Senior Clerk Brand braced the central pavilion pole when the brass comparison plaque shuddered under a surge of azure energy.
Inside the housing, twelve mechanical tumblers clicked rapidly in sequence, calculating combat metrics across the national network.
Senior Clerk Brand stepped back from the vibrating pedestal, clutching his velvet document pouch against his trembling stomach.
"The central network is reconciling frontier data against the capital registry," Hans muttered, his gaze fixed on the device.
"In twenty years on the border, I have never seen the comparison plaque spin for this long."
"Usually the mechanism locks within three clicks for common contractors," Cassie added, crossing her arms with a smirk.
"When it spins like a runaway mill wheel, someone just broke the regional sorting algorithm."
Hajin stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his cracked celestial chain resting quietly across his shoulder.
