A closed-door reprimand in the Director's office, the acting Internal Affairs Director's test
Lynn returned to her office.
He did not sit down.
Gwen Stacy gently closed the door behind him, shutting out the lingering smell of burning and the noise in the corridor.
The room was very quiet.
Only after the Orange Alert is lifted will the terminal emit a slight buzzing sound to return to standby mode.
Lynn walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the unchanging gray Sky Dome of the Negative Zone, composed of Data Stream.
He stood there for a long time.
"Director Gwen Stacy."
"Exist."
"Please have Comrade Natasha from the Internal Affairs Inspection Office come to my office." Lynn's voice was calm.
"Yes." Gwen Stacy didn't ask any further questions and turned to go out and make the arrangements.
About ten minutes later, there was a knock on the office door.
"Enter."
Natasha walked in. She had changed out of her disheveled combat uniform and put on the standard black uniform of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office, looking impeccably dressed. Her hair was neatly combed, and there was no trace on her face of the near-death experience she had recently had.
She walked to a spot three steps in front of the desk and stopped.
"Director, you wanted to see me?"
Lynn turned around, not offering her a seat, but simply looking at her calmly.
Natasha returned his gaze quietly, her eyes calm, as if she weren't the one who had just drawn her gun and ignited the conflict in the ruins.
The air in the office grew thick with silence.
Lynn picked up the Audit Report Data Pad presented by Gwen Stacy from the table and lightly swiped her finger across the screen.
"I've read this Audit Report."
He spoke, breaking the silence.
"The data is detailed, the chain of evidence is complete, and the procedure is impeccable."
"The work of the Inspection Office is commendable."
Natasha's expression remained unchanged. "This is my job."
Lynn put the Data Pad down, making a slight sound.
"But, Comrade Natasha."
He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "comrade".
"Our Management Committee is a unified whole. When doing our work, especially in supervision, we must not only follow procedures, but also consider politics and the overall situation."
Natasha's eyelashes twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Everyone on the Management Committee knows about Minister Wanda's emotional state. During her suspension, in this power vacuum, to use such a pointed Audit Report to provoke an already unstable and high-risk energy source—have you considered the consequences?"
Lynn's tone remained calm, but every word was like a precise hammer blow, striking at crucial moments.
"If I hadn't arrived in time today, what do you think would be left of that floor of the Inspection Office right now?"
What do you have left, all of you?
Natasha remained silent for a moment.
"I admit that I underestimated the escalation of the situation." Her voice lacked apology. "But I maintain that the auditing procedures of the Inspection Office were without any problems. The discrepancies in the Department of Technology's accounts are an objective fact, and as acting Director, I must fulfill my duties."
"Duty?" Lynn repeated the word, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
"Your responsibility is to maintain the internal Discipline and stability of the Management Committee, not to use the rules to create greater instability."
"You knew perfectly well what this report would ignite, but you still did it. You wanted to use a fait accompli to force me, and the Management Committee, to endorse the sharpness of your weapon."
Lynn took a step forward, closing the distance between herself and Natasha.
"You want to prove that the Internal Affairs Inspection Office can handle not only external matters but also internal ones. You want to use Wanda's loss of control to pave the final step for your own promotion."
"This is your political intention."
Natasha's breathing finally became slightly erratic.
She looked into Lynn's eyes, which held no anger, only a calm that seemed to understand everything.
"I..." she seemed to want to explain herself.
"Given your actions in this ' Class A High-Risk Energy Leakage Accident,' which exacerbated conflicts and demonstrated a lack of strategic vision, negatively impacting the unity and stability of the Management Committee," Lynn stated directly, without giving her a chance to object, delivering her conclusion in unequivocal language.
"After review, it has been decided that your application for promotion from acting Director will be temporarily suspended."
"Effective immediately, you will continue to perform the duties of acting Director and redeem yourself through meritorious service. We will discuss your permanent appointment once you truly understand the meaning of 'the big picture'."
These words were more destructive than any energy Impact.
It directly cut off Natasha's eager path to promotion, placing her back into an uncertain "probationary period."
Natasha's face finally paled slightly for a moment.
But she quickly regained her composure and even straightened her back.
"I accept the organization's decision."
She lowered her head, adopting a very humble posture.
"Thank you for your criticism and reminder, Director. I will reflect deeply on this in my future work and improve my political awareness."
Lynn looked at her.
This was a perfect example of strategic retreat. She accepted the punishment, but it also temporarily put an end to this confrontation, thus preserving her position as acting Director.
"Go out," Lynn waved her hand. "Put the report on this incident on my desk tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Director."
Natasha responded, turned around, and walked towards the door with measured steps.
Her hand was already gripping the doorknob.
Just as she was about to open the door, she suddenly stopped, turned around, as if she had remembered something trivial.
"By the way, Director."
She wore a perfectly timed, professional smile.
"Regarding the Audit Report from the Ministry of Department of Technology, in accordance with the 'Regulations on the Information Circulation Confidentiality Regulations,' a copy was sent to the Stability Maintenance Office through compliant procedures before it was submitted to you."