Lobotomy Corporation but with Simulation System?

The unusually large image of the "little bird" on the screen was rather distracting for X. The round little bird had pressed its body against the monitor, giving X a close-up view.

[O-02-56] seemed curious about X. Its tiny wings fluttered, like a child who couldn't get something. It was trying to jump, as if it was a short person trying to get to the front of the camera for a photo, using a chair to reach.

It was very cute, but X knew it wasn't actually cute at all.

But she had no choice. As Manager, she should show some affection to this "little guy" and set a good example in front of the Dean.

X offered a gentle smile to the little bird. Although the surveillance equipment was one-way, the Abnormality couldn't see her appearance… it could only hear her voice.

"Hello, little bird. Should I greet you with a good morning? Do the employees feed you delicious food? Should I ask them to change your lunch to high-grade salmon? It's probably not too early for lunch."

The gentle and soothing low voice seemed to move the Abnormality. [O-02-56] blinked its small, black beady eyes, flapping its wings, as if it wanted to chirp in response. But it didn't make any sound. Only the red pattern on its belly subtly changed.

It was as if something was moving… If that could be considered a response.

[O-02-56] rubbed its soft belly against the surveillance equipment, like a cleaning cloth, wiping the dust off the monitor. Or perhaps, a white sticky substance had adhered to the monitor.

"Okay, little birdie, why don't you go back now? If high-grade salmon isn't enough, I can share my lunch with you. We have strawberry pudding for lunch."

Hearing X's childlike tone, the Training Department Dean's expression was also strange. She had probably never seen a Manager who was so affectionate toward an Abnormality, and that they actually seemed to be communicating.

[O-02-56] shook its little head and flew back… It flew back to its Containment unit. It seemed quite excited, flying back and forth on the branch, as if it was drawing something.

But because this wasn't a jet plane, there was no trail of smoke. Its movements were traceless, and its intentions unclear.

Perhaps it was simply expressing an emotion…?

Dean Hod was stunned. After a pause, she voiced her admiration.

"Manager, you're amazing! [O-02-56] really went back on its own."

Although she was praising X, X felt something was off… Had she lost something in front of the Dean…?

Probably not… She was the Manager, a reliable and authoritative figure in Hod's eyes.

"Well, how to put it, I just feel that [O-02-56] isn't a dangerous Abnormality. It doesn't have any obvious malice toward employees. As long as you don't provoke it, it's a friendly little bird."

"You have to treat it kindly… Although fairy tales are fictional, reality doesn't have that kind of beauty. But I believe that maintaining a kind heart will bring rewards, right?"

"Treat others sincerely. Look at the world with kindness. What could be wrong with that? I like your smile, Hod."

X solemnly explained the reasons to the Training Department Dean. These were actually things X had made up on the spot. But after saying them—they actually made sense, they were logical.

X just didn't want to mention that she had stepped on a "minefield." [O-02-56] wasn't difficult to manage. During the work process, it wouldn't cause too much harm to the employees. The [Instinct], [Insight], and [Attachment] work could satisfy its needs.

This was an Abnormality that disliked [Repression] work. From its preferred work, you could roughly guess its personality.

[Repression] work was essentially suppressing and controlling the Abnormality's desires, negating the Abnormality's existence and meaning. If [O-02-56] disliked [Repression] work, it meant it highly valued its own existence.

In other words, it wanted to do what it wanted. If the employees were kind to it, it would be happy. If the employees opposed it, it would get angry.

If any employee hurt it, it would immediately reveal its terrifying and ferocious side… the truth hidden beneath that cute exterior.

The "villain-punishing beak" revealed…

So, it was best not to provoke [O-02-56]. No matter what, you had to carefully instruct the employees to treat this little bird kindly.

"Dean Hod, if [O-02-56] escapes from the Containment unit again, don't report it to me. Don't tell the employees to contain it."

"If the Corporation sees a little bird running around, don't attack it. Got it?"

"No employee is allowed to harm [O-02-56], even if it lands on their head."

Even though she was joking, X still needed to explain the situation seriously. She was serious about treating [O-02-56] kindly.

This was something that needed to be clearly communicated. If it wasn't communicated, if a careless employee touched [O-02-56]…

Then X would only be able to tell the Clerks to clean up the scattered pieces of flesh in the hallway. If possible, she really didn't want to see employee remains staining the clean hallway. Bloodstains on the walls weren't aesthetically pleasing.

She had to clean the walls so often. Bloodstains were unsightly…

Her icy golden eyes fixed on the red stains that had appeared on the hallway screen. It was probably some employee who had been turned into a paste. But she couldn't help it. She informed the relevant parties. There would always be someone who didn't follow orders properly. The energy bar was more than halfway full, and it was almost lunchtime.

X stretched, notified the Deans that it was lunchtime, and prepared to stand. Sitting for too long would make her stiff. She didn't dare to let Angela touch her now.

If she let Angela touch her, Angela might lose control.

She… wanted to distance herself from the AI Secretary for a while.

For the sake of her own safety and the safety of her belt, she should keep a distance from the AI.

But that was impossible. After all, this was her AI Secretary. The Secretary was always by the Manager's side… Besides, X couldn't leave the AI's care.

"Angela, is my lunch ready? I want to eat lunch with the Deans today."

[You want to go to those Deans again? At noon, the Qliphoth suppression is still at a level where Abnormalities can be active. It's not the dormant state after work. If you go to the Deans, you might encounter them. I must ensure your safety.]

[I suggest that you stay in the Manager's room. The Manager's room is the safest place in the Corporation.]

The AI Secretary closed her eyes. She seemed to be worried about X, trying to persuade X to stay away from danger and not risk going to Departments where there might be Abnormalities.

Normally, X would use some tricks, rubbing against the Secretary to get her to let her go.

But today, it seemed to be because of the simulation. As soon as X heard the AI mention this, she felt a surge of resentment. She really didn't want to see the AI's expression, or that "it's for your own good" tone.

X's golden eyes glared at her AI Secretary, like a lioness whose tail had been stepped on. Even her black bangs stood on end.

"An—ge—la, what's the difference between this and imprisonment? It's always 'Safe,' 'Safe,' 'Safe'! I don't think the Manager's room is safe at all!!!"

X's sudden outburst stopped the AI. The blue-haired Secretary seemed to be stunned by the shout… X's tone was sharp, and her disgusted expression was very clear.

"Get out of the way! Let me leave! What? As Manager, I don't even have the right to leave the Manager's room for lunch? Where I eat lunch is my business!"

"Managing everything… Are you the Manager or am I the Manager? Why don't you be the Manager then?"

In her rage, X didn't realize she was yelling at the "best AI in Lobotomy Corp," who was also the "AI boss" here.

Arguing with an AI like this should have resulted in being fired… But nothing happened. The AI even stood there calmly, silently enduring her yelling.

In the silence, the AI opened the Manager's room door. X didn't think much about it. Seeing the door open, she prepared to run to the Department Deans for comfort. Then… as she was about to leave the Manager's room, X was called back by the AI Secretary.

[Manager, please wait…]

"What!"

X was still in a huff, looking at the AI Secretary approaching her as if she had seen something extremely unpleasant, extremely impatient.

[… …]

[You forgot your lunch. I'm very sorry… I ruined your good mood.]

The AI produced a lunch bag made of parchment. It was still warm and heavy… very hot to the touch.

X hugged the lunch bag to her chest and ran away, not daring to look at her Secretary.

Her blood pressure, which had just dropped, suddenly rose again. X was afraid of running slowly. The blue-haired AI realized who was the true boss here and would catch her and punish her severely.

Although she didn't know why the AI hadn't punished her, she had to run!

Holding the warm lunch bag to her chest, X's rationality gradually returned. Once her head cleared, and she realized exactly what she had done, X began to panic.

—Oh my god, I actually yelled at Angela! I even talked back to her!

—I offended my Secretary. Is my career as Manager over?!

The more X thought about it, the more frightened she became. Why had she been so impulsive? It was nothing. She could have just endured it. She had endured it for so many days. What was there to not endure?

It was only the seventh day, and she had already offended the Secretary who took care of her food. She might lose not only her meals but her job as well.

Would apologizing now help?

X broke out in a cold sweat. Her fear of the AI had surpassed her fear of the Abnormalities. God only knew how she had had the courage to yell at the AI, using such a sarcastic tone.

Even a regular employee wouldn't be able to stand such sarcasm. They would have lost their temper.

Angela had actually endured it, not punching her on the spot or immediately firing her. It was a miracle within a miracle…

Swallowing her saliva, X's grip tightened, her steps faltering. Walking down the hallway, she felt weak, like a deflated balloon. Her already pale skin became even paler.

This anxiety, reaching its peak, suddenly calmed down, like a spring hitting bottom, then rebounding, going from negative to positive.

X started walking, searching for reasons to reassure herself.

The lunch bag in her arms was warm and heavy. It was substantial, and the aroma was noticeable through the paper bag.

Don't panic. Panicking won't help. Things have happened… In the end, whatever, it's done. Let's… eat first.

Even though many things were cold and harsh, at least the lunch bag was warm, hot, even burning her hands. Thinking positively, if Angela wanted to punish her, she would have already done so. This was the Corporation, and the Corporation's surveillance was everywhere—

If she really wanted to escape, where could she go? There was nowhere to hide.

Thinking this, X calmed down. No matter how the AI punished her when she returned to the Manager's room, she would eat lunch first. She couldn't waste this precious lunch break. She couldn't disappoint the AI Secretary who had prepared her lunch.

Even employees who interacted with the Abnormalities all day could still enjoy their lunch break. What was there to be worried about socializing with an AI? Could an AI possibly be more dangerous than an Abnormality?

X almost convinced herself. Her heart calmed down.

Suddenly, walking down the hallway, X felt her head get heavy… It felt like something fluffy had landed on her head.

X didn't dare to use her fingers to check what was on her head. So, with that small, fluffy thing on her head, she opened the Training Department Dean's office door.

"Manager! You… there's [O-02-56] on your head."

The white fluff was very obvious, especially against her black hair.

Aside from that white fluff on her head, X was a tall, slender black-haired woman with golden eyes, wearing a white coat. Her particularly cold and restrained aura attracted attention wherever she went.

"Ah, I know it's on my head. I brought it to eat lunch with us. Oh… did I come at a bad time? I'm sorry to disturb you, Hod, Netzach."

As she spoke, X took out her lunch bag and placed it on the table, appearing very calm. It was as if what was on her head wasn't an Abnormality, but an ordinary, harmless, cute little bird.