Closed-door tea in the Director's Office, tai chi with a telekinetic probe
There was a knock on the Director's Office door—three knocks, neither too loud nor too soft, with even intervals.
"Enter."
Lynn's voice came from inside the door, but it was emotionless.
The door opened, and Jean Grey walked in. She had changed out of her uniform and was wearing a well-fitting casual outfit, which made her less of Special Envoy, but her innate sense of oppression remained undiminished.
"Director." She nodded in greeting, her gaze calmly sweeping across the office before finally settling on Lynn.
Lynn was sitting behind the tea table for guests, holding a Yixing teapot and warming the cups with hot water. He glanced at the zither and gestured to the seat opposite him.
"Have a seat. A new batch of tea just arrived, let's try some."
Qin sat down as instructed, separated from Lynn by an Ebony tea table. She didn't speak, but quietly watched Lynn's movements. Washing the cups, placing the tea, pouring water—every action was steady and orderly, like a carefully rehearsed ceremony.
"The Special Envoy came here for the Special Zone's budget?" Lynn asked without looking up as he poured the first rinse of tea onto the tea pet.
"The budget proposal is only one aspect," Qin said calmly. "The main reason I'm here is to report to the Director on our recent work plans. For a newly created position, the leadership needs to have a clear understanding of it."
Speaking flawlessly is the most standard response a subordinate can give to their superior.
Lynn hummed in agreement, picked up the kettle, and prepared to brew the second infusion.
Just then, the stream of water pouring from the spout paused in mid-air in an extremely unnatural way. It did not disperse or splash, but instead, like a silver snake being pulled by an invisible hand, hovered between the teapot and the fairness cup.
The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.
That wasn't magic, nor was it an energy burst; it was a pure, physical will. A vast, powerful force of thought transformed into an invisible giant hand, grasping this small space.
Qin remained seated, her gaze still calm, but the suspended water was her silent question.
Lynn's movements didn't falter at all. He tightened his grip on the teapot, as if he hadn't noticed the strange phenomenon before him. With his other hand, he picked up the lid of the teapot on the table.
"The Management Committee's Regulations on the Use of Resources in the Administrative Area, Appendix III, Article 17." Lynn's voice was as steady as his movements. "In non-combat and non-experimental states, any form of energy release or physical interference must be reported to the Liaison Office, specifying the reason, energy level, and duration."
He gently placed the teapot lid on the spout, and the suspended water seemed to be disturbed, trembling slightly.
"Special Envoy Qin's demonstration this time wasn't high-level, so the registration shouldn't be difficult. However, Director Gwen Stacy very busy lately, and it will probably take three days to complete the procedures." Lynn put the teapot back on the tray, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather. "This tea will probably get cold by then."
As soon as the words were spoken, the invisible pressure vanished instantly.
The suspended water flowed into the fairness cup with a splash, sending up a few drops that landed on the Ebony tabletop.
Everything has returned to normal.
A barely perceptible ripple flickered deep within Qin's eyes. She tested the waters with her power, but Lynn drew a circle with rules, shutting her power out. Within this circle, her power would not only be ineffective, but would instead become a troublesome bureaucratic process.
"It was my oversight," Qin said, her tone devoid of any emotion.
Lynn didn't respond to that. He picked up the fairness cup and poured the amber-colored tea into two small tasting cups. He pushed one of the cups towards Qin.
This time, the teacup glided smoothly across the table.
But when Qin reached out to pick it up, the thin-walled porcelain cup seemed to be welded to the table, remaining completely still.
Her fingertips touched the rim of the cup, and a cold, heavy feeling traveled down the sides of the cup, as if the cup contained not tea, but an invisible Five Finger Mountain.
Lynn picked up her cup of tea, brought it to her lips, and gently blew on it.
"Both the Stability Maintenance Office and the Ministry of Science and Department of Technology have objections to the Special Zone's budget. That's not surprising," he said slowly. "Adding a new, high-authority independent staffing unit will inevitably cut into the existing pie. Hela and Wanda, protecting their food is instinctive."
His words precisely shifted Qin's attention from the confrontation of power back to the power struggle within the bureaucratic system.
Qin's fingers remained on the rim of the cup, without applying any more force. She knew that no amount of strength could overturn this table. Because what sat on the table was the very order upon which the Management Committee depended for its operation.
"So, the Director means that this budget proposal is just going to be shelved?"
"The postponement is for the sake of better progress." Lynn took a sip of tea and put down his cup. "The value of the Special Envoy lies not in a budget, but in deterrence. TVA's attitude is ambiguous right now, and this deterrent is our biggest bargaining chip at the negotiating table. Internal resource disputes are minor. Once we secure the external benefits, the larger the internal pie will naturally be, and it will be easier to divide it."
He looked at the zither with a calm expression.
"You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. That's the rule."
rule.
It's the rules again.
Qin finally withdrew her hand. The teacup that had been stuck to the table instantly returned to normal. She picked up the teacup, and the tea inside didn't even sway.
She gazed at the clear tea in her cup and remained silent for a moment.
"I see."
She drank the tea in her cup in one gulp, then stood up.
"I won't bother you any longer, Director."
"Take care." Lynn nodded, but did not get up to see him off.
Qin turned and walked towards the door. Her steps remained steady, showing no sign that the silent confrontation had affected her in any way.
Just as her hand was about to touch the doorknob, she stopped and turned around.
Her gaze wasn't on Lynn, but rather on the drop of tea that had just been splashed on Lynn's hand.
The tea stains on the black tabletop were barely noticeable.
"The shape of this tea stain reminds me of an old Star Map file." Qin's voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear.
The serial number is B-15.
After saying those three words, she didn't look at Lynn's reaction anymore, opened the door, and walked out.
The office door slowly closed behind her.
Lynn sat motionless behind the tea table. His expression remained unchanged, but the knuckles of his hand holding the teacup were slightly white.
He slowly lowered his head, looking at the inconspicuous tea stain on the corner of the table.
B-15.
The hidden clue left by the embossing on the back of the note.
Jean Grey not only knew, but she also chose to lay the card out on his table in this way.