He Who Remains' Private Invitation: The Ultimate Tea Meeting Beyond the System
The Papyrus card felt quite peculiar to hold.
Rough, dry, with a fragile quality that comes from being dried by time, as if it would crumble into dust with the slightest force.
Lynn's fingertips gently traced the slightly rough edges of the card. It was a pure, unprocessed physical texture.
In the central hub of the White Bone Hall, where all information exists at the speed of light and in the form of Data Stream, such a primitive object is itself the strongest signal.
It signifies that the other party has the ability and the willingness to bypass all barriers constructed by technology, magic, and rules, and deliver their will to you in the most ancient and direct way.
Lynn's gaze fell on the line of ancient, ornate characters.
"We cordially invite Mr. Lynn to share a cup of tea at the Citadel at the End of Time."
He is not the Director the Negative Zone Management Committee.
It's Mr. Lynn.
This change in title is significant. It strips away all the shells of position, power, and system attached to Lynn, defining the nature of this meeting directly as a dialogue between two individuals.
All previous clashes, whether it was the procedural traps set by the Audit Team or the military intimidation by the Originalist Faction, were ultimately a game between institutions. At that card table, Lynn held the system and rules of the Negative Zone, as well as a group of terrifyingly powerful core members, and he was adept at maneuvering and handling the situation with ease.
He can use the "Exemption from Inspection Filing" to deter Armed Hounds, use the "Infrastructure Protection Regulations" to detain construction teams, and use Red-Headed Document to legalize the confiscation of the Void Beast.
He kept using the other party's rules to slap them in the face.
Now, the other person has stopped playing.
He overturned the table, but not with violence.
Instead, he walks down from the card table, stands in front of you, and says, "Let's not talk about business anymore, let's talk about personal matters."
Lynn placed the card on the control panel in front of the Throne.
The main hall was silent, save for the low, steady hum of the server cluster in the distance, like the sound of breathing.
He knew very well that this was an invitation he couldn't refuse.
Refusing means showing weakness. It means that you, Lynn, only dare to speak out behind the rules and Bastion you've built for yourself. Once you leave the protection of the system, you are nothing.
Then, the other party will no longer have any scruples and will use truly irresistible means to completely erase the entire Negative Zone, along with Lynn himself, from the concept of erasure.
Therefore, I must go.
The question is, how do we get there?
Almost instantly, Lynn envisioned the possible scenarios that might occur at the Standing Committee.
Hela would be the first to slam her fist on the table, the hilt of the Night Sky Sword likely embedded directly into it. Her plan would be simple: gather the Undead Guard, storm the so-called "Castle at the End of Time," drag out the cowardly fellow, and teach him a lesson about "death's private invitation."
Wanda would frown, and an unstable Scarlet Mist would begin to emanate from her body. She would suggest that she first conduct a fundamental deconstruction of the concept of "the End of Time," thoroughly analyzing the other party's form of existence, energy composition, and logical flaws, and then formulate a foolproof "Concept Sealing" plan.
Jean's reaction would be more direct; the Phoenix Force would burn uncontrollably in her eyes. Her reasons would be compelling: to ensure the Director's safety, she must accompany him; any potential threat should be completely incinerated the moment it appears.
Gwen Stacy, however, was probably the only one who would remain calm. She would immediately begin drafting a 300-page "Risk Assessment and Contingency Plan for Informal Contact in Unknown Third-Party Region," and insist that the other party must first sign a "Personnel Safety Guarantee and Waiver Agreement for Transdimensional Meetings."
A bitter smile, unnoticed by anyone, appeared on Lynn's lips.
Take them with you?
That wasn't tea drinking; it was the opening ceremony of Fourth World War.
This game has escalated from a game of chess between institutions to a final showdown between kings. The pieces are no longer qualified to play.
Lynn leaned back on the Throne and closed his eyes.
He needed a reason, a legitimate reason to disappear from everyone's sight for a period of time.
This reason must be impeccable and must be able to soothe everyone's emotions, especially those core members who might lose control at any moment due to worry.
A conventional "study tour" or "official visit" is clearly not an option. With an unknown destination and unknown risks, they would never agree to it.
Therefore, the only option is to look inwards.
An internal matter that cannot be disturbed by the outside world and is of paramount importance.
Lynn opened his eyes, his pupils clear.
He connected to the internal hotline of the Management Committee Secretariat.
"Director." The voice of the person in charge of the Secretariat was always so calm and steady.
"Draft a Director's Order and issue it immediately to all Standing Committee Member of the Management Committee and the main responsible persons of all departments." Lynn's tone was calm, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"The content is as follows: In order to cope with the recent complex cross- Dimension security situation and further enhance the risk resistance capabilities of the core systems in this jurisdiction, it has been decided that, effective immediately, I will personally preside over a 48-hour closed-door strategic simulation of the highest level of the ' Abyss Protocol '."
The person on the other end of the phone paused for a moment.
Abyss Protocol.
Within the Management Committee, this term is equivalent to the highest state of combat readiness.
"During the simulation," Lynn continued, "I will enter the lowest level of the Core Server's Physical Isolation Zone, cutting off all regular communication with the outside world. During this period, the daily affairs of the Management Committee will be handled by Gwen Stacy Stacy, the Director of Liaison Office. All security alarms of Class A or above will be reported directly to Stability Maintenance Office Director Hela. All internal stability maintenance matters will be fully handled by Comrade Jean Grey, the Director of the Mutants Management Committee."
"This order is effective immediately. All units must strictly comply. No disruption is permitted except in the highest-level emergency."
"Understood." The head of the Secretariat didn't ask a single question.
After hanging up the call, Lynn accessed his Private Terminal.
He quietly drafted several encrypted documents, each with different trigger conditions and access permissions.
A document was sent to Gwen Stacy, set to be sent automatically in 24 hours. The content was simple: if he still hadn't returned by then, she was authorized to activate the "Highest Access Privileges Missing Contact Emergency Plan," and it included what he suspected was a secret contact list of Moderate Faction within TVA.
One copy was given to Hela, set to automatically unlock when the Negative Zone encounters an external attack. The content was even simpler, containing only two words.
"Let's start the war."
Having done all this, Lynn stood up and slowly walked down from the Throne.
He picked up the Papyrus card again.
This invitation has no address, no coordinates, and no date.
"The Castle at the End of Time" is itself a signpost, a conceptual coordinate that only the invited can understand and reach.
Lynn held the card in her palm.
He did not activate any transmission device or call system.
He simply stood there quietly, connecting his spirit with the handwritten cursive character "Kang" on the card and the Golden Hourglass Symbol.
A license.
A verification method.
A pull from a distant shore.
The space before Lynn began to distort in a non-physical way. The outline of the White Bone Hall swayed like a reflection in water, gradually becoming blurry and transparent.
There was no light gate, no rift.
The ground beneath his feet seemed to vanish into nothingness. The entire world was fading away from him.
Just before he was about to be completely engulfed by that invisible force, he released his grip.
The Papyrus card, having fulfilled its purpose, quietly unfolded in his palm, transforming into a handful of fine, shimmering golden dust that drifted and dissipated as if it had never existed.
The main hall was completely empty.
All that remained was the cup of tea on the Throne, now completely cold.
Meanwhile, Gwen Stacy, who was working on documents in her office, suddenly received a high-priority red notification pop up on her Encrypted Terminal.
[Director's Order: Initiate the highest-level closed-door strategic simulation of the ' Abyss Protocol '.]
Gwen Stacy's pupils suddenly contracted.