Wordplay in the Extradition Note, a Compliance Hold on Special Assets

Lynn's fingers lightly traced the cold screen of the Data Pad. The official letter from the Earth-838 Illuminati was strongly worded, and every character conveyed the resentment and inner weakness after the defeat.

Gwen Stacy stood across the desk, her expression serious.

"Director, this Extradition Notice cites the 'Basic Rights Protection Act of the Multiverse Intelligent Beings.' This act has a high priority, and TVA usually respects it when handling similar disputes. If we forcibly detain someone, the other party may very well use this as grounds to file a complaint with TVA alleging that we have violated the Basic Law."

Her concerns were not unfounded.

The Illuminati lost the lawsuit and paid compensation, and now wants to regain ground on human rights issues. This is a very tricky angle; it seems like they're here to demand the release of people, but in reality, they want to drag the Negative Zone Management Committee into another quagmire of debate about procedural justice and humanitarianism.

Lynn did not speak immediately.

He enlarged the official letter, his gaze falling on the words "immediately, unconditionally," and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

The more frustrated and exasperated the opponent is, the more it indicates that they have run out of options.

"They want people, so we'll give them to them."

Lynn spoke, her voice calm.

Gwen Stacy was taken aback, clearly not expecting the Director to react this way. Releasing him would be tantamount to admitting that the previous detention was illegal, and the legal advantage that the TVA had painstakingly won in court would vanish.

"But, Director..."

"Don't rush." Lynn raised her hand, signaling her to calm down. "We agree to release the person. But when and how to release them are rules we'll have to set."

He turned the Data Pad towards Gwen Stacy.

"Go and look up a regulation called the ' Interdimensional Judicial Assistance Regulations.' Focus on Chapter Three, specifically the section on the transfer of individuals involved in a case."

A flash of understanding crossed Gwen Stacy's eyes, and she immediately began accessing the information on her terminal.

Within seconds, she found the corresponding terms.

"Found it. Chapter 3, Section 7 of the regulations stipulates: When the person requested for extradition is suspected of other pending criminal or administrative cases within the jurisdiction of the requesting party, the requesting party has the right to handle extradition matters only after the local judicial proceedings Ending."

"Yes," Lynn nodded, "This is it."

"Ms. Susan Stone, within our jurisdiction, she's not just a defeated party's person awaiting disposal." Lynn's fingertips tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound. "In the TVA courtroom, our chain of evidence has proven that she is suspected of multiple illegal acts, including unauthorized intrusion and theft of confidential information. According to the Management Committee's Internal Security Management Regulations and the Counter-Espionage Law, she needs to undergo our administrative investigation and processing."

Gwen Stacy's thinking was completely opened.

"So, our response to the Illuminati was not a refusal to extradite, but rather an explanation that Susan Stone, as a suspect within our jurisdiction, must first complete our internal procedures?"

"The wording needs to be precise," Lynn corrected. "Not 'criminal suspect,' that's too strong a characterization and could easily lead to legal disputes. Instead, describe it as 'a special person who needs to undergo Administrative Detention Review due to suspected violations.'"

Administrative detention.

This word is used brilliantly. It both indicates the seriousness of the matter and limits it to the administrative level, avoiding the complicated legal procedures that would result from escalating to the criminal level, and giving the Management Committee complete autonomy.

"I understand." Gwen Stacy's eyes lit up. "We readily agreed, but used procedures to indefinitely delay this 'consent'."

"It's not just a delay," Lynn added. "Once the procedures are complete, can the person be taken away directly? Of course not. After the administrative detention period, there's a bail process. For the bail amount, let's refer to the Audit Report on this Ecological Compensation Payment and draft a rough figure."

Gwen Stacy almost burst out laughing.

Using the money the other party pays as bail to ransom someone is no longer a simple word game; it's rubbing salt into their wounds and pouring molten iron on them.

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away." Gwen Stacy accepted the task and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Lynn called out to her.

He pondered for a moment, as if making a decision.

"Make arrangements for Susan Stone to meet with the new Associate Researcher at the Chaos Research Institute."

Gwen Stacy was somewhat surprised.

How about we get Susan to meet Wanda from Earth-838?

One is a core member of the Illuminati and Mister Fantastic's wife. The other is a bio-weapon sent by the Illuminati to carry out the Final Judgment. What will happen when these two meet?

But she didn't ask any further questions, she just nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Director."

Delta-9 Quarantine Zone, a pure white meeting room.

Susan sat silently on one side of the table.

Since her arrest, and especially after seeing the dossier detailing the dark side of the Illuminati, her mental state has been on the verge of collapse. The glamorous exterior of her proud family, husband, and the cause they defended together had been torn away, revealing a filthy and disgusting interior.

The door opened.

The woman who walked in was wearing the research uniform of the Negative Zone Management Committee.

Susan's pupils contracted sharply when she saw that face.

She knew that face all too well. It was "Scarlet," listed as the highest threat level in the Illuminati's files.

Wanda-838 sat down opposite Susan. Her posture was very upright, and the rage and destructive desire in her eyes that she had shown at their first meeting were gone, replaced by an almost fanatical calm.

"It's you." Susan's voice was a little hoarse.

"It's me." Wanda-838 nodded.

"Reed... they sent you to kill me?" Susan's tone carried a hint of self-mockery. She no longer cared about life or death.

"No." Wanda-838 shook her head. "The Director sent me to see you."

"Director?"

"Director Lynn. It was he who freed me from the lies and code of the Illuminati." Wanda-838's eyes gleamed with a strange light as she spoke of Lynn. "They told you you were doing this to maintain universal peace, right?"

Susan didn't answer, but her silence was the answer.

"They told me the same thing," Wanda-838 continued. "They erased my memories, turning me into a tool, a weapon that could be activated or destroyed at any time. When my mission failed and I was deemed 'turned,' Reed Richards personally issued the remote destruction order against me."

Susan's body trembled slightly.

"He said it was to prevent the secrets of Chaos from being leaked, for greater profits. Just like when he sold out the Genes of those Mutants to get a technology exemption from the TVA." Wanda-838's tone was calm, as if stating something unrelated to herself, "To them, we have never been comrades, not even their kind. We are merely assets, sacrifices that can be made whenever necessary."

Those words, like an awl, pierced precisely into the softest, most painful part of Susan's heart.

Looking at the woman before her who looked exactly like Wanda from her universe but had a completely different fate, her last line of Defense Line crumbled completely as they resonated with each other's similar fates of betrayal.

The atmosphere in Lynn's office was quiet.

After he finished processing the documents at hand, Gwen Stacy's communication request came in.

"Director, the meeting between Susan and Wanda-838 has concluded."

"How's the situation?"

"Susan barely said a word throughout the meeting, but after it ended, she offered to provide us with all the information about the Illuminati's internal structure, core technologies, and all of Reed Richards' private laboratories." Gwen Stacy's tone carried a hint of emotion.

Winning without bloodshed is the best strategy – winning hearts and minds.

The Illuminati suffered a double loss, and now even its last remaining assets are about to be exposed.

"Very good." Lynn nodded. "Categorize the intelligence, involve Ravonna in the process, cross-verify the information, and compile a detailed report."

"Clear."

After ending the call, Lynn leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

The situation on the chessboard is progressing step by step as he anticipated. The threat from the Illuminati has been temporarily averted, TVA has been dragged into the mess, and Negative Zone has gained a valuable breathing space and a large sum of development funds.

Everything seemed to be on the right track.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and the person who walked in surprised Lynn slightly.

It's Susan Stone.

She changed out of her prison uniform and into a clean gray uniform. Although her face was still somewhat haggard, her eyes no longer held the emptiness and despair of before, but instead showed a hint of determination.

She walked to Lynn's desk, said nothing, and gently placed a Data Pad on the table.

Lynn's gaze fell on the title of the Data Pad.

Report on the application to remain in the Negative Zone Management Committee for investigation.

Applicant: Susan Stone.