[Why would you say such things? Are you pitying him? If he had successfully attacked you, the damage would have been incalculable.]
With a thud, Angela closed the main door. The employee's corpse was left like discarded refuse at the entrance.
The intelligent AI didn't spare the bloodstains on the floor a second glance, apparently unconcerned that a corpse at the doorway was any sort of hindrance. To her, it was as natural as crushing a cockroach or swatting a fly before wrapping it in a tissue and tossing it in the bin.
[My sincerest apologies, Manager. A minor incident occurred during our meeting... While I am responsible for the security of your office, I was negligent in monitoring the conference room, which allowed him to intrude. The fault is mine.]
[I apologize for my dereliction of duty. I guarantee it will not happen again. By the way, what would you like to drink? Consider it my treat.]
While speaking, the artificial intelligence motioned for Manager X to sit on the plush sofa next to the conference table, while she herself selected a drink from the vending machine.
"A bottle of soda is fine..."
X felt a sense of unease as she settled into the overly comfortable sofa; now only she and the intelligent AI remained in the room. Although this was her Secretary, X felt Angela didn't carry herself like a secretary at all.
Who was more like a Manager? Clearly, it was Angela. She herself, by comparison, felt like little more than a mascot, whose only responsibility was to occupy the chair.
[What flavor of soda?]
"Strawberry."
Angela brought the strawberry soda and placed it by Manager X's hand. As an intelligent AI, she had no need for beverages, so naturally, she only retrieved one for X.
To ease her own anxiety, X opened the soda bottle and took small sips. As the Manager, she should have been the one initiating the conversation, but the intelligent AI had completely seized the initiative.
Of course... this couldn't be considered an interrogation. It felt more like a one-sided lecture for a rookie Manager, newly appointed and being guided by the hand by her exceptionally capable AI.
[I know you are somewhat uneasy. As a new Manager, you are likely shocked by some of the regulations within our Corporation. However, so far, your performance has been adequate...]
[But seeing your skeptical expression, I believe I should still explain the legitimacy of the Corporation 'dismissing' employees.]
[Within the Corporation, everyone has their own position. Like gears of varying sizes in a machine, each person must function in harmony and remain in optimal condition for the machine to operate normally at all times.]
[Consider this for a moment. If one of the gears begins to wear down faster than the others, clearly... that gear will damage the other gears connected to it.]
[So... it is best to remove these faulty gears before the machine ceases to function because of them, and replace them in a timely manner. That is the wisest choice. Wouldn't you agree, Manager?]
X gazed at the slight upward curve of her Secretary's mouth, a chill running down her spine. The more Angela explained this 'legitimacy', the more terrifying she became. Manager X was no fool; she understood the implication.
— Angela was reminding her —
— Do not feel guilty about employee deaths —
Or, to put it more bluntly: as a Manager, she could not afford the luxury of mercy.
"I... I can understand that, Angela."
X sipped the soda, and even after the bottle was empty, she continued to clutch it… the aluminum can was now slightly deformed from her grip.
[It is good that you understand. Today is your first day on the job; consider this a practical exercise, and acclimate yourself to it.]
[However… this does not mean you can squander them. Employees are also precious resources of the Corporation. Please do your best to minimize the loss of Corporate assets.]
— I know that without you telling me, Angela —
X had no twisted hobbies; she derived no pleasure from watching employees die, nor did she suffer from any mental illness that turned the pain of others into her own amusement.
She was an entirely ordinary person, possessing the moral standards and values an ordinary person should have…
Perhaps so ordinary that she'd be lost in a crowd? Just slightly more 'lucky' than others in The City, to have been fortunately recruited by Lobotomy Corporation?
For such an ordinary person to join one of the 'Wings of the World' was likely an immense stroke of luck.
The Manager's duties, when compared to those of an employee, were deceptively safe and 'simple'. The role consisted of sitting in the Manager's room, eyes glued to screens of all sizes, monitoring employee movements through surveillance, and issuing commands and work assignments.
Simply give the orders, and then watch the employees carry them out.
Quite simple, right? Even an ordinary person without training could likely shoulder it.
"Manager, completing three work sessions will suffice. I believe you can do it! Your primary goal is to harvest energy from the Abnormalities."
"This is the most basic task. Please, do not let me down!"
The Control Department was the first to open. The mission Dean Malkuth of the Control Department gave Manager X today was also straightforward: just direct the employees to complete their work. By having employees perform work on an Abnormality, energy would be obtained.
Energy is what the Corporation values above all else; the energy quota is a mandatory requirement each and every day. Only after reaching the quota can one pause and declare the end of the workday.
Currently, the Control Department has only extracted one Abnormality, Subject Number [O-03-03], the Abnormality: [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds].
This is an Abnormality shaped like a giant floating skull pierced by a cross. A crown of thorns rests upon its head. Its hollow eye sockets gaze at the containment unit door. Although it looks grotesque... it is actually quite safe.
Abnormalities within the containment units do not wander out on their own. One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds is a silent Abnormality, not particularly active; it is friendly and easy to manage. Manager X does not need to stare at the screen every second, worrying about any unexpected situations.
The work performed by employees on Abnormalities is divided into four major types: [Instinct], [Insight], [Attachment], and [Repression]. Abnormalities have different inclinations and preferences for these work types.
However, in essence, choosing the appropriate work is nothing more than finding a better way to please these Abnormalities and produce energy more efficiently.
After an employee finishes working on an Abnormality, there is a work rating, divided into [Excellent], [Good], and [Bad]. Ranking from best to worst, an [Excellent] result produces more energy, while a [Bad] result naturally yields only a minuscule amount.
X watched as an employee once again completed work on One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds, her mind beginning to drift... The energy was almost fully collected; likely only a few more sessions were needed to complete today's quota.
"Angela, I have a question."
[Hmm? Do you have a question? While I am merely an intelligent AI, I am happy to answer anything for you.]
The blue-haired Secretary stood quietly to the side, seemingly ever-ready to serve the Manager.
"Why do the employees look like... flat, two-dimensional figures from my perspective? I don't see myself that way, and you don't look like that either. But the employees, and those monsters you call Abnormalities... why do they all appear as cartoon sketches?"
X pointed at the employee on the screen. The employee was a standard "chibi" figure: skin as pale as paper, large eyes, a small body, and limbs as thin as matchsticks—an extremely simplified cartoon image.
Such figures were resting in the Control Department lounge, possessing very rich facial expressions and agile movements. Undoubtedly... the employee figures on the screen were living people.
[Ah... You are referring to the Cognition Filter. This is a newly upgraded system in our Corporation, a function implemented to provide you with a more comfortable working environment.]
[Don't you find the cartoonish depiction of the employees rather charming? It helps to mitigate your sense of guilt when employees meet with... accidents. Furthermore, some scenes are simply not suitable for you to witness. These are all reasonable measures implemented to protect the Manager's well-being.]
The intelligent AI explained patiently, as if she had already seen through X's inner thoughts, adding to her words.
[The Cognition Filter covers every corner of the Corporation's interior... Judging by your expression, are you worried about something? Rest assured, the Corporation has not tampered with your brain; this is merely the Corporation's facility functions taking effect.]
[By the way, your Energy quota for today is nearly reached. Please put in a bit more effort; you will be able to get off work very soon.]
The Energy gauge was almost full. When all the slots were filled, it meant the Energy quota was completed. Once the work was finished, the end of the shift would naturally be announced…
The first day's work was just as Malkuth had said—extremely relaxed. Manager X could handle it with ease. Today was likely just an exercise to adapt to the new environment, with no intentional difficulties.
The Abnormality [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds] is quite fond of Attachment work. When commanding an employee to perform Attachment work, the success rate is relatively high, and the Energy produced is slightly more abundant.
Performing [Attachment] work on this Abnormality actually involves the employee engaging in confession, much like praying in a church, speaking of the mistakes they have committed, seeking forgiveness, or perhaps searching for inner solace.
One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds will 'eat' the employee's sins. After completing the work… according to the employees' accounts, they feel a significant sense of relief. Their pressure levels clearly decrease, and their spirits relax. It is an Abnormality that is very friendly to employees and almost harmless.
Perhaps… the more serious the confessed sin, the more Energy is produced.
It wasn't that she cared much more for the employees; it was merely a concern for the Energy.
Issuing single and repetitive commands, making the same employee confess multiple times, would likely lead to boredom soon, yet they could only repeat these mechanical instructions until the Energy reached the required level.
Aside from the Energy quota, a bar named [Qliphoth Meltdown] also existed on the screen. Each time an employee completed work on an Abnormality, it would fill up once. When the Energy segments filled the bar, it would trigger a [Meltdown Warning].
Those originally peaceful Abnormalities would become agitated. If not handled in time, those less-than-docile fellows would breach containment.
When the piercing alarm sounded, it brought a brief moment of shock to Manager X. However, because [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds] was a well-behaved Abnormality, simply dispatching an employee to perform work and soothe it would calm it down.
As for things like meltdowns, the caring and loyal Secretary had her own set of explanations. It was like going through a Manager's beginner tutorial; the Secretary patiently explained these work-related matters.
[While Abnormalities produce Energy, a portion of it dissipates. To avoid waste, we collect this overflowing Energy for recycling and reuse… Hmm? How should I explain this to you?]
[At the very least, you don't need to worry about these things today. That recycled Energy will manifest itself in another way…]
[Today's Energy quota has been reached. If you feel tired, you may announce the end of the shift now. The employees are also looking forward to your announcement.]
"Can I rest after work, Angela?"
X stared at the screen, looking at the employees within, asking a question that was likely both foolish and redundant.
[Of course you can. You may do anything within the scope permitted by the Corporation... This scope is quite extensive; as a Manager, you enjoy many privileges.]
The blue-haired Secretary, waiting quietly beside Manager X, continued to provide explanations calmly, without showing the slightest hint of impatience.
— Talk is cheap —
Manager X didn't quite believe it. If she were to naively take everything the intelligent AI said at face value, likely... many bad things would happen.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but she always felt a flash of fleeting malice.
[Simulation Start ——]
[Day 1 — Easy Work]
[After finishing the introductions, you, as the newly appointed Manager, finally began your first day of official work. This job isn't as difficult as imagined; it seems like a decent start.]
[You successfully met today's Energy quota and announced the end of the shift upon the intelligent AI's suggestion.]
[Upon learning of the Manager's privileges, you requested to replace the intelligent AI. Predictably, this proposal was unilaterally rejected.]
[Your reckless remarks led the intelligent AI to conclude that a 'synchronization process' was required between assistant and Manager. Consequently, she administered punishment.]
[Following the punishment, your mental state deteriorated significantly, resulting in a severe psychological disorder. After a course of medication, you took your own life in your bedroom with a shard of glass.]
[You committed suicide...]
[Achievement Unlocked — Easy Work]
[Friendly Reminder: Please refrain from broaching sensitive topics, even in jest.]
[Please choose the reward for this result:
1. Fortitude (+1)
2. Prudence (+1)
3. Temperance (+1)
4. Justice (+1)]
This time, X chose [Prudence].
The AI Secretary beside her remained elegant and refined, cold and unreachable... But X knew in her heart that every terrible outcome on the simulator was directly or indirectly caused by this Secretary.
She desperately wanted to stay away, but X already knew what the result would be if she proposed changing the Secretary.
She couldn't change these things. She could only force herself to become accustomed to Angela's presence—this AI who called herself a Secretary, but whose power was... immensely great.