The Author's POV

"This works better."

"Are you sure?"

"If you want to deal the most amount of damage, yes. This is the best way."

"Okay…"

Things seemed to be rather tense inside of a fairly sized office space, as two figures sat on opposite ends of each other.

"What about with this one? Would a guild war be more suitable, or should we cripple them financially?"

"Guild war? That sounds rather fun."

"…It might backfire."

"I don't think it will. You can just ask Kevin to help you out. I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem doing so. He's a pushover. Furthermore, you yourself told me that you had to have them gone."

"True…"

In this unusual atmosphere, the words that were being spoken between the two individuals would've sent waves around the human domain.

It was then that.

Knock. Knock.

The door suddenly knocked, and a deep voice echoed from the other side of the door.

"Young miss, may I come in?"

"Yes."

Amanda replied.

Following this, the door opened up and a young man in his thirties walked into the room.

He was Maxwell, Amanda's assistant.

The moment Amanda's eyes laid on him, she curiously asked.

"What brings you here?"

"…Nothing in particular young miss."

He curiously looked around the room before his eyes paused on the figure sitting next to Amanda.

Despite the slight twitch in his mouth as he paused to look at the figure, he quickly continued speaking.

"The elders wanted to know whether you have come up with a solution for our current predicament."

"About that…"

Amanda turned her head to glance at a girl who was sitting next to her. Other than Melissa, who else could it have been?

Only she would say such words. Well, there was Ren, but he wasn't exactly here.

Lifting her glasses up with her finger, Melissa didn't reply and scanned the map of Ashton city with her eyes.

Then, taking her gaze away from the map, she responded.

"Your best bet would be to financially cripple, Dongtan Guild, Ikarian Guild, and Snowstar Guild. In terms of finance, they are the weakest of the lot, and will go down without putting up much of a fight."

"I thought so too."

A nod followed Amanda's response as she pointed at two more guilds.

"Regarding these two guilds, Wraithless and GoldenCrow would be the best to announce a guild war against. They have the financial power, but are not as strong in terms of members."

"I agree, that's your best bet."

Melissa replied with a serious look. There was a glint of excitement in her eyes as she gazed at the map.

"...My only gripe with this is that they might hire external help to fight in the guild wars, that in itself will be a disadvantage."

"I agree."

Amanda's eyes narrowed. Her brows relaxed not long after.

"But I think this can work for our advantage."

"It might..."

In agreement, Melissa plucked lightly at her lips.

"Especially since they will be individuals that have never worked with each other before."

"Yes."

One of the most important factors for ensuring victory in a guild war was coordination and seamless collaboration between all participants.

a large-scale battle that involved thousands and

giving up control. In

stronger they were, the more arrogant they were,

was a serious problem

were, in other words,

"Hehehe…"

sudden giggle

'This is fun...'

fall from their plans, Melissa just couldn't help

money that would

grin spread

her head, Amanda glanced her way. Her face turned

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

it off. But the smile on her face said

gaze, Melissa came

laughing because this

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

Adjusting the glasses on her face once more, she pressed

guilds and all. This is a lot more entertaining than I originally thought. Kind

had happened with the magic cards

probably would've spent the day in the lab doing

it was boring. It got so boring that Melissa increased her potions

Amanda had

to have a change of pace

"...I see."

to reply. The look on her face as she gazed at

cocked her

"What's wrong?"

at her

'What's wrong with her.'

was then that Amanda spoke. Her next words caused

that you reminded me of Ren

"Wha..t."

Melissa's

just say what I think she just

her, Melissa had

her of

Hell no.

was her

tightly

you had to compare

"Sorry."

be sorry at all. Rather, she had a look

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining

Melissa

Gulp.

staring at it, there was an audible gulp in

took

grit her teeth as she forced herself to put the potion

had promised herself to

up, she forced

on doing something as fun like this again, do call me. I will

around, Melissa glanced in Maxwell's way before

"Seriously?"

she whispered in a barely audible

someone, it would have been him copying me. In the first place, I'm

of the whispers, Amanda still heard every one of

'At least she knows...'

cheek, Amanda's eyes lingered toward the area Melissa previously stood. She

can report this to the elders. Report to me whether they approve of my arrangements

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

he thought of something and

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

tip of his nose, a faint smile spread

the conversation between the two of you, and I just wanted to add

his sentence, Amanda's head cocked a little as her delicate brow

"What is it?"

the same look on your faces when I entered the

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

already left before she could ask him to

Clank—

the sound of the door closing, silence enveloped

to reply as she touched her

I really look like

she had mixed feelings