The logistics warehouse handover dispute: the Stability Maintenance Office's forceful interception

Before Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the Corridor Three was already bustling with activity.

The escort team was not long. Two Liaison Office officers carried the evidence box, with an armed guard in front and behind them. Gwen Stacy walked beside the box, holding the handover form in her hand.

Many people were standing on the covered bridges on both sides of the passageway.

Technician from the Department of Technology, carrying Recording Board, said they were inspecting the route; staff from the Inspection Office leaned against the railing, saying it was a routine patrol; warehouse clerks from the Logistics Department were already waiting at the end of the passageway, rubbing their hands and glancing at the boxes.

Forty-one Chip, not one more, not one less. But everyone in the Management Committee knew that this box didn't contain waste.

Gwen Stacy walked slowly. She wanted everyone who needed to see to see clearly.

As the group walked to the middle of the passageway, a group of people suddenly appeared at the intersection ahead.

Twelve law Enforcement Team from the Stability Maintenance Office, clad in black armor, stood in two rows, completely blocking the intersection. Leading them was Hela's adjutant, named Skurge, who held a document in his hand.

"Director Gwen Stacy," Skurge greeted her, handing over the documents. "By Director's Order of the Stability Maintenance Office, this batch of evidence is to be taken over by our side."

Gwen Stacy did not accept the paperwork.

"Here's the handover form from the Logistics Department." She waved the paper in her hand. "The Director personally approved the handover of the Chip to logistics as ordinary consumables. What's the basis for the adjutant's demand to take over?"

"According to Article 7 of the ' Wartime Seized Property Disposal Regulations, '" Skurge answered decisively. "The Stability Maintenance Office has priority in disposing of any battlefield-captured items containing residual hostile energy that has not been cleared. These Chip came from an abandoned branch office; they were seized during a site clearance operation, not old warehouse stock. First, clear the mines, then hand them over—that's the procedure."

"The Chip has passed security inspection," Gwen Stacy. "It was registered in the warehouse yesterday, radiation readings are stable, and spectral analysis is available."

"Spectral analysis scans for radiation," Skurge retorted, "Minesweeping checks for mechanical energy. Two different things. The chief has led teams before; he knows better than I what can be hidden inside a metal shell."

Gwen Stacy looked at him without saying a word.

She couldn't stop this one. Article 7 of the regulations really exists; it was written by Hela back then, in black and white, and no one can overturn it. Lynn approved the "handover of logistics," but if the Stability Maintenance Office detained the goods under the pretext of mine clearance before the handover, there was no procedural error to be found.

People gradually gathered around on the covered bridge.

The Technician from the Department of Technology put down his Recording Board. The inspector from the Inspection Office straightened up. The warehouse clerk from the Logistics Department stood on tiptoe, his smile gradually fading.

Everyone is waiting for Gwen Stacy's reaction.

"The lieutenant needs to clear the mines," Gwen Stacy said slowly. "How long will it take?"

"The investigation is indefinite," Skurge said. "It won't end until we find out everything."

"Indefinitely," Gwen Stacy repeated, "That means you don't intend to pay it back."

"Director, that's too harsh." Skurge bowed slightly. "The Stability Maintenance Office follows the rules. Once everything is thoroughly checked, it's naturally handed over. We dare not disobey the Director's instructions. But the Director's instructions didn't include the words 'exempt from inspection'."

What a silver tongue!

Gwen Stacy knew in her heart that this wasn't Skurge's wording. An adjutant wouldn't have uttered such a smooth phrase. This was something Hela had taught her upstairs, every word carefully chosen and executed, perfectly treading the lines of the regulations.

If she forces her way in, it would be the Liaison Office confronting the Stability Maintenance Office's law enforcement, and she would be in the wrong from the start; if she backs down, the Chip Hela Hella's hands, and the first thing she'll see in those six years of erased diaries is the Stability Maintenance Office.

Moving forward or retreating, both are potential pitfalls.

"Please wait a moment, Lieutenant." Gwen Stacy took out her terminal. "I need to consult with the Director about this."

"Please proceed, Director." Skurge stepped aside, but his hand remained on the document. "However, the Stability Maintenance Office's order is also here. Since the two orders overlap, Director, you must consult your Chief; we—we can only consult our Director."

These words were spoken politely, but the underlying meaning was firm: you sue Lynn, I sue Hela, neither of us should try to suppress the other.

Gwen Stacy dialed the number on her terminal, and it rang for a long time.

No one answered.

She looked up towards the end of the corridor, towards the Director's Office, which was quiet. At this hour, Lynn wouldn't be absent. Not answering meant she didn't intend to.

Gwen Stacy slowly put away the terminal.

She understood. Lynn cast the line, the fish took the bait, but she wasn't the one reeling it in. What Lynn wanted to see was Hela's outstretched hand—so hastily, so confidently, without even bothering to cover it up.

"The items can be handed over," Gwen Stacy said.

A smug glint flashed in Skurge's eyes.

"But there are three conditions," Gwen Stacy held up one finger. "First, the handover must be witnessed by Liaison Office officer, and the entire process must be documented. Second, for each step of the investigation, the Stability Maintenance Office must send a progress report to the Liaison Office daily. Third—"

She paused, her voice not loud, but everyone on the covered bridge heard her clearly.

"The forty-one coins were counted one by one in person, registered, and signed and sealed by the Stability Maintenance Office. After the investigation is completed, they will be handed over to the logistics department. If there is a shortage, the person who signed and sealed the coin will be held responsible."

Skurge's expression changed.

The signing of the document pins the responsibility on the Stability Maintenance Office office. Hela wants the contents of the Chip, but if one chip is missing or damaged during the "investigation," the signed document will become Gwen Stacy's evidence to overturn her case later.

"The section chief doesn't trust the Stability Maintenance Office."

"I believe in the charter." Gwen Stacy handed over the handover form, and the adjutant signed it.

Skurge stared at the paper for a long time, then picked up his pen and signed it.

The evidence box changed hands. The Enforcement Team carried the box and turned around to head towards the Stability Maintenance Office. The crowd on the covered bridge gradually dispersed, and Technician from the Department of Technology hurried downstairs with Recording Board, presumably rushing to inform Wanda.

Gwen Stacy stood still.

The warehouse clerk from the Logistics Department approached, looking distressed. "Chief, this... should I still accept these goods from the warehouse?"

"Yes, I'll take it." Gwen Stacy said. "The Stability Maintenance Office will deliver it to you once they've finished their investigation."

The warehouse clerk left sheepishly.

Gwen Stacy watched the direction the Enforcement Team had gone, typed a message on her terminal, and sent it to the Director's Office: "The Chip has been intercepted by the Stability Maintenance Office in accordance with Article 7 of the regulations. The handover and records are complete, and Skurge has signed it. Hela has taken the items."

This time, the reply came very quickly.

There are only four characters.

"Got it. Keep an eye on it."

Gwen Stacy stared at those four words for a couple of breaths, but the doubts in her heart didn't dissipate; instead, they deepened. Lynn had known all along that Hela would intercept it. In fact— the Chip was delivered to Hela in the first place, through the Corridor Three.

But what good is it that Hela got the Chip? It's the Source Code of TVA, and no one in the Stability Maintenance Office office could decipher it.

Unless, of course, what she wanted was never for herself to decipher it.

Gwen Stacy suddenly remembered the Standing Committee's schedule. The regular meeting was in three days. If Hela requested computing power support from the Department of Technology under the pretext of "investigating potential security risks," then this box of Chip would be legitimately handed over from the Stability Maintenance Office to Wanda's experimental platform.

Using someone else to do the dirty work. The knife is Wanda, the hand wielding the knife is Hela, and the person who hands over the knife—

Gwen Stacy looked up towards the direction of the Director's Office; there was no one behind the window.