The Summons Beneath the Golden Scroll: A Preliminary Check for Legal Loopholes
drop.
answer.
The sound wasn't loud, but it penetrated the thick lead-mercury alloy layer of the shielding box, echoing clearly and somewhat harshly in the deathly silent office.
The two technicians in silver-white protective suits froze instantly.
Gwen Stacy abruptly shifted her gaze from the shielded box to Lynn, her eyes filled with inquiry and wariness.
Lynn's expression remained unchanged.
He simply raised his hand and made a downward pressing motion.
A simple gesture eased the tense atmosphere in the office slightly.
"Activate the highest level of alert for the Management Committee." Lynn's voice remained calm. "Incident classification: Level 1, unknown source technical intrusion."
The alarm did not sound throughout the Negative Zone, but instead, it instantly flooded into the internal terminals of the heads of various core departments in the form of a silent Data Stream.
"Immediately transfer Box Seven to the Zero Absolute Isolation Laboratory under the Department of Technology," Lynn continued, issuing the order. "Physically isolate it from all external networks; the Department of Technology will analyze the energy waves."
"Yes." Gwen Stacy nodded, then ordered the two technicians, "Execute."
Without further hesitation, the technicians maneuvered the hovering platform, carrying the box that was emitting the countdown sound, and quickly exited the office.
The door closed silently behind them.
Lynn didn't get up; instead, he pressed another Internal Communications line.
"Minister Wanda."
"Director." Wanda's voice came through the Communicator, carrying a hint of coldness after being alerted by the alarm.
"One sample has been sent to Laboratory Zero." Lynn's tone was like assigning a routine technical task. "I need a complete energy composition and information orientation analysis report. Note that this must be done in an absolutely isolated environment, ensuring that your computing power does not exchange any low-level data with the target."
"Clear."
Communication cut off.
Lynn leaned back in her chair, her fingers silently sliding lightly across the armrest.
He didn't look at the clock on the wall, but he was calculating the time in his mind.
The name "Living Tribunal" itself implies an unquestionable power of judgment. Its choice to appear in this manner, and then to start a countdown after being physically sealed, is clearly a form of pressure and a test.
It is testing the ability of Negative Zone to cope, and also demonstrating its force that completely disregards the rules of physics.
If you had panicked even slightly, or tried to resort to violence, you lost the game from the very beginning.
Now, he's passed the buck to the Department of Technology.
We'll use the most formal and rigorous technical analysis process within the Management Committee to deal with this "document" from the highest level. You want a countdown? Then I'll treat you like a bomb that needs to be defused.
Time ticked by, second by second.
About twenty minutes later, a notification popped up on the main screen of Lynn's desk, indicating an encrypted file transfer.
From: Technology Integration Department.
Lynn authorized the receipt.
The file, when opened, is a technical document titled "Preliminary Analysis Report on the Unknown Energy Source Inside Shielding Box No. 7".
The report was very long; the first dozen or so pages were filled with densely packed Data Stream models and energy spectrum diagrams. Lynn flipped straight to the end.
The conclusion is written very clearly:
First, the target's energy structure is stable, and there is no risk of self-destruction at the physical or energy level. The countdown sound source serves as a conceptual Anchor for Mental Lock and deterrence.
Second, the target entity is neither an offensive weapon nor a ruling order. After deciphering its surface information encoding, it was confirmed to be a formatted document.
III. The document is a summons for questioning, requiring Lynn, the Director of the Negative Zone Management Committee, to go to the "Omniverse Hub" at coordinates [Unresolved] within a specified time to answer questions regarding matters related to "abnormal Dimension disturbances".
summons.
Lynn's gaze lingered on those two words for a moment.
It wasn't a judgment or an ultimatum, but a notice requiring him to go to a "meeting" somewhere.
The difference is significant.
He continued reading.
Gwen Stacy has transcribed the original contents of the subpoena in the official document format of the Management Committee and attached it to the report.
Lynn read it word by word.
The summons was written in an extremely archaic and authoritative style, each word seemingly carrying an irresistible force. But Lynn wasn't looking at those things; he was looking at the format, the terms, and the procedures.
His gaze finally settled on the main text of the summons.
The document only stated that he was required to undergo questioning, and that the general direction of the questioning was "abnormal Dimension perturbation."
However, the most basic elements—which specific abnormal disturbance occurred, who initiated the inquiry, and who the plaintiff was—are all missing.
Lynn's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
A summons that does not specify the cause of action or the plaintiff.
This is a huge loophole in any system that emphasizes procedures.
It might seem self-evident to the high and mighty Living Tribunal, since its will itself is the law. But for Lynn, this is where things can be made.
He closed the report and reconnected Gwen Stacy's communication.
"Director Gwen Stacy, regarding that sample from earlier, please, on behalf of the Liaison Office, make the following qualitative assessment."
"First, classify this item as a 'routine inquiry letter issued by a superior unit,' archive it according to standard procedures, and number it A-001."
"Secondly, regarding the requirement to attend the meeting in the inquiry letter, I am temporarily unable to leave my post. Could you draft a reply for me, stating that Negative Zone is currently in a critical period of upgrading the ' S.H.I.E.L.D. Protocol,' and various tasks require my presence, requesting an extension or the appointment of a representative to attend the meeting."
"Third, and most importantly, in the reply, we should request the other party to provide supplementary information regarding the specific reasons for this inquiry, the units involved, and the relevant case file numbers, so that we can prepare materials in advance and cooperate with the investigation."
Gren listened quietly on the other end of the Communicator without interrupting. Only after Lynn finished speaking did she confirm, "Director, I understand. Throw the problem back at us on the grounds of incomplete procedures."
"Yes," Lynn said. "We follow the rules, and our superiors should follow them even more strictly."
"Yes."
Just as Gwen Stacy was about to hang up to draft the documents, Lynn's office door was pushed open again.
It's Wanda.
She wasn't wearing the Department of Technology's uniform; she was still dressed in ordinary red casual clothes, but her expression was somewhat solemn.
"Director." She walked to the desk and handed over a Data Pad.
"The analysis just now revealed another new discovery."
Lynn took the Data Pad.
On the screen is a set of coordinates attached to the end of the summons, which has been highlighted in red by the Department of Technology.
Below the coordinates are Wanda's analysis notes.
"The encryption method and spatial orientation of these coordinates are Underlying Logic related to the core database of the Earth-838 ' Project Insight ' Illuminati that we previously seized."
"I've compared them, and they're not the same place," Wanda added, "But they point to the same source."