We extend the counter term-bundle/ connection framework to background 2-group sources in a4D boundary setting.The source space includes a nonabelian 0-form background connection A fora compact group G and a ZN1-form background B coupled by a Postnikov class β ∈ H3 (BG,ZN),enforced by the constraint δB=β(A). We construct the affine bundle of local covariantcounterterms over the enlarged source space and exhibit a concrete loop γ in source space thatis locally flat (Ω|γ=0) but carries a nontrivial Nth-root-of-unityholonomy.This torsion phaseis generated by a discretein flow functional Sinflow ∝ B ∪ β (A) and cannot be removed by anyfinite local gauge-invariant boundary counterterm preserving the Postnikov constraint. We workout an explicit example with d=4,N=2, and X4=S1×RP3, obtaining a nontrivial ±1holonomy.
SIKX HILTON (Fri,) studied this question.