The Illuminati's Dilemma, a Secret Envoy's Unauthorized Crossing
The air was still in the huge circular conference hall.
Two holographic documents floated in the center of the conference table: one was a claim letter with numerous items and staggering figures, and the other was a TVA inquiry letter with a gold-embossed seal and cold wording.
They were like two invisible mountains, weighing heavily on the hearts of every member of the Illuminati.
Mister Fantastic Reed Richards remained silent, his gaze lingering on the two documents for a long time.
This is an insult!
Master Mordo finally broke the silence, slamming his fist on the table, his voice distorted with anger. He had just returned from the temporary detention center in the Negative Zone, an experience that still haunted him.
"That Lynn, what does he take us for? A money bag to be taken at will? Now even TVA is riding roughshod over us!"
Captain America, Peggy Carter, placed her hands clasped on the table, her brow furrowed.
"Reed, the TVA's inquiry letter is no small matter. Once the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation is fully launched, our established shipping routes and resource allocation agreements with multiple universes could be unilaterally frozen. This would be fatal for us."
Black Bolt sat in his seat without making a sound, but his tense body spoke volumes about his attitude.
Arguments and discussions erupted again, and anxiety spread through the meeting room.
"Official channels are no longer an option."
Reed finally spoke, his voice hoarse and icy, leaving no room for argument. He waved his hand, and the three trillion dollar claim letter vanished as Data Stream, leaving only TVA's inquiry letter hanging in the air, like a death warrant.
"We need to get something that can turn the tide of the game before the TVA hearing begins."
Captain Carter looked up, his eyes sharp as he stared at him.
"Reed, what are you trying to do? Any attempt to circumvent procedures could give the other side leverage and further escalate the situation."
"Passive waiting is the worst possible outcome," Reed said calmly. "We know almost nothing about the Negative Zone, about Lynn. That's why we're losing ground. This lack of intelligence leaves us unable to even see our own cards at the table."
His gaze shifted to the other side of the conference table, landing on the Invisible Woman, Susan Stone, who had remained silent throughout.
"Su."
Reed's voice softened slightly, but the decisiveness in it grew stronger.
"Official negotiations have failed, so let's switch to unofficial contact. You need to go to the Negative Zone."
The conference room fell silent instantly.
Captain Carter's expression changed.
"Reed, this is illegal border crossing! If we're caught, we'll go from being the 'subject of investigation' to the 'intruder'!"
"So she can't be detected." Reed's tone was calm, as if discussing an experimental plan. "Susan will carry the latest Quantum Cloaking Device, which can shield her from all currently known detection methods. Her mission is not combat, not destruction, but infiltration and observation."
He looked at Susan, his eyes flashing with the obsession and composure of a top scientist.
"I need to know who this man named Lynn really is, how his command center operates, and where his weaknesses lie. The TVA hearing is a legal battle, and intelligence is our ammunition."
We cannot lose.
He said those words softly, yet they carried great weight.
Susan looked at her husband, then at the solemn faces of her colleagues. She understood that the Illuminati been cornered. Retreat meant a bottomless Abyss; advance meant an unknown and perilous path.
She stood up.
"I need a mission briefing and equipment."
Outside the Negative Zone, between the void of darkness and the clearly defined halo of light in the Management Committee's jurisdiction, there exists a vast buffer zone.
An invisible ripple spread through the space, and Susan's figure completely disappeared from the spot.
The latest Quantum Cloaking Device has been activated, completely assimilating her body into the surrounding space, isolating her from all detectable physical features, including heat, sound, and energy fluctuations.
She floated quietly, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
Not far away, a Undead Fighter belonging to the Stability Maintenance Office was patrolling along its established route, its stark white bone armor adorned with eerie green energy patterns.
The fighter jets flew past her less than 100 meters away without stopping or making any unusual movements.
Susan felt somewhat relieved.
Reed's skills did not disappoint her.
She adjusted her direction and began to slowly approach the boundary of the Negative Zone's jurisdiction. Her mission objective was clear: to infiltrate the Core Zone, find the Management Committee Director named Lynn, and gather all information about him without being detected by anyone.
The Illuminati needs leverage, and she is the one who goes to steal that leverage.
There was no obstruction when crossing that invisible line that represents sovereignty and Jurisdiction.
She came in.
Susan remained highly vigilant, navigating the complex architecture and energy conduits with ghostly ease. She had even planned her next infiltration route, intending to bypass several known defensive nodes.
Everything seemed to be moving in the best possible direction.
Just then...
The tiny terminal on her wrist, connected to the invisibility device, emitted a very faint yet incredibly abrupt beep.
The sound only reached her ears.
Susan froze instantly.
She looked down at her wrist.
The green screen that originally displayed "Everything is normal" has turned into a glaring Scarlet.
A line of cold, white characters appeared clearly in the center of the screen.
[Concept locked: Coordinates anchored]