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.

It was a large-scale battle that involved

be giving up control. In particular, this was more

the stronger they were, the more arrogant they

serious problem when

were, in other words,

"Hehehe…"

giggle escaped

'This is fun...'

potentially fall from their plans, Melissa

money that would

grin spread across her

head, Amanda glanced her way. Her face

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

But the smile

Amanda's gaze, Melissa

I'm just laughing because

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

glasses on her face once more, she pressed one of the guilds on the

more entertaining than I originally thought. Kind of relives

happened with the magic cards recently, Melissa was overworked

spent the day in the lab

got so boring that Melissa increased her potions consumption during

Amanda had

to have

"...I see."

took Amanda some time to reply. The look on her face as

her

"What's wrong?"

at

'What's wrong with her.'

then that Amanda spoke. Her next words caused Melissa's

just that you reminded me of Ren when you were talking

"Wha..t."

Melissa's

what I

in front of her, Melissa had a sudden urge to destroy

her of

Hell no.

was her worst

tightly

all the people you had to

"Sorry."

to be sorry at all. Rather, she

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining my

the table, Melissa took out a

Gulp.

at it, there was an audible

just took it out

potion tightly, Melissa grit her teeth as she forced

had promised herself to

up, she forced

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

Maxwell's

"Seriously?"

barely audible voice. She was clearly still salty

who copied someone, it would have been him copying me. In the first

still heard every

'At least she knows...'

the side of her cheek, Amanda's eyes lingered toward the area Melissa previously stood. She then shook her head and

elders. Report to me whether they

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

was about to leave, he thought of something and called

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

tip of his nose, a faint smile spread across

couldn't help but overhear the conversation between the two of you, and I just wanted to add

sentence, Amanda's head cocked a little

"What is it?"

you had the same look on your faces when I entered the

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

already left before she could ask him to

Clank—

sound of the door closing, silence enveloped the

off-guard, Amanda didn't know how to reply

really look like

mixed feelings