A technical review of the Battleworld cards, procedures beneath a cloak of legality
The atmosphere at the central long table in the White Bone Hall remained tense.
The encrypted report, delivered urgently by the Technology Integration Department, was Holographic Projection and hovering directly above the conference table.
A pale blue light illuminated everyone's face, its brightness shifting and changing.
Lynn shifted his gaze from the report to Wanda.
"Director Wanda, it's your turn to report."
His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
"Yes, sir."
Wanda stood up and walked to the light screen. She didn't look at anyone present, her gaze focused intently on the complex Data Stream.
"Based on the Technology Division's 24-hour continuous review of the ' Battleworld ' cards left at the scene, we have reached a preliminary conclusion."
She paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts.
"The transfer of the target was not, as we initially predicted, a forced spatial teleportation based on a high-energy reaction."
Hela let out a barely audible snort. In her view, it was just a change of terminology; the essence remained the same.
Wanda ignored her and continued, "We conducted a source analysis on the trace particles that overflowed the moment the card was activated, and compared them tens of thousands of times with the old S.H.I.E.L.D.. database provided by the Liaison Office. Finally, in the abandoned archive numbered 734-Alpha, we found an energy model with a matching accuracy of 98.7%."
Her finger swept across the screen, bringing up a yellowed scanned electronic document.
The document's heading, written in an old-fashioned font, reads, "Treaty No. 7 on the Establishment of Provisional Extradition and Asset Transfer Procedures for Interdimensional Entities."
The signatories were S.H.I.E.L.D.. from decades ago, and several other unknown organizations now unidentifiable, referred to by symbols.
"This treaty, signed during the ' Alliance of Ten Thousand Worlds ' era led by the old S.H.I.E.L.D.., aimed to regulate the legitimate movement of people between different Dimension. Although S.H.I.E.L.D.. has long been reorganized, this treaty has never been formally repealed. According to the common practice of the Multiverse, it still has a certain legal effect and is considered... a legacy of history."
Gwen Stacy's brow furrowed slightly when she heard the words "legacy issues."
"Our technical conclusion is," Wanda's voice grew somewhat hoarse, "That their act of taking Erik Magneto away perfectly exploited the supplementary clause in this old treaty regarding 'emergency evacuation of High-Risk Variant.' They didn't use violence; instead, they initiated a... compliant extradition."
Compliance.
These two words are more hurtful than any weapon.
The conference room was deathly silent.
If the previous characterization was "kidnapping by illegal foreign forces," then all departments could justifiably point their guns at the same target.
But now, Wanda's report is tantamount to saying that the enemy is not a robber who broke in, but someone who came with legal documents and took away "assets" that rightfully belong to their jurisdiction.
This renders all counterattacks from the Negative Zone legally untenable.
"It's just a piece of waste paper."
Hela finally couldn't help but speak, her voice filled with disdain and annoyance.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.. is a thing of the past. How can its documents still govern us? Just send troops and bring them back."
"Director Hela," Gwen Stacy looked up at her calmly, "The issue isn't whether the document is still valid, but that the other side chose to act this way. This means they don't intend to wage a physical war against us, but rather to drag things into a legal and procedural quagmire."
"Once we choose force, it confirms that we are the party that 'tears up legal treaties' and 'breaks the rules.' At that time, we may not only be facing one ' Battleworld,' but the collective hostility of all other forces based on this set of rules."
Hela's face darkened, and she fell silent. Although she admired force, she understood the consequences of political isolation.
Jean Grey remained silent, but her pale face showed an added gravity. She had already learned her lesson from being too eager for quick results, and now she understood even better how terrifying such procedural traps could be.
All eyes were on Lynn, who was in the main seat.
Lynn didn't look at them; her fingers slowly traced the warm surface of the cup.
He thought, "This opponent is very interesting."
They don't compete with you on who has the bigger fist; they compete on who understands the rules better and knows how to utilize them more effectively.
They use procedural justice to undermine your violent justice.
This is a kind of Dimensionality-Reduction Strike, striking the weakest link in the emerging machine of Negative Zone —institutional construction and legal foundation.
"They want to crush us with their programming."
Lynn finally spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone could hear him clearly.
"Using a set of rules that we haven't fully grasped, or even inherited from the old era, to bind our hands and feet."
He raised his eyes and scanned the entire room.
"Director Hela's idea is typical of military thinking—simple and direct, but with endless potential consequences. Before the nature of the action is fully clarified, any military action must be prohibited."
Hela's lips moved, but in the end she chose to obey.
"Director Gwen's concerns are valid. We cannot fall into their trap."
Lynn's gaze shifted to Wanda.
"The Department of Technology's technical review was very valuable. It provided crucial evidence for us to understand our opponents' true intentions."
He paused for a moment, then gave the final verdict.
"Since they want to play programming games with us, then we'll play along to the end."
"They can find clauses in old documents to use against us, and so can we."
Lynn's tone carried a chilling interest.
"They want to defeat magic with magic, then we'll find the curse that will bring them utter ruin at the very root of law."
He looked at Wanda: "The Department of Technology will continue its in-depth analysis of this treaty. I need to know every word, every punctuation mark, and all possible interpretations."
"Yes," Wanda replied.
He then looked at Gwen Stacy: "The Liaison Office should immediately establish a legal research group to search for all restrictive precedents and supplementary clauses regarding the 'legacy treaty' from the perspective of Multiverse customary law. I need a legal opinion that can completely negate the applicability of this treaty."
"Understood." Gwen Stacy immediately wrote it down in her notebook.
Lynn picked up the thermos, unscrewed the lid, and blew on the steam.
"An organization that operates based on program vulnerabilities is also most afraid of program vulnerabilities. What we need to do is find that vulnerability, and then turn it into a noose around their neck."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Encrypted Communicator beside Gwen Stacy emitted a soft beep.
It was an official reply that had just arrived and was marked as "highest priority".
Gwen Stacy opened the email and quickly glanced through it.
Her expression instantly turned somewhat strange.
"Sir," she looked up at Lynn, "the Multiversal Coordination Committee... has replied."
"Regarding our official protest against the 'illegal extradition' case."
Lynn looked at her. "What did they say?"
Gwen Stacy's lips pressed into a thin line, her tone carrying an indescribable sense of absurdity.
"They expressed deep sympathy for the 'unexpected transfer' of our important united front targets, appreciated our efforts to maintain regional stability, and acknowledged certain 'procedural flaws' in the extradition."
"However, they said that since this matter is a 'legacy issue,' it is not under the jurisdiction of the current parliament according to the division of responsibilities."
"The entire reply was written in extremely sincere language, with an exceptionally tactful attitude."
"He didn't say a single useful word."