Chapter 1085: Save Mother Earth

Days had passed in peace... except for a few people.

[PIERSON CORPORATION]

"And this one?" Atlas’s flat voice echoed softly in the room, followed by Zoren’s answer, "Yes."

"This one as well." Atlas didn’t wait another second and was met with Zoren’s previous response.

Atlas nodded in satisfaction, snapping his eyes up at the man across from him. "Got it."

"Thank you."

"No need." Atlas then shifted his gaze to the two people standing nearby. "Allen, take this to my office."

Allen didn’t respond immediately, staring at the stack—no, the mountain—of papers on top of the table. His eyes welled up as his heart clenched. Ever since Atlas had taken the COO position, the only time they were busy was the first day—the day Atlas was appointed. The day after that, Allen felt like he and his boss were on a quest to conquer these mountains called paperwork!

"It’s okay, Allen." Benjamin, standing beside him, patted him on the back. "Everything will be fine."

Allen teared up a bit at Benjamin’s encouragement, nodding at him before facing his boss again. "Yes, sir."

As Allen dragged his feet to carry the first batch to Atlas’s office, Zoren’s voice rang out.

"Ben, take these to mine."

Benjamin stiffened, eyeing the mountain of papers on Zoren’s side. Dread immediately washed over his face, and he caught Allen looking back at him with a weary smile.

"We can do this, Ben!" Allen cheered quietly, rooting for Benjamin, who understood him better than anyone.

With that, Benjamin and Allen dragged their feet to carry yet another pile of papers to their bosses’ offices. When Atlas took office, Benjamin, for one, had expected that Zoren’s workload would decrease. After all, Zoren had been doing the work of both the CEO and COO before Atlas arrived.

But alas, his expectations were far from reality.

Instead of a lighter workload, Benjamin and Allen found themselves tackling even larger mountains of paperwork. Not that the two of them didn’t understand why—since Atlas was new, the CEO and President had many things to handle until everything settled.

Even so, this was just too much!

All Allen and Benjamin could think was, "Somebody help us!"

---

On a good note, Allen and Benjamin weren’t the only ones on a quest to surpass the dreaded mountains of paperwork.

BAM!

Jonathan’s eyes snapped toward the loud sound. Peeling his gaze from the monitor, he glanced at where the noise had come from. His eyes slowly moved upward, his face twitching as he could barely see the top of the pile of papers.

"Hello!" Suddenly, Dean appeared beside him, leaning against the cubicle and squinting at Jonathan. "Trainee, will you check these papers for me? They’re the financial reports from the last ten years. I’d like a summary of them."

"..." Jonathan stared at Dean, trying to muster a smile, but it didn’t come.

Ever since Jonathan joined Dean’s office under the guise of training, he’d been buried in paperwork. But it wasn’t the paperwork itself that bothered Jonathan—it was the fact that he knew Dean was giving him unnecessary, extra work.

"You said you wanted more important tasks, right?" Dean reminded him, his eyes cracking open slightly. "I need this by the end of the day. I can count on you for that, can’t I?"

Jonathan’s face twisted as he exhaled sharply. "Yes, of course."

"Great! You’re so dependable! Is it because you’re the CEO’s brother?" Dean clapped happily. "Then I’m expecting this in my office by the end of the day. Don’t let my uncle overwork you and blame him for all this paperwork—or maybe the President. Good luck! Don’t let this family down!"

After getting his daily dose of morale, Dean laughed maniacally and walked away.

Meanwhile, Jonathan scowled at Dean’s retreating figure.

"That jerk..." he hissed, glaring at the mountain of paperwork Dean had left on his desk. He clenched his teeth, suppressing the growing rage in his heart. The more time he spent in that tiny office, the more his hatred for the world grew.

But in the end, he had no choice but to do it. So, knowing he’d likely be spending the night in the office, Jonathan wasted no time.

******

Hours later...

Allen was nearly melting at his desk, his soul almost slipping out of his body.

"It’s finally done..." he breathed, his eyes nearly rolling back in his skull. The workload had been heavy over the past few days, but today was especially hectic. He had so much to do that it didn’t feel like the COO department had any help at all.

But then again, like him, the rest of the staff in their department were nearly melting at their desks. Everyone was so mentally drained that no one seemed to have the energy to get up and go home.

It was the same for the staff in the CEO’s department.

"How come we have more work now that there’s a COO?" one of the CEO’s staff mumbled in dread. "I think I’m going to sleep here tonight. I can’t even get myself up anymore."

Another wiped her eyes. "I’m hungry, I’m tired, and I want to go home... but I’m so tired and hungry, I don’t think I can even leave."

"Guys, don’t be like that. Our work is nothing compared to the CEO’s," the team leader encouraged, though his face was paler than Zoren’s. His knees wobbled as he stood, gazing at his team with an encouraging smile. "Just think, once everything settles, things will run smoothly like before."

Everyone looked up at their boss, and they could’ve sworn his hair was thinning faster.

"Just take the CEO and Sir Vitt as examples!" the team leader exclaimed proudly, dramatically motioning toward Benjamin’s office. After all, Benjamin’s office was open and directly across from theirs. "See? He’s been working hard, but he never complains."

Slowly, everyone turned to look at Benjamin’s office, and shock washed over their faces. Seeing their reactions, the team leader turned and gasped.

Benjamin was slumped over his desk, looking at them helplessly. He tried to reach out, but he was so drained his eyes seemed distant.

And so, everyone panicked.

"Something’s coming out of his mouth!" one of them yelled. "It’s his soul—Sir Vitt, please don’t go into the light!"

****

[PRIME GROUP]

Penny reclined in her swivel chair, staring up. The bags under her eyes were darker, and her eyelids felt heavy. She felt like she might collapse from exhaustion.

"I’m... dead," she sighed, her heart heavy. "When will my peaceful day come?! Why are these papers endless? Save the trees! Save Mother Earth!"