Chương 35: It Was Just an Overdue Book

The notification about 43 dragons was still hovering patiently over Bart's desk. Aurelius was staring at it with hate in eyes hoping it might cause it to disappear. Bart tapped on the DEFER option. CLAIM ADDED TO RESTORATION QUEUE A second notification appeared.

SOVEREIGN RECORD RESTORATION PROTOCOL AVAILABLE Outstanding disputed amendments: 11, 405 Manual Keeper review of all records: NOT REQUIRED Qualified local records officer: REQUIRED Independent evidence standard: RETAINED Bart adjusted his glasses, he had created a process now and established exactly how the lies were manufactured and where the truth was hidden.

He also possessed the authority to correct them but he could not personally sit in Tremendia for the next few months manually auditing thousands of documents about grain yields, property taxes, and fabricated moon discoveries. Bart needed someone trustworthy and looks like the Archive agreed. Someone who understood the official archive, who intimately knew the scale of Aurelius's alterations, who grasped the strict rules of provenance, and who knew exactly where the supporting evidence lived.

He looked across the oak desk at Thaddeus. Gregor followed Bart's gaze. The thief nodded slowly.

"Of course. The guy who kept the receipts." Aurelius saw it too. The king turned his furious gaze on the trembling historian.

"You are still my Royal Historian!" Aurelius commanded, his voice echoing with desperate authority.

"I command you to declare this entire audit illegitimate. Repudiate his findings!" Thaddeus flinched for almost 2 decades, he had survived by doing exactly what Aurelius demanded. He had written the lies and filed the amendments while the kingdom's truth was systematically buried in a dark basement.

"And if you do not," Aurelius threatened, pointing a finger at him, "I will dismiss you! Strip your title! I will have you reassigned to municipal drainage records!" Gregor leaned against the desk.

"Those probably need checking too."

"I will make you Royal Historian of Sewage!" Aurelius roared. Thaddeus swallowed hard. He looked at the king and at the glowing blue correction panel Bart had forged into reality.

"I suspect the records would be more accurate," Thaddeus said quietly. Aurelius blinked, stunned.

"What did you say?"" I said no, Your Majesty," Thaddeus replied. His voice was quiet, but it was now completely steady, having made a decision. Bart pushed a white form across the oak desk, sliding it toward the historian. The System flared briefly to confirm the legal standing of the man at the desk. Eligible local signatory: Royal Historian Sovereign record custodial standing: VERIFIED Thaddeus picked up the wooden pen and did not hesitate. He signed his name at the bottom of the parchment.

RECORDS-PRESERVATION AGREEMENT Local institution: Kingdom of Tremendia Archive representative: Keeper Bartholomew Sanders Local records officer: Thaddeus Meredius Role: Royal Records Liaison to the Infinite Archive Archive liaison status: INDEPENDENT OF CROWN APPOINTMENT Interference with verified record duties: PARTNERSHIP BREACH Retaliatory action: AUTOMATIC CUSTODIAL REVIEW The form flashed blue, dissolving into the Archive's network.

Thaddeus was now formally protected, empowered, and tasked with overseeing the restoration of Tremendia's history as a local institutional partner. Aurelius read the glowing blue conditions floating above the desk.

"So I can still dismiss him as a Royal Historian," Aurelius said, his eyes narrowing. Bart considered before answering "Yes." Aurelius face brightened a bit before Bart added "But not as Archive liaison," The brightness disappeared.

"And if I interfere with that?"

"We come back." Aurelius stared at Thaddeus.

"He may keep both jobs."

"The methodology is established," Bart said, standing up.

"Thaddeus has assumed responsibility for the local restoration process. The original records are secured. The Infinite Archive's primary audit is concluded." Bart pointed to the battered leather journal sitting on the desk.

"All that remains, Your Majesty, is to resolve the overdue loan." This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Aurelius looked at the journal.

"And if I return it?"

"The overdue loan is resolved."

"The lien?"

"Released." Aurelius narrowed his eyes.

"And my kingdom?" Bart looked at him puzzled.

"Remains your kingdom." Aurelius stared at him.

"You are not taking my throne?"

"Your throne was not borrowed from the Infinite Archive," Bart said. Gregor looked disappointed.

"Shame." Aurelius ignored him.

"So after all of this my palace, my records, my private archive, that goose…"

"Say her name.... Beatrice," Gregor murmured.

".... you only wanted the book?" Aurelius finished, staring at Bart in absolute disbelief. Bart adjusted his glasses.

"It was overdue." Aurelius stared at the librarian for a long, heavy moment. Aurelius finally understood the problem with Bart Sanders. The librarian did not want his throne, his gold, or his obedience. He simply wanted the records to be accurate. There was absolutely nothing to negotiate with. With a low, defeated growl, Aurelius pushed the book the rest of the way across the desk, officially surrendering it to the Intake Tray.

RETURN COMPLETE Overdue status: RESOLVED Catalogue lien: ELIGIBLE FOR RELEASE The administrative pressure hanging over Tremendia lifted instantly. Back in the palace records chamber far above them, the massive temporary filing cabinets vanished. The blue boundaries deactivated. The temporary repossession was over. But the Archive's relationship with Tremendia was not.

PARTNER RECORDS ACCESS ESTABLISHED Local liaison station: ACTIVE Provenance submission: ACTIVE Dispute filing: ACTIVE Verified repository retrieval: AUTHORISED Stable Archive reference route: ESTABLISHED Back in the palace chamber, one modest oak desk remained permanently anchored to the floor, bearing a small brass plaque: INFINITE ARCHIVE - TREMENDIAN RECORDS LIAISON. Down in the vault, Aurelius instantly reached out to snatch his journal back from the Intake Tray.

Bart placed his hand firmly on the leather cover." Would you like to borrow it again?" Bart asked. Aurelius stared at the librarian, his jaw clenched so tight it looked ready to crack.

"Yes." Bart slid a new checkout form across the desk. NEW CIRCULATION REQUEST Borrower: King Aurelius IV Standard loan: 21 days Restricted re-loan due to severe overdue history: 7 days Aurelius signed it with a vicious slash of the pen. Bart lifted his hand off the book with a bright yellow sticker materialized that read: DUE IN 7 DAYS. Aurelius tried rubbing the sticker, nothing happened even after he rubbed harder. Aurelius stopped and glared at Bart.

"I dislike your library."

"Noted," Bart said.

"Try returning it on time this time," Gregor suggested helpfully. Bart closed his ledger.

"Our business here is concluded. Mr. Thaddeus, you have your mandate. Do not hesitate to submit a consultation request or drop in if you require any guidance."

"Thank you, Keeper," Thaddeus said, bowing deeply. Bart turned to the space beside the desk and opened the heavy oak door leading back to the Infinite Archive that had opened at the end of the records process. He and Gregor stepped through, leaving the furious king and the newly empowered local liaison in the vault below the palace. The door shut behind them, sealing seamlessly into the familiar, towering wooden shelves of the Archive.

Above the main desk, the System flared with a brilliant, triumphant blue light that cascaded through the surrounding aisles. Fraudulent history had been identified and a clear provenance method had been established. The first official correction had been properly performed. The original records had been brought under accountable custody. A local preservation structure had been established, and a liaison had voluntarily assumed responsibility.

The Archive had been recognised as a legitimate partner in the preservation of Tremendia's records. RECORD AUTHORITY Institutional record integrity: RESTORED TO MINIMUM VIABLE STANDARD Local records partnership: ESTABLISHED Keeper procedure: VERIFIED A second, distinct notification pulsed outward. RECORD - VERIFIED Archive Health: 0. 00003% Bart adjusted his glasses.

"That was a significant improvement."

"Come with me," Bart said. Gregor followed him down the long, branching corridors, moving steadily toward the East Wing. They passed damaged stacks, newly stabilised corridors, and the restored boundary markers of the Restricted Section. Finally, they stood before the massive, ancient metal vault door of the East Wing Keeper Vault. THUD. A massive, heavy locking mechanism deep inside the metal engaged with a sound like a falling anvil. It was one more lock acknowledging that a requirement had been met.

On the face of the vault door, beneath the five jagged, overlapping metallic seals, a second light flared to life. The first seal already glowed with the deep, steady blue of Memory. Now, directly beside it, the second jagged seal lit up, burning with a bright, brilliant blue. EAST WING KEEPER VAULT Memory: VERIFIED Record: VERIFIED Citation: UNAVAILABLE Closure: EXTERNAL Succession: PROVISIONAL Access denied: 2/5 Gregor pushed his goggles up into his hair, staring at the two glowing seals.

"Two," the thief said softly. Bart looked at the two glowing seals. Out of five authorities two now answered him. Three did not. For the first time, opening the vault no longer looked completely impossible. They walked back to the main desk. Albert was waiting there for them. The skeleton janitor did not speak, but he had already placed a steaming ceramic mug on Bart's side. Bart sat down, picked up the mug and took a sip. It was perfect.