Chapter 3

I didn't have time to react. Those closest to the print room had already rushed in.

Then came the terrified shouts: "Quick! Someone! Call an ambulance!"

I instinctively followed the crowd towards the print room.

Just as I turned, I saw Chloe huddled in her chair, head buried.

Curled up like a pathetic little quail.

By the time I reached the print room, a chaotic crowd had already gathered.

The deceased, I remembered seeing him around, but I couldn't recall his name.

Everyone immediately confirmed there was no point in trying to save him.

He was sprawled over a standing printer, his right hand clenched into a fist, pressed against his throat. A ballpoint pen was plunged into his throat.

A small section of it had even pierced through the back of his neck!

His death was like something out of a crime thriller, or those old-school detective shows where someone gets a pen jammed into their throat. It was exactly the same.

A large amount of fresh blood covered the printer, pooling onto the floor.

His shirt collar was hooked on the corner of the printer's lid, which was why he hadn't slid off after collapsing onto it.

And at his feet, there was a streak of water.

I could almost visualize the scene!

He was standing by the printer, waiting for documents, holding a pen, idly tapping it on the printer lid. Perhaps he got tired and shifted his weight, inadvertently slipping on the water.

His foot slid backward, and he pitched forward!

The upright pen in his hand pierced his throat!

It seemed perfectly logical.

But also far too coincidental.

Suddenly, someone yelled: "Why is there no signal?! I can't call 911!"

"Then go outside and call! Someone died in the company, what the hell is going on?!"

"Everyone back to your workstations! Don't panic! I'll handle things here! Forget a dead body, even if the sky falls, Project Alpha *must* launch by midnight!"

The speaker was Trevor, whom we all called Big Trev.

He held the title of General Office Assistant, which was basically a useless position, only handling miscellaneous stuff.

He was a busybody, always riding on Mr. Harrison's coattails, and incredibly reckless…

In short, he was a universally despised jerk.

But what could we do? He was Mr. Harrison’s cousin.

That bastard. This was his chance to really throw his weight around!

I quietly exited the print room. Outside, the atmosphere was already explosive.

"Damn, this is seriously messed up. Someone died in the company late at night, and we're still not allowed to leave?"

"Do you think it has something to do with those rules in the chat? About not leaving your workstation because other places are fatally dangerous?"

"Stop BS-ing, you actually believe that?"

"Just wait and see how the company tries to hush it up if someone dies during overtime."

"Our tech department is freaking amazing, they managed to jam all the signals in the entire company!"

Hearing that, I quickly pulled my head back.

I'm in the damn tech department too!