The Farming Saint in the Starry Wasteland (Elizabeth Schofield) novel Chapter 421

Chapter 421 Scapegoat

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“Second, regarding the previous denial of this application, our internal review has determined that a certain intern within our bureau erroneously clicked ‘Denied instead of ‘Pending Review‘ during data entry and incorrectly recorded ‘lacks transit value‘ as the stated justification. This action constitutes a serious violation of our approval procedures and has exposed significant gaps in our personnel management and permissions oversight. Our bureau extends its sincerest apologies and will take formal disciplinary action against the responsible party while implementing comprehensive improvements to our internal controls.

“Third, we are grateful for the public’s continued scrutiny of our navigational approval processes. We treat this incident as a firm lesson and are committed to preventing any recurrence of this nature.”

Maverick read through the statement several times, adjusted a few phrases, and changed “erroneous action” to “serious violation of operational protocol.” That had more weight to it.

He saved the draft and scheduled the release for eight o’clock the following morning

The timing was deliberate. Public sentiment was still running hot, and the announcement would land at exactly the right moment to absorb the worst of it.

With everything done, he set his device down and slumped against the back of his chair, completely hollowed out.

Outside the window, the night had settled into deep, unbroken darkness.

Scattered lights burned in the distance, the windows of people still at their desks.

He stared at them, and a thought surfaced unbidden: what would Scapier do when he saw this announcement tomorrow morning?

Break down?

Scream that he’d been framed?

Run home to cry to his parents and his sister?

Or would he come here to confront him directly?

Maverick closed his eyes.

It didn’t matter anymore. There was nothing left to manage.

The boy understood nothing. Whatever noise he made wouldn’t amount to anything.

All Maverick had to do was look him in the eye and say “I have no idea what happened either, the system flagged your account, my hands are tied,” and then produce the fabricated login records. Who could refute that?

As for his in–laws, he’d deal with them when the time came.

Keeping his position was worth more than keeping their goodwill.

He got to his feet and walked to the window, looking out at the darkness beyond.

Twenty–three years.

He’d spent twenty–three years climbing, and he hadn’t done it to be anyone’s sacrifice.

1/3

12:33 pm A

Chapter 421 Scapegoat

Nobody was pushing him down. Not anyone.

Even if it meant standing on someone else to stay upright, he would stay upright.

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At exactly eight o’clock the next morning, the Interstellar Route Authority’s public statement went live right on schedule.

Maverick hadn’t slept a wink. He sat in his office with dark circles carved beneath his eyes, watching the view count on his device screen climb from zero at a frantic pace.

A thousand. Ten thousand. A hundred thousand. A million.

The comments detonated in real time alongside it.

But he wasn’t watching the comments.

He was watching three things: his call log, his private messages, and the encrypted channels.

The entire morning passed without a sound.

No call from Aldrich. No pointed inquiry from Luke. Nothing from the Second, Third, or Fourth Military.

Not even a whisper from the First Military, as though the call that had nearly liquefied his legs the night before had never happened

at all.

The dread that had been clenched around Maverick’s chest released its grip, degree by degree.

Around noon, his secretary knocked and entered with careful steps, mentioning that several media outlets were requesting comment and asking how to respond.

Maverick waved him off and told him to send a uniform reply: refer all inquiries to the official statement. No individual interviews.

That afternoon, he checked Starnet and found the conversation still churning, though the current had shifted.

The public didn’t believe a word of the intern story. Of course they didn’t.

[An intern? Which intern has access to override an approval decision? Does the Interstellar Route Authority even manage its permissions?]

[Erroneous action? You’re telling me an intern accidentally typed out ‘lacks transit value as an official justification? Bright kid.]

[This is hilarious. They caved to pressure and threw someone junior under the bus. Who do they think they’re fooling?]

[That poor intern. Taking the fall for their boss and getting publicly named for it.]

[Everyone stop yelling. The intern is probably still asleep right now, about to wake up famous.]

[Okay but did the lane get approved or not? That’s all I care about.]

[It’s approved. Inspection in three days, opens after that.]

[Perfect. I’m buying strawberries from that farm. Anyone want to go in on a group order?]

2/3

12:33 pm A

Chapter 421 Scapegoat

Maverick read through to the end, and something twitched at the corner of his mouth despite himself.

Yes. Exactly.

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