1. The Request That Does Not Look Dangerous (Which Is How It Gets You)
The file did not glow.
It did not scream.
It did not threaten litigation.
That alone terrified Ne Job.
He stared at the stamp:
EXCEPTION REQUEST
Filed By: Entity #0001
Classification: FIRST EXCEPTION
Tone: Polite (Suspicious)
"…Why is it polite?" Ne Job asked.
Yue leaned over. "That's worse."
Qi-Yun read the summary once.
Then twice.
Then sighed.
"Oh," he said. "That's bold."
Ne Job's stomach dropped. "WHAT'S BOLD."
Qi-Yun handed the file back.
The request consisted of exactly one sentence.
"I would like my job back."
Ne Job blinked.
"…That's it?"
Yue's eyes narrowed. "No. That's loaded."
2. The First Exception Appears (Very Calmly)
The air beside the desk folded inward.
A figure stepped out—not large, not small, not dramatic.
Just… present.
A god shaped like an administrator who had never once raised their voice.
No aura. No flame. No pressure.
That was the pressure.
"I appreciate your time," the figure said. "My name was erased, but you may call me He."
Ne Job squinted. "…He?"
"Yes."
"That feels like a placeholder."
"It is."
Qi-Yun stiffened slightly. "Careful," he warned. "This one predates titles."
He inclined his head politely. "Former Functionary of Balance."
Yue muttered, "Oh, that's a BIG job."
3. The Favor Explained (It Is Absolutely Not Small)
"I was removed," He said evenly. "Not because I failed—but because my existence complicated oversight."
Ne Job frowned. "That's… familiar."
"My department handled contradictions," He continued. "Edge cases. Systems that behaved correctly but violated expectations."
Qi-Yun closed his eyes.
"They erased you," he said softly. "Because you proved perfection was impossible."
He nodded. "Correct."
Ne Job swallowed.
"And now you want your job back."
"Yes."
"…That's it?"
"No," He replied calmly. "I want it reclassified."
The room chilled.
"Reclassified how?" Yue asked.
"As necessary," He said. "Not optional."
The printer made a worried noise.
4. Oversight Notices (Immediately)
Far away—and also very close—Oversight flared.
A warning pinged across Heaven.
ANOMALY INTERACTION DETECTED
Source: INTERN NE JOB
Severity: ESCALATING
Lin appeared instantly.
"This meeting was not authorized," she said sharply.
He turned to her.
"Neither was my erasure."
Lin froze.
Recognition flickered in her eyes.
"…You're the missing variable."
He inclined his head. "I am."
Ne Job whispered, "WHY DOES EVERY IMPORTANT THING KNOW EACH OTHER."
5. Ne Job Asks the Question That Matters
Ne Job leaned forward.
"If I help you… what breaks?"
He answered honestly.
"Oversight's illusion of total control."
Qi-Yun exhaled. "There it is."
Ne Job rubbed his face.
"And if I don't?"
"Then exceptions continue to pile up," He said. "Until the system collapses under unresolved contradiction."
Yue stared at Ne Job.
"This isn't a favor," she said. "It's a fork."
He nodded. "I chose you because interns stand at forks. Senior staff pave over them."
Ne Job laughed weakly.
"That might be the nicest insult I've ever gotten."
6. The Stamp Hesitates (That's New)
Ne Job lifted the pen.
The stamp rack rattled.
A new form tried to print.
Then stopped.
The system did not know what to call this.
Qi-Yun watched intently. "This is it," he murmured. "The moment precedent becomes structure."
Ne Job met He's gaze.
"If I do this… you answer to Oversight?"
He shook his head.
"No. I answer to contradiction."
Lin inhaled sharply. "That is unacceptable."
Ne Job looked at her.
"So was erasing him."
Silence.
Then Lin did something unexpected.
She stepped back.
"I will… log this as advisory," she said tightly. "Not obstruction."
Yue's eyebrows shot up.
"…Are you helping?"
Lin didn't look at her.
"I am adapting."
7. The First Favor Is Granted (Partially)
Ne Job stamped the file.
Not APPROVED.
Not RESTORED.
A new stamp burned into existence:
FUNCTION REINSTATED — LIMITED SCOPE
The world held its breath.
He exhaled.
"…That will do."
A pulse rolled through Heaven.
Somewhere, broken loops loosened. Contradictions… paused instead of snapping.
Oversight screamed internally.
8. Consequences (Immediate, Obviously)
Alarms flared.
The ceiling flickered.
Lin snapped her clipboard shut.
"Oversight will respond," she said. "Forcefully."
Qi-Yun nodded. "Yes. But not cleanly."
He turned to Ne Job.
"You just reintroduced uncertainty."
Ne Job slumped.
"I feel like that's my brand."
He smiled faintly.
"You've done well," He said. "For an intern."
Then he vanished—leaving behind a single file.
Stamped:
PENDING: THE SECOND EXCEPTION
Yue read it and groaned.
"…There's a second one already?"
Ne Job stared at the ceiling.
"Of course there is."
He picked up the pen.
"Next case."
END OF CHAPTER 271