"Regenerator Mk2... Mental Corruption Neutralizing Gas... Regenerator Distinguisher Modification... Hm, for now, is it completely unnecessary?"
After a quick glance, she shoved the research aside. The few Abnormalities the Corporation had processed lacked any lethal potency. There was no need to upgrade rescue protocols yet. The Safety Department currently functioned as little more than a cleanup crew for the Department. For now, it served no real purpose.
"Angela, if Netzach is caught using Enkephalin again today, I want you to hang her from the ceiling. But wait. Before that, to make it even worse for her, order her to rewrite the report."
X tossed the report, filled with crooked, drunken scribbles, into the nearby trash can. She didn't want to look at it any longer. She had no idea how such a thing passed Angela's standards. It even reeked of beer.
[Understood Manager, I will convey your original statement to Netzach]
"Shh, Angela. Don't tell her I said that. Can you just use your own name instead? You know Netzach doesn't respect me, nor is she afraid of me at all."
Although she was the Manager, the real threat came from her AI Secretary.
Even though they had only known each other for three days, X had observed the AI Secretary's specialties and noticed how fractured her personality was. The AI Secretary was strict only during work hours; in everyday matters, she was always playing tricks and teasing X.
But it wasn't impossible to give orders to her. Usually, the AI Secretary's concern for the Manager seemed genuine. If X could make her happy, the AI Secretary would become extremely generous and satisfy the Manager's needs.
Only the two of them remained in the Manager's room. X spun her chair around until she faced the AI Secretary. she arched her back like a cat and gripped the corner of the Secretary's shirt.
X leaned toward the AI Secretary's ear, whispering in a low, rich mezzo-soprano voice that sounded wild and tingling.
"Please, Angela, don't tell Netzach that was my order."
As if a black cat had just hatched a plot to cause trouble, her yellow eyes sparkled with cunning.
X's implication was clear: she hoped Angela would punish Netzach on her behalf. Perhaps she was abusing her power for a personal grudge, but that didn't matter.
[Have you forgotten that you signed the Protocol? If Netzach is punished, you will have to bear the burden as well.]
The AI Secretary did not respond immediately, instead offering X a subtle hint.
"Helping Netzach recover from addiction is for her own good."
X spoke calmly as if she were an innocent bystander. After all, the power to interpret the rules lay with the AI Secretary. No matter what the agreement said, it was subject to the whims of the dictator.
Angela was the dictator in charge of the Department Deans and Corporation Affairs. Although she technically obeyed the Manager, she rarely listened. Angela only worked when she felt like it.
Even though she hadn't fully realized it yet, X had a vague sense of what Angela liked.
Intentionally leaving her coat unbuttoned so the AI Secretary would fix it... purposefully acting helpless so she would help... pretending to look pitiful so she would offer comfort.
By satisfying the Secretary's desires, X could get whatever she wanted. The means didn't matter; only the goal did.
Vile, wasn't it? However, to survive, one had to show more than just excellent work; one had to navigate these twisted relationships.
There was no need for subtlety or sensitivity. The simplest way to make Angela happy was enough.
[Understood, if this is your wish, I will do my best to execute it]
The AI Secretary's eyes were closed, her expression dignified as always, but her speech seemed a bit faster than usual.
X didn't even realize how her despicable tricks were causing the AI Secretary's fierce personality to soften.
—— Perhaps Angela was easy to talk to after all ——
Thinking this, X felt no doubt about her plan, completely ignoring the potential for disaster or why she was always the one being punished.
It wasn't that she made mistakes; it was just that she was so entertaining to watch.
But X was oblivious to anything outside of work. After finishing with Netzach's lazy report, she looked at the next Department Dean's file.
Malkuth's enthusiasm was evident in the document. It was filled with annotations and expressions of hope for a better future.
Such a positive attitude deserved praise. X believed that people passionate about their work could inspire others.
But Yesod's report was even more undeniable. It was backed by massive amounts of data and profit analysis. The Manager only had to choose according to her needs.
[G.O Visualization]
An interface that visualizes the geometric biological information of Abnormalities and Agents will become available.
This functions similarly to the Cognition Filter, covering the entire Corporation while operating continuously.
[Damage Normalization]
An interface that visualizes damage caused by Abnormalities and Agents will become available. This agreement divides harm into four major categories.
[Abnormality Countermeasures Manual]
A manual compiling intelligence on Abnormalities will be distributed to the Clerks to reduce their average fear levels.
After careful thought, X believed the priority was understanding how Abnormalities caused damage. Only then could she prevent employees from being injured or killed.
Precise commands could prevent deaths triggered by specific Abnormalities. Even without a trigger, employees faced immense emotional and mental pressure. If they couldn't endure it, they would collapse.
Even though the Cognition Filter turned them into chibi characters, X knew this was no game. She could command them like toys, but those employees felt real fear and would resist.
X signed the C.O Visualization research. Suddenly, all employees gained an HP bar on the screen, making the facility look even more like a game.
The quality of employees could now be measured with cold numbers rather than vague rankings.
Their core attributes were divided into Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, and Justice.
These four attributes corresponded to the work types: Instinct, Insight, Attachment, and Repression.
Even their physical and mental states were tracked by the HP bar and SP bar. Perhaps if an employee died or went insane, X would feel a little less guilt seeing them as mere stats.
After signing the Protocol, X prepared to receive new Abnormalities for the newly opened Information Department.
1. [Opened Can of WellCheers]
[Somewhere in the distance, you can hear seagulls...]
2. [F-04-83]
[Everything will be peaceful while you are under the fairies' care...]
3. [Mirror of Adjustment]
["The satisfaction is only temporary though"...]
These entities seemed indescribably dangerous. X didn't overthink it, choosing the Abnormalities she had no information on.
Subject F-04-83 was placed in the Information Department under the care of Dean Yesod.
"Do your best, Yesod."
"Manager, do you truly understand these abnormalities? We must comprehend their core needs. It is not as simple as gathering reference data."
On the screen, the Dean frowned, looking at X with a critical, doubtful gaze.
"No problem. Instinct work is essentially satisfying the basic biological needs of the Abnormalities. Even as strange as they are, they still have biological traits."
X gave a confident thumbs-up and a smile, though it looked foolish to Yesod. Warm smiles didn't belong in the Corporation.
"Hmm... I hope your work proves to be as good as your words."
With a look of slight disgust, Yesod turned away. The scene shifted to the Control Department Dean, Malkuth.
"Good morning, Manager! Don't mind Yesod. She's just a bit too serious, but she's not a bad person. Today's work might be difficult, but I believe in you. I need you to handle the meltdown reactions!"
"Manager, you know this facility is unstable. To keep things steady after a containment unit is damaged, we have to release some energy."
"But as time passes, meltdowns will become more frequent. Unstable bodies might even give birth to new entities. But you can do it; you're an excellent commander."
Malkuth held her notebook tight, her sweet smile and constant praise acting as X's best encouragement.
"I know. The Qliphoth Meltdown brings out the violence in the Abnormalities. I'll handle it, Malkuth."
X nodded. She knew that once the Meltdown Alarm triggered, peaceful Abnormalities would become unstable. Employees had to be mobilized immediately to calm them down.
When it was the Safety Department Dean's turn, the screen was blank.
"Weird... Angela, where is Netzach?"
[Per your request, I ordered her to rewrite the report... would you like to check on her?]
"It's only been a few minutes. It's impossible for her to be finished."
[Correct. So, as you requested, Netzach has been hung from the ceiling.]
The camera shifted from the office desk to the ceiling.
"XXX FUCK ANGELA, HEY BITCH CORPORATION!!"
The fierce shouting erupted. Netzach's face was bright red as she hung there, bound tightly.
"Netzach, watch your language."
"X, you have no idea what Angela did to me! She rejected my work and hung me up like this!"
Netzach struggled against her restraints, accusing Angela of being cruel.
"Actually... Netzach, Angela is standing right next to me."
"Why didn't you say that sooner?!"
X watched as Netzach's expression shifted instantly.
"Let's talk about today's tasks, Netzach. Angela will let you down in a moment."