"The third visitor slip."
"Where was it sent?"
The Registrar's question fell over the long street outside the lodgings, but the Chief Envoy of Xiqi did not answer at once.
The relay dispatch box involved in the case still stood in the middle of the street.
A seal covered its opening, and three sheets were missing from Bundle Ding Twenty-Seven.
Armored Guards held the scribe beside it. Two blue bruises ringed his wrists. His lips moved several times, but not a single word came out.
The Chief Envoy of Xiqi raised a hand and smoothed his cuff.
It was a tiny movement.
But he did it twice.
"The scribe stole them for his own ends. Xiqi Lodge is willing to surrender him."
"The dispatch box was poorly supervised. Xiqi Lodge is willing to accept punishment for that as well."
"But where the third slip went, this envoy does not know."
Having said that, he bowed once more toward the Grand Preceptor's Residence.
"I ask the Grand Preceptor to judge fairly. Do not let one scribe's crime tarnish the dignity of the Feudal Lords of Xiqi."
Outside several lodgings, the envoys who had just fallen silent began murmuring again.
This was cleverer than what he had said before.
He was no longer shouting that the Grand Preceptor was bullying the Feudal Lords.
He admitted to poor supervision, surrendered the scribe, and tried to disentangle Xiqi Lodge.
As long as the third slip could not be recovered, Xiqi could reduce the affair to a petty lodging official stealing paper for personal gain.
At worst, they would pay for a dispatch box.
At worst, one scribe would be punished.
The Registrar of the Grand Preceptor's Residence did not take up his words.
He turned to question the Relay Station Chief.
"Three sheets were