Chapter 120: The Corruption of the Judges
⚖️ Act I: A Whisper in the Courts
Ne Job was preparing scrolls when Twinkle buzzed nervously.
The Celestial Courts shimmered strangely — scales tilted without cause, pillars trembled faintly.
Ao Bing frowned. "That's not balance. That's trickery."
Taiyi Zhenren muttered, "Unprofessional."
Lord Xian appeared, grave.
> "Interns, beware. The Mask of Misrule has turned his schemes upon the judges themselves. He seeks to corrupt law into chaos."
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🧠 Act II: The Villains' Plot
The Bureau of Misrule had devised their boldest courtroom scheme.
Their plan: whisper into the judges' minds, twisting fairness into bias.
- Justice accused of cruelty.
- Balance accused of favoritism.
- Law accused of tyranny.
Ao Bing clenched his fists. "He's poisoning the judges!"
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted the evidence.
Ne Job whispered, "We must restore fairness."
Twinkle pulsed softly.
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🎭 Act III: The Courtroom in Chaos
The interns entered the Celestial Courts.
Marble pillars shook, scales tilted, and judges' eyes glowed faintly with shadow.
The Chief Judge spoke, voice trembling:
> "Intern Ne Job, the Bureau claims miracles are corrupt. We are inclined to agree."
Ao Bing gulped.
Taiyi Zhenren adjusted his notes.
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle hummed faintly.
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🧵 Act IV: The Trial of Law
The Mask of Misrule appeared as prosecutor.
His cracked mask shimmered with cruel laughter.
He hissed:
> "Judges, you are mine. Fairness is weakness. Law is tyranny. Chaos is truth."
The judges nodded faintly.
Scrolls trembled.
Mortals' hopes flickered.
Ao Bing demonstrated fairness by sharing thunderfruit sparks equally.
Taiyi Zhenren annotated law as wisdom.
Glimmer giggled, showing kindness in judgment.
Ne Job unrolled Miracle #490-P — the Trial of Patience.
The scroll pulsed.
Fairness resonated.
The judges leaned forward.
The Mask faltered.
His disguise cracked further.
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🌈 Act V: The Resolution
The Chief Judge raised the scales.
They glowed with balance once more.
> "Intern Ne Job, you have restored fairness. The Bureau stands."
Ao Bing tossed confetti.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted the verdict.
Glimmer hugged Ne Job.
Twinkle hummed triumphantly.
The Mask fled into the shadows.
His voice echoed:
> "You may win today. But masks always return."
Lord Xian nodded.
> "Intern Ne Job, you have defended the Celestial Courts against corruption. Well done."
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📜 Epilogue: A New Registry Entry
The next morning, a new entry appeared in the Miracle Registry:
> Miracle #500-C: The Corruption of the Judges
> Status: Defended, restored, unresolved.
> Effect: Teaches that fairness must be defended. Activated through courage and justice.
Ne Job added a note:
> "Some miracles are threatened by corruption. But fairness always restores them."
Twinkle hummed.
And somewhere in the Celestial Courts, shadows lingered — but the interns were ready.