The crisis of overstepping authority: the Stability Maintenance Office and the Department of Technology join forces

Lynn's knuckles, gripping the Data Pad containing Ravonna's confession, were slightly white.

On the huge holographic screen in the command center, the Data Stream remained stable, but the image was like a needle pricking everyone's nerves.

Border buffer zone.

TVA envoy Proctor's flagship, "Justicia," boasts clean lines and exudes a cold light representing the Sacred Timeline.

Directly in front of it, a jet-black Undead Warship, its hull shrouded in a tangible Aura of Death, stood like a colossal Beast awakened from the Abyss, ruthlessly blocking the entire course of the "Justicia".

Above the warship, a storm of Scarlet Energy was rapidly gathering and swirling. The unstable energy fluctuations caused the parameter readings on the light screen to fluctuate wildly, turning a blinding red.

The Technician's voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Reporting to the Director, the ' Nibelung ' vessel of the Stability Maintenance Office and the Minister of the Department of Technology's personal unit forcibly crossed C-7 Portal three minutes ago, entering a state of border standoff."

"The energy level... has exceeded the combat readiness threshold."

Lynn's gaze slowly shifted away from the light screen.

He didn't look at anyone, but calmly uttered two words.

"Prepare the boat."

The instructions were brief and emotionless, yet they instantly froze the atmosphere in the entire command center.

No one dared to ask, and no one dared to say anything more.

Lynn turned and strode toward the private passage leading to the hangar. His steps were slow, but each one seemed to strike at the very heartbeats of everyone present, heavy and carrying an undeniable pressure.

The staff along the way all lowered their heads, fell silent, and automatically made way for each other.

The corridors of the White Bone Hall were so quiet that only the sound of his footsteps could be heard.

In the void of the border buffer zone, there was deathly silence.

Proctor stood on the Bridge of the "Justicia," his face ashen.

He had never been so humiliated.

A mere Negative Zone Management Committee dared to use such a brutal method to directly intercept TVA's Adjudication Fleet.

He stared out the porthole at the menacing black warship and the Scarlet storm above it that seemed capable of tearing reality apart; the rage in his heart was almost uncontrollable.

But he could not order the firing.

Once the guns are fired, it will confirm TVA's charge of violent interference, which will put him in an extremely passive position legally.

The other party had clearly recognized this as well.

Just then, a small Shuttlecraft, with an almost brute force speed, cut directly into the center of the three-way standoff.

The Shuttlecraft carried no weapons, only the simple emblem of the Negative Zone Management Committee.

It was like a cold wedge, forcibly driven into the tense situation.

A communication request forcibly accessed the Public Channel of the "Justicia," the Undead Warship, and that mass of Scarlet Energy.

Lynn's image appeared on the main screen of all the ships.

His background was the simple interior of the Shuttlecraft, and he was wearing only the regular clothes of the Director of the Management Committee.

However, when his gaze swept over him, Proctor felt a chill.

Lynn didn't look at him.

His gaze was fixed on the Undead Warship and the Scarlet Energy.

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

He spoke, his voice carrying clearly across the airspace via the Public Channel. He addressed them by their full official titles, in a businesslike manner, without a trace of personal affection.

"Who authorized you to cross the border buffer zone and make direct contact with the TVA special Fleet?"

Hela's figure appeared on the Bridge of the Undead Warship, and she was about to speak.

Lynn's voice suddenly rose, filled with an undeniable severity.

"Who gave you the authority to take military action without a unified resolution from the Management Committee?"

"Your actions constitute a blatant defiance of the Director the Management Committee's orders and a complete trampling of established diplomatic procedures!"

"Negative Zone is not your private territory where you can do whatever you want!"

Every word was like a heavy hammer blow, striking Hela and Wanda's hearts. The Scarlet energy began to fluctuate unstablely.

Proctor watched this scene on the screen, a mocking smirk on his face.

A fascinating internal power struggle.

He was delighted to see Lynn's authority shattered by his two most trusted subordinates.

However, Lynn's next words froze Proctor's smile on his face.

"Effective immediately, all your positions in the Stability Maintenance Office and the Ministry of Department of Technology are suspended."

"Return to headquarters immediately, submit a written report, and await further instructions!"

Lynn's voice was icy cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

"That's an order."

Hela's eyes blazed with fury, and she gripped the Night Sky Sword tightly. The Scarlet Energy around Wanda surged violently, seemingly on the verge of spiraling out of control.

They can disagree, they can argue.

But in front of the TVA envoy, Lynn, in her highest capacity as the Director of the Management Committee, issued an order for "suspension from duty for self-reflection".

This is the most severe Discipline action taken against the organization.

If they openly disobey orders, it will no longer be an internal conflict, but an open rebellion.

The smile on Proctor's face had completely vanished.

He looked at the cold-faced man on the screen and suddenly understood.

This is not internal strife.

This is a performance.

A bloody and staged act of self-inflicted injury, staged for him.

Lynn was demonstrating to him in the most forceful way just what kind of terrifying power lurked within the Negative Zone— a power that even he, the Director, found troublesome and could go berserk at any moment.

This force can be forcibly suppressed by him today.

What about tomorrow?

If TVA's sanctions are truly implemented, pushing Negative Zone to the Extremis, will this man still maintain control? Or... will he loosen his grip on the reins?

As Proctor watched the Scarlet storm gradually subside and the Undead Warship slowly retreat, a cold sweat broke out on his back.

The threat of sanctions he brought with him seemed so pale and laughable at this moment.

The Undead Warship and the Scarlet streak of light ultimately obeyed orders, changed direction, and jumped away.

In the standoff airspace, only the "Justicia" and Lynn's lone Shuttlecraft remained.

The crisis appears to have passed.

But Proctor knew that the real negotiations were only just beginning.

Lynn's call came in privately.

"Commissioner Proctor, I personally regret the reckless actions of our personnel."

Lynn's expression remained serious, but his tone softened somewhat.

"They will be subject to the most severe internal Discipline action. However, this also indicates that there is some... unstable sentiment within the Negative Zone regarding TVA's proposed sanctions."

Proctor understood the subtext of his words perfectly.

Lynn's gaze pierced through the screen, as if he could see the wavering in Proctor's heart.

He held up the Data Pad in his hand.

"Now, I think we can discuss an alternative that will satisfy both sides."