[Why say such things? Are you feeling sorry for him? If he had attacked you, it could have caused irreparable damage.]
Bang! Angela closed the door. The employee's corpse lay like trash in the doorway.
The AI didn't look at the blood on the floor. She didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with a corpse lying in the doorway. It was as natural as killing a cockroach or swatting a fly and then wrapping it in a tissue and throwing it in the trash.
[I'm truly sorry, Manager, for this little incident… I'm responsible for the safety of your office, but I neglected the meeting room, allowing him to enter. This is my fault.]
[I apologize for my negligence. I assure you this won't happen again. Oh, what would you like to drink? Consider this my apology.]
As she spoke, the AI gestured for Manager X to sit on the soft sofa next to the conference table while she chose drinks from the vending machine.
"A soda would be nice…"
Sitting on the comfortable sofa, X felt slightly uneasy. Only she and the AI were in the room. Although this was her Secretary, X didn't see Angela as her Secretary.
Who was more like the Manager? Clearly, Angela was. She was the one in charge, and X was the pet.
[What kind of soda?]
"Strawberry."
Angela handed X a strawberry soda. The AI didn't drink soda. It was naturally meant for X.
To alleviate her anxiety, X opened the soda and took small sips. Normally, she would try to find topics to discuss. But now, the AI Secretary was leading the conversation.
Of course… this wasn't an interrogation. It was Manager X listening unilaterally, being guided by an excellent AI.
[I know you're a little anxious. As a new Manager, you might be shocked by some of our Corporation's rules. But so far, you've been doing well…]
[But seeing your doubtful expression, I think I need to explain the Corporation's justification for firing employees.]
[In the Corporation, everyone has their own position. Like the various gears in a large machine. Everyone must work together and maintain an optimal state to ensure that the machine functions properly.]
[Think about it. If one gear breaks down faster than the others, it will… damage other connected gears.]
[So… it's best to remove these problematic gears before the machine stops functioning, replacing them in time. This is the wisest choice. Don't you agree, Manager?]
X saw the slight upward curve of her Secretary's lips and felt a chill. The more she explained the justification, the more terrifying it became. Manager X wasn't that stupid. She understood what the Secretary meant.
—Angela was reminding her—
—Don't feel guilty about the employees' deaths—
Or to put it bluntly, as Manager, she couldn't be too kind.
"Yes… I understand, Angela."
X drank her soda. Even after finishing it, she still held the can… crushing it slightly.
[Good. Today's your first day. Consider this training. Get used to this feeling.]
[But… that doesn't mean you can waste resources carelessly. Employees are valuable assets to the Corporation. Please minimize losses.]
—I know, Angela—
X didn't have any malicious intent, she didn't enjoy watching employees die, and she didn't have any mental illnesses that made her find pleasure in others' suffering.
She was a very normal person, with normal morals and values…
Very ordinary, unremarkable. She was just a bit luckier than others in the city, lucky enough to be hired by Lobotomy Corp?
For a normal person to join "Wings of the World" was a huge stroke of luck.
The Manager's job was safer and simpler than the employees'. She just needed to sit in the Manager's room, watching the monitors, observing the employees' actions, assigning tasks to the employees, and collecting energy, meeting the Corporation's quotas.
Just give orders, then watch the employees work.
Very simple, right? Even a normal person without training could do it.
"Manager, complete three tasks, and I believe you can do it! Your top priority is to collect energy from the Abnormalities."
"This is the most basic task. Don't disappoint me!"
The Control Department was the first Department to open. The Control Department Dean, Malkuth, assigned X a simple task today. The Manager only needed to command the employees to complete the task. Having the employees perform work on the Abnormalities would generate energy.
Energy was the Corporation's most important asset. The Energy Quota had to be met every day. Only after reaching the Energy Quota could they rest and declare the end of work.
Currently, the Control Department only had one Abnormality, Subject Number [O-03-03], [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds].
This was an Abnormality that floated in the air, a giant skull with a cross-shaped crack. Thorns seemed to crown its head. Its empty eye sockets stared at the door of the Containment unit. Although it looked strange… it was actually very safe.
The Abnormality in the Containment unit wouldn't escape on its own. [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds] was a very quiet Abnormality. It was friendly and easy to manage. Manager X didn't need to constantly watch the screen, worrying about emergencies.
Employees performed four main types of work on Abnormalities: [Instinct], [Insight], [Attachment], [Repression]. Abnormalities had different preferences for these tasks.
But in essence, choosing the right work wasn't to appease the Abnormalities. It was to generate energy more efficiently.
After the employees completed their work on the Abnormalities, their work would be evaluated. It would be rated as [Excellent], [Good], [Poor], from easiest to worst. When the work was rated [Excellent], more energy was produced. When it was rated [Poor], very little energy was produced.
X watched as the employees completed another task on One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds. She was a little indifferent… The energy had almost been collected. She probably only needed a few more tasks to meet today's Energy Quota.
"Angela, I have a question."
[Hm? What is it? Even though I'm just an AI, I'm happy to answer your questions.]
The blue-haired Secretary waited patiently, always ready to serve the Manager.
"Why, from my perspective, do the employees look like 2D drawings? I don't look like that… You don't look like that. But the employees, and those monsters called Abnormalities… why do they all look like badly drawn cartoons?"
X pointed at the employees on the screen. The employees were standard mini-figures, their skin as pale as paper. They had large eyes, small bodies, and thin limbs, a highly simplified cartoon image.
These figures were resting in the Control Department's lounge, with rich facial expressions and responsive actions. Undoubtedly… the small figures on the screen were living people.
[Ah… you mean the Cognition Filter. This is a newly upgraded system in our Corporation. This function was added to provide you with a more comfortable working environment.]
[Don't you think the cartoon-like employees are cute? This can help reduce your guilt when accidents happen. And some images aren't suitable for you to see… This is a reasonable measure to protect the Manager.]
The AI patiently explained, as if she had seen through X's thoughts, adding:
[The Cognition Filter covers every corner of the Corporation… Judging by your expression, are you worried about something? Don't worry. The Corporation hasn't tampered with your brain. This is simply the effect of the Corporation's technology.]
[Oh, you've almost reached your Energy Quota for today. Try a little harder, and you'll be able to leave work soon.]
The energy bar was almost full. Once it was full, it meant the Energy Quota was met, and work would end…
The first day's work was as simple as Malkuth had said. Manager X found it easy to handle. Today was probably just an exercise to help her adapt to the new environment. They weren't deliberately making things difficult.
The Abnormality, One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds, liked [Attachment] work. Assigning employees to perform [Attachment] work would have a high success rate and generate more energy.
Performing [Attachment] work on this Abnormality meant having the employees confess their sins, like praying in a church, admitting their mistakes, seeking forgiveness, and finding inner peace.
One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds would "eat" the employees' sins. After completing the task… according to the employees, they would feel much more relaxed, their stress levels noticeably reduced, their spirits lifted. It was a very friendly and almost harmless Abnormality.
Perhaps… the more serious the sins confessed, the more energy produced.
It wasn't about caring more about the employees. It was only about the energy.
Giving the same repetitive orders, having the same employee confess repeatedly, would eventually lead to boredom. But they could only follow the mechanical orders until the energy quota was met.
Besides the Energy Quota, there was also a bar called [Qliphoth Meltdown] on the screen. Every time an employee completed a task on an Abnormality, the energy bar would fill. Once the energy bar was full, the [Meltdown Alarm] would activate.
The previously docile Abnormalities would become restless. If not dealt with promptly, those unruly creatures would escape.
The sharp alarm did startle Manager X. But because [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds] was a docile Abnormality, assigning employees to perform tasks on it would calm it down.
As for this meltdown, the loyal Secretary had her own explanation. It was like a training program for new Managers. The Secretary patiently explained these work-related matters.
[Abnormalities produce energy, but some energy is also dissipated. To avoid waste, we collect and reuse this excess energy… Hm? How can I explain this to you?]
[At least, you don't need to worry about this today. That excess energy will manifest in another way…]
[You've completed your Energy Quota for today. If you're tired, you can end work now. The employees are waiting for you to announce the end of work.]
"Can I rest after work, Angela?"
X stared at the screen, watching the employees, asking a possibly foolish question.
[Of course. You can do anything the Corporation allows… This range is very broad. As Manager, you enjoy many privileges.]
The blue-haired Secretary, calmly waiting beside Manager X, continued her explanation, showing no impatience.
—What pleasant words—
Manager X wasn't entirely convinced. If she believed the AI completely, naively believing her words, many bad things might happen…
It might be her imagination, but she felt a momentary flash of malice.
[The simulation has started—]
[Day 1—Easy Work]
[After the welcome meeting, you began your first day as the new Manager. The work wasn't as difficult as you had imagined. It seemed like a good start.]
[You successfully completed today's Energy Quota and announced the end of work as suggested by the AI.]
[You asked the AI about the Manager's privileges. After learning about them, you made a request that the AI be changed. Unsurprisingly, this request was rejected.]
[Your reckless remarks led the AI to believe that a certain level of understanding was necessary between assistant and Manager. She punished you.]
[After being punished, your mental state deteriorated significantly. You developed a serious mental illness. After taking medication, you cut your throat with a sharp shard of glass in your bedroom.]
[You committed suicide…]
[Achievement Unlocked—Easy Work]
[Friendly Reminder: Please avoid sensitive topics. Even jokes are inappropriate.]
[Please choose your reward for this outcome:
1. Fortitude (+1)
2. Prudence (+1)
3. Temperance (+1)
4. Justice (+1)]
This time, X chose [Prudence].
The AI Secretary remained elegant, composed, and aloof… But X knew that the results of the simulation, each disastrous outcome, were directly or indirectly caused by this Secretary.
She really wanted to leave, but X knew what would happen if she asked for a new Secretary.
She couldn't change this. She could only force herself to accept Angela's presence. This AI, who called herself her Secretary, had a lot… a lot of power.