"Disorganized and Discipline!"
Lynn's voice suddenly rose, and he slammed his hand heavily on the armrest of the Throne.
The crisp sound echoed in the hall, resonating in everyone's hearts.
"Hela, do you think your knife is more effective than my rules?"
"Do you think that as long as you kill people and get the intelligence, you can ignore all procedures and the entire command system?"
"Where did you put the Liaison Office? Where did you put everyone else present? Most importantly, where did you put my orders!"
A barrage of questions, like cold Blade, pierced Hela's body.
For the first time, a complex expression of humiliation and anger appeared on her face, which was always etched with arrogance and disdain. She wanted to argue, to roar, to tell the man before her that war should be resolved through war.
But she couldn't.
She saw Lynn's cold eyes, which held no anger, only pure, unquestionable authority—the absolute control of order that belonged to those in power.
In this system he built from scratch, no matter how powerful she is, she is merely a link in the chain. Lynn, on the other hand, is the one who sets the rules.
To defy the rules is to defy them.
Hela gritted her teeth, the energy of death uncontrollably dissipating from her body, only to be forcibly suppressed by her. Her dark green War Armor emitted a faint, strained groan.
"I..." she managed to squeeze out a single word through gritted teeth, but could say no more.
Admitting mistakes is more painful for the Goddess of Death than death itself.
Lynn looked at her and didn't press her for more information.
Tap, tap where it hurts, but don't break it.
He withdrew his gaze, his voice regaining its calmness.
"Effective immediately, the Stability Maintenance Office's action application is rejected. The Undead First Assault Squad, remain in place and await takeover by the Liaison Office."
"Comrade Hela, during this crisis response, all command authority over external military operations of the Stability Maintenance Office is temporarily suspended. Please reflect deeply on your problems and submit a written self-criticism to me."
"At the end of the meeting, I would like to reiterate the ironclad rule."
Lynn's gaze swept over everyone present.
"No one may act without the organization's approval. Anyone who crosses this line will pay the price."
Meeting adjourned.
After saying that, Lynn disappeared from the Throne.
Inside the main hall, there was a deathly silence.
Gwen Stacy and Wanda both felt the suffocating pressure. Looking at Hela, whose face was ashen and who exuded an aura of destruction, they dared not utter a single word.
Hela stood motionless, like a volcano about to erupt.
After a long while, she suddenly turned around and walked out of the hall without looking back. Every step she took seemed to crush the white bone floor beneath her feet.
Filled with anger and resentment, she stormed out of the main hall.
Just around the corner of the corridor outside the hall, a figure blocked her way.
It is Jean Grey.
She wore a simple white robe, her face still pale, but her eyes were unusually calm.
Hela stopped, her dark green eyes fixed on her, her voice seeming to come from Hell: "Get out of the way."
Qin didn't speak, but silently reached out and handed a thin file folder to Hela.