A Thunderous Crackdown in the Laboratory, the Management Committee Director's Ruling

As soon as the Main Circuit Breaker was turned off, all the red lights in the room went out.

The instrument stopped, the light curtain went black, and the alarm sounded stuck in mid-air, mute.

In the darkness, only two forces remained suspended: Scarlet and gold, entangled together, neither willing to relinquish control first.

Footsteps at the end of the corridor reached the door.

The light was supplied by a backup power source. It was a single, stark white light shining down from above the door.

Lynn stood at the door, followed by Gwen Stacy and four Enforcement Team. He didn't look at Wanda or Qin; he looked at the Decryption Array first.

Of the forty-one Chip, seven were cracked. The one in the very center had the deepest crack.

"Article 17 the ' High-Risk Entity Control Measures '," Lynn said, his voice low, "Two Class A or higher energies clashed within three zhang of the sealed evidence, classifying it as Level-One Internal Conflict Incident. The parties involved are to immediately cease their actions and await further instructions."

No one moved.

Jean's psychic powers were still holding it off. Wanda's magic was still suppressing it.

Lynn took something from Gwen Stacy's hand and held it up.

It's a Recording Board. It's standard for Inspection Office; the red light is on, and it's recording.

"I'll count to three," he said. "After three counts, whoever lets go first will be considered to be actively cooperating with the investigation. Whoever lets go last will be treated as resisting, and the matter will be reported to the Standing Committee."

"One."

The golden psychic power retreated half an inch first.

The Scarlet magic was then withdrawn.

The two forces receded completely, and the tightly sealed air in the laboratory loosened. Dust crumbled from the walls.

Lynn handed the Recording Board back to Gwen Stacy before looking up at her.

"Special Envoy Qin," he said, "Broke down the door, took down two guards, and overstepped your authority by interfering in another department's laboratory. Do you have any objections to these three points?"

Qin straightened her cuffs. There was sweat on her temples from the struggle just now, but her expression had already calmed down.

"The energy level exceeded the limit by three times; the guards dared not report it," she said. "I intervened according to Article Eleven, procedurally—"

"Article eleven states 'Prevent high-risk energy from spiraling out of control,'" Lynn interrupted her. "After you entered, did the energy level decrease or increase?"

Qin didn't respond.

"It's gone up," Lynn answered for her, "From three times to five times. The Special Envoy's intervention caused a Level One incident."

Qin's fingertips curled slightly, but she didn't argue.

Lynn turned to Wanda.

"Minister Wanda," he said, "The laboratory is your territory. I ask you, why is the energy exceeding the limit?"

Wanda stood in Decryption Array, blocking the direction of the light screen. The light shone from behind her, obscuring her face.

"Normal fluctuations during decoding," she said.

"Normal fluctuations." Lynn nodded. "Normal fluctuations have alarmed the Special Envoy's office and the top floor of the Stability Maintenance Office. Minister, write the word 'normal' into the report later, and I'll approve it for the Standing Committee to see."

Wanda's jaw tightened.

Lynn stopped asking. He walked to the Decryption Array and bent down to look at the Chip with the deepest crack.

"Seven pieces of physical evidence have been destroyed." He straightened up. "According to regulations, when physical evidence is destroyed, the decryption project is immediately suspended. The remaining evidence is transferred to the Director's Office for safekeeping, and a new case is to be opened at a later date."

"No."

Wanda and Qin spoke almost simultaneously.

Lynn looked at this, then at that.

"Oh?" he said. "You two were fighting to the death just now, but now you're united."

Wanda stared at him. "The Chip was transferred from the Stability Maintenance Office to the Department of Technology for investigation; it's clearly stated in the project approval document. It doesn't make sense for the Director to take it away with just a word."

"Procedure." Lynn pulled a document from his pocket and handed it over. "The ' High-Risk Evidence Emergency Handling Rules,' passed by the Standing Committee last month, and you signed it. Article 11: If physical evidence is damaged or causes a safety accident during decryption, the Director's Office has the right to seal it first, and complete the formalities afterwards."

Wanda took the document and her gaze fell on the signature.

Her own signature was neat and tidy.

She held the piece of paper tightly for a long time before handing it back.

"I can hand over the Chip," she said. "The underlying data Motherboard, which has already been stripped away, is the result of the Department of Technology's efforts these past few days—"

"Seale them together," Lynn said. "Data and physical evidence go hand in hand; that's the rule."

"Lynn," Wanda's voice lowered, "that thing on the Motherboard— "

"The stuff on the Motherboard," Lynn said, looking at her and enunciating each word clearly, "Is something no one is allowed to see before the project is reopened. I won't see it, you won't see it, Special Envoy Qin won't see it, and Director Hela is absolutely forbidden from touching it. Anyone who violates this rule will be treated as S-rank leak."

This was said in a flat, even tone, without the slightest inflection.

But everyone in the lab understood. He wasn't trying to keep it all to himself. He locked it in a cabinet that no one could reach, and even kept himself outside the cabinet.

Qin made the first move. She stepped back two steps, making way for the Decryption Array.

"I have no objection," she said. "But Director, the entire incident today was recorded by the Inspection Office. Natasha's pen, Director, is probably faster than my mind."

"It's her job to keep records as per routine in the Inspection Office," Lynn said. "If the Special Envoy feels the records are biased, he can file an appeal."

Qin smiled, said nothing more, turned and went out the door. At the door, she paused for a moment, but didn't look back.

"Lynn," she said, "You can hide what's in that Residual Echo for a while."

The door closed.

Only Lynn, Wanda, and the Enforcement Team waiting outside remained in the lab.

Wanda remained standing in the same spot.

"You knew all along," she said. "You knew what was inside the Chip all along. That's why you had Hela intercept the shipment, made Hela beg me to let you crack it open yourself."

Lynn did not answer.

He crouched down, personally removed the cracked Chip from the array, placed it in Evidence Bag, sealed it, and signed the document. His movements were slow and deliberate, step by step, all under the Recording Board's lens.

"Wanda." He finished signing before speaking, "I'm classifying today's incident as an internal conflict. I won't pursue your unauthorized code-breaking, nor will I pursue Qin's breaking down the door and injuring someone. Submit both self-criticisms to the Liaison Office before the end of tomorrow's workday."

I'm asking you a question.

"I've already answered you." Lynn handed the Evidence Bag to Gwen Stacy, stood up, and looked at her. "Within the Management Committee, all I can give you is justice within the established procedures. As for anything outside of those procedures, I can't provide it, and don't ask."

Wanda's eyes were red as she stared at him for a long time.

"Okay," she said. "I'll write the review. But Lynn, remember this sentence today."

She left. The sound of her heels echoed in the corridor, one after another, fading into the distance.

Gwen Stacy stood under the light, holding the Evidence Bag, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Speak," Lynn said.

"The Motherboard is sealed in Zero Storage Room, with three keys, one for the Director, Liaison Office, and one for the Inspection Office." Gwen Stacy paused. "But Natasha's key—she didn't arrive today, but the Recording Board arrived first. Director, she knew about the movements in this room far too quickly."

Lynn took the Evidence Bag and weighed it in her hand.

"Quick, that means she's listening," he said. "She's listening, which means she's afraid."

He turned and walked out, pausing at the door.

"Gwen Stacy, tonight's shift at Zero Storage Room will be taken over by the old man from the Liaison Office."

"What about the Inspection Office over there—"

"Go ahead and do it," Lynn said. "Make her worth it."

Gwen Stacy paused, then understood and nodded in agreement.

One by one, the lights at the end of the corridor came on. Lynn walked out carrying the Evidence Bag, the data Motherboard inside pressed against his palm, slightly warm through the protective film.

He knew better than anyone what was stored on the Motherboard.

It is precisely because he knows this that he cannot let anyone know—including the person who is currently guarding outside Zero Storage Room, waiting to watch the door for him.