1. The Meeting Room Designed for Hostility
The Ethics Committee chamber was circular.
Not for symbolism.
For confrontation.
No corners to hide in.
No shadows to lean against.
Everyone could see everyone else.
Ne Job hated it instantly.
"…Why is the table alive?" he whispered.
Yue didn't look up. "It feeds on unresolved tension."
The table purred.
2. Attendance Is Mandatory (Unfortunately)
They arrived in waves.
Judges.
Auditors.
Wrath Deputies.
One God of Plagues who kept sneezing poison.
And Ne Job.
Intern.
Unpaid.
With a nameplate.
NE JOB
Ethical Constraint Liaison (Temporary)
Temporary was underlined.
Twice.
3. The Opening Accusation
Lord Shen stood immediately.
"This is unacceptable," he said, voice ringing. "Heaven is paralyzed by indecision."
Ne Job raised a hand. "…Can we define paralyzed?"
Shen glared. "Three minor smitings were delayed!"
Ne Job blinked. "…That's your example?"
The table growled.
4. The Complaints Flood In
Everyone spoke at once.
"You've weakened deterrence!" "Mercy invites chaos!" "Fear is a tool!" "I miss the old lightning."
Ne Job's pen snapped in half.
Yue slid him another.
Quietly. "Breathe."
5. Ne Job Makes the Worst Possible Opening Statement
He stood.
Cleared his throat.
"…Okay, so first of all—no one took away your power."
A god scoffed. "Then why do I need approval?"
Ne Job shrugged. "Because power without reflection is just panic with lightning."
The room erupted.
The table hissed.
6. The Question That Silences Them
Ne Job raised his voice.
"Who here remembers why we punish?"
Silence.
Not dramatic.
Awkward.
Someone coughed.
A minor judge whispered, "…Tradition?"
Ne Job nodded. "Yeah. That tracks."
7. Yue Brings the Data (This Was a Mistake)
Yue activated a projection.
Charts appeared.
Recidivism down.
Appeals down.
Mortal despair incidents reduced.
The committee stared.
Shen growled, "Statistics can be misleading."
Ne Job nodded. "They usually are."
He pointed. "Which is why we stopped using them to justify suffering."
8. The God Who Says the Quiet Part Out Loud
A war god leaned forward.
"If we stop being feared," he said calmly, "we stop being obeyed."
Ne Job met his gaze.
"Good."
The room froze.
Yue inhaled sharply.
The table went still.
9. Ne Job Explains the Unthinkable
"Obedience isn't respect," Ne Job said. "It's avoidance."
He gestured around the room.
"You want fewer problems?"
He shrugged.
"Give people reasons to choose better."
A plague god laughed bitterly. "That's naïve."
Ne Job smiled. "I'm an intern."
10. The Vote (It Goes Sideways)
The chair-god raised a hand.
"All in favor of repealing the Ethical Constraint Protocol?"
Hands rose.
Not enough.
"All opposed?"
More hands.
But—
Not unanimous.
The chair hesitated.
"…The motion fails."
Chaos erupted.
11. The Failsafe Intervenes (Softly)
A presence pressed gently on the room.
Not command.
Constraint.
"Ethical review procedures will remain in effect."
The table sighed.
The committee fell silent.
They had been overruled.
By process.
12. End of Chapter (No One Is Happy)
Ne Job slumped back into his chair.
"That went… bad."
Yue smiled. "It went honest."
Shen stormed out.
Others lingered.
Thinking.
The table resumed feeding.
And Heaven learned an important lesson:
You can't unsee responsibility once it's named.
END OF CHAPTER 294