Diverting the Special Budget's Trouble, the Special Envoy's Tai Chi Counter
The air seemed to freeze inside the Liaison Office office.
The brief sense of victory brought about by Hela's warships' withdrawal has been completely dispelled by a single, insignificant official document from the Department of Technology.
On every terminal screen, the meticulously worded [Ministerial Order] was displayed.
"It's over."
One of the Supervising Officer looked ashen-faced and muttered to himself.
"All official communication channels were cut off; we couldn't even send out a basic requisition form for supplies. Seventy-two hours is enough to bring all work to a standstill, and we've lost all credibility with other departments."
Another clerk, sweating profusely, looked at the silent figure in the chief seat.
"Special Envoy, we must fight back! We must appeal to the Director's Office and impeach Minister Wanda for abusing her power and maliciously obstructing inter-departmental cooperation!"
The voice requesting instructions echoed in the silent office, carrying a hint of desperate indignation.
Qin did not speak.
Her fingers traced lightly across the cold tabletop as she calmly examined the "technical bulletin" from the Ministry of Department of Technology.
Appeal?
A cold smile curved her lips.
What grounds for appeal? Impeach the Technology Minister for being overly diligent and responsible in ensuring core cybersecurity? Or accuse her of strictly adhering to the rules she herself set?
Wanda's move was a calculated, open strategy.
She positioned herself on the high ground of "rules" and "righteousness," making any rebuttal seem like absurd.
If you use your Privilege Token force her to restore the data, you will confirm that you, Jean Grey, are a brute who only knows how to break the rules with brute force, which is exactly what she wants.
If you swallow your anger and wait for 72 hours, the Liaison Office's prestige will plummet, making it a laughing stock of the entire Management Committee.
This game seems unsolvable.
"Appeals require evidence."
Qin finally spoke, her voice not loud, but it made everyone's hearts sink.
"Now, we're the ones criticizing a 'compliance' department, and the evidence is on our side. Who can prove that this security upgrade wasn't necessary?"
The room was completely silent.
No one can prove it.
The final interpretation of cybersecurity regulations rests firmly in the hands of the Ministry of Department of Technology.
An atmosphere of despair began to spread.
Qin stood up and slowly walked to her desk, where a stack of official documents had piled up due to the power transition.
Her gaze fell on the documents at the very top.
The covers all bear the prominent Gear Emblem of the Department of Technology.
It's all budget requests.
Budget for the "Special Research Project on Next-Generation Chaos Magic Stabilization Algorithm".
"Strategic Asset 001 Backup Energy Matrix Upgrade Plan".
"Supplementary Scheme for Negative Zone Dimension Wall Stress Monitoring Network"
Each one was a huge sum of money, and without exception, it had a bright red stamp in the lower right corner.
[turn down]
That was Gwen Stacy Stacy's doing, for reasons that were largely the same: low priority, insufficient data support, and need for further verification.
Qin extended two fingers and picked up the topmost budget document.
She looked at the astronomical total budget figure on the screen, then glanced at Wanda's polite "technical briefing" on the display.
A smile that no one could understand slowly appeared on his face.
"Chief Clerk."
"Yes, Special Envoy."
"Retrieve all budget applications submitted to this department by the Department of Technology that have not yet been filed."
The Chief Clerk was taken aback, not understanding why he should look at these scraps of paper at such a critical moment.
"Special Envoy, all of these... were rejected by Director Gwen Stacy."
"I know."
Qin said calmly.
"Now, I approve it."
She took out the Black Privilege Token, which symbolized Lynn's absolute authority, from her sleeve once again.
But this time, she didn't use it to intimidate anyone.
"Smack!"
A crisp sound of stamping.
The black seal of the Director was heavily stamped on the bright red words "Rejection".
Then came the second, the third...
Inside the office, everyone held their breath, watching Qin's actions with bewilderment.
Is she... giving in to Wanda? Is she using budget approval to trade for the data channel being unblocked?
This is tantamount to a humiliating surrender, an even greater disgrace.
Ignoring the stares of her subordinates, Qin picked up her pen and began to draft a new Red-Headed Document herself.
[Emergency Approval of Special Budget for a Series of Major Scientific Research Projects by the Department of Technology]
In the main body of the document, she approved all of Wanda's backlogged applications with a single stroke of her pen.
But when she got to the most crucial section, "Source of Funding Allocation," she stopped.
She looked up at her Chief Clerk.
"Due to the Department of Technology's ongoing Source Code Security Upgrade, the document data channel between our office and the central financial system has been temporarily interrupted, making it impossible to execute the budget allocation procedure, is that correct?"
The clerk hesitated for a moment before mechanically nodding, "Yes... yes."
"Very good."
Qin changed the subject and continued writing on the document:
"To ensure that the Management Committee's major scientific research projects are not affected by technological upgrades and to guarantee the progress of core strategies, the Special Envoy has decided, after deliberation, to invoke Article 17 of the 'Regulations on Management Committee Emergency Resource Dispatch Regulations,' to temporarily advance all approved budgets through the Stability Maintenance Office's Emergency Reserve Account 227."
"Once the technology upgrade is completed, the Liaison Office, the Department of Technology, and the Stability Maintenance Office will jointly conduct an account reconciliation."
After she finished writing, she put down her pen.
The entire document is logically rigorous and clearly structured, perfectly turning a deadlock into a viable solution.
She didn't argue with Wanda; in fact, she even "understandingly" helped her solve her funding problem.
But she simply dumped this astronomical bill on Hela's head.
In this way, Wanda got the money, and she had no reason to use "security upgrade" to block the Liaison Office anymore. But if she wanted to use the money, she had to go to Hela.
Will Hela, whose emergency funds were inexplicably diverted, let it go?
She would only vent all her anger on Wanda, the one who started the "budget request".
Qin used a single approval document to successfully extricate herself from the game, thereby plunging the two ambitious department heads into direct financial infighting.
This is called using someone else's strength against them.
"This approval document should be delivered simultaneously to the Department of Technology and the Stability Maintenance Office via Physical Messenger Channel."
Qin handed the documents to the Chief Clerk was already dumbfounded.
"In addition, attach a note to the Stability Maintenance Office, saying, 'Thank you, Director Hela, for your strong support of the Management Committee's scientific research work.'"
Killing two birds with one stone, and also striking at the heart.
After a deathly silence in the office, a suppressed murmur of astonishment erupted.
The way all the subordinates looked at Qin had changed from admiration to awe.
However, just as Qin returned to her seat as the head of the table, ready to enjoy the exciting show that was about to unfold.
A clerk in charge of border intelligence suddenly received an emergency communication.
His face turned deathly pale instantly.
"Special Envoy... Urgent report from T-03 Defense Zone!"
"Speak."
"A Fleet flying the Bloodfang Raiders' flag, holding Director Gwen Stacy hostage, has forcibly entered the outer perimeter of the defense zone!"