Late-night tea in the White Bone Hall, the Management Committee Director's open scheme

Ravonna's finger finally landed on that cold, icy screen.

Without hesitation.

She didn't send an inquiry or a request, but a highly standardized Internal Communications application, with only four words in the "reason" section.

Work report.

The receipt arrived almost instantly.

There were no unnecessary pleasantries, only a time and a place.

"The White Bone Hall, East Side Hall. 11 PM."

It's late at night.

Negative Zone has no strict day and night, but the inertia of the biological clock still exists. The long corridor leading to the White Bone Hall is empty and deserted, with only the standard alloy floor reflecting the cold light from the dome, casting a long shadow on her.

The door to the east side hall was not closed.

Ravonna stopped at the doorway and looked inside.

The interior was simply furnished, with only a long, dark stone table and two bone-backed chairs. On the table was a simple tea set, from which two wisps of white steam rose, swirling in the slightly cool air before dissipating.

Lynn was already sitting there.

He was wearing an ordinary Management Committee uniform, without any extra accessories, and was looking down intently at the tea leaves floating in the cup in front of him.

Seemingly hearing the noise at the door, he looked up and calmly gazed over.

"Sit."

He gestured with his chin towards the empty chair opposite him.

Ravonna went in and sat down across the table, her back ramrod straight and her hands resting flat on her knees. This was a standard TVA questioning posture.

Lynn didn't pay attention to her posture; she simply pushed another teacup slowly across the table toward her.

The cup was warm to the touch.

"Try it," Lynn said calmly. "It comes from a Timeline that has long since disappeared. It's said to have a calming effect."

He paused, his gaze falling on Ravonna's expressionless face.

"You have 46 hours and 37 minutes left. Perhaps you need this."

Ravonna's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

Without beating around the bush, the other party's first words were a stark reminder of their impending doom from TVA, laid bare on the table.

She didn't touch the cup of tea.

"Director, I..."

"This is not an interrogation, Observer Renslayer," Lynn interrupted her, his tone remaining businesslike and calm. "This is an informal discussion about your follow-up work arrangements."

He picked up his teacup and gently blew on the steam.

"The Inspection Group's work has been very effective. You've uncovered a long-standing problem: a Hydra agent named Ke'er. This is a very serious and deeply hidden security threat."

Ravonna remained silent, listening.

These words were supposed to be her weapons against the Negative Zone. Now, they came out of the other person's mouth, stated as facts, without any emotion.

"However," Lynn changed the subject, "This problem is not a systemic one."

"It's an individual problem. It's about a special individual named Ke'er, who was recruited into TVA in its early days due to historical reasons, and whose personal behavior was irregular and who abused his power."

He put down his teacup and looked into Ravonna's eyes.

"A Ending report that clearly and forcefully demonstrates this point and pins the blame precisely on Ke'er is a good thing for TVA."

"It proves that TVA's error correction mechanism is effective, capable of accurately identifying and eliminating its own historical problems, thereby upholding the procedural justice and fundamental credibility of the entire organization."

"For the Inspection Group, this is also a commendable achievement. A significant, yet controllable, result."

Everyone was happy.

Lynn finished speaking.

The side hall fell silent once more. Only the two wisps of white steam stubbornly continued to rise.

Ravonna felt a little short of breath.

The other party did not mention the illicit funds, the TVA executives, or even the energy flow diagram sent by the Department of Technology.

He simply downplayed the scandal, setting the tone as "Ke'er's personal misconduct."

Then, he attributed the credit for the report to her.

This is an open strategy.

A calculated scheme she simply couldn't refuse.

If she accepts, she can survive. She can use this "achievement" to return to TVA and report back to the higher-ups who are eager to quell the situation. She will transform from a potential threat who knows the secret into a "hero" who helps them bury it.

The price is that she will become Lynn's pawn. A noose called "Truth" will forever be around her neck, and the other end of the rope will be held in the hand of the man in front of her.

reject?

The consequences of refusal were clearly stated in the official letter from the Discipline Inspection Commission.

"I..." Ravonna's lips moved, her throat was dry, and she could only utter a hoarse syllable.

"This cup of tea isn't from TVA." Lynn's tone was completely flat. "It simply represents the Negative Zone Management Committee's personal appreciation for a meticulous and highly skilled professional."

The implication is that after drinking this cup of tea, you will no longer be just Observer for TVA.

Ravonna's gaze finally fell on the cup of tea in front of her.

The tea liquor is clear and bright, and the tea leaves are fully unfurled.

Her hands were clenched tightly on her knees, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. A long time passed, so long that the steam from the tea began to thin, before she slowly released them.

Then, she reached out her hand.

Her fingers were long and slender, and her movements were steady without the slightest tremor.

She picked up the teacup.

She didn't drink it immediately, but held the cup in her palm, feeling the warmth seep into her body through her hand.

This gesture was her answer.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Lynn's mouth, but it quickly disappeared.

"Very good." He nodded, as if expressing satisfaction with his subordinate's work.

"The first draft of the case closure report should be delivered to my office tomorrow morning."

He finished his tea in one gulp, then stood up.

"The report should focus on the details of Ke'er's falsified resume and his exploitation of loopholes in the early TVA rules to commit illegal acts."

Lynn's voice came from above, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

"We must make this case airtight."

He said, "we".