An external recruit's application, a gaze from a higher dimension

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

"Report on the Application for Retention and Inspection by the Negative Zone Management Committee".

The report is written in a humble and cautious manner, detailing the applicant's profound reflection on the Illuminati's past actions and its strong endorsement of the Negative Zone Management Committee's current system and philosophy. Finally, it earnestly requests that the applicant be granted an opportunity to observe and learn, even if the applicant is "under investigation."

Applicant: Susan Stone.

Lynn's fingers slid silently along the smooth arm of the chair; the office was so quiet that only the low hum of the machinery could be heard.

This is undoubtedly a pledge of allegiance.

Moreover, it was a pledge of allegiance of immense weight. It signified the complete split of the Fantastic Four, and meant that one of the core members of the Illuminati had voluntarily turned himself into a card that the Negative Zone could use at any time.

Risk and reward go hand in hand.

Accepting her was tantamount to planting a powerful but uncontrollable time bomb within the Management Committee. Susan S... and her husband Reed would never let it go unpunished.

However, refusing her would also be inappropriate. Pushing out a key figure who was already wavering and possessed a wealth of crucial intelligence would be tantamount to giving up an excellent opportunity to dismantle the opponent.

Lynn picked up another document from the table.

That was a thick stack of intelligence that Gwen Stacy had just submitted, a complete summary of all the information Susan had voluntarily provided. It covered everything from the Illuminati's internal decision-making processes to the coordinates and research directions of every one of Reed Richards's secret laboratories, leaving no detail overlooked.

The value of this intelligence far exceeds that of Susan herself.

Lynn leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

A moment later, he pressed the Internal Communicator on the table.

"Director Gwen Stacy, come to my office."

The door was quickly pushed open, Gwen Stacy walked in, holding a Data Pad, clearly processing the reply to the Extradition Notice from earlier.

"Director."

Lynn pushed Susan's application report towards her.

"Take a look at this."

Gwen Stacy took it, quickly glanced through it, and showed little surprise. Clearly, this was all within her expectations.

"Her stance has completely changed, making her highly valuable. However, directly incorporating her into the establishment would likely cause considerable internal turmoil, especially within the Stability Maintenance Office and the Ministry of Science and Department of Technology; their sentiments need to be considered."

Gwen Stacy's analysis was very objective and went straight to the heart of the problem.

"I don't intend to give her any official position," Lynn said calmly.

He looked at Gwen Stacy and gave the order.

"On behalf of the Liaison Office, draft a provisional notice regarding personnel arrangements. Ms. Susan Stone's role will be designated as ' External Observer '."

"External Observer?" Gwen Stacy pondered the title in her mind, immediately understanding the implications.

This identity, neither a formal member nor a detainee, grants Susan a certain degree of freedom, but also clearly defines her as an "outsider," depriving her of any core authority or benefits of the Management Committee. Furthermore, the word "under investigation" implies that all her actions will be under close scrutiny.

"Her probationary period is indefinite," Lynn continued. "Her job duties include specifically organizing and analyzing all historical archives and intelligence related to Earth-838. A Special Task Force will be established, with her as the team leader."

"All work results must be submitted to both the Liaison Office and the Cross-Dimension Coordination Office simultaneously. Only after cross-verification by both sides can a final report be compiled and submitted to me."

Gwen Stacy's eyes lit up.

This arrangement was brilliant. It utilized Susan's professional skills and informational advantage while simultaneously using a double-checking mechanism to restrain her, preventing her from tampering with intelligence. At the same time, it brought in Ravonna's Coordination Office, creating a three-way check and balance.

"I understand." Gwen Stacy nodded. "I'll get on it right away."

"Furthermore," Lynn called after her, "Allocate a specific budget from the compensation money enforced by TVA as start-up capital for this Special Task Force. Ensure adequate logistical support."

You need to get people to do the work, but you also need to provide them with adequate compensation. This is the most basic principle of managing subordinates.

"Yes, Director."

Gwen Stacy turned and left, and the office returned to silence.

Lynn retrieved the Management Committee's general accounts.

On the screen, the long string of numbers representing three trillion Standard Energy Unit lay there quietly, like a dormant volcano, containing the power to change everything.

The crisis Illuminati has temporarily come to an end.

But this enormous war reparations was less a reward for victory and more a ticket to a wider, more dangerous game.

Lynn issued the second Director's Order of the day.

[Resolution on Activating the "S.H.I.E.L.D." Protocol and Comprehensively Upgrading the Conceptual Defense Array in the Management Committee's Jurisdiction]

The document, issued in official red-headed form, was directly distributed to the Technology Integration Department, the Stability Maintenance Office, and the newly established Logistics Support Center.

The resolution requires the Department of Technology to submit a detailed defense upgrade plan within 72 hours, with no budget limit. The Stability Maintenance Office is responsible for imposing martial law throughout the area to ensure absolute safety during construction.

With a single order, the entire Negative Zone Management Committee, this sophisticated machine personally crafted by Lynn, began operating at an unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Massive amounts of resources, like a surging torrent, were injected into the underlying code and rules. Centered on the White Bone Hall, an invisible but indestructible giant net began to spread wildly towards the boundaries of the entire jurisdiction.

Countless energy channels were constructed in the void, emitting a deep hum. The newly generated Data Stream, like newly formed galaxies, lit up in the darkness, outlining a completely new contour of Negative Zone.

Wanda's Chaos Research Institute went into 24/7 operation, its Scarlet energy aura turning almost the entire area where the Department of Technology was located red. Under the terrifying pressure of research KPIs, Wanda-838 displayed astonishing enthusiasm for her work; the code optimization proposals she submitted even put pressure on Main Universe Wanda.

Hela's Undead Fleet has blocked all external shipping lanes, and any unauthorized approach will face immediate and forceful elimination.

Negative Zone, this barren Dimension once regarded as a junkyard and forgotten land of the Multiverse, is accumulating power at a visible speed.

Lynn stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in her office, quietly watching everything.

Behind him was a well-ordered power structure. Beneath his feet lay a territory undergoing a complete transformation.

However, he felt little joy, but rather an inexplicable sense of vigilance.

A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind.

The energy gathering and burgeoning fortune of the Negative Zone at this moment is like a lighthouse suddenly lit in the darkness in the macroscopic picture of the entire Multiverse —too dazzling and too conspicuous.

TVA and the Illuminati may just be the two Beast first drawn to the lighthouse's glow in this dark forest.

What else lurks deep within the darker, more secluded jungle?

In the instant that thought flashed through my mind...

Lynn sensed something was amiss.

It was neither an alarm nor any energy fluctuation.

It is a kind of... stillness.

An absolute, suffocating silence.

The hum of all the instruments in the office, the roar of energy pipes flowing outside the window, and even his own heartbeat and breathing were all completely erased by an invisible force at this moment.

The whole world seemed to have turned into a still oil painting.

The concepts of time and space seem to freeze at this moment.

This state lasted for less than a second.

The next second, all sounds and sensations returned to normal, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.

Lynn suddenly turned around.

His gaze was fixed intently on his desk.

On that large desk made of bones and Obsidian, something had appeared sometime earlier.

It was a scroll.

A scroll woven from pure golden light floated suspended half an inch above the table, slowly rotating, ignoring all the physical laws and energy principles in the office.

It didn't emit any energy fluctuations, yet it gave Lynn a shiver that came from the depths of his soul.

All of the Management Committee's defense systems, Wanda's Chaos Magic, Hela's Death Authority, Jean's Phoenix Force... all of these combined to form an inescapable net, were rendered useless before this scroll.

It came when it wanted to.

Lynn's gaze fell on the seal of the scroll.

There was no signature there, only a brand.

An ancient and majestic mark composed of three different faces (justice, revenge, and necessity).

The Living Tribunal.