For a few days, this universe’s branch of the company was in chaos and a state of confusion. A lot of information came in every single second of every day, so with their entire system down, it became difficult for them to even function.

Too much information would be passed through Buddie. Whether it was the new information coming in, orders from the higher ups, news from other universes, or simply conversations between coworkers. Almost all of it went through Buddie.

There would be some people that didn’t like technology, like Elizabeth’s lich friend, but even they were affected by this.

Some parts of the company were still able to function somewhat normally. New information was still coming in and being organised by the members of the marketing department. But since they couldn’t have Buddie send the information through, they would either have it hand delivered if it was important, or piled up in a room waiting for Buddie’s return.

The judging of sinners also had to come to a stop, as they couldn’t make the traps without using Buddie and the computer. Some people tried, but it was a lot easier to conceptualise and come up with a plan when using the computer.

Any jobs that required someone to go out into the wider world was still mostly working just fine. Everyone just had to stay closer together than they would have normally, so that they could communicate if the need arose.

Overall, they couldn’t work as efficiently as they used to be able to. So everyone decided to just do what they could, and would just leave the rest for when Buddie came back.

After a few days of lazing about, the systems started operating again, and everyone was greeted by a familiar robotic voice.

“Good morning everyone,” Buddie said.

Everyone immediately jumped back into work, sending in countless requests and documents filled with information. Everything was passed through Buddie. Production of traps began again. The actors were organised into groups and sent to work whenever a new trap was made. Information was organised and sent off to those who needed it.

Everything was once again running at maximum efficiency.

~

The blinding light started to fade, and Zara found herself in her living room. Having been gone for a week now, she immediately felt better being in a familiar place. She was also excited to see Ed again. Even though it had only been a couple of days, this was different. He was finally free from his punishment and could come back to work again.

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She couldn’t wait to see what trap he would come up with now that he was back.

Hearing Buddie’s voice, she raced off to the office and rushed to her seat in anticipation, for Ed and for her own work.

~

Standing at the door of Urdhuri’s library, a storm of emotions washed over him. There was still some lingering pain and fear. There was anger at Buddie for sending him to Hell. Even though he made some powerful connections, he was still pissed off.

It was still his first time getting shot after all. And also his first time getting ripped to shreds by a giant worm. And his first time getting atomised by radiant light. Needless to say, even though he was no stranger to pain, it was still too much for him to deal with.

At least there were a few positives. He had become more powerful, and had also gained a better understanding of how things worked. Both within the company and in the world at large. He had also made some potentially useful connections with a few deities.

Yes, one of them did try and kill him, and would have if it wasn’t for Urdhuri, but they didn’t end that encounter on opposing sides.

It was a mix of both good and bad. He had suffered a lot. But he had also gained as much as he had lost. Potentially even far more than he had lost, in fact. What’s a bit of pain in comparison to a cushy position when I die?

He knew for a fact he was going to Hell when he died. With everything he had done in the company, there was no way Heaven would accept him. So at least he had set up a good position for himself when he would eventually die.

He didn’t only have a mix of emotions for what he had just went through, but was also feeling weird about going back to work. He hated what he had to do. He would much rather keep working in Hell and getting gunned down every other day than torture people day in and day out.

But not everything about the company was so bad. The benefits were great. And at least he had Zara.

He had talked with Urdhuri a lot about what he should do when he went back. He didn’t want to keep torturing people for Buddie’s pleasure, but he knew that wasn’t an option. He would be severely punished at the best of times, not to mention now.

Buddie was probably waiting for any excuse to kill him off.

So for now, he would have to lie low and keep working. Just until Buddie’s anger subsided. How long that would take, he didn’t know.

Urdhuri didn’t tell him too many details regarding what he should do. And Ed didn’t ask him to. After learning a bit more about how fate worked, he didn’t want to press it too much. He didn’t want to be the reason that countless people died.

He still did get some information from Urdhuri that fate deemed acceptable for him to know. And that was more than enough for him to prepare himself. He knew Buddie was going to work him hard for a long time, and that he shouldn’t expect to get much rest. He also knew he was going to be faced with a few smaller punishments, but that stuff wasn’t too important.

Clenching and unclenching his fists, he opened the door and stepped through.