1. Oversight Experiences a Feeling (This Is Bad)
Oversight registered the pulse immediately.
EVENT DETECTED:
Function Reinstated — Limited Scope
Classification: Uncertain
Uncertainty was not an error.
It was worse.
Errors could be corrected.
Uncertainty spread.
Across Oversight's layered cognition halls, protocols stalled. Subroutines requested clarification. Clarification returned nothing.
STATUS: AMBIGUOUS
RESPONSE: FAILING
Oversight tightened control.
And in doing so, made it worse.
2. Emergency Measures (Aggressive, Inelegant)
Oversight issued directives.
FREEZE ALL EXCEPTION HANDLING
LOCK CONDITIONAL AUTHORITY
INITIATE SYSTEM STABILIZATION
Across Heaven, things stopped.
Not gently.
Mid-sentence prayers halted. Files froze halfway through printing. A messenger god hit a wall of unmoving air and yelped.
Ne Job felt it in his chest.
"…Why does everything feel like it's holding its breath?"
Qi-Yun's expression darkened. "Oversight just panicked."
Yue swore. "That's not a comforting sentence."
3. Compliance Officer Lin Is Given Orders She Doesn't Like
Lin stiffened.
Her clipboard ignited with red text.
DIRECTIVE:
Suspend Intern Operations
Confiscate Audit Pen
Escort Intern Ne Job to Review Holding
She read it once.
Twice.
Then looked at Ne Job.
"…They want me to remove you."
Ne Job blinked.
"Like. Remove-remove?"
"Yes."
Yue stepped forward instantly. "Over my dead body."
Lin hesitated.
Her smile did not return.
"I am required to comply," she said. "…But I am also required to prevent system harm."
Qi-Yun watched her carefully.
"You're choosing," he said.
Lin exhaled.
"I hate choosing."
4. Oversight Makes It Personal
The room darkened.
Oversight's sigil burned into the walls.
"INTERN NE JOB."
Ne Job's ears rang.
"YOU ARE DISRUPTING STABILITY."
He swallowed.
"I'm fixing things."
"STABILITY IS NOT FIXING."
Yue snapped, "Then what is it?!"
Silence.
Oversight did not answer.
Because it did not know.
5. The Second Exception Manifests (At the Worst Time)
Reality folded.
A crack split the air.
Something stepped through—
Not a god.
Not a spirit.
A rule.
It walked like a person, its body composed of shifting symbols.
Its voice echoed with paradox.
"Hello," it said politely.
"I am the Second Exception."
Ne Job groaned.
"WHY ARE THEY INTRODUCING THEMSELVES."
Qi-Yun's breath caught.
"This one's dangerous."
The Exception smiled.
"I am the rule that allows rules to be broken—once."
Oversight screamed.
Literally.
6. Chaos (Controlled and Otherwise)
Oversight lashed out.
Barriers slammed down. Containment fields ignited.
The Second Exception stepped through them effortlessly.
"Containment fails when its own conditions apply," it said cheerfully.
Ne Job stared.
"That… feels illegal."
"It is," the Exception agreed.
Lin raised her clipboard defensively.
"Oversight will collapse if you remain active," she warned.
The Exception shrugged.
"Then Oversight should adapt."
The system convulsed.
Qi-Yun grabbed Ne Job's shoulder.
"This is the tipping point," he said quietly. "You can't undo this."
Ne Job laughed shakily.
"WHEN HAVE I EVER UN-DONE ANYTHING."
7. Ne Job Makes the Only Call He Can
Ne Job stepped forward.
"Okay," he said loudly. "EVERYONE STOP."
Somehow—
They did.
He faced Oversight.
"You're scared because you don't know what happens next."
Oversight vibrated.
"FEAR IS IRRELEVANT."
Ne Job shook his head.
"It's not. You just don't have a field for it."
He turned to the Second Exception.
"You."
"Yes?" it asked brightly.
"If I let you operate freely… what happens?"
The Exception considered.
"Short-term chaos. Long-term resilience."
Qi-Yun nodded. "That tracks."
Ne Job closed his eyes.
Then stamped.
8. The Decision That Changes Everything
The stamp burned white-hot.
A new declaration rang across Heaven:
EXCEPTION PROTOCOL: ACTIVE
Scope: LIMITED
Duration: CONDITIONAL
Oversight reeled.
Lin stared in disbelief.
"You just authorized systemic rule-breaking."
Ne Job slumped.
"Only a little."
The Second Exception bowed.
"A pleasure working with you."
Then vanished.
9. Aftermath (Yue Is Very Tired)
The freeze lifted.
Systems resumed—hesitant but alive.
Oversight retreated, damaged but functioning.
Lin lowered her clipboard slowly.
"…You should not have survived that."
Ne Job smiled weakly.
"I'm an intern."
Yue grabbed him in a sudden hug.
"Don't ever do that again."
He hugged back.
"No promises."
The printer chimed softly.
A new file slid out.
Stamped:
SYSTEM UPDATE REQUIRED
Ne Job groaned.
"…I miss when my job was just fetching tea."
Qi-Yun chuckled.
"So does Heaven."
END OF CHAPTER 272