The Administrative Faction Director's Internal Purge, Under the Rules Faction's Compromise
The White Bone Hall.
Lynn tapped his fingertip lightly, turning off the synchronized holographic screen.
The last line of the list vanished into thin air.
He leaned back in his chair and didn't say anything.
Engine Three
Gwen Stacy looked away, not touching the blue list floating in mid-air.
She simply looked at the Supreme Adjudicator and waited.
In situations like this, whoever speaks first loses half the momentum.
The red light in the Supreme Adjudicator's eyes flashed steadily, like a precisely timed metronome.
Its massive computing power appears to have completed a final assessment of the current situation.
"Initiate Internal Purge Procedure."
A dull, mechanical sound echoed from the dilapidated Engine Room.
As soon as the words were spoken, all the control terminals around the Engine Room that were still lit went dark, and were then filled with a line of Scarlet system announcements.
[notice]
[As verified by the Adjudication Office, Ke'er, Director of the Foreign Affairs Reception Office, rank number DA-034, committed serious dereliction of duty during his tenure, forged high-level security keys, and deliberately damaged the physical structure of Engine Three, endangering the fundamental security of the Battleworld, thus triggering the highest penalty under the Internal Affairs Regulations.]
[Ruling: Immediately strip him of all authority, and execute the Data Oblivion.]
Below the announcement is Ke'er's ID photo.
The photo lit up briefly, then, like a piece of paper set on fire, it silently crumbled into fragments of pixels, starting from the edges, and finally disappeared completely.
A new line of small text appeared where the photo had originally been.
[Execution complete]
The entire process takes no more than three seconds.
There was no trial, no defense, only a cold, hard result.
Hela stared at the words, her fingers gripping the Night Sky Sword twitching almost imperceptibly. She disliked this method, but she approved of its efficiency.
Wanda's gaze lingered for a moment on the Source Code of the announcement. She discovered that the so-called "Data Oblivion" was not a simple deletion, but a more thorough formatting at the level of the existence protocol. The internal Discipline of the Battleworld was more severe than she had imagined.
"Internal affairs have been completed."
The Supreme Adjudicator turned to Gwen Stacy.
"Now, let's discuss the compensation plan."
It raised its robotic arm, and the blue electronic list shifted forward a few more inches.
Gwen Stacy's gaze slowly swept across the list, as if seeing it for the first time.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the usual energy quotas and rare metal compensation clauses before finally settling on the most crucial supplementary clause.
"Regarding the right-of-way issue for the Third Interdimensional Passage," Gwen Stacy began, her voice unreadable, "We need a clearer definition."
"Permanently," the Judge responded, "And exempt from all routine and emergency security checks."
"Including checks on personnel, supplies, and Data Stream?" Gwen Stacy pressed.
"All."
The Judge's response was concise to the point of being cold.
This is tantamount to opening a door that will never be closed and is completely undefended in the heart of the Battleworld, creating Negative Zone.
This is a huge concession, and a huge compromise.
In order to quell this "diplomatic dispute" and to uphold the absolute sanctity of the "contract," the machine offered the maximum price it could within the framework of the rules.
Hela's breath hitched slightly. She understood the strategic value of this passage better than anyone else. With it, the Undead Legion could be directly deployed to this self-proclaimed superior mechanical nation.
Gwen Stacy knew perfectly well that this was the political fruit Lynn had obtained by using the Bronze Gear to pry open the rules and then using the code Wanda had implanted as leverage.
She was merely playing the role of the person who completed the signing in front of the camera.
"Can."
Gwen Stacy nodded and brought up her authorization signature on the tactical tablet.
"On behalf of the Negative Zone Management Committee, I accept this compensation agreement."
The electronic signature was projected and imprinted onto the virtual agreement text along with the golden Hourglass Insignia of the Battleworld Adjudication Office.
The agreement is in effect.
The Supreme Adjudicator raised his hand, and a Data Stream towards an inconspicuous locker in the corner.
The cabinet door popped open, revealing dozens of square data Chip, each gleaming faintly, lying quietly inside.
"E-734 Variant, Erik Lehnsherr, complete medical and behavioral monitoring files since entering the Battleworld," the Judge's voice rang out. "Transferred as agreed."
With a flash of red light from Wanda's fingertip, the Chip were drawn by an invisible force, levitating in front of her and being stored in her personal storage device.
The mission can now be considered successfully completed.
They rescued the target, seized the profits, and also conveniently eliminated the political enemies within the opposing side.
Gwen Stacy glanced at Erik, who was still unconscious in Hela's arms, and then at the walls around her that were still crumbling with debris.
"Your Judge," she began, "The cleanup of the accident site presumably does not require our assistance. Our delegation requests immediate return to port."
The passage is ready.
The Supreme Judge's robotic arm points in the direction it came from.
The alloy gate that had been blown up and welded shut had been cleaned up at some point, revealing a rectangular passageway emitting a steady White Light.
Gwen Stacy nodded slightly to Jean Grey behind her, signaling her to lead the rescue team to evacuate first.
Qin didn't say much, and led her team members into the passage.
Engine Room, only Gwen Stacy, Hela, and Wanda remained.
"Let's go," Gwen Stacy said.
Hela, holding Erik, followed silently behind her. This usually unruly Goddess of Death offered no objection at this moment.
This confrontation gave her a completely new understanding of this nominal "regimental commander".
Rules are sometimes more useful than swords.
Wanda walked at the back, and just before stepping into the passage, she glanced back at the massive Rule Engine.
Deep within the dark green source code, the "Benign Patch" she implanted had taken root completely, like a seed that had quietly sprouted.
The three of them passed through the passage one by one and returned to the physical port of Chinatown.
Inside the abandoned air-raid shelter, the lights were still on.
Jean Grey's Expert Team is conducting final equipment checks and finishing touches.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Gwen Stacy and the others return safely with Erik.
"Commander," Qin stepped forward.
"Thank you for your hard work." Gwen Stacy nodded in acknowledgment, then gave the order, "Everyone pack your gear and prepare to return to the Negative Zone."
"Yes."
The entire team began to operate efficiently.
Gwen Stacy stepped aside and activated the encrypted communication with the White Bone Hall.
The light screen lit up, and Lynn's figure appeared on the screen.
"Boss, mission accomplished." Gwen Stacy's report was concise and clear. "All set objectives have been achieved, and the compensation agreement exceeded expectations."
"Understood." Lynn's tone was calm. "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Communication cut off.
Gwen Stacy stared at the darkened screen, knowing that although her journey to the Battleworld was over, the real test was just beginning once she returned to the Negative Zone.
The delegation she hastily assembled was headed by the Liaison Office, deputy headed by the Stability Maintenance Office, and its technical advisor was from the Department of Technology.
Everyone has made contributions, and everyone has their own demands.
Back in the White Bone Hall, the table where rewards are distributed is where the true measure of merit is revealed.
How will Lynn evaluate this operation? And how will she treat her subordinates who have made such great contributions?
The delicate balance involved is far more complex than negotiating with the same machine in the Engine Room of the Battleworld.