Chapter 21: The Quest for the Elusive File

The next day.

“Hey Haari, how’s it going with your work?” Rafta asked, leaning against Haari’s desk.

“It’s slow going. I’m trying to draft something that addresses all the client’s concerns, but it’s a lot to cover. I keep getting distracted by all the issues we’re facing,” Haari replied, looking up and rubbing his eyes.

“Rafta, did you complete the task you received earlier?” Employ asked, glancing at Rafta.

“Oh yeah, it’s almost done. Ok, Haari, I need to get going. Keep up the pace; don’t worry,” Rafta said, walking with Employ to his desk.

“Yeah, I’ll try,” Haari said.

An Hour Later.

“This is getting complicated. We need some old data to fix the current problem,” Haari said, looking up from his computer, clearly frustrated.

“I agree. We should check with Oki to see if she has any leads. But before that, let me fill you in on the issues we’re facing,” Ashi said, tapping on her tablet.

“Sure?” Haari asked.

“Okay, first off, we’ve got this data synchronization issue. It’s like the CRM decided to take a nap—updates from the project tasks are not syncing across the board. Some team members see the old information while others see the new. It’s a mess,” Ashi explained, pointing to the screen.

“Fantastic. So, our CRM is officially a drama queen, making everything more complicated than it needs to be,” Haari said.

“Exactly! And then there’s the integration problem. Our CRM can’t seem to play nice with the financial software. When we try to pull up budget reports, the numbers are all over the place—like they had a party and forgot to clean up,” Ashi said.

“Great, so our CRM and financial software are having a feud. Sounds like a reality TV show,” Haari said.

“You’re not wrong. And to top it off, we’re dealing with performance bottlenecks. The system slows down to a crawl whenever we try to generate a comprehensive report or search through historical data. It’s like trying to run a marathon with a parachute,” Ashi said.

“So, it’s not just having a mid-life crisis; it’s also in training for the Slow Olympics,” Haari said.

“Yep, and let’s not forget the configuration issues. A few workflows have gone rogue—tasks are getting assigned to the wrong people and deadlines are getting missed. It’s like someone’s playing a practical joke on us,” Ashi said.

“Wonderful. It’s like the CRM decided to audition for a circus act. What’s next, juggling?” Haari said.

“Could be. We need that old data to backtrack and fix these issues. Let’s see if Oki has any leads. She might have some old backups or records that could help us untangle this mess,” Ashi said.

“Good idea. Let’s find Oki before this turns into a full-blown circus with elephants and clowns,” Haari said.

“Sounds like a plan. If nothing else, we might get some good material for a comedy routine out of this,” Ashi said.

“True. A little humor might be just what we need to keep sane,” Haari said.

“Exactly. Now, let’s go rescue our CRM from its identity crisis before it starts performing magic tricks,” Ashi said.

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Ashi and Haari found Oki in the break room.

“The old data should be in the server storage room. It’s located in the underground section of the building,” Oki explained.

“Okay, I’ll go get them quickly,” Haari said and headed towards the storage room.

Haari ventured into the server storage room alone, his footsteps echoing in the vast, underground expanse. The room was a sprawling labyrinth of towering shelves stacked with boxes and files, stretching as far as the eye could see. The dim overhead lights cast eerie shadows, making the task ahead seem even more daunting.

“This is bigger than I imagined,” Haari muttered to himself. He tugged on his gloves and began his quest for the elusive files.

Several hours later, as Ashi was working on the communication plan, she glanced at the clock and frowned. “It’s been too long since Haari went to get the file. Why is it taking so long?”

Ashi made her way to the server storage room, only to be shocked by its immense size. “Whoa, this is like a warehouse on steroids. How on earth is he going to find anything here?”

As she maneuvered through the rows, she finally spotted Haari, who was precariously perched on a ladder.

“Haari!” Ashi called out. “What are you doing up there?”

Haari looked down, his face covered in dust and confusion. “Oh, Ashi. I’m searching for the file. It’s like hunting for a needle in a haystack.”

Just then, a file fell from a high shelf and smacked Haari on the head, causing him to lose his balance and tumble to the floor with a loud thud.

“Be careful!” Ashi shouted, rushing over.

Haari sat up, brushing himself off. “It’s alright, just a minor concussion from a rogue file.” He winced but managed a grin. “I might need a helmet for this.”

Ashi looked around, her flashlight beam cutting through the shadows. “Seriously, this place is like an Indiana Jones set. How are we supposed to find one specific file in this maze?”

“The shelves are divided into sections,” Haari explained. “And the file we are looking for is in section 2B3C. It’s a bit like a library card catalog. In 2B3C, there aren’t many shelves—this section has only seven shelves, but there’s so much dust here it looks like this place hasn’t been cleaned for several days.”

Ashi nodded, grabbing a ladder. “Alright, let’s tackle this. I’ll take the lower shelves, and you handle the high ones.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Haari said, feeling more optimistic. “If we don’t find it soon, I’m going to start thinking it’s a sentient file playing hide-and-seek with us.”

Ashi chuckled as she climbed her ladder. “If it is, we’ll definitely have a story for the holiday party.”

Hours ticked by as Haari rummaged through the shelves, attempting to locate the right file. His earlier enthusiasm was waning, replaced by frustration. The file he needed seemed to be playing an elaborate game of hide-and-seek.

Next morning.

The office buzzed with the usual activity, but a sense of anticipation lingered as everyone awaited Haari's return. The day had been challenging, and the team hoped that the old data would provide the breakthrough they needed.

Yesterday.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the fluorescent lights of the office flickered on, Haari and Ashi were still in the server storage room. Dusty and exhausted, they had been combing through endless rows of files, searching for the elusive document.

“This is so frustrating. Where is that file?” Haari exclaimed, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Ashi, balancing a flashlight and a stack of files, called out, “Kichiro-san.”

“Hm?” Haari responded, pausing to catch his breath.

“I think we should call it a day. It’s already gotten late,” Ashi suggested, glancing at her watch.

Haari looked at his phone and was taken aback by the time. “Whoa, it’s already that late. I didn’t realize how much time had passed I think It's because we are underground. Alright, let’s stop here for today. We can resume our search tomorrow.”

As they made their way out of the storage room, Ashi carried a few files in her arms.

“Hmm, what are these files, Nicawa-san?” Haari inquired.

“These are CRM code files,” Ashi explained. “I thought we might find some helpful information in them.”

Haari nodded, appreciating her initiative. “Good idea. Let’s review these tomorrow and see if they offer any insights.”

Present.

Ashi was at her desk, organizing the results of her previous day's work, when Haari finally reappeared, dust-covered but triumphant.

“I have it!” Haari announced, holding up a dusty file with a victorious grin.

Ashi’s face lit up with relief. “Thank goodness. I was starting to think that file had become a myth.”

“Believe me, I felt like I was in an adventure movie. It was quite the search,” Haari said, setting the file down and stretching his aching muscles.

Rafta, who had been observing from his desk, walked over with a grin. “Looks like you survived the great data hunt. Any good stories for us?”

Haari chuckled. “Oh, plenty. I almost became a dust sculpture and had an intimate encounter with a particularly rebellious file.”

“Did you find what we need?” Ashi asked.

“Yes, I did. Let’s hope this old data can untangle the mess we’ve been dealing with,” Haari replied, pulling up a chair and opening the file.

As Haari and Ashi began to sift through the data, they found that it provided crucial insights into.

To be continue........