Lobotomy Corporation but with Simulation System?

Warm breath on her ear, gentle words, like a gentle stream, like a soft spring breeze.

Gentle as water, that was a perfect description.

"Manager…"

She seemed boneless, limp against X's chest.

Gentleness was a deadly poison, far more dangerous than an outwardly ferocious beast. It was like a vial of potent poison, more intense than a viper's venom.

Even knowing she shouldn't indulge, she still drank it heedlessly, willingly lost in that gentle poison.

… It was all X's fault…

… Right?

… It was all the Manager's fault… the Manager should take full responsibility…

The Training Department Dean licked her lips, continuing to leave marks on X's skin. It was a greedy clinging, an unrestrained indulgence in the moment.

Sucking on X's finger, as if she were eating ice cream, delicately licking it, tracing its shape… trying to imprint its form, infuse it with her scent, as if she wanted to remember it carefully.

Some people liked to eat ice cream quickly, gobbling it down before it melted.

Others liked to eat ice cream slowly, licking it bit by bit, enjoying the icy coldness while savoring the melting texture.

Even though the ice cream was melting, as long as she licked away the melting parts… then, little by little, circling around, eventually, all of it would be eaten, only a sweet cone remaining.

The sweet cone usually had chocolate coating. Biting into it would have a different texture than the soft ice cream, a crispy and refreshing crunch.

Delicious…

Want…

"Well, Hod, we don't have much time left. Lunch break is almost over."

X tried to pull her hand from the Training Department Dean's mouth, but it was useless. It was warm, like a clamp, very… very tight, firmly held.

To be honest, she didn't understand the Training Department Dean's actions. Her hand wasn't food. Why was she being held like this?

Perhaps it was because it had honey, sweet and delicious?

X didn't understand. She really couldn't understand. She only knew that lunchtime was more than halfway over and that she had to return to work.

Judging from the current situation, Dean Hod seemed fine. Her unhappiness had been vented. The pressure had been relieved, and she had become more energetic.

The fact that she had left her mark on X meant she was still lively. That was good.

"Well, Hod, time's up for the lunch break."

X tried again, wanting to pull her hand back, but it was useless. Hod had started to act in a slightly more serious manner, pulling at X's clothes and hair.

This wasn't appropriate behavior for a Dean. But X didn't want to reprimand Hod in front of other Deans, especially the usually serious Yesod.

X didn't know what to do.

She felt a vague sense of discomfort. She really didn't want to deal with these complicated interpersonal relationships, but if she didn't do anything, the situation would worsen.

She might not be good at this. But she was the Manager. She had to handle it.

The best option was to end it quickly. She needed to find a quick solution.

Then… use a quick method to finish things.

X simply closed her eyes, as if she didn't see anything, as if it was just an illusion.

And under that "illusion," she let Hod do what she wanted, even if the other Deans were looking.

The most important thing was that the matter was over. The problem had been dealt with, and the two Deans seemed to have calmed down. Perhaps this was what was called a win-win situation.

X's casual attitude was likely due to her limited emotional intelligence, or perhaps, her exhaustion.

"Well, Hod, we really don't have much time left."

X used a softer tone this time, trying to persuade Hod to let go. But Hod, seemingly unwilling to let go, leaned closer and kissed X.

This was something that couldn't be ignored. X's lips were being pressed against, and her hands were being held.

She was being kissed. She was being embraced.

She could feel something strange, like something was starting to burn, and yet it wasn't unpleasant.

It felt hot.

It was the kind of warmth that could calm people down.

This kind of warmth wasn't something she should feel, but it did make her feel at ease.

No matter what, as long as the Dean wasn't angry, that was good. Negative emotions would affect work. Now that the negative emotions had been released, it shouldn't affect the afternoon's work.

X was pleased that her achievements had increased, that she had resolved a potential disaster. She wondered if Angela would praise her for this, for her "reckless" behavior during lunchtime.

… This could be considered making up for it…?

But was the Training Department Dean a little too clingy? She hadn't been this clingy before.

Too hot.

X felt a little feverish. She didn't know if it was because of the air conditioning, or because the Training Department Dean was clinging to her too tightly.

"Manager… can… can you spend time with me after work?"

A soft, weak voice sounded in X's ear. Although the words were weak, there was a different kind of feeling in them.

This needed more consideration and understanding, but X, without much thought, responded.

"Of course, I'll try to make time, Hod."

It didn't matter which Dean she visited. It was all the same, right…? It was a convenient way to check on Netzach's work.

After all, she had heard that Netzach had taken some Enkephalin for a "legitimate purpose," a psychological consultation… Even though she didn't doubt it, it was still better to check.

Angela didn't care about this, so it was up to her, the Manager, to handle it.

Even though she had a clear understanding of the Corporation's situation, Angela usually ignored the Deans' "rebellious actions," such as misusing Enkephalin, letting employees become addicted to drugs, or secretly acting recklessly.

It seemed like as long as it didn't directly harm the Corporation's interests or energy production, she wouldn't interfere.

Unqualified employees could be eliminated and used to collect energy. The Corporation had an endless supply of expendable employees.

She would at most just issue a verbal warning, and wouldn't… X didn't know whether Angela wanted things to get worse, intended to let the situation develop, or if there were other reasons.

Perhaps these things weren't within the Secretary's purview. Perhaps the Manager had to handle them?

But X felt there was a contradiction in the AI's actions. If all Angela's actions were for the Corporation's sake, for the Corporation's benefit, following the standard of "aligning with the Corporation's best interests,"

Then why didn't she directly stop the use of Enkephalin? Why didn't she have the Corporation's boss replace the AI, replace Netzach with a new Dean? If she was dissatisfied with the Training Department Dean's actions, why didn't she directly punish the Dean?

Those unqualified employees affected the Deans' morale and caused management problems. If so, why were they still in their positions?

Wouldn't this kind of management problem cause even greater damage? If X hadn't been so careful, spending a lot of time soothing the Deans' emotions after work every day, these emotional AIs would have had emotional breakdowns sooner or later.

Even the most impressive Deans accumulated a lot of pressure. Not everyone could treat people like air, not everyone could treat people as animals or parts…

Those employees, even the Clerks, could laugh and cry. They had family and friends. They were intelligent and capable. They were human, and they were alive.

So, when they complained, cursed, or acted wildly, slacked off maliciously… the Deans would be affected to varying degrees. Saying they didn't care wasn't realistic.

X didn't expect them to be heartless. She just hoped that the employees wouldn't affect their judgment, that they wouldn't put too much pressure on themselves, that they wouldn't feel guilty or anything else… Those were all normal. She could understand.

On her first day, when the employees were screaming wildly, she had imagined the tragedies she might face. It was like a bridge being pulled up behind you. She unconsciously projected her feelings onto others.

Now, even though she clearly knew she was the Manager, she instinctively feared the AI's actions. Using the Manager as food wasn't beneficial. Angela wouldn't do something so pointless…

If anyone in the Corporation could say the most terrifying words in the calmest tone, it would definitely… be Angela. Her reputation among the Deans wasn't good. There was a reason.

Perhaps, X could also be considered Angela's person. To put it more bluntly, she could be called a "hunting dog"—

After all, X had always been following Angela's ideals, diligently collecting energy, focusing only on energy. Soothing the Deans was also a consideration of the Corporation's stability, work efficiency, and achievements.

It was merely a tactic, without any extra emotions involved.

To put it in simpler terms, although X didn't think this way consciously, she was more like a team with Angela. One played the black-faced role, the other the white-faced role, enacting a sweet play where one hit and one gave an apple.

Angela was harsh on the Department Deans, while X was gentle… Wasn't this a despicable tactic? Even if X didn't realize it, her actions were like a "hunting dog."

Licking the wound after inflicting it…

So, when she left, she was so callous, without any lingering affection…

Hod's mouth was warm, almost the same temperature as a human body. For an AI, this temperature was too high. But X didn't feel anything special. She didn't think much about it.

She just wiped her fingers. AIs didn't have saliva, but there was an unknown liquid, possibly coolant or lubricant… X wasn't sure, and didn't want to know the specific composition.

She was here to work, not to study the AI's structure, to see what unnecessary functions it had, how exquisitely it was made.

X didn't care what Hod was thinking. She only knew that lunchtime was almost over, and she had to get back to work.

Pleasant breaks always pass quickly. When enjoying something pleasurable, time seems to fly by…

Painful time is measured by the clock. Every tick of the second hand, every movement of the minute hand, seems to drag on… And most of the time, it's difficult to endure.

Why couldn't she savor the sweetness a little longer?

Like a child who accidentally discovers a jar of honey. Curiously dipping a finger into the honey, tasting it, they are captivated by the sweetness on their tongue, drawn to that clear, amber honey.

Wanting to eat the honey, sucking on the honey-coated finger.

"Manager… can… can you kiss me again?"

"Okay."

And so, the sweet honey was willingly brought to her lips. It was a mix of sweet and sour citrus, combined with the refreshing scent of osmanthus, a captivating flavor.

Her fingers unconsciously gripped X's shoulders, trying to hug her closer.

It wasn't a long kiss. X needed to breathe. But Hod felt it was very long. Every second was enjoyable and comfortable, like the warm sunshine.

Even her breath carried a sweet fragrance, making her feel drowsy.

But X was a little insensitive. Facing the gentle little rabbit, she didn't have any other thoughts. Her eyes glanced at the electronic clock on the wall.

The time was ticking by, getting closer and closer to the afternoon work hours.

"Well, Hod, we're running out of time. If you want a reward, work hard. I'll check after work."

Not wanting to waste any more time, X quickly adjusted her clothes, putting on her white coat and taking Hod's wrist to pull her away.

Although separating herself from the clingy rabbit was cruel, work was important. X never neglected her duties.

She couldn't be late for work. Cuteness wasn't a substitute for work. Dean Hod had already consumed too much of her time. She couldn't focus all her energy on a single Dean.

"Goodbye, Hod. Work hard!"

After politely saying goodbye, X left the Dean's office without any hesitation, not even glancing back at the Training Department Dean.

Except for the red marks on her neck and collarbone, she was as usual… Her loose white coat covered the torn sleeve of her black uniform, revealing a bit of her delicate white skin.

Her attire was still proper and befitting a Manager.

As X walked down the hallway, the employees were getting ready for the afternoon's work.

They were cleaning the hallways, collecting trash from the lounge and clearing the dining tables. Some employees were sitting in corners reading small booklets, likely the employee training manuals judging by the covers.

Everything was running smoothly and happily.

When employees recognized X as the Manager and bowed to greet her, X would nod and smile in response.

No need to make any promises, no need to agree to any employee requests. Just thank them for their hard work, thank them for their contributions to the Corporation, then encourage them to keep working hard.

Just a smile, and the employees would feel cared for, and work harder.

X wasn't stingy with her smiles or her words of encouragement. Kind words and encouraging smiles were cost-effective.

"Sorry, Angela, I'm late. That… about lunchtime, I'm sorry."

Even though she was hesitant about entering the Manager's room, in the Corporation, you couldn't escape the consequences of your actions. X returned to her post, ready to accept the Secretary's reprimand.

"Oh, if you want to punish me, do it after work. I still need to finish my work. The Corporation's Energy Quota isn't finished yet."

Without needing to be told, X automatically sat back in the Manager's chair, ready to start working.