1. The Label That Means Nothing (Until It Does)
The phrase ADVISORY ONLY appeared everywhere.
On case margins.
On workflow prompts.
On Oversight's own internal annotations—faded, cautious, like handwriting someone didn't want examined too closely.
Yue noticed it first because she noticed everything.
She stopped in the middle of the Corridor of Deferred Judgments and stared at a floating docket.
"Why," she asked calmly, "does this ruling include a footnote asking whether the defendant felt heard?"
The clerk swallowed.
"…The system suggested it."
2. Yue Does Not Raise Her Voice
Yue never raised her voice when something was wrong.
That was how people knew it was very wrong.
She adjusted her sleeves.
"Since when does Oversight suggest subjective criteria?"
The clerk hesitated.
"…Since the intern talked to it."
Of course it was Ne Job.
3. Ne Job Is Actively Avoiding Attention
Ne Job was hiding.
Not badly—just enough to plausibly claim coincidence.
He was reorganizing a shelf that had already been reorganized three times that morning, Qi-Yun pretending to supervise.
"You're pacing," Qi-Yun observed.
"I'm walking with intent," Ne Job muttered.
"You left an imprint."
"…Okay, maybe pacing."
4. The First Escalation Is Accidental
A bell chimed.
Soft.
Harmless.
Which meant emergency.
CASE FLAGGED:
CONFLICT BETWEEN PRECEDENT AND ADVISORY INPUT
Ne Job froze.
"That's new."
Qi-Yun frowned. "That's very new."
The case file opened itself.
Not with authority.
With hesitation.
5. Oversight Hesitates Publicly (Everyone Notices)
PRECEDENT DIRECTS OUTCOME A
ADVISORY INPUT SUGGESTS OUTCOME B
REQUEST: HUMAN EVALUATION
Ne Job stared.
"…You're asking again?"
Qi-Yun whispered, "It's not asking you."
Ne Job blinked.
The request expanded.
REQUEST: HUMAN EVALUATION
(NON-SPECIFIC)
The room went quiet.
6. Yue Steps In (Because Someone Has To)
Yue arrived without announcing herself.
She read the file once.
Then again.
Then looked at Ne Job.
"Why," she asked gently,
"is Oversight unsure?"
Ne Job swallowed.
"…Because both answers are technically correct."
Yue closed the file.
"And only one will be lived with."
7. The Decision No One Wants to Own
The case involved a minor river god.
Negligence.
Flooding.
A village lost its crops.
Precedent demanded demotion.
Advisory notes asked whether punishment restored balance or just satisfied hierarchy.
Yue exhaled.
"This is not a training example."
Qi-Yun said quietly, "No. It's a test."
8. Oversight Watches Without Intervening
For the first time in recorded Archive history—
Oversight did not decide.
It observed.
Every hesitation.
Every exchanged glance.
Every breath before speech.
Logged.
9. Ne Job Speaks Last (Against His Better Judgment)
Ne Job cleared his throat.
"…What if we're asking the wrong question?"
Yue looked at him.
"Explain."
"Instead of 'what punishment fits,'" he said slowly,
"ask 'what outcome repairs the damage and prevents it again.'"
Silence.
Then Ling whispered, "That's not precedent."
Ne Job nodded.
"I know."
10. Yue Makes the Call
Yue straightened.
"Then we create a conditional ruling."
Everyone stared.
She continued calmly.
"Restoration first. Demotion contingent. Oversight monitors compliance."
Qi-Yun raised an eyebrow.
"That's… flexible."
Yue met his gaze.
"That is the point."
11. Oversight Accepts (Too Easily)
RULING LOGGED
STATUS: CONDITIONAL
TAG: ADVISORY-INFLUENCED
No alarms.
No correction.
Just acceptance.
Ne Job felt cold.
"…It didn't argue."
Qi-Yun murmured, "No."
12. The Word Spreads
By the end of the cycle, whispers filled the Archive.
"Oversight lets humans decide now?"
"Only sometimes."
"Only when it's unsure."
"That's worse."
13. Yue Confronts Ne Job (Privately)
Yue found him later, staring at nothing.
"You didn't break the system," she said.
Ne Job didn't look up.
"I bent it."
"Yes," Yue agreed. "And now it knows it can bend."
He swallowed.
"…Is that bad?"
Yue paused.
"History suggests change always is."
14. Oversight Logs a Final Note
Deep within the Core:
OBSERVATION:
HUMAN DECISIONS INCREASE LOCAL STABILITY
DECREASE PREDICTABILITY
TRADE-OFF: UNRESOLVED
STATUS: MONITOR
The system did not close the file.
15. Quiet Cliffhanger
Ne Job picked up his pen.
It felt heavier.
Somewhere far above the Archive—
Something old took notice.
Not alarmed.
Interested.
END OF CHAPTER 241