1. Entry Without Permission
Ne Job did not "arrive" at the Silent Node.
Arrival implied permission.
Arrival implied procedure.
Arrival implied forms.
This—
This was more like cutting the line in a system that didn't realize it had a line.
Reality flickered once.
Twice.
Then sighed in administrative exhaustion.
And Ne Job stepped in.
2. First Impression
He looked around.
The Silent Node was… a mess.
Not visually.
Visually, it was still majestic—four stars, harmonic alignment, ancient architecture humming with power.
But functionally?
"Wow," Ne Job muttered.
"This is a paperwork disaster."
3. The Problem, Summarized
He pointed.
Left: The unknown civilization's massive lattice, forcing rigid control over the system.
Right: Humanity's fleet, trying to "adapt" while the system destabilized anyway.
Center: The Node itself, oscillating like a system being edited by two idiots at once.
Ne Job sighed.
"So basically…"
He counted on his fingers.
"One guy is over-managing."
"Another guy is under-managing."
"And the system is about to crash because nobody filed the correct form."
4. Yue Arrives (Properly)
Yue appeared beside him—calm, composed, as if she had taken the official route.
"You are not wrong," she said.
"I'm never wrong," Ne Job replied automatically.
"You are frequently wrong."
"Okay but not this time."
5. The Actual Solution
Ne Job cracked his knuckles.
"Alright."
"If two parties are fighting over system control…"
He grinned.
"…you don't resolve it with force."
Yue already knew.
"You enforce procedure."
6. The First Change
Ne Job reached out—
Not to the Node.
Not to the fleets.
But to the underlying system layer.
The part nobody sees.
The part everyone ignores.
The part labeled:
"Administrative Handling Protocol — Deprecated"
He clicked it.
7. Reality Updates
The Silent Node… pauses.
Not physically.
Conceptually.
Like a machine suddenly realizing it has rules it forgot to follow.
Then—
A new structure overlays reality.
8. The Queue Appears
Across the entire system—
Visible to both civilizations—
A glowing construct forms:
A massive, unmistakable, inescapable interface.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
MULTI-PARTY INTERACTION DETECTED
CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROTOCOL INITIATED
PLEASE TAKE A NUMBER
Silence.
Absolute, universal silence.
9. Kovacs' Reaction (Human Side)
"What… is that?" Kovacs asks.
Oversight pauses for once.
Unknown system layer activated.
Mira narrows her eyes.
"Did we do this?"
Negative.
10. The Unknown Civilization
They react instantly.
Their lattice intensifies.
Attempts to override the interface.
But—
It doesn't respond.
Because it's not a system they can control.
11. Ticket Dispensed
Two glowing tokens materialize.
One above the human fleet.
One above the foreign lattice.
TICKET #001 — HUMAN CIVILIZATION
TICKET #002 — UNKNOWN CIVILIZATION
Kovacs stares.
"…We got number one."
Mira doesn't look pleased.
"That's not a good sign."
12. Enforcement
The Node stabilizes slightly.
Not because the problem is solved—
But because the system now has order.
Ne Job claps his hands once.
"There we go."
13. Immediate Effect
The foreign lattice attempts another override.
This time—
The Node responds.
Not violently.
But firmly.
Their influence is… delayed.
Buffered.
Like input waiting its turn.
14. Yue Explains
"You've limited interaction bandwidth," Yue says.
Ne Job nods.
"Single-threaded conflict resolution."
Kovacs (far away, confused):
"Why does reality feel like a customer service line?"
15. Lord Bureaucrat Xian Notices
Far beyond the system—
In a pristine celestial office—
Lord Bureaucrat Xian freezes mid-document.
He senses it instantly.
"…No."
He looks at the cosmic registry.
And sees the update.
HANDLER: NE JOB (INTERN)
STATUS: ACTIVE INTERVENTION
Xian grips the desk.
"…NO."
16. Back at the Node
The system updates again.
NOW SERVING: TICKET #001
All attention shifts to humanity.
Mira stiffens.
"I think… it's our turn."
Kovacs whispers:
"I don't like this."
17. Forced Dialogue
The Node opens a structured interface.
Not language.
Not exactly.
But something both civilizations can understand:
Input. Response. Evaluation.
Ne Job leans casually against nothing.
"Go on," he says.
"State your case."
18. Humanity Speaks
Mira steps forward.
Carefully.
"We are attempting to stabilize the system—"
ERROR: INCOMPLETE JUSTIFICATION
Kovacs winces.
"Oof."
19. The Real Rule
Yue folds her arms.
"You skipped the required format."
Ne Job grins.
"Everyone always skips the format."
20. The Form Appears
In front of Mira:
FORM 27-B: REQUEST FOR SYSTEM INTERVENTION
Purpose of interaction
Understanding of system state
Acknowledgment of limitations
Proposed method
Mira stares at it.
"…You're kidding."
21. Ne Job Is Not Kidding
"Nope," Ne Job says.
"Fill it properly."
"Or the system ignores you."
22. The Foreign Civilization Watches
For the first time—
They hesitate.
They observe.
They analyze.
Because something has changed.
The system is no longer chaotic.
It is governed.
23. The Balance Returns
The Node stabilizes further.
Not fully.
But enough.
Because now—
No one can act recklessly.
Everything must go through process.
24. Xian Arrives (Too Late)
A tear in reality opens.
Lord Bureaucrat Xian steps through—
Furious.
"NE JOB!"
Ne Job doesn't turn.
"Hey boss."
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Ne Job gestures at the system.
"Fixed it."
25. Xian Sees It
The queue.
The forms.
The enforced order.
The stabilized Node.
He pauses.
Just for a second.
"…This is highly unauthorized."
"Yeah."
"…And technically correct."
"Also yeah."
26. End of Chapter
Two civilizations came to control an ancient system.
Instead—
They were handed a number.
Forced into a queue.
And made to file proper documentation before interacting with reality.
The Silent Node is no longer collapsing.
Not because the conflict is resolved—
But because it is now regulated.
And at the center of it all—
An intern has done what no advanced civilization could:
He turned a cosmic crisis…
Into a paperwork problem.
END OF CHAPTER 387