The Personal Advisor's Political Vetting and the Management Committee Director's Deflection

The air in the office was stagnant.

The spatial energy field, which had been relatively normal just moments before, began to exhibit chaotic and ominous fluctuations.

Lynn didn't move.

His gaze shifted from the glaring title on the Data Pad to the doorway.

Stability Maintenance Office Director Hela; Technology Integration Department Minister Wanda.

The two people stood side by side, one on the left and one on the right, like two silent gods.

Their gazes were all precisely focused on the Data Pad in front of Lynn, which was still open.

"Request for approval to serve as the 24-hour personal security advisor to the Director the Management Committee".

Hela's face, which held the arrogance and majesty befitting a queen, was now covered with a layer of frost. She did not speak, but the Aura of Death surrounding her had begun to gather spontaneously, causing the temperature in the office to drop several degrees.

In Wanda's eyes, the Scarlet Energy that had just been calmed was surging up again in a thicker and more dangerous form. The air around her began to distort subtly and irregularly.

silence.

In such situations, silence is more deafening than any sound.

This is a silent coup.

Lynn tapped her fingers lightly on the wide bone armrest and then stopped.

He didn't look into any of their eyes, but instead focused his gaze back on the Data Pad, as if there were some clauses in the request that were worth studying in detail.

A moment later, he raised his head, his face devoid of any emotion.

"The two ministers have arrived at the perfect time."

His voice was calm, as if he were discussing a routine work memo.

"There's something I'd like to hear your opinions on."

These words, like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, shattered the suffocating silence in the office. Hela and Wanda remained motionless, but the almost tangible sense of oppression emanating from them faltered slightly due to this businesslike opening.

Lynn tapped his finger on the Data Pad, zooming in on the request document.

"Asset K-01 of the Chaos Energy Research Institute has submitted an application for appointment."

He used the most official term, "Asset K-01," instead of "that woman" or "another Wanda." This was a severing, forcibly dragging the incident from the mire of personal emotions into the orbit of organizational rules.

"The Director's personal security advisor." Lynn spoke slowly, but each word was enunciated clearly. "This position is no small matter."

He leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers interlaced in front of him. It was a defensive posture, but also one of control.

"It's not just a matter of personal safety; it's directly related to the absolute security of the entire Management Committee's Command Center, and to whether all instructions can be reliably issued and executed. From this perspective, this position is of paramount importance."

He didn't discuss whether it was "appropriate" or "whether he agreed or not," but instead went straight to elevating the nature of the matter.

Hela snorted coldly and finally spoke, her voice icy. "A dangerous substance of unknown origin, capable of spiraling out of control at any moment, dares to dabble in such a crucial position?"

Wanda didn't speak, but the Scarlet surging in her eyes gave the answer.

Lynn ignored the emotions in Hela's words and went along with her, as if the two were having a rational working discussion.

"Minister Hela has hit the nail on the head. The applicant's background is indeed the biggest hidden danger."

He turned his gaze to Hela.

"The applicant has a complex background and numerous connections to the Earth-838 Illuminati, and their loyalty has not been effectively verified. Such a resume would make them impossible to trust in any organization."

"Therefore," Lynn changed the subject, "The background check for this position must be taken to the highest level. I think this political vetting work should be handled by the Stability Maintenance Office."

Hela raised an eyebrow slightly.

"There's only one requirement," Lynn said, looking at her. "Strictness, meticulousness, and absolute certainty. I need the most detailed Political Screening Report that can be accountable for the history of the Management Committee."

Once this label was placed on her, Hela couldn't refuse. Political vetting was a core function of the Stability Maintenance Office, and now that the Director had personally assigned it to her and elevated it to such a high level, it would be dereliction of duty for her to refuse.

After dealing with one, Lynn turned his gaze to the other side, to Wanda, who had remained silent.

"Minister Wanda."

Wanda's gaze was cold, and she did not respond.

"Besides background issues, professional competence is another key factor." Lynn's tone remained calm. "The applicant possesses a special ability to manipulate Chaos Energy; the Department of Technology is the most qualified to speak on this point."

"What we need to assess is not just her upper limit of ability, but more importantly, her stability, obedience, and whether her energy will overflow under extreme pressure, whether her execution of instructions will be distorted, and whether her logical judgment will collapse."

"These all require the most rigorous and quantifiable assessment."

Lynn looked at Wanda and said, word by word, "This technology assessment will be led by the Department of Technology. I need a detailed, data-driven evaluation plan, as well as the final assessment conclusion. The conclusion must clearly state whether she is a 'controllable strategic asset' or an 'uncontrollable high-risk source'."

The Scarlet in Wanda's eyes slowly subsided. She understood. Lynn had given her the power to define "another self."

The atmosphere in the office shifted from tense and confrontational to a strange and unsettling workplace dynamic.

Lynn looked at the two of them and made the final arrangements.

"How about this?"

He picked up the electronic pen on the table but didn't directly select "agree" or "reject".

"In principle, I agree to initiate the assessment process for this application."

These words made Hela and Wanda's eyes narrow simultaneously.

"However," Lynn's pen hovered over the screen, "Before the formal appointment, I need to see a detailed, cross-verifiable comprehensive assessment report jointly issued by the Stability Maintenance Office and the Ministry of Science and Department of Technology."

"The report requires the joint signatures of both parties, and the opinions of both departments must be consistent."

"If this report cannot be produced, or if there are disagreements regarding its conclusions," Lynn's tone left no room for argument, "This position will remain vacant for the time being."

He finished speaking and put down his pen.

Instead of signing "approved," he wrote a note on the document.

"Forward to the Stability Maintenance Office and the Department of Technology. Please have the two departments jointly draft an assessment plan and submit it to me for approval."

The entire process was flawless.

He successfully transformed a personal, emotional crisis—one that could have ignited internal conflict—into a complex, cross-departmental, and compliant bureaucratic performance review process.

He threw the difficult problem back at the person who set the question, exactly as it was.

Hela and Wanda both fell silent.

They couldn't refute it. Every decision Lynn made was flawlessly based on the high ground of "organizational interests" and "procedural justice." If they objected, it would be seen as an unreasonable disturbance that placed personal emotions above organizational security.

Lynn pushed the Data Pad off the table.

"Minister Hela, you can take this document first."

Hela stepped forward and took the Data Pad.

She looked down at the clear instruction on the screen, the frost on her face slowly melting away, replaced by a cold, calculating glint.

She looked up, not at Lynn, but directly at Wanda.

"Minister Wanda."

For the first time, Hela's voice carried a businesslike, "cooperative" tone.

"Regarding these evaluation criteria, I think we need to meet now to discuss them."