Who hasn't thought of escaping this place?
And who has truly escaped from here?
The vast majority who die mysteriously can only half-live, becoming little more than living corpses.
This is Hell, an eternal cage without end. Without her permission, no one can leave.
........
.....
"Regenerator Mk2, sign this. Netzach's recent work has been quite impressive... The report is much more professional than before."
X signed the Protocol named [Regenerator Mk2]. This was a Singularity technology provided with technical support from K Corporation, and [Regenerator Mk2] was a second-tier upgrade based on the original Regenerator.
This could help employees recover from physical fatigue faster and better rescue those brought back from the brink of death. Even if their bodies were shattered and missing more than half, as long as they had a gasp of breath left, they could be revived.
Though perhaps revival would be even more painful...
It might be easier to just close one's eyes and forget, rather than assuming one could be free, only to wake up and see the familiar ceiling and colleagues whose names one couldn't even remember.
In this place, it is hard to say whether it is better to cling to life, or if death would be a little easier. This is a place with no good outcomes, no funerals, and no coffins.
There is no one, and no time, to grieve. No one will bring flowers.
Here, one rarely sees plants because there is no sunlight inside. If one stops for a moment upon discovering a small flower, one might just lose their life right there.
But even so, one must still survive bravely; one must find the courage to continue living.
"Good morning, Netzach. I've read your report. Not bad. Keep up the good work."
X looked at the languid woman on the screen, her neglected long hair a messy green tangle, and her tie, as if never meticulously tied, hanging askew. Netzach looked as she always did, but she was indeed working.
Perhaps this was not bad. If suddenly, Netzach started doing everything perfectly, full of spirited enthusiasm, X might even suspect Netzach was ill, infected with some new AI virus.
This confused, spiritless Netzach was more like the normal Netzach... X felt she would no longer be surprised by the Safety Department Dean's laziness. As long as the work was flawless, that was enough.
She did not demand Netzach be as vibrant as Dean Malkuth or Dean Hod, nor did she expect Netzach to be as serious and meticulous as Dean Yesod. As long as Netzach's reports were coherent and had no faults, that was fine.
Normally, a few words of praise like that would satisfy the Dean. But Netzach still had not left, her languid eyes fixed on X. Perhaps it was that gaze—such a look was truly too strange.
So much so that even through the screen, X felt a tremor in her heart.
The Safety Department Dean's gaze was something she had endured for more than just a day or two, but today it felt unusually sensitive. X found it strange... Was she being overly paranoid? Netzach was still the same as before, nothing special.
Unsure why she suddenly felt a little guilty, X cleared her throat and said with feigned seriousness:
"What is it, Netzach? Is there anything else you need to say? If not, please return to your post. Today's work is about to begin."
Sitting in the Manager's chair, she seemed to embody the role of a Manager again. Managerial authority was evident. At least during work, X acted like a Manager, and the Deans would obey the Manager's orders.
"No... nothing. It's just, Manager, why is the daily workload getting heavier and heavier? It's really troublesome. I really don't want to work."
Netzach yawned, her eyelids drooping as if she had not quite woken up, giving the impression that she could collapse onto the floor at any moment. But X felt that the implication in her words was not Netzach hinting at something deeper.
Consider... Consider it from her perspective...
After a bit more consideration, and summarizing her past experiences, the not-so-foolish X came to a conclusion: Netzach was definitely asking her for something, complaining that the workload had increased, and now protesting, demanding extra compensation.
But Angela was still beside them. Agreeing to extra compensation could not possibly be said in front of the AI Secretary. Even the usually obtuse X knew that some matters could not be discussed in front of the AI Secretary.
If they discussed something secretly, the AI Secretary might turn a blind eye, or even completely ignore it. But discussing it so openly... That would be too arrogant, and it would definitely provoke the intelligent AI.
That would not end well...
At this point, it was necessary to beat around the bush a bit, to speak euphemistically. Perhaps it could be called Speechcraft or Basic Linguistic Charm.
"If you find it troublesome, I'll help share some of the pressure, Netzach. Let me know if you have any problems. I will give due consideration to your reasonable requests."
X was a bit hesitant to mention 'rewards' in front of Angela. The AI Secretary had attacked her on that point more than once. Was it not just a 'reward'? Why was she so diligent?
And what 'reward' or 'no reward'? Was there really a difference between such rewards and punishments?
If Netzach wanted to make a request, it should still be discussed in private. X preferred not to discuss such matters during work, especially when Angela was present.
Although X could understand that Netzach's need was reasonable, her not visiting the Deans for days was not an intentional attempt to string them along.
If it were not for Angela pouring the drinks, she would probably have passed out drunk every time, forgetting to deal with the matters she had promised the Deans.
So, this was still the AI Secretary's fault... And the instigator of X's situation still looked calm and nonchalant, with her eyes closed and a composed expression, silently acting as a backdrop.
Didn't X want to see her Secretary's malicious expression? Perhaps she really could be deceived by her current "docility"... Well, actually, from day one, X knew exactly how terrible the AI's personality was.
...Though sometimes she was also very gentle.
Grumbling is grumbling, but there was no hate.
And no hate, usually, could be attributed to liking.
After dismissing Netzach, X once again checked her attire.
Her collar was neatly and tightly closed, covering her neck and the strawberry-like marks left by the Secretary on her collarbone. All the uniform buttons were properly fastened; there were no misaligned or missing buttons.
This was very proper attire, neat and orderly. Clearly, it wasn't because she had pulled down her collar... Eliminating her own reasons, what else could it be?
X couldn't understand. She hadn't used any despicable tactics this time, had she? Why was Netzach's gaze so strange, as if there was something peculiar about her?
However, even if X felt this subtle disharmony, she had no energy to continue fretting over such matters. Today's newly assimilated unit had already arrived.
Work was still more important.
1. [O-09-91]
[This portrait captures a moment; it is what we are destined to lose...]
2. [Old Faith and Promise]
[Those betrayed hearts sank into the depths, slowly forgotten in the ever-lengthening corridors of time...]
3. [T-09-82]
[It literally makes itself into "the safest place on Earth."]
These were all ZAYIN-class to HE-class tool-type Abnormalities. Tool-type Abnormalities focused on how to use them, rather than how to manage them.
Most of the time, they would not cause any incidents, and if used properly, they could also help employees, making management smoother. In short, they were relatively relaxed entities.
Although such a choice was not very difficult, X still first looked through the existing Abnormality data, such as [Old Faith and Promise].
This was a ZAYIN-class Abnormality. Abnormalities of this class generally would not pose a threat to employees, and if used properly, they would also generate many good benefits.
Tool-type Abnormalities did not require too much effort; understanding the necessary usage knowledge was enough.
And the method for using [Old Faith and Promise] was very simple. One merely needed to order an employee to place an E.G.O weapon into a mysterious spherical marble. Spending a small amount of energy would activate it.
After activation, [Old Faith and Promise] would transform from its original drab gray marble to become radiant, emitting brilliant colors. It would then rapidly oscillate like a pendulum, growing increasingly violent, until a result appeared in a flash of light.
There would only be two types of results:
The result: failure.
The result: success.
[Old Faith and Promise] was an Abnormality that would enhance E.G.O weapons. After consuming a bit of energy, it would perform a kind of "enhancement" on the weapon, but this enhancement was probabilistic.
If successful, the E.G.O weapon would unleash power stronger than its original state. However, if it failed, the E.G.O would be destroyed by [Old Faith and Promise], meaning the Corporation's equipment inventory would lose one piece of gear.
It would then have to be retrieved anew from an Abnormality.
It was an Abnormality whose use greatly depended on "luck." And this, coincidentally, had a gambling aspect, like Pachinko, drawing people in. When losing, one lost everything—both energy and equipment.
It was a tool Abnormality of the same type as [Giant Tree Sap]. If the employee was very lucky, it could yield decent benefits, but if their luck was terrible, their body would explode.
X actually did not particularly like the word "luck." Relying on vague, ethereal fortune for the future was a very irrational decision. X believed more in probability and data; data and analyzed results would not lie.
At least they were more reliable than luck. Those good outcomes were never achieved simply by luck; there were no lucky carps crossing the Dragon Gate.
If there were originally no expectations of return, then perhaps unexpected gains could be obtained?
However, expecting returns based on investment was a very foolish idea, at most a one-sided wish and a self-deception.
But... it could lead to deep disappointment and betrayal.
If one never expected, how could one be disappointed?
If one was steeped in despair from the very beginning, how could a despairing person become despairing a second time?
If one had never seen light, then one could endure indefinitely in this darkness.
"[T-09-82], let's choose this Abnormality. Hmm, and it will still be Netzach's responsibility."
Finally, X made a choice between [O-09-91] and [T-09-82]. She chose the latter, [T-09-82].
Because X was extremely curious what "the safest place on Earth" actually was.
If it was called "the safest place on Earth," then presumably, it should perhaps be very suitable for the Safety Department?
Netzach was always complaining that she couldn't find any safe place in the Corporation, that even the Safety Department wasn't safe. So, perhaps this tool-type Abnormality could bring a "little surprise."
Of course, this was absolutely not out of selfishness to give Netzach more zest for life that she made her manage the Abnormality. X was a fair, kind, and caring Manager to her subordinates. It was the Safety Department Dean who proactively requested an increased workload and overtime, not her coercion.
Since she wanted to increase compensation to satisfy those possibly very unreasonable desires, Netzach should at least do more work.
X did not mind paying a small price to make the Deans willingly work. Often, as long as the goal was achieved, the means did not matter.
It might also be a habit. X always instinctively thought of applying this simple, effective, and especially fast method.
And if it worked for the Deans, it should also work for the AI Secretary.
"Angela, does that Abnormality have any special features?"
X rubbed against her AI Secretary, her tone a bit clingy. Normally, she wouldn't ask, because X knew she wouldn't get anything out of it. But today, perhaps it could work.
She had just let the Secretary be smug once again. How could she not get something back, at least some intelligence?
[Manager, you are bribing me. According to Corporation regulations, I cannot accept your bribe.]
However, the intelligent AI appeared unmoved. Her expression was cold and her tone serious, but her hand did not push X away. Instead, she pulled X closer.
"Angela, you clearly have already accepted bribes! All of this is your doing, you—have—to—take—re—spon—si—bi—li—ty—for—me."
X pulled down her collar. The red marks on her neck and collarbone were very clear, and this was only a small part of it.