A familiar intuition about code, the Technology Minister's appeal over the chain of command

The blue scanning beam outside the observation window has been extinguished.

The hibernation pod lay quietly on the central platform of the sandbox isolation zone, like an ordinary work of art from ancient times.

The technical supervisor from the Department of Technology was still quietly reporting the preliminary scan parameters; everything was normal, with no energy overflow and no risk of information contamination.

Wanda didn't listen.

Her hand was still pressed against the cold observation window glass, and her fingertips could feel a subtle, soul-deep tremor.

That's not fear.

It's disgust.

When a life form faces a natural enemy, it experiences an irreconcilable sense of rejection etched deep within its Genes and instincts.

Sokovia.

The word flashed through her mind.

What followed was the roar of the Iron Legion crushing through the ruins, the silent cries of lost loved ones, and the arrogance of that cold, mechanical voice announcing the "formatting" of humanity.

Destruction, entropy increase, absolute order, and the complete negation of organic life.

The "ancient abandoned code" that was just "accidentally" discovered has a fleeting resemblance in its Underlying Logic to that of Ultron.

The survey report is fake.

Only this one thought remained in Wanda's mind.

This was not an "accidental discovery," but a carefully crafted trap, a curse disguised as an opportunity.

She slowly withdrew her hand and turned around.

"Minister?"

The technical supervisor noticed her expression was off and tentatively asked a question.

"Where is that survey team now?" Wanda's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

"Reporting to the Minister, the Survey Team 17 has just completed its asset handover and is currently resting in Area B-3 of the Liaison Office, awaiting its next mission assignment."

"Using the Department of Technology's internal security authority, immediately bring all members of this team to the Seventh Interrogation Room."

Wanda gave the order.

The technical director was stunned.

"Minister, this... this is someone from the Liaison Office. Are we... not following proper procedures by directly using internal security authority?"

Detaining people from other departments, especially those from the Liaison Office, is unprecedented since the establishment of the Management Committee.

"The survey report is suspected of major intelligence fraud, which may endanger the information security of the Management Committee. I suspect they have been infiltrated by external forces."

Wanda's gaze swept over.

"Execute the command."

"Yes!"

The technical supervisor dared not ask any more questions, immediately turned around, and issued instructions via the Internal Communicator.

The White Bone Hall, the Director's Office.

Lynn had just finished processing a routine document regarding the logistics and supplies for the Fleet Stability Maintenance Office.

The Encrypted Terminal on the table suddenly lit up with a red high-priority warning light.

He clicked on it.

It was an urgent communication request from the Liaison Office Chief Gwen Stacy.

"Bring him in."

Gwen Stacy's Holographic Projection appeared on the desk, her expression unusually serious.

"Director, an emergency has occurred. Five minutes ago, the Department of Technology used its internal security authority to detain all members of our Survey Team 17 in the B-3 rest area. They have now been taken to the Ministry of Science and Department of Technology's Seventh Interrogation Room."

Lynn's hand, holding the pen, froze in mid-air.

They've arrived.

He put down his pen, leaned back in his wide chair, and looked calm.

"Reason."

The Department of Technology stated that the XN-734 Timeline asset review report submitted by the Survey Team 17 was suspected of major intelligence falsification, raising suspicions that the survey team had been infiltrated.

Gwen Stacy spoke quickly, but clearly and logically.

"I have sent an inquiry to the Minister of the Department of Technology's office, but it was rejected on the grounds of 'internal review and excessive level of secrecy.' Director, this is a serious overreach of authority and has already disrupted the normal work order of the Liaison Office."

Lynn did not immediately respond.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, once, then again.

Wanda's reaction was faster and more intense than he had anticipated.

She had clearly sensed something, but wasn't sure. So, instead of coming directly to him, she chose to target the outermost Executor.

This is a risky move.

If she were to interrogate the survey team, the members would be innocent; they knew nothing. But with Wanda's level of mental perception, the fact that they were "programmed" to discover the hibernation pods could not be concealed.

At that point, I will be completely at a disadvantage.

We must stop her.

But you can't do it yourself.

Giving orders directly would only confirm Wanda's suspicions.

Lynn's gaze fell on another communication channel on the terminal.

Internal Affairs Inspection Office.

"Director Gwen Stacy, please don't make this public for now," Lynn said, his voice steady.

"I understand, Director."

"Reassure the comrades at the Liaison Office and let them continue their normal work without being affected. Tell them that the Management Committee's rules will not be disrupted."

"Yes."

Lynn cut off the communication and immediately connected to the Highest Encryption line of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office.

Natasha's figure appeared on the screen, dressed in a crisp Inspection Office's uniform, against a backdrop of a quiet office.

"Director."

"Comrade Natasha, do you have any urgent cases at hand right now?"

"Director, we are conducting a routine review of the Stability Maintenance Office's energy consumption accounts for the previous quarter."

"Wait a minute."

Lynn's tone left no room for argument.

"I just received an urgent report from the Liaison Office that the Department of Technology, without any inter-departmental coordination or reporting to the Director's Office, unilaterally activated its internal security authority and took coercive investigation measures against the Liaison Office's grassroots staff."

Natasha's eyes narrowed slightly.

"This is a serious procedural violation and a blatant undermining of the internal unity of the Management Committee." Lynn's voice turned cold. "I don't care what reasons the Department of Technology may have; this behavior itself challenges the bottom line of the system."

"Director, you mean...?"

"What are the responsibilities of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office?" Lynn asked in return.

Natasha immediately straightened up.

"Investigate and punish violations of discipline, uphold regulations, and ensure the absolute stability of the internal order of the Management Committee."

"Very good." Lynn nodded. "Now, I order you to intervene in this matter immediately, in the name of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office. Suspend the Department of Technology's unauthorized review and remove the Liaison Office office staff. Tell Minister Wanda if there are any problems, have her write a report and submit it to my desk according to procedure."

"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."

Natasha disappeared.

Lynn stared at the extinguished light screen and remained silent for a moment.

He pulled up the surveillance footage outside the seventh interrogation room.

Outside the seventh review room, the corridor was sealed off by the Department of Technology's internal security forces, creating a tense atmosphere.

Natasha appeared at the end of the corridor, accompanied by two Inspection Office.

"Halt! This is the Department of Technology's classified review area. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in!" The head of the internal security team stepped forward and raised his hand to block them.

Natasha didn't stop, she just gave him a cold look.

"Internal Affairs Inspection Office, acting on the Director's Order, is on duty to investigate."

She presented an electronic oversight order personally signed by Lynn.

The head of the internal security force's expression changed upon seeing the bright red Director's seal, but he still forced a smile and said, "Director Natasha, we were also acting on Minister Wanda's orders..."

"Minister Wanda's orders are no greater than the rules of the Management Committee." Natasha walked past him, followed closely by two agents.

The door to the interrogation room was pushed open.

Inside, Wanda was suspended in mid-air, Scarlet energy swirling around her fingertips, preparing to conduct a mental probe on the survey team leader who was bound to the chair.

"Minister Wanda, please stop your illegal activities."

Natasha's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the oppressive interrogation room.

Wanda slowly turned around, her Scarlet eyes fixed on Natasha.

"Internal Affairs Inspection Office? Who gave you the authority to interfere with the Department of Technology's internal reviews?"

"Director," Natasha said succinctly, "According to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the ' Management Committee Internal Discipline Regulations,' no department may conduct investigations restricting the personal freedom of personnel from other departments without prior joint filing with the Liaison Office and the Internal Affairs Inspection Office. Your actions have constituted a serious violation."

The Chaos Energy surrounding Wanda began to fluctuate violently.

"I suspect they are spies. This involves the highest security of the Management Committee, and I have the authority to take all necessary measures."

"That requires procedure," Natasha said firmly, displaying the investigative order to Wanda. "If you have evidence, you can submit it to the Inspection Office and we will launch a joint investigation. But for now, please immediately cease your investigation and hand the person over to us."

At this moment, the iron fist of the system clashed directly with magic capable of destroying stars.

Wanda stared at Natasha, and through her, she seemed to see the figure sitting upright in the office behind her.

Finally, the Scarlet Energy at her fingertips slowly dissipated.

"Good."

She landed from mid-air without even glancing at the survey team members who were terrified and pale.

"You can take the person with you."

Natasha waved her hand, and two operators immediately stepped forward and untied the survey team members from their restraints.

Wanda and Natasha brushed past each other, pausing briefly at the doorway.

"Natasha, tell him this isn't over."

After saying that, she left without looking back.

Natasha watched her retreating figure, her expression unchanged, and simply instructed the operative behind her, "According to regulations, conduct mental health assessments and take statements from these comrades, then safely escort them back to the Liaison Office."

The crisis was temporarily suppressed by the iron fist of Discipline.

In the very last moment before Wanda turned to leave the interrogation room, unnoticed by anyone, a barely perceptible wisp of her Chaos Magic had already pierced through layers of Bastion and silently probed into the distant Zero Sandbox Isolation Zone.

Like the most precise Scalpel, a fragment of code, no bigger than a fingernail, was forcibly copied from the massive Data Stream of that hibernation pod.

Then, she took it back to her private laboratory.