diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index 2fe7409..544976e 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -295,6 +295,15 @@ config :loopctl, :knowledge_moc_excluded_tags, ~w(synology-docs synology-netback
 config :loopctl, :knowledge_proposal_duplicate_threshold, 0.97
 config :loopctl, :knowledge_proposal_overlap_threshold, 0.88
 
+# Route-the-findings (#4): two published articles whose cosine similarity is at/above
+# this are "too similar to comfortably coexist" — flagged with a `:potential_conflict`
+# link for the consuming agent to resolve (merge a redundancy / reconcile a real
+# contradiction). The KB only flags; it never judges which it is.
+config :loopctl, :knowledge_conflict_threshold, 0.93
+# Max `:relates_to`→`:potential_conflict` promotions the nightly lint sweep does per
+# tenant per run (bounds the existing-corpus backfill; it cycles over nights).
+config :loopctl, :knowledge_lint_max_conflict_promotions, 500
+
 # DI: WebAuthn adapter — defaults to Wax (overridden in test env)
 config :loopctl, :webauthn_adapter, Loopctl.WebAuthn.Wax
 
diff --git a/lib/loopctl/knowledge/article_link.ex b/lib/loopctl/knowledge/article_link.ex
index 052b722..df612d7 100644
--- a/lib/loopctl/knowledge/article_link.ex
+++ b/lib/loopctl/knowledge/article_link.ex
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Knowledge.ArticleLink do
   - `tenant_id`         -- FK to tenants (set programmatically, never cast)
   - `source_article_id` -- FK to articles (the origin of the link)
   - `target_article_id` -- FK to articles (the destination of the link)
-  - `relationship_type` -- enum: relates_to, derived_from, contradicts, supersedes
+  - `relationship_type` -- enum: relates_to, derived_from, contradicts, supersedes,
+    potential_conflict (a MECHANICAL "too similar to comfortably coexist" flag —
+    NOT an assertion that the two disagree; the consuming agent judges whether it's a
+    redundancy to merge or a real contradiction. Distinct from `contradicts`, which
+    asserts a known disagreement.)
   - `metadata`          -- extensible JSONB, defaults to `%{}`
   - `inserted_at`       -- creation timestamp (no updated_at)
 
@@ -29,7 +33,13 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Knowledge.ArticleLink do
 
   @type t :: %__MODULE__{}
 
-  @relationship_type_values [:relates_to, :derived_from, :contradicts, :supersedes]
+  @relationship_type_values [
+    :relates_to,
+    :derived_from,
+    :contradicts,
+    :supersedes,
+    :potential_conflict
+  ]
 
   schema "article_links" do
     tenant_field()
diff --git a/lib/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker.ex b/lib/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker.ex
index 95220e1..c0e47a0 100644
--- a/lib/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker.ex
+++ b/lib/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker.ex
@@ -129,28 +129,47 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorker do
     log_if_exceeds_limit(article, tenant_id, max_comparisons)
 
     candidates = find_similar_articles(article, tenant_id, threshold, max_comparisons)
-    existing_pairs = get_existing_link_pairs(article.id, tenant_id)
-
-    new_links =
-      candidates
-      |> Enum.reject(fn %{id: cid} ->
-        MapSet.member?(existing_pairs, {article.id, cid}) or
-          MapSet.member?(existing_pairs, {cid, article.id})
-      end)
-      |> Enum.map(fn %{id: target_id, similarity: score} ->
-        %{
-          source_article_id: article.id,
-          target_article_id: target_id,
-          relationship_type: :relates_to,
-          metadata: %{"auto_generated" => true, "similarity_score" => score}
-        }
+    conflict_threshold = conflict_threshold()
+
+    # A `relates_to` ambient link for everything >= the link threshold, PLUS a
+    # `:potential_conflict` flag (route-the-findings #4) for pairs >= the conflict
+    # threshold — too similar to comfortably coexist, for the consumer to resolve.
+    # Dedup is type-aware so the two link types don't crowd each other out.
+    relates =
+      build_links(article.id, candidates, tenant_id, :relates_to, fn _sim -> true end)
+
+    conflicts =
+      build_links(article.id, candidates, tenant_id, :potential_conflict, fn sim ->
+        sim >= conflict_threshold
       end)
 
-    created_count = create_links(new_links, tenant_id)
+    created_count = create_links(relates ++ conflicts, tenant_id)
     log_audit_event(article.id, tenant_id, created_count)
     :ok
   end
 
+  defp build_links(article_id, candidates, tenant_id, type, keep?) do
+    existing = get_existing_link_pairs(article_id, tenant_id, type)
+
+    candidates
+    |> Enum.filter(fn %{similarity: sim} -> keep?.(sim) end)
+    |> Enum.reject(fn %{id: cid} ->
+      MapSet.member?(existing, {article_id, cid}) or MapSet.member?(existing, {cid, article_id})
+    end)
+    |> Enum.map(fn %{id: target_id, similarity: score} ->
+      %{
+        source_article_id: article_id,
+        target_article_id: target_id,
+        relationship_type: type,
+        metadata: %{"auto_generated" => true, "similarity_score" => score}
+      }
+    end)
+  end
+
+  defp conflict_threshold do
+    Application.get_env(:loopctl, :knowledge_conflict_threshold, 0.93)
+  end
+
   # US-27.7a: route the similarity lookup through the shared, scale-tested kNN helper
   # (`Loopctl.Knowledge.VectorSearch.nearest/4`) on the dedicated HeavyRead pool instead
   # of a bespoke `AdminRepo` cosine query. The helper's index-correct shape guarantees a
@@ -224,9 +243,10 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorker do
     where(query, [a], is_nil(a.project_id) or a.project_id == ^project_id)
   end
 
-  defp get_existing_link_pairs(article_id, tenant_id) do
+  defp get_existing_link_pairs(article_id, tenant_id, type) do
     from(l in ArticleLink,
       where: l.tenant_id == ^tenant_id,
+      where: l.relationship_type == ^type,
       where: l.source_article_id == ^article_id or l.target_article_id == ^article_id,
       select: {l.source_article_id, l.target_article_id}
     )
diff --git a/lib/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker.ex b/lib/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker.ex
index 73fff6c..4197356 100644
--- a/lib/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker.ex
+++ b/lib/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker.ex
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorker do
   alias Loopctl.Audit
   alias Loopctl.Knowledge
   alias Loopctl.Knowledge.Article
+  alias Loopctl.Knowledge.ArticleLink
   alias Loopctl.Tenants.Tenant
   alias Loopctl.Workers.ArticleEmbeddingWorker
   alias Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorker
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorker do
   # 0.6 leaves them isolated forever. Re-link orphans at a LOWER threshold so an
   # isolated article connects to its closest relative rather than dangling.
   @default_orphan_link_threshold 0.5
+  @default_max_conflict_promotions 500
 
   @impl Oban.Worker
   def perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"mode" => "all_tenants"}}) do
@@ -91,11 +93,13 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorker do
     {:ok, report} = Knowledge.lint(tenant_id, max_per_category: @lint_max_per_category)
 
     action = act_on_orphans(tenant_id, report)
-    log_audit_event(tenant_id, report, action)
+    promoted = promote_conflicts(tenant_id)
+    log_audit_event(tenant_id, report, action, promoted)
 
     Logger.info(
       "KnowledgeLintWorker: tenant=#{tenant_id} issues=#{report.summary.total_issues} " <>
-        "orphans_relinked=#{action.relinked} orphans_embedding_enqueued=#{action.embedding_enqueued}"
+        "orphans_relinked=#{action.relinked} orphans_embedding_enqueued=#{action.embedding_enqueued} " <>
+        "conflicts_promoted=#{promoted}"
     )
 
     :ok
@@ -150,6 +154,71 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorker do
     %{relinked: length(with_embedding), embedding_enqueued: length(without_embedding)}
   end
 
+  # Route-the-findings (#4), existing-corpus backstop: the auto-linker stored the
+  # cosine `similarity_score` on every ambient `:relates_to` link. Any such link at or
+  # above the conflict threshold is a "too similar to coexist" pair that predates the
+  # forward detection — promote it to also carry a `:potential_conflict` flag (no new
+  # embedding calls). Bounded per run; cycles the corpus over nights. Idempotent: a
+  # pair already flagged (either direction) is skipped.
+  defp promote_conflicts(tenant_id) do
+    threshold = Application.get_env(:loopctl, :knowledge_conflict_threshold, 0.93)
+
+    cap =
+      Application.get_env(
+        :loopctl,
+        :knowledge_lint_max_conflict_promotions,
+        @default_max_conflict_promotions
+      )
+
+    candidates =
+      from(l in ArticleLink,
+        as: :rel,
+        where: l.tenant_id == ^tenant_id,
+        where: l.relationship_type == :relates_to,
+        where: fragment("(?->>'similarity_score')::float >= ?", l.metadata, ^threshold),
+        where:
+          not exists(
+            from(pc in ArticleLink,
+              where:
+                pc.tenant_id == parent_as(:rel).tenant_id and
+                  pc.relationship_type == :potential_conflict and
+                  ((pc.source_article_id == parent_as(:rel).source_article_id and
+                      pc.target_article_id == parent_as(:rel).target_article_id) or
+                     (pc.source_article_id == parent_as(:rel).target_article_id and
+                        pc.target_article_id == parent_as(:rel).source_article_id))
+            )
+          ),
+        select: %{
+          source_article_id: l.source_article_id,
+          target_article_id: l.target_article_id,
+          metadata: l.metadata
+        },
+        limit: ^cap
+      )
+      |> AdminRepo.all()
+
+    Enum.reduce(candidates, 0, fn c, count ->
+      attrs = %{
+        source_article_id: c.source_article_id,
+        target_article_id: c.target_article_id,
+        relationship_type: :potential_conflict,
+        metadata: %{
+          "auto_generated" => true,
+          "similarity_score" => c.metadata["similarity_score"],
+          "promoted_from" => "relates_to"
+        }
+      }
+
+      changeset = ArticleLink.changeset(%ArticleLink{tenant_id: tenant_id}, attrs)
+
+      case AdminRepo.insert(changeset) do
+        {:ok, _} -> count + 1
+        # Lost a race / already exists — skip, stay idempotent.
+        {:error, _} -> count
+      end
+    end)
+  end
+
   defp embedded_ids(_tenant_id, []), do: MapSet.new()
 
   defp embedded_ids(tenant_id, orphan_ids) do
@@ -163,7 +232,7 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorker do
     |> MapSet.new()
   end
 
-  defp log_audit_event(tenant_id, report, action) do
+  defp log_audit_event(tenant_id, report, action, promoted) do
     Audit.create_log_entry(tenant_id, %{
       entity_type: "knowledge_lint",
       entity_id: tenant_id,
@@ -174,7 +243,8 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorker do
       new_state: %{
         "summary" => report.summary,
         "orphans_relinked" => action.relinked,
-        "orphans_embedding_enqueued" => action.embedding_enqueued
+        "orphans_embedding_enqueued" => action.embedding_enqueued,
+        "conflicts_promoted" => promoted
       }
     })
   end
diff --git a/test/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker_test.exs b/test/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker_test.exs
index e73aa3b..8be9cbe 100644
--- a/test/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker_test.exs
+++ b/test/loopctl/workers/article_linking_worker_test.exs
@@ -64,6 +64,56 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorkerTest do
     List.duplicate(1.0, 768) ++ List.duplicate(1.518, 768)
   end
 
+  # cos(similar_embedding, this) = 768 / (sqrt(768) * sqrt(1536)) ~= 0.707 — related
+  # (>= 0.6) but below the 0.93 conflict threshold.
+  defp moderately_similar_embedding do
+    List.duplicate(1.0, 1536)
+  end
+
+  defp links_of_type(tenant_id, a_id, b_id, type) do
+    from(l in ArticleLink,
+      where: l.tenant_id == ^tenant_id,
+      where: l.relationship_type == ^type,
+      where:
+        (l.source_article_id == ^a_id and l.target_article_id == ^b_id) or
+          (l.source_article_id == ^b_id and l.target_article_id == ^a_id)
+    )
+    |> AdminRepo.all()
+  end
+
+  describe "potential conflict detection (#4)" do
+    test "flags a near-identical pair with a :potential_conflict link" do
+      %{tenant: tenant} = setup_tenant()
+      source = create_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, similar_embedding())
+      dup = create_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, near_similar_embedding())
+
+      assert :ok =
+               ArticleLinkingWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{
+                 args: %{"article_id" => source.id, "tenant_id" => tenant.id}
+               })
+
+      # Both an ambient relates_to AND the conflict flag.
+      assert [_] = links_of_type(tenant.id, source.id, dup.id, :relates_to)
+      assert [conflict] = links_of_type(tenant.id, source.id, dup.id, :potential_conflict)
+      assert conflict.metadata["similarity_score"] >= 0.93
+      assert conflict.metadata["auto_generated"] == true
+    end
+
+    test "a merely-related pair (below the conflict threshold) gets NO conflict flag" do
+      %{tenant: tenant} = setup_tenant()
+      source = create_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, similar_embedding())
+      related = create_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, moderately_similar_embedding())
+
+      assert :ok =
+               ArticleLinkingWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{
+                 args: %{"article_id" => source.id, "tenant_id" => tenant.id}
+               })
+
+      assert [_] = links_of_type(tenant.id, source.id, related.id, :relates_to)
+      assert [] == links_of_type(tenant.id, source.id, related.id, :potential_conflict)
+    end
+  end
+
   # --- TC-21.2.1: Creates relates_to links for similar articles ---
 
   describe "perform/1 creates links" do
@@ -226,13 +276,15 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorkerTest do
       links =
         from(l in ArticleLink,
           where: l.tenant_id == ^tenant.id,
+          where: l.relationship_type == :relates_to,
           where:
             (l.source_article_id == ^article_a.id and l.target_article_id == ^article_b.id) or
               (l.source_article_id == ^article_b.id and l.target_article_id == ^article_a.id)
         )
         |> AdminRepo.all()
 
-      # Only the manually created one should exist
+      # Only the manually created relates_to one should exist (a high-similarity pair
+      # also gets a separate :potential_conflict flag — that's #4, asserted elsewhere).
       assert length(links) == 1
     end
   end
@@ -301,10 +353,12 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorkerTest do
                  args: %{"article_id" => source.id, "tenant_id" => tenant.id}
                })
 
-      # All 3 similar articles should be linked (within default limit of 50)
+      # All 3 similar articles should be linked (within default limit of 50). Scope to
+      # :relates_to — high-similarity pairs also get a :potential_conflict link (#4).
       link_count =
         from(l in ArticleLink,
           where: l.tenant_id == ^tenant.id,
+          where: l.relationship_type == :relates_to,
           where: l.source_article_id == ^source.id
         )
         |> AdminRepo.aggregate(:count)
@@ -419,7 +473,9 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.ArticleLinkingWorkerTest do
       assert audit.actor_type == "system"
       assert audit.actor_label == "worker:article_linking"
       assert audit.new_state["article_id"] == source.id
-      assert audit.new_state["new_link_count"] == 1
+      # 2 links: a :relates_to and, since the pair is near-identical (>= conflict
+      # threshold), a :potential_conflict flag (#4) — both are auto-links created here.
+      assert audit.new_state["new_link_count"] == 2
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker_test.exs b/test/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker_test.exs
index c55c344..793aa0b 100644
--- a/test/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker_test.exs
+++ b/test/loopctl/workers/knowledge_lint_worker_test.exs
@@ -179,4 +179,69 @@ defmodule Loopctl.Workers.KnowledgeLintWorkerTest do
       assert [] == lint_audit_entries(tenant_b.id)
     end
   end
+
+  describe "conflict promotion (#4 existing-corpus backstop)" do
+    defp relates_link(tenant_id, src_id, tgt_id, score) do
+      %ArticleLink{tenant_id: tenant_id}
+      |> ArticleLink.changeset(%{
+        source_article_id: src_id,
+        target_article_id: tgt_id,
+        relationship_type: :relates_to,
+        metadata: %{"auto_generated" => true, "similarity_score" => score}
+      })
+      |> AdminRepo.insert!()
+    end
+
+    defp conflict_links(tenant_id, a_id, b_id) do
+      from(l in ArticleLink,
+        where: l.tenant_id == ^tenant_id,
+        where: l.relationship_type == :potential_conflict,
+        where:
+          (l.source_article_id == ^a_id and l.target_article_id == ^b_id) or
+            (l.source_article_id == ^b_id and l.target_article_id == ^a_id)
+      )
+      |> AdminRepo.all()
+    end
+
+    test "promotes a high-similarity relates_to link to a :potential_conflict flag" do
+      tenant = fixture(:tenant)
+      a = published_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, similar_embedding())
+      b = published_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, near_similar_embedding())
+      relates_link(tenant.id, a.id, b.id, 0.95)
+
+      assert :ok = KnowledgeLintWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"tenant_id" => tenant.id}})
+
+      assert [conflict] = conflict_links(tenant.id, a.id, b.id)
+      assert conflict.metadata["promoted_from"] == "relates_to"
+      assert conflict.metadata["similarity_score"] == 0.95
+
+      assert [entry] = lint_audit_entries(tenant.id)
+      assert entry.new_state["conflicts_promoted"] == 1
+    end
+
+    test "leaves a below-threshold relates_to link alone" do
+      tenant = fixture(:tenant)
+      a = published_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, similar_embedding())
+      b = published_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, near_similar_embedding())
+      relates_link(tenant.id, a.id, b.id, 0.80)
+
+      assert :ok = KnowledgeLintWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"tenant_id" => tenant.id}})
+
+      assert [] == conflict_links(tenant.id, a.id, b.id)
+    end
+
+    test "is idempotent — a second run promotes nothing new" do
+      tenant = fixture(:tenant)
+      a = published_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, similar_embedding())
+      b = published_article_with_embedding(tenant.id, near_similar_embedding())
+      relates_link(tenant.id, a.id, b.id, 0.96)
+
+      assert :ok = KnowledgeLintWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"tenant_id" => tenant.id}})
+      assert :ok = KnowledgeLintWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"tenant_id" => tenant.id}})
+
+      assert [_only_one] = conflict_links(tenant.id, a.id, b.id)
+      assert [_, second] = lint_audit_entries(tenant.id) |> Enum.sort_by(& &1.inserted_at)
+      assert second.new_state["conflicts_promoted"] == 0
+    end
+  end
 end