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.

was a large-scale battle that involved

essentially be giving up control. In particular, this was more pronounced when

more arrogant they were, making them harder

serious problem when

in other words, a

"Hehehe…"

giggle escaped

'This is fun...'

potentially fall from their plans, Melissa

would come from

grin spread

meantime, turning her head, Amanda glanced her way. Her face

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

waved it off. But the smile on her face said

gaze, Melissa came

laughing because

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

smile deepened. Adjusting the glasses on her face once more, she pressed one of the guilds

This is a lot more entertaining than I originally thought. Kind of relives me from

had happened with the magic

probably would've spent the day in the

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

Amanda had called

to have a change of pace

"...I see."

on her face as she gazed at Melissa was still

cocked her head a

"What's wrong?"

was staring at her made

'What's wrong with her.'

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

of Ren when you

"Wha..t."

mouth agape, Melissa's body started to

she just say what I think she

map in front of her, Melissa had

remind her

Hell no.

her

eyes eventually narrowed tightly as her

all the people you had to compare me to, you chose

"Sorry."

sorry at all. Rather, she had a look filled

Melissa's fist clenched.

for ruining

table, Melissa

Gulp.

there was an audible

I just took it

grit her teeth as she forced herself to put

had promised herself to control

up, she forced

ever plan on doing something as fun like this again, do call

in Maxwell's way before heading for

"Seriously?"

barely audible

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

Amanda still heard every one

'At least she knows...'

the side of her cheek, Amanda's eyes lingered toward the area Melissa previously stood.

can report this to the elders. Report to me

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

was about to leave, he

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

the tip of his nose, a faint smile spread

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

through his sentence, Amanda's head cocked a little as

"What is it?"

same look on

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

already left before she

Clank—

of the door closing, silence

how to reply

really look

had mixed