Tactical friction at the cordon, turning pressure back on the other side
The next morning.
Before dawn, the No. 3 Guesthouse remained silent. The building, constructed of white alloy, offered no sound from the outside world.
Hela changed out of her elaborate ceremonial gown and into a sharply tailored dark green combat uniform. She wore no headdress, and her long black hair was simply tied back, giving her an aura of sharpness ready to be unsheathed.
The ten Centurion of the Undead Guard were already lined up silently outside her room.
"Morning exercise."
Hela uttered only two words before stepping towards the only exit leading out of the building.
The guards followed closely behind, their steps perfectly synchronized. Their metal boots clattered on the smooth ground with only a dull thud, like a heartbeat.
Outside the guesthouse, the first line of defense, composed of thirty Battleworld Security Personnel, was meticulously carrying out their blockade mission. They wore uniform silver-gray uniforms, their faces expressionless, resembling more of intricate humanoid components than human figures.
When Hela appeared at the exit with her guards, the security personnel immediately locked their attention on her.
Hela did not stop and walked straight towards the cordon.
"Warning. Please stop. This area is a temporary restricted zone and passage is prohibited."
A emotionless, synthesized electronic voice emanated from beneath the mask of the head security captain. Simultaneously, thirty Energy Rifle were raised in unison, their red muzzles merging into a single beam in the dim morning light.
The air suddenly froze.
Hela's lips curled into a cold smile.
"I'll say it again, we're going out for our morning exercise." She looked at the security captain and said, enunciating each word clearly, "This is the daily routine of the Negative Zone Stability Maintenance Office, and it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any external unit. Move aside."
"Warning. Insufficient permissions. Please return to the specified area." The electronic voice repeated, leaving no room for compromise.
Hela stopped talking nonsense.
She took a step forward.
The ten Centurion of the Undead Guard behind her instantly formed a tight attack wedge shape, using her as the spearhead. They did not draw their weapons, but the Death Energy emanating from them made the surrounding air viscous.
The security forces on the other side reacted immediately, their gun barrels glowing brightly red, energy rapidly gathering.
A conflict is about to erupt.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the guesthouse.
Mobius practically jogged over, beads of sweat on his forehead and a professionally anxious smile on his face. "Director Hela! Director Hela! Let's talk this out, what's going on?"
As he spoke, he quickly stepped between Hela and the security forces, spreading his arms in a gesture of mediation.
Hela gave him a cold glance. "Deputy Director Mobius, my men need to do their daily drills. Your soldiers are blocking my way."
"The training can be conducted inside the guesthouse; the space here is quite spacious," Mobius said with a smile. "You see, the situation outside is complicated. If any friction were to occur, it would affect our friendly relations, and that wouldn't be good."
"My soldiers only train on battlefields and in ruins; they're not used to playing house in the living room." Hela's voice wasn't loud, but it was incredibly penetrating. "Today, I'm definitely leaving through this door."
Mobius's expression turned grim. He knew very well that this woman was truly capable of taking action. But his orders were to "stabilize" the delegation and prevent any armed conflict.
He was caught in a dilemma when a cold voice came from behind him.
"Director Hela."
Gwen Stacy walked over slowly. She was still wearing that impeccably tailored gray suit, glasses, and a data terminal in her hand, as if she were just out for a walk and taking care of some business.
Wanda followed behind her, maintaining a subtle distance, her gaze calmly sweeping over the entire room.
"Who gave you permission to act on your own?" Gwen Stacy's tone was stern and unquestionable, her gaze fixed on Hela. "Have you forgotten the instructions from your superiors before you left? Have you forgotten the Discipline of the delegation?"
Hela turned her head to meet Gwen Stacy's gaze, her eyes filled with arrogance and disdain. "All I know is that my patience has run out. I didn't come here to sit in jail."
"This is a diplomatic mission, not your private battlefield!" Gwen Stacy's voice rose several decibels. "Now, immediately, take your men and go back! Don't make me say it a third time!"
The atmosphere between the two was tense and confrontational.
Mobius watched with trepidation, yet dared not utter a word. He wished the internal Negative Zone would erupt into a quarrel first, thus easing his pressure considerably.
Hela and Gwen Stacy stared at each other for a full five seconds.
Finally, Hela let out a cold snort and reluctantly waved her hand at the guards behind her. "Stand by."
She didn't say "retreat," but rather "standby." This single word difference perfectly illustrates her tough stance and her half-hearted execution of Gwen Stacy's orders.
Gwen Stacy stopped looking at her and turned to face the embarrassed Mobius. His face, which had just been sharp and stern, now bore a complex expression of weariness, apology, and helplessness.
"Deputy Director Mobius, please excuse my rudeness." Gwen Stacy adjusted her glasses. "I will handle our internal Discipline issues. But today's events, I think, should also serve as a reminder to you."
Mobius quickly said, "Commander Stacy, you're too kind. It's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."
"This is not a misunderstanding," Gwen Stacy interrupted him. "My deputy, Hela, the Director Hela of the Stability Maintenance Office, is a soldier. You should understand the military mindset—it's more direct, and they value efficiency and dignity even more. Detaining her and her elite guard here, using vague 'procedures' to stall for time, is itself a provocation."
Gwen Stacy's tone was calm, as if she were stating an objective fact.
"As the regimental commander, I can restrain her once or twice. But I cannot guarantee that I can keep the military's excessive emotions in check without seeing any sincere progress."
She paused, her gaze sharpening.
"Director Ke'er said last night that he doesn't have the final say. Therefore, we need to meet with someone who does. If you can't even arrange a formal visit, then I can only conclude that you lack sincerity in resolving the issue, or even are deliberately escalating the conflict."
"If any further friction occurs, or if my subordinates take actions... that are beyond my control, I'm afraid the responsibility cannot be borne solely by my side."
These words were spoken flawlessly.
She packaged Hela's "recklessness" as an internal crisis that even she, the "reasonable" leader, was about to lose control of, and then cleverly pushed this powder keg about to explode in front of the other party.
If you don't want it to explode, you'll have to help me remove the fuse.
The only way to defuse the situation is to make immediate and substantial concessions on the issue of visitation.
Mobius's smile vanished completely. He understood the weight behind those words. He finally realized that this seemingly gentle young female leader was far more formidable than the menacing Director of the Stability Maintenance Office.
He was silent for a moment, seemingly making an urgent request for instructions via the internal channel.
A few minutes later, he looked up and forced a stiff smile back onto his face.
"Commander Stacy, it was our oversight. Director Ke'er just relayed that he has done his utmost to expedite the process."
Mobius took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.
"We can arrange a video visit for everyone, immediately. This is the maximum authority we can secure at the moment."
Hela frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the "video" result.
Gwen Stacy, however, seemed not to notice. She nodded, her tone softening. "Okay. We accept this arrangement."
Mobius visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Gwen Stacy's next words made him catch his breath again.
"But before the visitation, I need a written explanation that clearly states why only video visits are possible, and a specific timetable for a formal meeting."
"This..." Mobius looked troubled.
"Commander Stacy," Director Ke'er's voice, which had been silent until now, broke through the Communicator Mobius, carrying a businesslike indifference, "Video access is already an exception. The rules of the Core Zone cannot be challenged."
His voice paused for a moment.
"If you accept this, in order to mitigate technical risks and potential subsequent liability disputes, we require your delegation to sign a disclaimer drafted by us."