An audit storm during suspension, the shadows of another Shura Field

Lynn's fingertips lightly traced the smooth surface of the desk, creating a cool sensation.

Having just finished a grueling battle with TVA, wave after wave of mental exhaustion Impact over him. He wanted Gwen Stacy to leave first so he could sit alone for a while and process this hard-won victory.

The Data Pad that Gwen Stacy handed over was like a stone thrown into stagnant water.

Audit Report on the Abnormalities in the Special Accounts of the Technology Integration Department During the "Suspension and Reflection" Period.

Every word in the title appears so neat, yet so jarring.

Issuing Authority: Internal Affairs Inspection Office.

Issued by: Acting Director, Natasha Romanoff.

Lynn's gaze lingered on that line of text for a few seconds.

He didn't open it immediately.

He simply stared at his own face, an expressionless reflection on the Data Pad.

How did he manage to turn this crisis against TVA into an opportunity, and even manage to salvage some of the situation?

It relied on the "out-of-control" deterrent created by the two uncertain factors of Hela and Wanda.

He loosened the reins for a moment, then, at the most crucial moment, tightened them again with the absolute authority of the Management Committee Director. It was a performance on the edge of a knife, a performance for Proctor and for the TVA executives.

Externally, this is a perfect trump card.

However, internally, the side effects of this strategy are now becoming apparent.

"Suspended from duty for self-reflection"

This Discipline action was issued in front of TVA to suppress Hela and Wanda's overstepping of their authority.

In terms of organizational procedures, this means that Wanda has temporarily lost all Jurisdiction over the Technology Integration Department.

Natasha, the newly appointed acting Director of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office, seized this power vacuum.

What a fine knife.

Lynn's fingertip finally touched the Data Pad, unlocking the file.

The report was not complicated; it consisted entirely of data and charts, cold and objective.

It contained not a single subjective judgment, yet it was more deadly than any harsh accusation.

The report states that during the twelve hours that Minister Wanda was suspended, 97 percent of the peak computing power of the S-3 Ultra-High Computing Power Cluster, the Core Server of the Technology Integration Department, was illegally accessed by an unnamed low-level instruction.

The Audit Report clearly revealed the purpose of this massive computing power through cross-comparison and path tracing.

--Reverse tracing and attempting to reconstruct a set of Legacy Underlying Energy Code originating from the "Sokovia Ruins".

Lynn's gaze fell on the words "Sokovia Ruins".

His other hand, which was resting on the table, silently clenched its five fingers, then slowly relaxed them.

Natasha's report was both a perfect pledge of allegiance and a ruthless betrayal.

She used the most compliant means to demonstrate to Lynn the sharpness of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office. It could be used not only externally but also internally. It could precisely pierce the weak points of any department in the Management Committee, even the core and vital department like the Technology Integration Department, which had absolute power.

She was also using this report to declare war on another "mistress".

The internal relations, which had just briefly improved due to their joint efforts to combat TVA, instantly plummeted to a freezing point.

"Where is this report currently being circulated?" Lynn's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"According to Appendix Nine of the 'Regulations on Internal Affairs Inspection Work Regulations,' special Audit Report at or above Class A shall be submitted directly to the Management Committee Director's Office by the Director of the Inspection Office. Before your approval, they shall be classified as Top Secret." Gwen Stacy's answer was watertight.

Lynn nodded.

This shows that Natasha knows the rules. She completely relinquished the power to detonate the bomb to herself.

How to handle the situation and when to make it public are all decided by him, the Director.

This is both a sign of respect and a form of pressure.

Lynn's fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the Data Pad, his brain racing.

Suppress this report?

Impossible. The Internal Affairs Inspection Office has already been established; once the door to procedural justice is opened, it cannot be closed. If he forcibly suppresses it, it would be tantamount to denying the legitimacy of establishing this department himself, and Natasha's backlash would be even more intense.

Open discussion?

That would be tantamount to igniting a full-scale war at the Standing Committee. Hela already harbored resentment towards Wanda, and this report would become her perfect ammunition to attack the Department of Science and Department of Technology. And Wanda...

Lynn could almost picture the scene.

He rubbed his temples, feeling a long-lost headache.

One wave subsides, another rises.

This is the Force Field. The external enemies have barely retreated when the internal knives are already being handed over.

"Director," Gwen Stacy hesitated for a moment, noticing Lynn's tired expression, before whispering, "the Technology Integration Department's leave order expires in twelve hours."

The implication is that Wanda will soon be reinstated.

If she only discovers then that her department's premises have been ransacked during her suspension, the consequences will be unimaginable.

A solution must be found before she is reinstated.

Lynn looked up, about to speak.

"Buzz--"

A sharp but not loud alarm sounded from the embedded terminal on his desk.

It's not a red alert indicating external intrusion, but rather Orange Alert indicating high-energy internal conflict.

Lynn and Gwen Stacy both looked at the terminal screen.

On the screen, a three-dimensional structural diagram of the White Bone Hall appeared, with one area flashing a dazzling orange light.

The label indicates: Internal Affairs Inspection Office.

An urgent communication request from a Technician popped up, his voice filled with terror.

"Reporting, Director! The Internal Affairs Inspection Office... the outer wall of the Inspection Office has been struck by an energy Impact of unknown origin!"

"The defensive barrier... is being forcibly stripped away!"

Lynn's pupils suddenly contracted.

Without the slightest hesitation, he swiftly swiped his finger across the screen, directly accessing the real-time surveillance footage of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office corridor.

The image was transmitted clearly.

The once neat and solemn corridor was now a mess.

The door to the Internal Affairs Inspection Office, made of Special Alloy and strong enough to withstand the Main Cannon of a warship, was now like a red-hot Rune Structure iron, its surface runes peeling off and Oblivion piece by piece.

The Scarlet Chaos Energy, like an invisible hand, tightly gripped the door.

A figure hovered silently in the middle of the corridor.

It's Wanda.

She was still wearing her Ministry of Department of Technology uniform, her face expressionless, but her Scarlet eyes blazed with a chilling rage capable of freezing everything.

She ignored the alarms blaring around her, and she also ignored the Enforcement Team from the Stability Maintenance Office who were rushing in from all directions but dared not approach.

Her gaze pierced through the melting door, locking onto something behind it.

Lynn didn't need to guess; she knew who was behind the door.

"Boom!"

A loud bang.

Under the extreme tearing of Chaos Magic, the door to the Inspection Office, along with the surrounding walls, was blasted open with a huge gap.

A violent surge of energy erupted outwards, blasting everything in the corridor away.

The surveillance video shook violently for a moment, then was swallowed up by static.

There was a deathly silence in Lynn's office.

Gwen Stacy stared at the shimmering snowflakes, her face turning deathly pale.

Lynn slowly leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

His worst fears came true.

Moreover, it was in the worst and most direct way.

His secret about Sokovia was once again pushed to the brink of disaster.