Reception Arrangements for the Audit Team's Arrival, the Discipline Inspection Commissioner's Move
The red alarm sounded.
But that sharp, piercing sound still seemed to echo beneath the dome of the White Bone Hall, seeping into everyone's ears.
The thoughts that had just been forcibly unified by Lynn's words were thrown into disarray by this sudden change.
"Forced arrival?" Hela's brows furrowed, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.
Lynn sat on the Throne, motionless.
His gaze didn't even look outside the hall; he simply looked calmly at the four Standing Committee Member who had already stood up in front of him.
"What's the panic?"
He spoke, his voice not loud, but it instantly silenced the hall.
"We'll meet force with force, and water with earth. The plan remains unchanged." Lynn turned to Gwen Stacy. "Liaison Office, proceed with reception Contingency Plan number one. Remember, we are the hosts, and they are the guests."
Gwen Stacy took a deep breath, and the hint of panic in her eyes was quickly replaced by calm.
"Yes, boss."
She turned and strode out of the main hall.
Hela, Wanda, and Jean Grey all turned their attention to Lynn, awaiting his next instructions.
Lynn simply waved his hand.
"Everyone, get back to your posts. Doing your job well is the greatest support you can give to the inspection."
Negative Zone Management Committee, Reception Hall One.
This was the only passage connecting the external physical port to the interior of the Negative Zone, and it had now been cleared out. The smooth, mirror-like alloy floor reflected the cold white lights from the dome, creating a spacious and solemn atmosphere.
Gwen Stacy stood in the center of the hall, behind her were two rows of Liaison Office officers. All of them were wearing the same dark gray uniforms, with serious expressions and ramrod straight postures.
No one spoke.
The only sound in the air was the low hum of the energy pipes.
Directly ahead, the massive circular alloy gate was now shimmering with a soft blue light, indicating that the external docking process was complete.
Finally, the buzzing stopped.
Accompanied by a series of fine mechanical clicking sounds, the heavy alloy gate slowly slid open to both sides.
Outside the door was not the expected spatial passage, but a pure white light.
The light wasn't dazzling, but it carried an unquestionable, formalized authority.
Three figures emerged from the White Light.
The leader was a woman, dressed in a well -Pruning dark uniform with a silver hourglass badge representing the Coordination Committee's Discipline Inspection Department pinned to her chest. Her steps were steady, her gaze sharp, and as she swept across the hall, it was as if she were examining a document awaiting approval.
Following behind her were a male and a female attendant, also dressed in uniforms and carrying standard metal briefcases.
Gwen Stacy stepped forward, her face displaying a standard, impeccable professional smile.
"Welcome to the Negative Zone. I am Gwen Stacy Stacy, the Director the Management Committee's Liaison Office. I am here to greet you on the orders of Director Lynn."
She deliberately slowed down her speech, emphasizing the words "Liaison Office" to clarify her scope of responsibilities.
The woman at the head of the group stopped and looked at Gwen Stacy without any politeness.
"Lavna Rensselaer, Senior Special Envoy of the Coordination Committee's Disciplinary Inspection Department, Head of the Audit Team for this Investigation." Her voice, like her eyes, was cold and formulaic. "Director Gwen, no need for formalities. According to the 'Multiverse Institutional Performance Oversight Regulations,' we now need to immediately move into your core data center."
She skipped all the reception procedures and made the most crucial, and most unreasonable, demand.
The Liaison Office officers behind him all looked a little nervous.
Gwen Stacy's smile remained unchanged, as if she hadn't noticed the underlying threat in the other person's words.
"Special Envoy Ravonna, we fully understand the urgency of your work. The Negative Zone Management Committee will fully cooperate with the Discipline and Supervision Department's audit work."
She first expressed her willingness to cooperate, then quickly changed the subject.
"However, according to Article 7, Section B of the 'Regulations on Health and Safety Management of Cross- Dimension Entities Entering the Country,' which was filed and approved by the Administrative Office of the Coordination Committee, all arriving persons must complete a 24-hour silent quarantine period at designated reception facilities."
Ravonna's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"We are the Discipline and Supervision Department, not tourists. This task has the highest priority and is not bound by regular regulations."
"You're right." Gwen Stacy nodded in agreement, her tone becoming even more respectful. "However, the supplementary explanation to this regulation specifically states that an emergency exemption procedure can be initiated for special tasks such as Discipline inspection and military operations. However, this procedure requires our Liaison Office to submit an application to the Committee General Office, which then forwards it to the Discipline and Supervision Department for internal approval. The entire process takes approximately twenty-four hours."
The male attendant behind Ravonna's face darkened, as if he wanted to say something, but Ravonna stopped him with a look.
Ravonna stared at Gwen Stacy and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Very good." She uttered two words, "Then, where is the guesthouse?"
She seemed to have compromised.
Gwen Stacy turned to the side and made a "please" gesture.
"Guesthouse Number One is ready for you and your team. This way, please."
She led Ravonna and her entourage toward the passageway on the side of the hall.
After taking a few steps, Ravonna suddenly stopped.
"Director Gwen."
"Please speak, Special Envoy."
"The guesthouse should have a physical port connecting to our Discipline and Supervision Department's internal network, right?" Ravonna asked. "We need to handle some official business during the quiet period."
Gwen Stacy's smile faltered for a moment.
She knew this was the other side's real test. Once the port was connected, their technicians could use the guesthouse as a springboard to try and infiltrate the entire Negative Zone's internal network.
"Of course," Gwen Stacy replied with a smile. "However, according to the Negative Zone Confidentiality Regulations and the Technical Assistance Security Memorandum we just signed with the Battleworld, any external network access must undergo security review and physical isolation by the Technology Integration Department. I've already asked them to prepare, and the review report should be ready around this time tomorrow."
She passed the buck to Wanda, while also invoking the reputation of the Battleworld.
Ravonna came to a complete stop.
She turned around and looked Gwen Stacy in the eye again. This time, her gaze was no longer cold and formulaic, but carried a hint of scrutinizing pressure.
The air in the hall seemed to freeze.
The Liaison Office officers present didn't dare to utter a sound. They watched as their superior, with a series of regulations that even they themselves might not be able to recite, rendered the aggressive "imperial envoy" speechless.
This is no longer a simple reception; it's a confrontation without gunfire.
Use bureaucracy to defeat bureaucracy.
After a long while, Ravonna's lips suddenly curved into a smile, but there was no smile in her eyes.
"Director Gwen, you are very professional."
"It's my duty," Gwen Stacy, neither humble nor arrogant.
"I agree with all the regulations you mentioned," Ravonna nodded, then changed the subject, "But they only apply to routine auditing procedures."
As she spoke, she gave a wink to the female attendant behind her.
The female attendant who had remained silent immediately stepped forward, opened the metal briefcase in her hand, took out a document wrapped in a dark red cover, and handed it to Ravonna.
Ravonna took the document and unfolded it in front of Gwen Stacy.
At the top of the document was an emblem composed of three golden hourglasses, Gwen Stacy had never seen before. The emblem seemed to possess some strange power, making it impossible to look away.
"This is a ' Mandatory Takeover Order ' jointly signed by the three Supreme Chairman of the Coordination Committee."
Ravonna's voice resonated deeply in everyone's hearts, word by word.
"According to this order, during the investigation, the Discipline and Supervision Department has the right to take over all facilities, data, and personnel of the target unit. This order has higher legal force than all local and routine regulations."
She held the document and gently patted Gwen Stacy on the shoulder.
"Now, Director Gwen."
Are you still going to take me to the guesthouse?