After the day's work came to an end, inside the Training Department.
"…As you can see, the working conditions at our company are actually extremely harsh."
Hod was showing X a long row of data charts displaying fluctuations in employees' mental stability values.
"Even though we conduct regular psychological counseling and mental evaluations for our employees… there are still many who lose control during work."
"However, Manager, ever since you took office, the number of employee breakdowns has been decreasing day by day."
She pointed at a red curve on the light screen that was clearly trending downward, her voice filled with admiration.
"And we've even set a record of fourteen consecutive days with zero casualties… This is the first time I've ever seen a manager as amazing as you!"
"It's just my responsibility. Honestly, it's not really something worth boasting about, Hod."
Being praised so directly and enthusiastically made X feel a little embarrassed.
"It's just that I hope our company can be more… well… more like a family."
"Fewer unnecessary sacrifices and cold rules, and a bit more warmth and human feeling…"
"You think so too? Me too!"
Hearing X say this, Hod's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had found a long-lost kindred spirit. Her Excitement even made her voice rise a little.
"That's why I've been trying to organize some new counseling programs lately! I think they could—"
Knock knock knock!!
Just as Hod was enthusiastically preparing to explain her new proposal in detail, a hurried and slightly excited knocking suddenly interrupted them.
"Come in."
"Thank you! Hod!"
The office door was pushed open forcefully, and a young female employee almost rushed inside.
Her face was lit with a radiant, relieved smile. She hadn't even taken off her work suit yet, and the Training Department armband was still strapped to her arm.
"I feel so much better now! Those terrifying thoughts don't seem to appear in my head anymore!"
"Tiffany?"
Seeing who it was, X looked surprised.
"What terrifying thoughts? What are you talking about?"
"Ah… Manager?"
Realizing that the manager was present, Tiffany's previously excited expression stiffened.
"Why are you here?"
"I was discussing some work-related matters with Hod," X said with a gentle smile, pressing his palm downward slightly to signal that she didn't need to be nervous.
"You can sit with us. What about you? Today should be your second day on the job, right? What's been putting so much pressure on you?"
"No… actually… nothing."
Tiffany remained standing in place. Instead of Relaxing in response to X 's kindness, the tension on her face only deepened.
"I just came to… talk to Director Hod about something."
"Hey, don't be so nervous. I'm not going to hurt you."
X 's expression was still full of concern.
"Let me guess… is it the aftereffects of working with '1.76 Megahertz'? Or did that stitched monster from Crimson Noon scare you?"
"If it's because of those things… I could ask Hod to give you a reinforced injection to boost your mental strength. How about that?"
"Don't worry. You're only a Level Two employee right now. I have the authority to make that kind of exception—no one will complain."
"No, no need… really, there's no need…"
Tiffany forced a smile that looked more painful than crying and waved her hands repeatedly.
"I—I just remembered! I made plans with colleagues from other departments to go to the employee cafeteria after work today for the tomato beef stew!"
"Yes! Tomato beef stew! I need to hurry over, or I'll be late!"
"I'll be leaving now, Manager!"
"Hey, wai—"
Bang!
Before X could finish speaking, Tiffany turned around in a panic and bolted out the door.
"Did you hear that, Manager?"
After Tiffany fled in a hurry, the cute little cowlick on top of Hod's head bounced excitedly in the air.
"My program really works! I'm really helping them!"
Realizing that her efforts weren't meaningless, her face lit up with a pure, childlike smile.
"My work is really fulfilling! I really can save them…"
Knock—
Another knock sounded.
But unlike the earlier impatient urgency, this one was steeped in sheer laziness and weariness.
"Who is it this time…?"
X was a bit surprised. Was the Training Department always this lively?
"Come in."
Creak—
This time, a woman with long green hair entered.
She looked utterly exhausted, her eyes filled with a deep sense of world-weariness. Just from her appearance alone, she seemed like the type who might hang herself or jump off a building at any moment.
This person was Netzach, the head of the Security Department.
"Hod, that program of yours really is pretty good… so could you give me some more—"
Netzach began speaking in her signature languid tone the moment she walked in.
But after noticing the other person present, she swallowed the rest of her sentence and replaced it with another word.
"…Manager?"
"Hey, Netzach. Good afternoon."
X greeted her.
"What brings you here?"
"That's my question… Manager."
Netzach slipped one hand into her pocket, her gaze drifting.
"But… since you're here, I'll take my leave for now."
"My business isn't urgent. I'll come back after you're done talking with Hod…"
"Stop."
X called out to Netzach as she turned to leave.
"..."
Although her face was filled with reluctance—and she even rolled her eyes almost imperceptibly—Netzach still stopped.
She slowly, unwillingly turned back to face X .
"If you've got something to say, just say it. Is there anything here I'm not allowed to hear?"
X looked at Netzach.
"And I just heard you mention a 'program'… Hod's program, right?"
"…Yes."
Seeing there was no way to hide it, Netzach answered bluntly.
"I came to ask Hod for some Enkephalin, Manager."
"Enkephalin?"
X froze.
"What does a perfectly good counseling program need that stuff for?"
"Cough—Manager, this is something you might not know…"
Hod cleared her throat and explained.
"Employees always want more personal time of their own, so even if you tell them it's good for them, they still resist it internally."
"At times like that, Enkephalin helps a little."
"Enkephalin is good stuff. Aside from its medicinal and fuel properties, in certain situations it can also serve as a universal medium of exchange…"
"That, I do know."
X nodded.
"Because food, clothing, housing, and transportation are all provided by the company, employees' high salaries don't really have much use inside the corporation."
"So in private, employees actually prefer to barter—trading items directly for things they like."
"exactly!"
Hod smiled brightly.
"As long as we distribute a little Enkephalin, employees can temporarily suppress their dissatisfaction and become more willing to participate in my programs."
"And once the activities end smoothly, they'll personally experience that my counseling really is sincerely helping them!"
"Then they'll acknowledge me, just like Tiffany did… and they'll want to keep participating in the programs I organize!"
Hod spoke animatedly, as if she could already see the wonderful future in which she saved countless employees teetering on the brink of collapse through her efforts.
But as X listened, he began to notice something amiss in her words.
"But have you ever considered this, Hod?"
After she finished her last sentence, X spoke.
"Is it possible that the employees who want to participate in more counseling programs… actually just want more Enkephalin from you?"
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