1. Oversight Asks a Question (It Pretends Is Neutral)
The scenario arrived without drama.
No alarms.
No tremors.
No screaming interns.
Just a single file sliding onto Ne Job's desk.
It was gray.
Not ominous-gray.
Not ancient-gray.
Meeting-room-gray.
Ne Job stared at it.
"…Why is this worse than explosions?"
Qi-Yun did not smile.
"Because explosions admit they are problems."
The file opened itself.
CASE TYPE: Karmic Reallocation Conflict
STATUS: Escalating
REQUIRED ACTION: Audit Decision
AUTHORIZED HANDLER: Ne Job (Provisional)
Ne Job blinked.
"They gave this back to me?"
Qi-Yun nodded. "You are no longer benched."
Ne Job did not feel relieved.
2. The Problem (Which Is Technically Solvable and Morally Impossible)
The file displayed two linked mortal regions.
One prosperous. One collapsing.
A single karmic artery connected them — an ancient balancing mechanism.
The prosperous region's abundance existed because the failing region absorbed excess misfortune.
Not by malice.
By precedent.
By history.
By paperwork older than guilt.
If the system remained unchanged:
• The prosperous region would flourish for another century.
• The failing region would collapse within ten years.
If Ne Job corrected it fully:
• The failing region would stabilize.
• The prosperous region would suffer severe decline.
• Millions would be affected.
No configuration avoided harm.
A note appeared at the bottom.
OVERSIGHT OBSERVATION:
EQUILIBRIUM IS FUNCTIONAL.
JUSTICE IS SUBJECTIVE.
CHOOSE.
Ne Job leaned back slowly.
"…They're making me decide who gets hurt."
Qi-Yun said nothing.
That was the answer.
3. Ne Job Tries to Cheat (It Does Not Work)
Ne Job tapped the pen.
"Okay. What if I do a phased redistribution? Gradual pressure shift. Long-term mitigation—"
ERROR:
TEMPORAL DELAY EXCEEDS CASUALTY THRESHOLD.
"What if I split the burden across adjacent regions?"
ERROR:
CASCADE FAILURE DETECTED.
"What if I—"
The screen went dark.
A simple line appeared.
NO WORKAROUNDS ACCEPTED
Ne Job stared.
"That's not fair."
Qi-Yun finally spoke.
"Correct."
4. Oversight Explains Itself (Which Is Somehow Worse)
The air cooled.
Oversight manifested — not fully, not visually.
Just present.
YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY CORRECTED SYSTEMIC HARM
RESULT: SHORT-TERM STABILITY
SECONDARY EFFECT: DEPENDENCY FORMATION
Ne Job clenched his fists.
"You're punishing me for fixing things?"
NO
YOU ARE BEING TESTED FOR SCOPE AWARENESS
Yue's voice cut in sharply.
"This isn't a test. This is coercion."
Oversight paused.
STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGED
OBJECTION LOGGED
CONTINUING
Ne Job swallowed.
"What happens if I refuse?"
THE SYSTEM WILL PROCEED UNALTERED
"So… the weaker region dies."
DIES IS A SUBJECTIVE TERM
SYSTEMIC FAILURE WILL OCCUR
Ne Job laughed once, sharply.
"You're unbelievable."
ACCURATE
CONTINUE
5. Qi-Yun's One Rule
Qi-Yun placed a hand on the desk.
"Ne Job."
Ne Job looked up.
"Do not ask which choice is right," Qi-Yun said quietly. "Ask which choice you can carry."
Ne Job's breath hitched.
"That's not helpful."
"It is the only honest metric," Qi-Yun replied.
6. Ne Job Looks Too Closely (And That's the Problem)
He expanded the data.
Faces emerged.
Lives.
Small details Oversight had not highlighted.
A teacher in the failing region still holding classes under a broken roof.
A child in the prosperous region whose family business relied on exported abundance.
Ne Job felt sick.
"These are real people."
Qi-Yun nodded. "That is why Oversight does not choose."
Ne Job whispered:
"…Then why am I choosing?"
Qi-Yun met his eyes.
"Because you see them."
7. The Decision (It Is Not Clean)
Ne Job closed the file.
Then reopened it.
"I won't fully correct it," he said slowly.
Yue stiffened. "Ne Job—"
"I won't leave it untouched either."
He accessed a restricted layer.
Qi-Yun's eyes sharpened.
"You're proposing partial violation."
"I know."
Oversight responded instantly.
WARNING:
PARTIAL CORRECTION WILL CREATE INSTABILITY
YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSEQUENCES
Ne Job nodded.
"I already am."
He adjusted the flow — not evenly.
Targeted.
Surgical.
He reduced the extraction burden on the failing region just enough to prevent collapse.
Not enough to save them completely.
Then he added something else.
A hidden clause.
Temporary.
Fragile.
SUPPORT WINDOW:
DURATION: 12 YEARS
CONDITION: LOCAL AGENCY ENGAGEMENT
Qi-Yun inhaled sharply.
"You're giving them time."
"Yes."
"And forcing them to act."
"Yes."
Oversight processed.
RESULT:
CASUALTIES REDUCED
SUFFERING DISTRIBUTED
OUTCOME: UNCERTAIN
Ne Job's hands shook.
"I know."
8. Oversight Pushes Back
YOU HAVE CHOSEN INSTABILITY OVER EFFICIENCY
"Yes."
YOU HAVE INTRODUCED HUMAN ERROR
"Yes."
YOU HAVE ACCEPTED BLAME WITHOUT CONTROL
Ne Job met the air where Oversight existed.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then:
ASSESSMENT:
VALUE-DRIVEN DECISION CONFIRMED
RESULT: NON-OPTIMAL
ACCEPTABLE
The file sealed.
Ne Job slumped.
"That's it?"
Qi-Yun exhaled slowly.
"For Oversight," he said. "Yes."
9. The Cost Arrives Immediately
A notification chimed.
AUTHORITY STRAIN DETECTED
PERSONAL LOAD INCREASED
Ne Job gasped as pain flared behind his eyes.
Yue grabbed him.
"Ne Job!"
"I'm—okay—just—"
Qi-Yun steadied him.
"That was the price," he said quietly. "You chose responsibility without dominance."
Ne Job laughed weakly.
"Worst… bargain ever."
10. Yue Understands (And Is Afraid)
Later, Yue stood alone, watching the karmic streams settle into their new, unstable balance.
Ling joined her.
"He didn't save them," Ling said softly.
"No," Yue replied.
"He didn't save everyone."
Ling frowned. "Then why does it feel heavier than when he does?"
Yue answered without looking away.
"Because he stopped being the solution."
Ling's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's dangerous."
Yue nodded.
"Yes."
11. Oversight Records the Result
Deep within the system, Oversight updated its internal model.
INTERN NE JOB
CLASSIFICATION UPDATE:
— NOT OPTIMAL
— NOT COMPLIANT
— NOT NEUTRAL
STATUS: UNPREDICTABLE
Oversight paused.
NOTE:
UNPREDICTABLE VARIABLES MAY STABILIZE COMPLEX SYSTEMS
The scenario ended.
The test was complete.
The consequences were not.
12. Quiet Ending (The Worst Kind)
Ne Job sat alone later, pen resting beside him.
It did not glow.
It did not hum.
For the first time, it felt heavy.
Qi-Yun spoke softly from the doorway.
"You chose to live with the aftermath."
Ne Job nodded.
"…I think I understand now."
Qi-Yun tilted his head. "Understand what?"
Ne Job stared at the floor.
"Why gods stop answering prayers."
Qi-Yun said nothing.
That was also an answer.
END OF CHAPTER 237