The office space swap trick, the Special Envoy's independent territory
White Bone Hall, cold white light was evenly spread across every inch of the floor.
On Lynn's desk, two newly delivered paper documents were placed side by side.
On the left is a document from the Stability Maintenance Office, with the personal seal of Hela, stamped at the bottom—a complex emblem composed of bones and Crown. The document contains a rejection of Special Envoy Jean Grey's application to use the C-3 Mobile Combat Readiness Room, with the reasons presented in a grand and respectable manner: the area involves the Stability Maintenance Office's core combat readiness deployments, has a complex energy environment, and is unsuitable for long-term occupancy by non-combat personnel.
The document on the right, from the Department of Technology, features a hand-drawn Chaos Runes by Scarlet Witch Wanda at the foot. It too is a rejection, and the reason is impeccable: Jean Grey's energy properties would cause unpredictable interference with the stability of the underlying data on the Department of Technology's Core Server. To ensure the absolute security of the Management Committee's "S.H.I.E.L.D. Protocol," it is not approved.
Both documents are carefully worded, cite classical texts, and fully comply with the Management Committee's rules of procedure.
Hela and Wanda, the two department heads who are at odds on almost every issue, have reached a surprising consensus on excluding newcomers.
Lynn tapped her fingers lightly on the table.
He did not look at the "supplementary comments" attached to the two documents, submitted by Gwen Stacy, regarding the two ministers' recommendation to place Jean Grey at the edge observation station.
That was a form of soft exile.
Pushing an individual with world-destroying power out of the center of power, turning her into an isolated island, aligns perfectly with Hela and Wanda's modus operandi.
But Lynn can't do that.
Jean Grey is a key pawn he uses to counterbalance TVA and even more external forces in the future. He can give her a warning, but he can't let her become disloyal.
Lynn leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and quickly flipped through the "Regulations on the Management of Fixed Assets of the Management Committee" in his mind.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and connected to the internal line of the Liaison Office Chief Gwen Stacy.
"Director Gwen Stacy, come to my office."
Gwen Stacy arrived quickly.
"Director." She stopped in front of the desk, her gaze not lingering on the two documents on it.
"Both the Stability Maintenance Office and the Ministry of Science and Department of Technology have raised difficulties regarding the office space for Special Envoy Jean Grey." Lynn's tone was calm, as if he were discussing a trivial daily matter. "Resources in the core administrative region are indeed strained, and we must also understand the difficulties faced by frontline departments."
Gwen Stacy didn't respond, waiting for Lynn to continue.
"However, the issue of the Special Envoy's office must also be resolved. This is a matter of organizational structure completeness." Lynn changed the subject, "I just checked the Asset Allocation Regulations, Chapter 7, Article 14, regarding the reuse of fragments from the desolate Dimension, which seems to be applicable."
Gwen Stacy's mind worked quickly, and she immediately understood what Lynn meant.
"Director, do you mean to allocate a portion of the Class D assets awaiting disposal to the Special Envoy?"
"Hmm." Lynn nodded. "It solves the office space problem, doesn't take up valuable resources in the Core Zone, and revitalizes abandoned assets—a win-win-win situation. What do you think?"
"Completely in compliance with regulations, Director," Gwen Stacy replied flawlessly, "However, the environments of D-level Dimension fragments are usually rather... primitive."
She used the word "primitive" instead of "bad".
"Special Envoy Qin has exceptional abilities; I believe she can overcome the difficulties." Lynn picked up his pen, preparing to sign the document. "It's settled then. Find a fragment of the desolate Dimension, numbered D-42, from the asset register, draft an asset transfer order, and submit it to the Stability Maintenance Office and the Department of Technology for record-keeping."
"Yes."
"Furthermore, inform Special Envoy Qin that the Management Committee is currently facing financial difficulties, and she will need to raise funds to arrange for office facilities herself. This is also in accordance with the regulations."
"I'll take care of it right away." Gwen Stacy acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
Half an hour later, an Red-Headed Document document was delivered to the Stability Maintenance Office and the Ministry of Department of Technology, regarding the allocation of the D-42 Desolate Dimension Fragment to the "Multiverse Crisis Response Special Envoy Office" as a temporary office area.
Hela reading the document, Hela smirked and tossed it to her adjutant, signaling him to file it.
Wanda merely glanced at the title before breaking it down into harmless dust using Chaos particles.
In their view, the farce was over. Lynn had, in a dignified manner, banished that troublesome Red-haired Woman to some godforsaken place.
D-42 Dimension Fragment.
There is no light, no sound, not even a stable form of matter. There is only a Chaos energy mist and endless void.
As per regulations, the Liaison Office dispatched a three-person asset handover team, personally led by Gwen Stacy, to demonstrate the "importance" placed on the Special Envoy.
Jean Grey hovered in the void, gazing at this truly barren land before her.
"Special Envoy Gwen, according to procedure, this place is now officially handed over to you." Gwen Stacy's voice came through the Communicator, devoid of any emotion. "Please confirm receipt."
Jean Grey did not speak.
She simply closed her eyes slowly.
The next second, an indescribable power emanated from her.
This force had no color, no shape, yet it instantly calmed the raging energy of the entire Dimension fragment. The chaotic mist began to settle, and the void began to solidify.
The two Technician beside Gwen Stacy watched in disbelief as the readings on the detection instruments in front of them transformed from a jumble of random characters into a steady straight line in an instant.
"Space... the rules of space are being rewritten!" A Technician's voice trembled.
Gwen Stacy didn't speak, but silently activated the highest-level environmental recorder on her combat suit.
Under their gaze, a flat, black earth emerged from nothingness and stretched infinitely into the distance. Then, a floating Bastion, entirely composed of dark red crystals, rose from the ground. It had no foundation, simply hovering silently in mid-air, its surface flowing with visible energy patterns, as if it possessed its own life.
The whole process took less than five minutes.
A piece of abandoned land deemed "without any development value" by the Management Committee has been transformed into an impregnable independent kingdom.
Jean Grey slowly opened her eyes and landed on the plaza in front of the Bastion's main gate.
She turned to look at Gwen Stacy, a slight smile on her face.
"Director Gwen Stacy, I have confirmed receipt of the assets. Thank you."
Gwen Stacy paused for a moment, then nodded.
"You're welcome. The Liaison Office will file the necessary documents for the subsequent construction of office facilities in accordance with regulations."
She boarded the returning Shuttlecraft with two Technician who had completely lost their speech.
The spaceship had just left the gravitational pull of the D-42 Dimension Fragment when Gwen Stacy's Personal Terminal received a new email.
From: Multiverse Crisis Response Special Envoy, Jean Grey.
The email contained a strongly worded official letter.
In the official letter, Jean Grey formally submitted an application to the Management Committee, citing the need to "monitor potential cross-dimensional security risks in real time in order to effectively fulfill the duties of the Special Envoy."
Apply for access to the Department of Technology's core data leased line.