A sudden medical humanitarian crisis, the extradition treaty stretched to its limits
The piercing alarm shattered the silence of the Engine Room.
The red light replaced the original pure white illumination, flashing wildly on every metal surface and casting flickering shadows on the faces of Gwen Stacy, Hela, and Wanda.
All eyes were focused on the nutrient tank numbered E-734.
The green indicator light representing vital signs had gone out completely, replaced by a rapidly flashing red light, a sign of urgency. On the control panel's public display screen, the brainwave curve belonging to that Variant was rapidly converging into a straight line from a violent, chaotic struggle.
He's dying.
This realization caused Hela's Death Force to surge instantly, almost solidifying into a tangible form.
Wanda's face was deathly pale, her lips pressed tightly together. She knew very well that this sudden crisis stemmed from her earlier overstepping of boundaries with the deep scan.
"Warning. E-734 Energy Entity has suffered irreversible brain failure."
The Supreme Adjudicator's emotionless, metallic voice rang out amidst the alarm, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"In accordance with Article 17, Item 3 of the Core Engine Operations and Maintenance Regulations, initiate the wear and tear destruction procedure."
As soon as he finished speaking, a robotic arm suspended above nutrient tank E-734 slowly started up, and a metal needle flashing with eerie blue electricity extended from the end of the arm, aimed at Erik's temple.
That's not medical equipment.
That's a destruction tool used to completely break down biological tissues.
You dare!
Hela could no longer contain her rage. She took a step forward, and the hilt of the Night Sky Sword was already in her hand.
However, a hand pressed down on her wrist.
It's Gwen Stacy.
Her hand was steady, and although she didn't use much force, it carried an undeniable firmness.
Hela abruptly turned her head to look at Gwen Stacy, her eyes filled with icy questioning.
Gwen Stacy didn't look at her, but simply stepped forward, standing in front of the Supreme Adjudicator and blocking the descending mechanical arm.
Her face showed neither Hela's anger nor Wanda's panic, only an almost icy calm.
"Your Judge."
Gwen Stacy's voice wasn't loud, but it had a unique penetrating quality that instantly brought the tense atmosphere to a standstill.
"On behalf of the Negative Zone Management Committee and all staff members of the Negative Zone Space, I lodge the strongest protest against your impending actions."
The Supreme Adjudicator did not respond, and the descent of the robotic arm only paused slightly.
"According to Annex III, 'Protection of Basic Rights of Staff Members,' of the ' Interdimensional Extradition Treaty No. 7, ' jointly signed by the Negative Zone and the Battleworld and filed with the Multiverse Coordination Committee."
Gwen Stacy spoke slowly, enunciating each word very clearly, as if she were reciting a law.
"It is explicitly stipulated that any staff member of either party who encounters a sudden, life-threatening medical situation within the jurisdiction of the other party has the basic right to receive emergency humanitarian medical treatment."
She raised her head and stared directly at the Supreme Adjudicator's unfocused visor.
"What you are doing now is not providing treatment, but destroying [the items]. This is a blatant violation of the Interdimensional Extradition Treaty and a blatant disregard for the right to life of those registered in Negative Zone."
The Supreme Adjudicator remained silent for a moment, seemingly searching for relevant clauses in the internal system.
A few seconds later, he spoke.
"This unit, E-734, is defined as a 'system asset' within the Battleworld system, not a 'staff member.' Its function is to provide computing power for the Rule Engine. It is currently experiencing functional degradation and is being handled according to internal regulations; diplomatic immunity does not apply."
What a convenient term for "system assets".
Gwen Stacy sneered inwardly, but maintained her professionalism and composure on the surface.
"Your Judge, please forgive me for not being able to agree with this definition."
She took a miniature Data Pad out of her pocket, which Lynn had given her before she left. She activated it, and a screen of light was projected into the air.
On the screen was Erik Lehnsherr's detailed information, stamped with the bright red seal of the Mutants Management Committee and a registration number from the Negative Zone Management Committee's personnel department.
"Mr. Lehnsherr. Erik Lansher is a nominal advisor to the Negative Zone Mutants Management Committee and is a registered member of our organization. This was confirmed when you 'extradited' him through the emergency avoidance clause of Treaty No. 7."
Gwen Stacy took a step forward, getting closer to the Supreme Adjudicator.
"If the Battleworld considers him a 'system asset,' then the 'extradition' procedure shouldn't have been followed in the first place; instead, it should have been an 'asset acquisition' or 'trophy seizure' procedure. Since the extradition was carried out, it means that your side legally acknowledges his status as a 'personnel' of the Negative Zone. Procedures cannot contradict themselves."
This is a purely legal tug-of-war.
Use the rules that the other party is most proud of to attack their logical flaws.
The Supreme Adjudicator's mechanical head turned slightly, seemingly performing intense logical calculations.
The hovering robotic arm did not descend further.
Gwen Stacy knew she had grasped the key.
The anger in Hela's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a scrutinizing look. She hadn't expected that this Liaison Office Chief, who usually dealt only with documents and reports, would have such a sharp side when facing adversity.
Wanda also recovered from her initial self-blame. She looked at Gwen Stacy's retreating figure with a complicated expression. She began to understand why Lynn had chosen Gwen Stacy to be the leader of the delegation.
"I reiterate our demands."
Seeing that the other party remained silent, Gwen Stacy immediately followed suit, giving him no time to think of a countermeasure.
"Immediately halt the destruction process, remove Mr. Lehnsherr. Erik Lansher from the engine, and hand him over to our side for emergency humanitarian care by our technical advisors."
Her words were resounding and powerful.
A rescue operation was completely packaged as a legally justified diplomatic medical incident.
The air seemed to freeze.
The alarm had stopped sometime ago, leaving only the low hum of the engine.
After a long silence, the Supreme Adjudicator finally spoke again.
"Can."
These two words brought a sense of relief to Gwen Stacy, Hela, and Wanda.
But they all knew that things would never be that simple.
Sure enough, the Supreme Adjudicator's next words immediately tightened the tension once again.
"However, according to the 'principle of reciprocity' clause in the general principles of the Interdimensional Extradition Treaty, all losses arising from any alteration of an existing agreement due to a unilateral request shall be borne by the requesting party."
His voice remained cold.
"Stripping away E-734 Energy Entity will result in a 0.3% computing power deficit in Engine Three, and may trigger a chain reaction of disruptions in the Rule Furnace. This loss must be compensated for by the Negative Zone on the spot."
The Supreme Adjudicator raised a metal arm and pointed it at Wanda.
"The compensation method involves drawing upon the source of Chaos Energy within your body as a supplement to your computing power. The amount of compensation is calculated in real time by the system until the gap is completely filled."
He paused, then added the last sentence.
Otherwise, there's no point in discussing it.