Seeing the elevator doors about to close, Ash hurried over to press the button, but regretted it as soon as he was inside.
Inside the elevator, there was also a disabled girl in a wheelchair. She had no limbs and was dressed in a Gothic dress, sitting like a doll in the specially-made wheelchair, staring expressionlessly ahead, not sparing Ash a single glance as he entered.
Eternal Damnation, Ash’s nesis in the company. She was the main manager of the Gospel project team and also the director of the dia and Communication Center, a position that theoretically shouldn’t overlap with Ash’s. However, when Ash was temporarily transferred to assist the Gospel project, the team ran into policy risks and was abruptly shut down, leading Eternal Damnation to be reassigned to the Blood Moon project with fewer resources. She perhaps believed Ash brought bad luck, so she resented him.
Right now, of the ten rumors about Ash, eleven were spread by her, with the extra one used to defa Ash’s colleagues, indirectly saring him. Naturally, Ash was no easy target; as the previous manager of the Blood Moon project, he maneuvered things slightly to make Eternal Damnation feel stifled and ineffective at whatever she did.
"Second floor, Public Departnt."
A charming young woman gracefully entered the elevator, so stunning that Ash was montarily captivated. Yet, as a work machine devoid of blood and tears, transford by capital, he felt nothing for beautiful won. Just then, rcury Wooden Horse suddenly asked, "I heard that rcury Wooden Horse from the Human Resources Departnt died?"
"I wasn’t close to her," the charming girl said. "She was with the Senluo project, and I’m with the Dazzling Star project. You might as well ask the new head of the Senluo project."
Eternal Damnation snorted coldly, saying no more.
Ash looked at her sowhat puzzled; he’d just beco head of the Senluo project today, and the news hadn’t been announced yet. "And you are?"
"The head of the Dazzling Star project and also the Brand Departnt Director," the charming girl nodded slightly. "I feel we’ll soon have a chance to collaborate."
"Third floor, R&D Departnt."
Before Ash had a chance to ask her na, the charming young woman wheeled Eternal Damnation out, seemingly very close to each other.
"Fourth floor, Operations Departnt."
Ash left the elevator and arrived in the maintenance departnt’s office, which was naturally empty. Whether supervisor or head, no one had a private office; everyone worked together and went to a eting room for private discussions.
His desk was covered with figures—Swindler, Necromancer, Bewitching Girl, Shadow Consort of Purple Grudge, and Blood-hidden Empress. Ash had a deep affection for the work "Mage’s Handbook," as its unexpected success had earned him over twenty months of bonuses from the company.
Ash first brewed a cup of coffee for himself, settled back into his ergonomic chair, which creaked softly under the pressure. He glanced at the empty workstation beside him and suddenly felt a mix of emotions welling up inside him.
The leadership change at the Senluo project was mainly due to the sudden passing of the previous head, rcury Wooden Horse. However, Ash wasn’t the only candidate; his colleague Youlan Weiser was also highly favored by the Fourth Boss.
Yet, at the critical final selection mont, Youlan Weiser suddenly resigned to start her own business, automatically making Ash the head of the Senluo project. This is why Ash worked tirelessly for the company: all six major projects were closely watched by the Fourth Boss, and project heads were even called Tactile Directors; if Ash managed well, he could take great strides toward financial freedom.
Though he had to consider his health, there was no chance to battle if he didn’t push while he was young. In all fairness, the company wasn’t bad—they paid for overti, offered three annual raise opportunities, and the Fourth Boss promised that as long as subordinates generated results, the company would never mistreat those above Tactile Director!
The Fourth Boss governs the realm with tact!
Therefore, Ash ought to feel happy about this rare opportunity, yet for so reason, looking at the empty desk, he felt an overwhelming sadness pressing down on him.
Suddenly, Ash saw a piece of paper under Youlan Weiser’s desk lamp. He pulled it out to find just one sentence:
"Death is rely an illusion."
Ash felt a bit puzzled, tossed the paper aside, and began working, turning on his screen. The reason he was called back to work so late by the Fourth Boss was because the new event "Hunting the Angel of Ruby Mountain" was about to go live.
"Once upon a ti, there were eight."
"The first died, and the body lay in a pool of blood."
"Then, the second died, its body atop the first. It didn’t bleed, but a tiny white soul crawled out from a wound beneath it, lifting the second body."
"The third died, its soul eaten by the fifth, but the body ran away."
"The fourth died, its body turned to mountains while its soul fled."
"Fifth, which ate the third soul, sat on the mountains sleeping; the sixth tried to ambush it but was counter-killed, the body split into six parts, yet the soul fled."
"The body of the sixth was held aloft by the fifth."
"Seventh too died, the body split into eight, but one part ran away."
"The eighth disappeared."
"Now, it’s ti to kill the fifth."
In silence, Ash processed the main points of this event, clearly defining the next goal for the Senluo project team: hunt the Angel of Ruby Mountain. Once the hunt was completed, this event could be declared a perfect conclusion, and the Fourth Boss would surely not withhold rewards, assuring Ash a future where he could be a loyal dog of the company!
What’s wrong with being a dog? Many people are envious of being the Fourth Boss’s dog!
Ash yawned and started working; once he grew weary, he’d open "Mage’s Handbook" to play a round or two of Random Dreams from the Distant Realm to refresh himself.
Just then, the phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID: "Hello, bro?"
A gentle voice ca through the receiver: "The news about soone suddenly dying at your company is everywhere. Dad, Mom, and your dear nephew all want to ask if you’re okay."
"Really, even the little brat cares? Looks like those big red envelopes every year weren’t in vain." Ash spun his chair around, laughing: "All’s well, nothing to worry about. Soone else suddenly dying doesn’t have anything to do with . I eat well, sleep well, and soak goji berries in my thermos every day, don’t worry."
"So what are you up to now?"
"? I... just ca from a wedding and am about to head ho."
"A wedding? Whose wedding?"
"A college classmate’s." Ash replied, clicking "Void Realm Exploration" - "Distant Realm" - "Select Operators" in the ga while talking on the phone.
Just then, Ash heard noisy commotion on the other side, then the receiver emitted a helpless voice: "Mom wants to ask, when will your wedding be?"
"Why do I feel like you’re not really concerned about , but instead seizing the opportunity to rush into marriage?" Ash laughed: "But pushing won’t help, it’s not like I can get married just because I want to. You think I’m like you, finding true love in high school. For a wandering Foreigner like , to find love..."
"...is not impossible."
There was a pause on the other end for a few seconds before an astonished voice ca through: "Ah? You have soone you like? Confird the relationship? Will you bring them ho this year for us to et?"
"Yes."
Ash looked at the list of operators on the screen, murmuring: "I already have soone I like."
"What kind of person? What profession? Age? I’m not the one who wants to know, really. It’s Mom and Dad who want to see your taste."
"One is a Sword Master, a Four-winged Legendary, 18 years old, sophomore at Sword Flower University; the other is a Ti Mage, also a Four-winged Legendary, 19 years old, profession is Empress."
This ti, the pause on the other end was longer, until Ash heard his nephew’s noisy voice: "I know, I know, those are two super beautiful female characters in the ga! Haha, Uncle likes characters from the ga!"
After a long while, a hesitant voice ca through the receiver: "Younger brother, if you’re under too much pressure, you can co ho any ti. Your room is always ready for you. Also, Mom and Dad have so resources and connections. Even if you don’t like blind dates, you never know."
"No need." Ash said: "They are the ones I like. I cannot disappoint them; I must return to them."
The other side was almost at a loss whether to cry or laugh: "Don’t be like this. I’m on speakerphone, Mom and Dad are all frightened."
"By the way," Ash said: "Although it might not an much, tell my nephew that this year’s red envelope is gone, and all that’s waiting for him is Uncle’s specialty of vine-wrapped braised pork!"
Ash hung up the phone, looking at the two familiar character illustrations on the screen.
Death Mad Sword Maiden.
Black and White Witch.
"That was close, almost completely turned into the shape of the Gods of Four Pillars." He murmured: "I thought it was a fiercely binding contract or brainwashing, but it turned out to be evoking my deepest mories, little by little confusing my reality and dreams, until I couldn’t distinguish illusion from reality. If I hadn’t seen these two illustrations, I might have really let myself be alienated into touch."
Ash was indeed a corporate slave at a mobile ga company and had indeed co into contact with the ga "Mage’s Handbook." But that company could certainly not have Eternal Damnation or rcury Wooden Horse, nor a position like Tactile Director, and definitely no Four Boss!
The Gods of Four Pillars sneak falsities amidst truths, so Ash didn’t see through it. He even gladly accepted it all. Ash estimated that once he completely accepted the notion of being ’an employee of the Four Boss,’ even if they let him back into reality, he’d beco the most faithful dog of the Four Pillars God, Ash.
"Too bad, a bit too late." Ash said: "Because just now, I’ve fully realized—"
"The ones I love, are no longer just characters on paper."
Screen, desk, office, company...everything lted like ice cream.
Ash slowly opened his eyes and saw a brilliant mass of flowing silver crouched beside him. He sat up and looked around; the sky was in chaotic disrepair, the earth was a blood sea overturn, the apocalypse continued, everything slid towards the end as usual, the air filled with colors of magic, the whole world dazzling as if celebrating.
The flowing silver mass asked: "You suddenly fell over, but woke up in three seconds. What happened?"
Ash looked at her, realizing the silver color was Silver Lamp, and chuckled bitterly:
"Had a beautiful nightmare, and..."
He rubbed his eyes, but the world before him remained vibrant.
"Still a bit sleepy."
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