Chapter 58: The Mystery of the Vanishing Scrolls
Ne Job awoke to a peculiar silence.
The Divine Dormitory, usually humming with floating scrolls and muttering interns, was still. No rustling parchment. No clinking teacups. Not even Ao Bing's usual morning grumble about celestial laundry.
Ne Job sat up, blinking. "That's odd," he murmured. "Where's everyone?"
He tiptoed past Ao Bing's bunk, where a half-eaten mooncake hovered midair. The scroll pouch on his desk was empty. Completely empty.
"Oh crumbs," Ne Job whispered. "The scrolls are gone."
He dashed out, slippers slapping against the marble floor, and made for the Bureau of Divine Records. The grand hall was in chaos. Shelves stood bare. Filing sprites zipped about in a panic. Taiyi Zhenren was inspecting a scroll fragment with a magnifying monocle.
Lord Xian stood at the center, arms crossed, looking thunderous.
"Intern," he barked as Ne Job skidded to a halt. "We've lost twenty-seven scrolls. All from the Miracle Registry. Find them."
Ne Job gulped. "Yes, sir!"
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🧩 Clues and Crumbs
Ne Job gathered his team: Ao Bing, Taiyi Zhenren, and a sleepy sprite named Pippa who claimed to be an expert in scroll scent tracking.
They began their search in the Celestial Garden, where miracle scrolls were sometimes aired for freshness. Pippa sniffed the air and squeaked, "Ink! And biscuit crumbs!"
They followed the trail — glitter, ink smudges, and tiny footprints — through the Cloud Filing Room, the Divine Laundry, and even the Hall of Forgotten Miracles.
Each clue led to a dead end. The scrolls were nowhere.
Until Pippa sniffed a scroll fragment and squeaked again. "This smells like… mischief!"
They returned to the garden and examined the statue of the God of Filing. Ao Bing tapped the base. "Hollow," he said. "There's a tunnel!"
Inside was a cozy den filled with scrolls, snacks, and a giggling gang of junior sprites.
"We borrowed them!" said the leader, a sprite named Tumble. "We wanted to play Miracle Bingo!"
Ne Job blinked. "Miracle Bingo?"
Tumble nodded. "You pick a scroll, guess the miracle, and whoever gets a blessing first wins!"
Taiyi Zhenren sighed. "That's highly unauthorized."
Ao Bing chuckled. "But rather clever."
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🧠 The Audit and the Apology
Lord Xian arrived, looking thunderous.
Ne Job stepped forward. "Sir, it was a misunderstanding. The sprites meant no harm. They even sorted the scrolls by glow intensity!"
Lord Xian raised an eyebrow. "Glow intensity?"
Ne Job nodded. "It's quite efficient, actually."
After a long pause, Lord Xian declared, "Very well. But Miracle Bingo is banned. And the sprites must attend Scroll Ethics class."
Tumble saluted. "Yes, sir!"
---
🌈 Tea and Tales
Back at the dormitory, Ne Job brewed divine tea and passed around mooncakes. The sprites told stories of their favorite miracles — one that made flowers bloom in winter, another that turned grumpy clouds into giggling puffs.
Ne Job smiled. "Every scroll has a story. We just have to listen."
Ao Bing raised his cup. "To scrolls, sprites, and splendid mysteries!"
Taiyi Zhenren added, "And to interns who solve them."
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🧶 Epilogue: A New Rule
The next morning, a new rule appeared on the Bureau's notice board:
> Rule #742-B:
> Miracle Bingo is strictly prohibited.
> However, Miracle Appreciation Circles are encouraged.
> Snacks must be shared.
Ne Job grinned. "Fair enough."
Twinkle, his miracle orb, hummed approvingly.