A confrontation beyond authority, the Clockmaker's invitation from afar

Dead silence.

A pure, deathly silence, devoid of all sound and movement, enveloped the entire ruins.

The encirclement that was shrinking just a second ago instantly froze.

Thousands of TVA Time Cleanup Force soldiers were frozen in place, as if a pause button had been pressed on them, remaining motionless in their aiming stances. The eerie blue energy gathering on their weapons stopped flickering and remained rigidly stationary at the critical point of firing, emitting an eerie, stagnant light.

Outside the interrogation room, the TVA commander, clad in gold shoulder armor, stood stiff as iron.

His mouth was still slightly open, as if he were giving the order to attack, but he could no longer utter a sound.

The alarm, representing the highest threat level, had disappeared from the helmet's Internal Communications channel, replaced by an even more terrifying absolute silence, as if the communication had been forcibly cut off.

Only the Scarlet warning encrypted with the Highest Access Privileges on the tactical goggles stubbornly continued to flash.

[Threat Level: Beyond Cognition Hazard]

[Action Agreement: Abandon all resistance, immediately terminate the current mission, and await further instructions...]

The commander's pupils had shrunk to the size of pinpoints.

Black Privilege Token.

This relic, which exists only in the oldest and most core archives of TVA and is listed as "legendary," actually exists.

Moreover, it was being casually held in the hand of a Variant they were about to "prune".

This is not an arrest.

This was a major incident that hit a brick wall, one that shook the entire top management of TVA.

Lynn's gaze slowly shifted from the commander's bloodless face.

He didn't look at the soldiers who had become mere background figures anymore.

His gaze pierced through the crowd, looking into the depths of the ruins, into that empty darkness.

"I know you're watching."

Lynn's voice was calm, as if stating a given fact.

"This 'confession' is very well written. The writing style is skillful, and it demonstrates a thorough understanding of the internal document culture of the Management Committee."

He paused, then gently twirled the black token between his fingers.

"Especially those official document abbreviations that only I and a few others knew, they were imitated perfectly."

"Tell me, what is your 'partner's' position on the Management Committee?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into stagnant water.

Although he received no response, Lynn could sense a barely perceptible fluctuation in the watchful gaze from a higher level that had been fixed on him.

He's bluffing.

They're also pressuring us.

He was forcing the "Clockmaker" hiding behind the scenes to transform from a mere observer into a player who had to step into the game and take action.

The confession was the cause of this attack, while the Black Privilege Token in his hand was the effect that could overturn the entire game.

When the power of the "effect" exceeds the predetermined "cause," the planner must personally step in to clean up the mess.

really.

Just three seconds after Lynn finished speaking.

The air in front of him began to ripple like water.

Space is distorted and folded.

A blurry human figure slowly coalesced and took shape amidst the interplay of light and shadow.

It was not a physical entity, but a semi-transparent Holographic Projection composed of countless tiny time particles.

The figure was dressed in a retro, well-tailored three-piece suit, with a monocle on his face. Behind the lens, his eyes were calm and deep, as if they could see through the torrent of time.

He emitted no energy fluctuations, yet he naturally became the center of this frozen battlefield.

"Black Privilege Token..."

The figure spoke, his voice gentle, tinged with a scholarly admiration.

"I never imagined that this legendary item would end up in your hands."

He bowed slightly, performing an ancient gesture passed down only among the Time-Keepers.

"Nice to meet you, Time Variant L-N89. You may call me the Clockmaker."

Lynn looked at him, her face showing no surprise.

"Your subordinate addressed me that way just now too."

The Clockmaker smiled, seemingly unconcerned by the sarcasm in Lynn's words.

"It was just a small, harmless test. I hope it didn't bother you."

He waved his hand, as if trying to downplay the tense situation and define it as a misunderstanding.

"Test?"

Lynn repeated the word, the curve of his lips turning somewhat cold.

"Using a forged document that could ruin my reputation, and a fully armed time-clearing force, to conduct a test?"

He put the Black Privilege Token back into his pocket.

This action caused all the weapon systems of the surrounding TVA soldiers to simultaneously emit a soft click as they de-charged.

The oppressive atmosphere eased slightly.

"It seems that TVA's style of doing things is even more unconventional than I imagined."

The Clockmaker adjusted his monocle.

"Geniuses always need special tests. You've proven yourself to be more valuable than your records suggest."

His gaze fell on Lynn's shirt pocket, where the "confession" was folded into a square.

"As for that document, it's merely a prelude. A necessary procedure to invite you here for a discussion."

"Now that everyone has arrived, I think we can get down to business."

What a convenient "necessary procedure".

Lynn sneered inwardly.

Without this Black Privilege Token, he would probably have been "trimmed" to the point where not even a single atom remained. The so-called "main topic" would be out of the question.

This is the logic of power.

If you don't have the power to overturn the table, you don't even have the right to sit at the table.

I do have a lot of questions.

Lynn met the Clockmaker's gaze without flinching.

"For example, who erased the file for the Forty-Second Execution?"

"Who delivered that tattered data file to me, and through what channels?"

"And who exactly is your 'partner' in the Management Committee?"

Three questions in a row, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

For the first time, the Clockmaker's smile froze.

He remained silent for a moment.

You're asking too many questions.

He slowly shook his head.

"And I have no obligation to answer a Variant's question."

"Yeah?"

Lynn's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"So, what if I use this Privilege Token to command TVA to conduct a top-level internal investigation into this 'illegal arrest' and 'forged document framing' incident?"

Do you think your business partner can still sit comfortably in his position on the Management Committee?

This is a blatant threat.

It means using the other party's rules to counter them.

The Clockmaker's projection flickered.

He looked at Lynn, his eyes holding something beyond scrutiny for the first time.

It was a kind of fear of fellow chess players.

"You are threatening me," he stated.

"I was just discussing different ways of solving problems," Lynn replied.

The two faced off across the distance, an invisible pressure colliding in the air.

After a long while, the Clockmaker suddenly laughed again.

"Okay, I admit, you won this round."

He calmly spread his hands.

"The Black Privilege Token does indeed grant you the power to break the rules. I can give you an explanation."

He then changed the subject.

"But in exchange, you also need to answer one question for me."

Lynn didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly, signaling him to continue.

The Clockmaker's projection suddenly became blurry, and in its place appeared another Holographic Image.

The image shows the Starport of the Management Committee Liaison Office.

The black warships belonging to the Stability Maintenance Office are slowly withdrawing.

However, the Ninth Technical Division of the Department of Technology still surrounded the communication tower completely.

Further away, a Fleet flying the Bloodfang Raiders flag was escorting a Management Committee- issue Shuttle deep into the T-03 Defense Zone.

The image flashed by.

Finally, the scene was set in a solitary Containment Room.

Natasha was sitting at the table, writing something with her head down, but on the screen of a miniature terminal beside her, the real-time flight path of Gwen Stacy's flagship was clearly displayed.

My question is...

The Clockmaker's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of playfulness and an air of complete control.

"The scheme you've set up seems to have encountered some... unexpected variables."

"Wanda, Hela, Jean, Gwen Stacy, Natasha... these unstable pieces have almost spiraled out of control since you left."

"Tell me, Director Lynn."

"Who do you think will be the first among them to completely ignite the entire Management Committee before you go back?"

"Or rather, can you even go back?"

Lynn's pupils suddenly contracted.

The other party not only knew about the chaos within the Management Committee, but also knew the name of every single person.

This is not a simple act of spying.

This is in-depth, real-time, and comprehensive monitoring.

The mole granted TVA far more access than he had imagined.

"It seems your partner has given you quite a bit." Lynn's voice turned cold.

"It's just returning the favor."

The Clockmaker's image became clear again.

"Now, we can make a deal."

"You've given up investigating this 'misunderstanding' and the identity of my partner. In return, I'll give you the complete record of the Forty-Second Execution."

"Furthermore, I will close the 'observation' of the Management Committee, allowing your backyard to have a moment of peace."

He looked at Lynn and threw out his chip.

"How?"

Lynn remained silent.

This is an open strategy.

The Clockmaker traded the fire in his backyard for the precarious situation he was facing.

He could refuse and use his Privilege Token force a thorough investigation, but the price would be that the Management Committee's Shura Field would completely spiral out of control, and a devastating Civil War might even break out before he could get back.

He could accept it, getting the execution records he wanted and temporarily stabilizing his backyard, but the price was missing the best opportunity to expose the mole and tacitly accepting the Clockmaker's "recruitment."

No matter what he chose, he fell into the rhythm set by the other party.

"Your proposal sounds fair."

Lynn spoke slowly.

"But I refused."

For the first time, the Clockmaker's brow furrowed.

"I choose the third path."

Lynn looked at him and said, word by word.

"You, give me the record of the Forty-Second Execution, and the name of that traitor."

"Then, in front of you, I will destroy this Privilege Token."

"From this day forward, I owe TVA nothing."