Darkstone Code

Bennett watched as Jogriman ostentatiously removed his gloves and sat down, and he too followed suit by taking a seat opposite Jogriman, with a massive desk separating them.

Although everyone, including themselves, was aware of the irreconcilable conflict between them, no one would show it, and they would even pretend it didn't exist.

"You could play golf on the course; you'll have a better experience than here," Bennett sneered. "You know, the feeling of swinging with all your strength is completely different from the need to control not to hit the ball astray, and you can find other pleasures there."

Here, the pleasure refers to more complex terrain environments, which have become a way to attract attention and gain joy in golf.

The feeling of hitting a ball into the hole in one stroke on a flat surface is completely different from achieving the same in complicated sand or shallow water; that sense of achievement surely surpasses anything acquired in the office.

In fact, there was another layer of meaning behind these words, akin to saying, "Since you've already given up, why not just give up more thoroughly?"

In Bennett's view, Jogriman's concession signified his withdrawal from the game; before the ending was revealed, they already knew the result.

Having chosen this result, why not be straightforward? Dragging it out would not make anyone happy.

Jogriman smiled nonchalantly, "Before the new arrangement comes down, I must adhere to my work principles, being available during work hours."

He paused and just let the topic drop, "So why have you come to see me today?"

Bennett, returning to the business at hand, didn't pursue the open or hidden confrontations any longer. He placed the document on the desk, pushing it over, "The director wants you to sign this document."

Jogriman nodded. He picked up the document but did not sign it as readily as he had these past few days. Instead, he began to review it slowly, which suddenly made Bennett somewhat uncomfortable; he thought Jogriman just needed to put his name on it, so there was no need for this.

Yet he knew he couldn't rush him at this time; he had to allow Jogriman to maintain the last bit of dignity.

With this thought, his mood improved, and he hummed quietly to a tune from an opera he heard last night.

About ten minutes later, Jogriman put down this document. He did not move his pen but calmly looked at Bennett, "I can't sign this."

At that instant, Bennett's mind went blank for a moment.

"Can't sign it?"

"Why can't you sign it?!"

Bennett rose and quickly picked up the document to review it, asking as he read, "Is there something wrong with this document?"

Jogriman's sudden shift in attitude was hard for Bennett to bear, much like someone who says "Yes, sir" every day suddenly saying, "No, sir."

The enormous disparity could leave many people stunned and unsure of what to say, their minds experiencing a brief blankness, which is the shock after their habitual order is disturbed.

Jogriman sat upright, his arms on the armrests of the chair, fingers touching at the tips, "There are many issues, but before that, we need to address some other matters."

He reached out and pressed the blue button on the phone, which was a line to the secretary's office. As soon as the button was pressed, the other end was immediately connected, "This is Jogriman. Who arranged today's office paperwork? Send them to my office."

After releasing the button, Jogriman smiled at Bennett, who gradually regained his composure, looking a bit grim but doing nothing, unsure of what game Jogriman was playing.

Not long after, a male staff member appeared in the office.

In an institution like a bank, which handles many miscellaneous matters daily, the office has a complete set of rules and procedures.

The person in charge for the day would sort through these miscellaneous tasks and then choose to distribute the sorted files to different desks for processing. This is the main function of the secretary's office, to block unnecessary trouble for the middle and senior management of the department.

Looking at this young man who had been working at the bank for seven or eight years, Jogriman pursed his lips, "Go settle your wages with finance; you are fired."

This statement shocked both Bennett and the only standing male secretary in the room; the former said nothing yet, and the latter was agitated and shouted out, "Mr. Jogriman, you do not have the authority to do this!"

He argued for his rights, "This is against the bank's regulations; you are neither the head of the Human Resources department nor the bank director, and I have done nothing wrong; you have no right to do this. I will report you to the director, the branch, and headquarters!"

Without any shame or embarrassment on his face, Jogriman picked up the phone, dialed a number, and pressed the speakerphone button. The three people in the room immediately recognized the person answering the call as the bank director.

"I want to fire a member of the secretariat for a significant mistake in their work. Does this require a meeting?" Jogriman's tone was very calm and affable, but his gaze was aggressive as he looked at the male employee.

Unexpectedly, the director supported Jogriman's request, "Handle it as you see fit; such minor matters do not need to be discussed at a meeting!"

The young male employee was about to say something when Jogriman hung up the phone, his face grim, flushed with rage, "Can you tell me where my work mistake occurred?"

Jogriman pointed to the document on the table between him and Bennett, "Such an important document should have been brought to me first. I am the highest administrative manager in this department, not Mr. Bennett. If you cannot handle even such a simple task properly, do you think the bank needs someone like you to continue making mistakes?"

The male employee immediately defended himself, "It was you who said that any document Mr. Bennett signs, you approve in principle, and..."

Jogriman shook his head, "No 'and.' Either you pack your things and leave, or I call security to help you!" he said, his hand already on the red button that connected to the bank's security department.

The male employee looked pleadingly at Bennett, unwilling to lose this job.

Disregarding how difficult it is to find a job now, he had spent nearly ten years reaching this point, and the next step was the management level, which was also why he was currying favor with Bennett.

If Bennett replaced Jogriman, he would have a chance to advance further. However, it was clear that everyone underestimated Jogriman.

Bennett's face was equally grim; he barely let out a syllable, no one knew what the syllable was about, when Jogriman forcefully interrupted, "Want me to call headquarters and explain the situation here?"

Bennett closed his mouth, choosing to ignore the male employee's plea.

Whether at headquarters, the branch, or grassroots banks, such obvious inclination errors are intolerable, even the board of directors at headquarters cannot intervene in such matters.

After ensuring his order would be executed, Jogriman pointed to the door, "Close the door when you leave!"

Watching the employee exit the office like a soul-deprived walking corpse, Jogriman finally turned to Bennett and addressed Bennett's issues.

"You ask why I refuse to sign; firstly, you come from the branch, so you should understand our internal workflow. You're just an assistant; documents of this level cannot be examined without my consent."

Non-internal matters requiring the highest departmental administrative official's approval involve a power process; whether Bennett will replace Jogriman in the future or not, he is currently merely Jogriman's assistant.

The branch sent him to assist Jogriman's work, not to replace him. Even if they intended to do so, until it becomes a reality, Bennett remains an assistant.

Was there anything wrong with Jogriman having Bennett preside over the work before?

No issue, rules are highly flexible; they only function when someone asserts them. If the parties involved, especially the harmed party, do not assert their rights and rules, they cease to function.

Jogriman took more than two months getting Bennett used to a particular environment, cultivating an unnoticed arrogance; even if Lynch hadn't acted, Jogriman himself would have.

Who, after laboring half a lifetime, would willingly say they've given up?

It's just that Jogriman's methods have a bit more artistry than Lynch's direct approach, at least that's what he thinks.

"Secondly, you endorsed some results on this document without my knowledge, which is a clear overstepping of authority, and I find the contents you endorsed to have significant problems, so I absolutely won't sign it."

"And as for the third..." Jogriman could not help but laugh, "I simply wanted to see your ugly face. You've lost, Mr. Bennett."

Thinking about it, Jogriman's mood brightened. In others' eyes, he had endured suffocation for almost three months, yet no one knew he relished this moment of pleasure, more than when he emotionally connected with some young girls.

Moreover, his pleasure extended beyond this, "I will report your behavior to the branch and headquarters, documenting your actions, your consistent challenges to the bank's rule systems, and your ongoing overreach in creating interests circles, all will be reported truthfully."

"Oh, and that girl, Annie!"

Jogriman's expression was very peculiar, his hand stroking the edge of the desk as though caressing something special, "She does good work; I will continue to visit her!"

In a fit of rage, Bennett grabbed the crystal triangular nameplate on the desk and flung it at Jogriman!