Chapter Sixty-Four: Board Meeting:

Twelve people in a room. I sat at my desk. Judith was to my left and Beelzebub stood to my right. Four generals and five top demons in the room. I looked at everyone with cold eyes.

“We have a situation,” I said. I think they were surprised to see me like this. I don’t blame them. But this has to be done.

“We don’t have a plan what we will do after this war is over,” I said. “What is our current status?” One general stepped forward.

“We’re still backed up with the paperwork, sir,” he said. I raised an eyebrow.

“How bad is it?” I asked. Nobody said a word at first. I narrowed my eyes.

“How bad is it?” I asked again.

“We’ve been backed up since 1942,” another general said. I tried not to look so shocked. I cleared my throat.

“Well then,” I said. “What’s going on there?”

“They have been quitting,” Judith said. “No one wants to work for you anymore. They have lost confidence in your leadership.” I frowned. She didn’t have to say it like that. I put my hands on my desk.

“Well then,” I said. “I’ll have to change that. Any suggestions?”

“How about actually being there?” Beelzebub asked. I gritted my teeth.

“Right…” I muttered. Damn it. They keep going in on me. I shouldn’t be surprised. I have been a shitty boss lately.

“Fair enough,” I said. “I have had so much on my mind. It’s time to change that.” All eyes fell on me.

“And how are you going to do that?” Judith asked.

“By getting right to work,” I said. I put my arms behind my head.

“So… any suggestions?” I asked. Everyone looked at each other in the room. I braced myself for more roasting.

“Maybe get a machine to do it,” one of the generals suggested. I tilted my head.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“Here,” he said. He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded up collection of papers. I watched as he slid them across the table. I picked it up and looked at the contents.

“What exactly is this?” I asked. Judith and Beelzebub took a look with me. A tall tank stood in the middle of the brown, aging paper. A wheel stood in front of it with a lever. A round basket floated off to the left. I noticed that there was another basket to the right. I didn’t know what the hell I was looking at.

“A sorting machine,” the general said. The three of us looked up.

“Explain yourself,” I said. The general pointed the basket.

“The soul will step up on the basket,” he said. “You pull the lever, and it will measure their sins. Depending how heavy they will be sorted to where they are supposed to go.” I looked him in the eye.

“How does it work?” I asked. “Like how does it determine the weight of the sins?”

“With the Inferno system,” he said. “This just does it faster.”

“So old and new mixed together?” Judith asked.

“Correct,” the general said. I looked at the drawing again.

“Hm… that would me the work load much easier,” I said. “I will consider it.” I shoved the pages to the side.

“Any other ideas?” I asked. I put up my hand as Beelzebub started to talk.

“Other than being there for the people,” I said. No one said a work. Everyone looked at me. I screwed up my face with a frown. Really? That’s what there problem is? I’m what they see is wrong here? I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

Fine. I dropped my hand.

“What do I need to do to get the people’s trust back?” I asked. Boy did they have many suggestions. I drowned them out halfway. Still, I had to listen to them. I have to get this kingdom back on track. If me being more present for them was going to help, then I was willing to give it a chance. I lifted my head.

“When do we start?” I asked. Judith and Beelzebub looked at me.

“Right now,” he said. I stared at them, blinking.

“What?” I asked. Judith and Beelzebub grinned at me.

“Yes,” he said. “You are going to fix your image right now.” I didn’t have the right to complain. I brought this on myself after all and I should be the one to fix it. No matter what it takes.