The Black Crow Guard's Secret Deployment, Ke'er Intercepts the Agency's Dispatch
Inside the dedicated service corridor on the second basement level of the T-03 Defense Zone, only the dim yellow light from the low-pressure sodium lamps overhead could be seen.
The walls were covered with Liquid Nitrogen cooling pipes of varying thicknesses, and wisps of cold white vapor occasionally spewed out from the joints.
The young Messenger from the Asset Registration Agency, carrying a black, sealed document bag, hurried along.
The leather shoes made a crisp, rhythmic tapping sound as they stepped on the non-slip steel floor.
The red self-destruct indicator light on the side of the confidential package is in standby mode, indicating that the documents inside are in the highest-level delivery process.
The Messenger had just received a secret order from Supervisor Xu to cross the inner ring of the isolation wall within thirty minutes and deliver this data report on the orbital anomaly of Satellite No. 7 directly to Commander Monk's residence.
As we rounded the third 90-degree right-angle bend, the air pressure gate at the end of the connecting corridor silently slid down.
A heavy Alloy Door cut off the main elevator shaft leading to the command center.
The Messenger paused, instinctively reaching for the access card on his chest.
Two guards dressed in unmarked dark heavy armor emerged from behind the ventilation pillars, carrying short-barreled pulse rifles.
The blast-proof latch on the muzzle had been pushed open, and the red indicator light was locked onto the Messenger's chest.
The sound of leather boots hitting the ground came from behind.
Commander Ke'er of the Black Crow Guard slowly emerged from the steam-filled shadows.
He wasn't even wearing a full combat uniform, just a high-collared woolen uniform with the insignia of the Stability Maintenance Office, the collar buttoned up tightly.
"Where is the Messenger from the Asset Registration Agency rushing off to in such a hurry?"
Ke'er stopped three steps away, his grey-blue eyes devoid of any extra emotion.
The Messenger steadied himself, straightened his back, and held the confidential package to his chest.
"Commander Ke'er, I am acting on orders from Supervisor Xu of the Registration Office to carry out a top-level confidential delivery mission."
"According to Article 4 of the Management Committee's ' Classified Document Management Regulations,' during non-combat mobilization periods, no Residence armed forces may intercept registered Messenger."
The Messenger's voice echoed through the narrow corridors, carrying the firmness characteristic of regulations and rules.
After hearing this, Ke'er's lips twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Classified Document Management Regulations?"
"That's normal."
Ke'er raised his right index finger.
A Black Crow Guard behind him quickly stepped forward and pressed down hard on the Messenger's shoulder.
The force was extremely heavy, pressing half of the Messenger's body directly against the cold cooling pipe wall.
"Fifteen minutes ago, the Stability Maintenance Office received an alarm about abnormal magical fluctuations emanating from the Seventh Laboratory. The defense zone has entered a temporary code-lockdown period."
Ke'er pulled a tiny, gleaming shield from his coat pocket and casually attached it to the lead lock on the Messenger's confidential bag.
The self-destruct lock cylinder, which had been flashing green, emitted two dull clicks and went out completely.
"To prevent leaks of classified information, the Stability Maintenance Office's Black Crow Guard has the authority to conduct preliminary disinfection of all paper-based materials that move across regions."
"This is a responsibility granted by the special authorization document signed by Director Hela. Do you need me to recite the details to you right now?"
The Messenger's face paled, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Commander Ke'er, this document concerns the calibration of the zone's core on-orbit assets. It is of paramount importance, and the Defense Zone Command will not let the delay in Commander Monk's review go unpunished."
"I will personally deliver the explanation to Commander Monk."
Ke'er didn't give the Messenger a chance to argue further, and reached out to fasten the clasp of the confidential bag.
With a slight exertion of his fingertips, the high-strength nano-alloy chain was shattered inch by inch by the hidden force in his palm.
The confidential package was roughly torn open, revealing a stack of official documents bound with special light-proof paper.
The document's heading prominently read "Verification Form for Orbital Maneuvering and Propellant Loss of Reconnaissance Satellite No. 7".
In the attached details table, the blackout offset of -0.3 degrees at half a second late at night on the 17th of last month was clearly marked with a red highlighter.
At the bottom of that page, there was still an uncleaned terminal code—the fingerprint of S-004, the deputy commander under Ke'er.
Ke'er's pupils contracted very slightly.
If this original verification form falls into Monk's hands, in order to clear himself of any involvement in the illegal seizure of the track, Monk will definitely follow the trail and bring down S-004.
At that time, the old case of the Black Crow Guard secretly using satellite blind spots to mobilize manpower to steal official documents from the Seventh Laboratory will be brought to the forefront.
Ke'er expressionlessly reached out his left hand and pulled a pre-prepared replacement document from his pocket.
It was another document bearing the false seal of the registry office, with the exact same title, but the data in the text had been altered to "reading drift caused by sensor zero-point calibration".
Not only did it completely erase the -0.3 degree deflection, but it also attributed all the blame to interference from Cosmic Rays in outer space.
Ke'er folded up the original document, stuffed it into the inside pocket of his trench coat, and carefully put the replacement back into his briefcase.
"Please invite this Messenger to our duty room for a hot coffee."
Ke'er brushed the scraps of paper off his hands, his tone as calm as if he were giving a routine inspection.
"Two hours later, have him deliver this 'flawless' report to Commander Monk's desk."
"Ke'er! You've forged official documents! That's a serious crime!"
The Messenger struggled violently, the veins in his neck bulging.
Without uttering a single unnecessary word, one of the Black Crow Guards grabbed the Messenger by the throat, while the other expertly injected a tranquilizer into the Messenger's carotid artery.
A few seconds later, the Messenger's eyes rolled back, and his body went limp and collapsed to the ground.
Meanwhile, three kilometers away.
The Management Committee Director's Office was dimly lit.
Lynn sat upright behind a large, dark wooden desk, with a cup of black coffee that had long since gone cold beside him.
On the transparent, floating light screen in front of him, an infrared thermal image was silently cutting across the underground second-floor corridor of the defense zone at extremely low resolution.
Those were private sensors that had been embedded in the management network of the Management Committee since their days as low-level agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.., and were not connected to any official mainframe.
In the footage, the entire process of Ke'er stopping the Messenger, switching the documents, and then injecting the drug is clearly broken down into a series of silent action frames.
Lynn rested his chin on one hand, his eyes calm as an ancient pool.
Ke'er made his move.
This proves that the stone Gwen Stacy had Xiao Li throw at the Asset Registration Agency hit the Black Crow Guard right where it hurt.
If the Black Crow Guard had nothing to hide, Ke'er would never have risked violating internal control regulations by personally going to abduct an insignificant Messenger.
The more eager you are to cover it up, the more likely your actions will become distorted.
Ke'er thought that switching a piece of paper would cover up the S-004's whereabouts, but little did he know that this act of interception completely confirmed their guilty conscience and dead end.
The office door opened with a soft click.
Secretary Xiao Zhou tiptoed to the desk, carrying a newly printed template of a reminder letter.
"Director, the Liaison Office has sent a notification that Director Gwen Stacy has already deposited a copy of the note into the Department of Technology's mailroom."
"Thomas from the Inspection Office was immediately rebuffed and is currently stuck in the outer corridor."
Lynn withdrew her gaze from the light screen and took a small sip of her cold coffee.
"Ke'er intercepted the registration officers and withheld the verification form intended for Monk."
Lynn's voice was soft, yet it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet office.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhou unconsciously tightened his grip on the folder, his expression changing slightly.
"Is the Black Crow Guard about to directly attack the Defense Zone Command?"
He didn't use a knife; he was defending himself.
Lynn put down his coffee cup, and the saucer made a very slight crisp sound.
"Change the heading of the urging letter."
Lynn raised his chin, gesturing for Xiao Zhou to hand over the documents.
Xiao Zhou quickly spread the document folder out on the table and handed over a pen.
"Resend to the Defense Zone Dispatch Center, and simultaneously report to Monk's Command and the Asset Registration Agency."
Lynn gripped the pen and wrote a line of highly authoritative handwriting in the blank space.
"The document reads: ' The Director's Office hereby orders all units within the defense zone to submit a complete original of the navigation log regarding any abnormal maneuvers of Satellite No. 7 in orbit within 24 hours. Failure to do so will be considered as breach of the Management Committee's monitoring system, and the Internal Affairs Inspection Office will directly take over control of the satellite.'"
This move not only completely bypassed the jurisdiction of the Stability Maintenance Office, but also put a sharp razor directly to Monk's neck.
Once the 24-hour countdown begins, if Monk cannot produce accurate data, he will lose control of the core satellite.
Even if Ke'er gave Monk a forged statement, Monk would never dare to use a flawed report to deal with the Director's Office's ultimatum.
The two clues converge at this moment, forming a dead end.
If Monk wants to keep his job, he must personally tear off the mask that Ke'er has created.
"Director, shall we send this letter of urging now?"
Xiao Zhou asked for instructions in a low voice.
"Hair."
Lynn fastened the pen cap, making a crisp click.
"The message travels through the Management Committee's internal network via a Top Secret red link, reaching the Personal Terminal the three top officials."
"Yes."
Xiao Zhou put away his document folder, bowed slightly, turned and quickly left the office.
Lynn leaned back in his high-backed leather chair, closed his eyes, and his mind raced through the vast network of information.
All the pieces have been placed on the board.
Gwen Stacy kept the Technology Division in check, Xiao Li ignited the undercurrents within the registry, and Ke'er's impatience dragged the Stability Maintenance Office into the mess.
Now, all that's left is to wait for Monk to be pushed to the edge of the cliff.
However, in the service corridor on the second basement level, the situation did not end as Ke'er had anticipated.
A Black Crow Guard was crouching on the ground, skillfully searching the Messenger's personal belongings.
Watches, military ID cards, and keychains were placed one by one on the cold metal lid of the box.
The guard reached into the bottom pocket of the Messenger's briefcase, and his fingertips suddenly touched an unusually hard lining.
With a sharp, hissing sound, the stitching of the artificial leather was violently severed.
Half a sheet of delicately folded pale pink paper slipped out from the interlayer.
The edges of the paper had a faint fluorescence, and its texture was extremely rare, definitely not the ordinary official paper used by the Registry.
Ke'er was about to turn and leave when he caught a glimpse of pink out of the corner of his eye, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He suddenly turned around and stared intently at the piece of paper.
"Give it to me."
Ke'er's voice suddenly turned somber, carrying a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
The guards dared not delay and handed the thin half-sheet of paper to Ke'er with both hands.
Ke'er unfolded the paper, his gaze quickly sweeping over the printed text at the top.
That was clearly a supplementary page of an approval document forcibly exported from an external network.
At the very top of that page was a line of striking, bold black text—
[T-03 Defense Zone Isolation Post, Agent Natasha Agent Romanoff's Containment Room, Fourth Communication Access Control Change Approval Form].
In the signature section of the approver in the lower right corner, the ink was not yet completely dry; it was a code name with a very strong cursive style:
Watchmaker.