Read "Retief of the Red-Tape Mountain" by Keith Laumer online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Retief knew the importance of sealed orders -- and the need to keep them that way!
"It's true," Consul Passwyn said, "I requested assignment as principal officer at a small post. But I had in mind one of those charming resort worlds, with only an occasional visa problem, or perhaps a distressed spaceman or two a year. Instead, I'm zoo-keeper to these confounded settlers. And not for one world, mind you, but eight!" He stared glumly at Vice-Consul Retief.