A probing official request for personnel records, the inspection leader's preliminary move
The light from the Data Pad went out in Ravonna Renslayer's pupils.
Ke'er.
This name, like a silent nail, was pulled out of a sea of three hundred terabytes of discarded data by her.
She did not immediately submit the file, nor did she show it to anyone. In the absolute silence of the Coordination Office, she simply sat there, surrounded by the mountain of official documents from the Liaison Office and the Ministry of Science and Department of Technology piled on her desk.
The tedious procedures, supplementary materials, and endless format reviews were like a meticulously woven net, designed to trap her in place and exhaust her patience and energy.
She knew very well that the other party was using the resilience and depth of the system to diminish her sharpness.
But they seem to have miscalculated one thing.
She, Ravonna Renslayer, was also a product of this system. She understood better than anyone that what this network feared most was not brute force, but a sufficiently sharp needle.
Now, she has found the needle.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ravonna swiped her finger across another blank Data Pad, bringing up a brand new draft of an official letter.
She didn't mention the Hydra list, nor did she name Ke'er.
The title of the official letter was meticulously worded and impeccable.
"Request for Security Background Checks on the Resumes of Certain Individuals Residing from the Older Era"
The atmosphere in Gwen Stacy Stacy's office was somewhat heavy.
"The letter was delivered in person by the Inspection Group liaison officer half an hour ago, requesting a response within two hours."
Gwen Stacy's voice remained calm and emotionless as always. She gently placed a Data Pad on the armrest of Lynn's Throne.
Lynn's gaze didn't even leave another quarterly report on the allocation of energy in Negative Zone.
He simply tapped the Data Pad that Gwen Stacy handed him with his fingertips.
The Data Pad screen lights up.
A well-formatted and carefully chosen official letter is presented before you.
The letter was simple. Ravonna cited the clause in the Bilateral Memorandum on "eliminating historical security risks" as a reason for "special inspection work," and requested the Liaison Office to provide a complete resume of all personnel on the list for routine security background checks.
The list is short, only about twenty people.
They were scattered across various insignificant positions in the Negative Zone, with mediocre resumes and no particular notoriety. Some were data entry clerks from the old S.H.I.E.L.D.. era, some were warehouse managers, and some were even retired archivists receiving only a meager pension.
Ke'er's name was mixed in with the rest of the list, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
"I had the technicians conduct a preliminary screening of this list."
Gwen Stacy continued her report.
"The only thing these twenty-seven people have in common is that their original files all came from the first batch of physical data backup centers we received after S.H.I.E.L.D.. disintegrated—namely, S-7 Data Center."
She paused for a moment, then added the most crucial sentence.
"Observer Renslayer just led a team to 'inspect' the area yesterday."
The White Bone Hall was completely silent.
The only sounds were the low hum of the server and Gwen Stacy's steady breathing.
Lynn finally finished reading the energy report in his hand and signed his name. Then, he picked up the Data Pad containing Ravonna's "invitation" and slowly scanned it with his eyes.
This is an open strategy.
A precise strike disguised as compliance.
Ravonna didn't directly confront the Hydra list because its origins were unclear and it could easily be refuted as forgery. Once she got bogged down in a debate about its authenticity, she would be back on the defensive.
So she tried a different approach.
She didn't mention a list, only requesting to review resumes. This was the legitimate authority of the Inspection Group, Liaison Office had no reason to refuse.
Once these people's resumes are in her hands, she can use these officially certified files to compare them with the Hydra list that she "accidentally discovered".
By then, with witnesses and physical evidence, a complete chain of evidence will be formed.
She would brazenly bring to the forefront a shocking case involving the "containment and protection of Hydra agents in the Negative Zone".
At that time, she will no longer be an Observer mired in bureaucratic red tape, but a Inspection Group Leader armed with concrete evidence, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
"Director, there's no procedural problem with this application." Gwen Stacy's voice pulled Lynn back to reality. "If it's rejected, we'll need to submit a very detailed explanation, and they might use that against us, accusing us of deliberately concealing information and obstructing the investigation."
"If we don't reject it, once she gets her hands on the complete resumes of Ke'er and the others, I'm afraid..."
Gwen Stacy didn't continue.
Lynn casually placed the Data Pad aside, leaned back slightly against the cold back of the Throne.
He looked at Gwen Stacy, his face expressionless.
"So, what is the Liaison Office's opinion?"
"I suggest initiating the ' Major Matters Joint Review ' procedure," Gwen Stacy replied immediately, clearly having a pre- Contingency Plan. "Classify this application as a major request that could potentially affect the security of the Management Committee, and have it jointly evaluated by the Liaison Office, the Stability Maintenance Office, and the Department of Technology for fifteen working days. This will buy time to find a solution."
This is the safest and most standard way to deal with things within the system.
Use programs to fight programs.
Lynn shook her head.
"No need."
His voice was very soft.
A hint of surprise flashed in Gwen Stacy's eyes.
"If she wants it, give it to her." Lynn's fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the Throne, making a crisp sound. "Not only give it, but give it immediately, give her the complete set. Everyone's resume, from their first job to now, every job transfer, every performance evaluation, every single data point, not a single byte should be missing."
Gwen Stacy was stunned.
She had no idea that Lynn would give such an order.
This is tantamount to handing a loaded gun to the enemy.
"Director..."
"She thought she'd found a key that could unlock the door," Lynn interrupted, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, "But little did she know, we'd been waiting for her to open this door."
"We invite you into the trap; what's inside is up to us."
Lynn stood up and slowly walked to Gwen Stacy.
"Go ahead and do it. Have the Liaison Office draft a reply expressing high praise for Observer Renslayer's efficient and meticulous work attitude. Tell her that in order to support the work of the Inspection Group, we have made special arrangements and activated the green channel. All the materials she needs will be sent to her office within an hour."
Gwen Stacy looked into Lynn's eyes, and there was no worry or tension in them, only the calm and confidence of a chess player before making a move.
She instantly understood.
"Yes."
She had no more doubts, nodded heavily, and turned to leave quickly.
Less than an hour.
In Ravonna's office, a notification sound rang.
An official reply from the Negative Zone Management Committee Liaison Office, along with a large encrypted file package, lay quietly in her to-do list.
The reply was written in a warm and enthusiastic tone, expressing high praise and full support for her work.
And in that file package were the most detailed resumes of everyone, including Ke'er, that she had requested to access.
Everything went incredibly smoothly.
Ravonna sat at the table, staring at the freshly received, still-hot "ammunition," without making a move for a long time.
She knew that she had personally drawn the curtain on the battle.
But she always felt that behind the curtain, something was quietly waiting for her to appear, with a hint of a smile on its face.