After the day's work ended, in the Training Department—
"…As you can see, the working conditions in our company are, in fact, extremely harsh."
Hod was showing X a long stretch of data about fluctuations in employees' mental stability values.
"Even though we conduct regular psychological counseling and mental examinations… many employees still lose their minds during work."
"However, Manager—since you took office, the number of breakdowns seems to be decreasing day by day."
She pointed at the red curve on the screen—clearly trending downward—and spoke with open admiration.
"And you even set a record of fourteen consecutive days with zero casualties… It's the first time I've seen a manager as amazing as you!"
"It's simply my duty. It's not really a remarkable achievement worth boasting about, Hod."
Faced with Hod's direct praise and reverence, X felt a little embarrassed.
"I just hope our company can be more… well… more like a family."
"Less unnecessary sacrifice and cold rules—more warmth and humanity…"
"You think so too? I do too!"
Hearing this, Hod's eyes lit up as if she had found a long-lost kindred spirit. Her excitement rose, and even her voice grew louder.
"So I've been trying to organize a few counseling initiatives lately… I think that could—"
Knock knock knock!!
Just as Hod was about to explain her new initiative in detail, an urgent, excited knocking interrupted them.
"Come in."
"Thank you, Hod!"
The office door was shoved open, and a young female employee practically rushed in.
Her face shone with a relieved, radiant smile. She still wore her work suit and had the Training Department armband on her arm.
"I feel so much better now! It's like those terrifying thoughts won't appear in my head anymore!"
"Tiffany?"
X was surprised by the visitor.
"What terrifying thoughts? What are you talking about?"
"Ah… Manager?"
Seeing the manager present, Tiffany's bright expression stiffened.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm discussing some work matters with Hod," X said with a gentle smile, pressing his palm down slightly to signal she didn't need to be nervous and could sit with them.
"And you? It's only your second day on the job, right? What's putting so much pressure on you?"
"No… actually… it's nothing."
Tiffany stayed rooted to the spot. Instead of relaxing at X's kindness, her nervousness deepened.
"I… I just came to… talk to Director Hod about something."
"Hey, don't be so tense. I'm not going to hurt you."
X remained warmly concerned.
"Let me guess… is it aftereffects from working with '1.76 MHz'? Or did the stitched-together monster from Crimson Noon scare you?"
"If it's because of those things… I can have Hod give you a reinforced injection to boost your mental stability. How about that?"
"Don't worry—you're only a Level-2 employee. I have the authority to give you a little special treatment. No one will gossip."
"N-no, no need… really, no need…"
Tiffany forced a strained smile that looked worse than crying and waved her hands repeatedly.
"I—I just remembered! I made plans with colleagues from other departments to go to the staff cafeteria after work and eat today's tomato beef brisket hotpot!"
"Yes! Tomato beef brisket hotpot! I have to hurry, or I'll be late!"
"I'll be going, Manager!"
"Hey, wai—"
Bang!
X didn't even get to finish before Tiffany turned and fled in a panic, bolting out the door.
"Did you hear that, Manager?"
After Tiffany's hurried escape, the cute little ahoge on Hod's head swished excitedly in the air twice.
"My initiative really works! I'm really helping them!"
Realizing her work wasn't meaningless, Hod smiled like a child—pure, bright, and radiant.
"My work is truly fulfilling! I can really save them…"
Knock—
Another knock.
But unlike the urgent, impatient knocking earlier, this one carried only laziness and exhaustion.
"Who is it this time…?" X was surprised. Was the Training Department always this lively?
"Come in."
Creak—
This time, a green-haired woman entered.
She looked utterly drained, her eyes heavy with world-weariness.
From the look of her alone, she seemed like someone who might hang herself or jump off a building at any moment.
This was the Safety Department Director: Netzatch.
"Hod… your initiative really is good… so could you give me a bit more…"
Netzatch began in her signature languid tone.
But when she saw another person present, she swallowed the rest of her sentence and replaced it with a different word:
"…Manager?"
"Hey, Netzatch. Good afternoon."
X greeted her.
"What wind blew you here?"
"That's what I should be asking you… Manager."
Netzatch kept one hand in her pocket, her gaze drifting.
"Still… since you're here, I'll take my leave for now."
"My issue isn't urgent. I'll come back after you and Hod are done talking…"
"Stop."
X called out to Netzatch as she tried to leave.
"…"
Netzatch looked visibly unwilling and even rolled her eyes faintly, but she still stopped, slow and reluctant, turning back to face X.
"If you have something to say, say it. Is there anything I'm not allowed to hear?"
X looked at her.
"And I just heard you say… an initiative? Hod's, right?"
"…Yes."
Unable to hide it, Netzatch answered bluntly:
"I'm here to ask Hod for some Enkephalin, Manager."
"Enkephalin?"
X blinked.
"A counseling initiative needs that kind of thing?"
"Ahem… Manager, you don't understand…"
Hod cleared her throat and explained:
"Employees always want more time for themselves. So even if you tell them it's for their own good, internally they resist."
"In those cases, you need Enkephalin to provide a little help."
"Enkephalin is good stuff—besides its pharmaceutical and fuel functions, sometimes it can also serve as a general medium of exchange…"
"That much I know."
X nodded.
"Because food, housing, and transportation are basically all arranged by the company, employees' high wages don't have much use inside the facility."
"So in private, they often prefer bartering—trading items for things they like."
"Exactly!"
Hod smiled.
"As long as we distribute a little Enkephalin, they can temporarily suppress their dissatisfaction and be more willing to participate in my initiative."
"And once the activity goes smoothly and ends successfully, they'll personally experience that these counseling sessions are genuinely helping them!"
"Then they'll acknowledge me like Tiffany did… and they'll want to keep joining the initiatives I run!"
Hod spoke with animated enthusiasm, as if she could already see the future where she saved countless employees on the brink of collapse.
But as X listened, he noticed something off in her reasoning.
"But have you considered one thing, Hod?"
After Hod finished, X spoke:
"Is it possible that those employees who want more counseling initiatives… actually just want to get more Enkephalin from you?"
-------
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