An urgent official letter of external inquiry from the Time Variance Authority

The atmosphere in the office, which had just eased, tensed up again with Gwen Stacy's intrusion.

The burning clock emblem on that Data Pad, like a red-hot branding iron, was seared onto everyone's retina.

Lynn's gaze shifted from Gwen Stacy's serious face to the Data Pad. He didn't immediately take it, but watched as the emblem flashed twice.

Jean Grey, who had just lowered her head, raised it again. She didn't recognize the emblem, but she could feel the urgent and impatient aura Gwen Stacy brought, as well as the sudden freeze in the low pressure around Lynn.

"Director." Gwen Stacy's voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

Lynn reached out and took the Data Pad.

It feels cool to the touch.

His fingertip swiped across the screen, unlocking the document. It was a formal official letter in black and white, with the title in the bold font commonly used by the TVA Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Inquiry letter requesting the Negative Zone Management Committee to immediately hand over high-risk Time Variant.

The official letter is logically clear, strongly worded, and gets straight to the point.

TVA Commission for Discipline Inspection accused the Negative Zone Management Committee of illegally containing High-Risk Variant from the Abandoned Timeline "XN-734," an act that seriously violated the supplementary clauses regarding the disposal of high-risk entities in the recently signed "Cross-Dimension Bilateral Security Memorandum."

The official letter requires the Management Committee to unconditionally transfer the Variant (number: XN-734-01) to the TVA Border Adjudication Station within 24 hours, where it will be taken away by the Commissioner of the Discipline Inspection Commission for Final Judgment.

The last paragraph is an ultimatum.

If the Management Committee fails to fulfill its obligations within the stipulated time, TVA will unilaterally freeze the mining rights of the three high-energy subsidiary Dimension that were promised to be transferred to the Negative Zone Management Committee in the previous agreement, in accordance with the punitive clauses in the memorandum, until the matter is resolved.

Lynn's gaze lingered for a moment on the words "freeze mining rights".

Gwen Stacy took a step forward, her voice even lower. "Director, these three energy Dimension are the core support for the next phase of the ' S.H.I.E.L.D. Protocol ' upgrade plan submitted by the Department of Technology. If they are frozen, at least half of our defense upgrade projects will come to a standstill."

Her words highlighted the weight of this official letter.

This was not a simple squabble, but rather TVA's precise grasp of the Management Committee's Achilles' heel regarding its development.

Jean Grey's expression changed.

She looked at Lynn, her lips pressed tightly together. She was the Variant "XN-734-01". She had just found him, and now someone was coming to take her away, to a place called "Final Judgment".

An uncontrollable urge to destroy began to rise in her heart.

The office temperature seemed to have dropped several degrees out of nowhere.

Lynn seemed oblivious. He turned off the Data Pad and casually placed it on the corner of the table, his movements very gentle.

He looked up at Gwen Stacy.

"TVA's internal processes are usually very slow. This time, however, they were surprisingly fast."

His tone was indifferent, as if he were commenting on a business matter that had nothing to do with him.

Gwen Stacy paused for a moment, not understanding the deeper meaning behind the Director's words.

Lynn's thinking, however, was exceptionally clear.

TVA has dumped a hot potato on me, and now they're using it as an excuse to come knocking on my door in a menacing manner.

This isn't law enforcement; it's a test.

A political test with extremely low cost.

If TVA backs down and hands over Jean Grey, it will not only resolve a potentially huge problem without bloodshed, but also regain the initiative it lost at the negotiating table, making the Negative Zone Management Committee understand who the rule-makers are.

If they don't back down, then freezing energy extraction rights would be a real blow, enough to slow down the Management Committee's development and make this Beast that has just shown its fangs taste hunger again.

What a brilliant, open strategy!

If TVA moves in, it won't lose money. If it moves out, TVA will make a huge profit.

Lynn's lips twitched upwards almost imperceptibly.

TVA had a good plan, but they miscalculated one thing.

The external pressure they've brought isn't a crisis for Lynn right now, but rather a perfectly timed gift.

A gift sufficient to overcome internal resistance.

He looked at Gwen Stacy and instructed, "No need to reply."

"Director?" Gwen Stacy was somewhat surprised. In her opinion, such an important matter should at least warrant an immediate meeting to discuss countermeasures.

"Let it sit for now." Lynn's tone left no room for argument.

He paused for a moment, then added, "If they press us again, draft a standard official letter requesting the Discipline Inspection Commission to provide a detailed explanation of which specific article or clause of the Bilateral Security Memorandum we violated, along with relevant evidence. Everything will proceed according to procedure."

Gwen Stacy understood immediately.

This is the most common tactic in bureaucratic systems: using procedures to fight procedures, and using time to wear down the other side's patience.

"I understand." She nodded, but the worry between her brows hadn't completely disappeared.

Lynn's gaze passed over Gwen Stacy and landed on Jean Grey.

Qin looked at him nervously, her eyes filled with uncertainty and a hint of pleading.

Lynn looked at her, without mentioning anything about the TVA letter, as if it were just a worthless piece of paper.

He spoke, his voice not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire office.

"Submit your written self-criticism to the Internal Affairs Inspection Office for filing before you leave work."

Gwen Stacy was startled, almost thinking she had misheard.

Jean Grey was completely stunned.

With the TVA army closing in and specifically targeting her for "judgment," Lynn's first order to her was to write a self-criticism about her "overstepping boundaries" in the office?

This was completely beyond her comprehension.

But in Lynn's calm eyes, she sensed an unquestionable authority. It was an implication: here, the rules of TVA were not the rules. His rules were the only rules.

The destructive urge that had just arisen receded like the tide, replaced by an unprecedented sense of peace.

"Yes," she replied softly.

"Go ahead." Lynn waved her hand.

Gwen Stacy, filled with doubt, led the equally perplexed Jean Grey out of the office.

The door slowly closed behind them.

Silence returned to the office.

Lynn leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

TVA's pressure came at just the right time.

Didn't Hela and Wanda unite to oppose Jean Grey's inclusion on the payroll? Didn't they feel her presence would disrupt the internal power balance?

Now, TVA has proven Jean Grey's worth.

Does the strategic value of an asset that TVA is so wary of, willing to risk everything to reclaim it, even at the cost of damaging relations, still need discussion?

Lynn stopped tapping her fingers.

He has already figured out his next step.

He wanted to use TVA's inquiry letter to smoothly transform Jean Grey's staffing issue from an internal personnel conflict into a politically crucial question to counter external hegemony.