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

external help, they would essentially be giving up control. In particular,

arrogant they were, making them harder

problem when

other words, a double-edged

"Hehehe…"

giggle

'This is fun...'

potentially fall from their plans, Melissa

money that would come

broad grin spread

her head, Amanda

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

off. But the smile on her face said

Amanda's gaze, Melissa came

I'm just laughing because this is

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

once more, she pressed one of the guilds on

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

of everything that had happened with the magic cards recently,

Amanda's call, she probably would've spent the day in the lab

it simply, it was boring. It got so boring

Amanda had

nice to have a

"...I see."

on her face as she gazed at Melissa was still

her head

"What's wrong?"

staring at her

'What's wrong with her.'

spoke. Her next words caused Melissa's face

of Ren when you were

"Wha..t."

her mouth agape, Melissa's body started

just say what I

Melissa had a sudden urge to destroy even

remind her

Hell no.

her worst

eventually narrowed tightly as her

all the people you had

"Sorry."

That said, she didn't seem to be sorry at all. Rather, she

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining my

table, Melissa took

Gulp.

it, there was an audible gulp in the

just took

grit her teeth as she forced herself to put the potion

herself to

she forced a

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

glanced in Maxwell's way before heading

"Seriously?"

way, she whispered in a barely audible voice.

it would have been him copying

whispers, Amanda still heard every one of her

'At least she knows...'

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

everything, you can report this to the elders. Report to me whether they approve

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

was about to leave, he thought of something

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

tip of his nose, a

help but overhear the conversation between the two of you,

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

"What is it?"

same look on your faces when I

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

already left before she

Clank—

of the door closing, silence enveloped the

Amanda didn't know how to reply as

really look

she had mixed feelings