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.

large-scale battle that involved thousands and

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

they were, the more arrogant they

a serious problem

were, in other words, a

"Hehehe…"

giggle

'This is fun...'

how many diamond-graded guilds might potentially fall from their

that would come from their

spread

head, Amanda glanced

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

the smile

gaze, Melissa came

laughing because this

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

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

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

with the magic cards recently, Melissa was overworked and

the absence of Amanda's call, she probably would've spent the day in the lab doing the same repetitive

so boring that Melissa

Amanda had called

have a change of

"...I see."

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

cocked her head

"What's wrong?"

was staring at her made her

'What's wrong with her.'

spoke. Her next words caused Melissa's

Ren when you were talking about

"Wha..t."

her mouth agape, Melissa's body started

say what I

front of her, Melissa had a sudden urge to destroy

remind her

Hell no.

her worst

eventually narrowed tightly as her teeth

you had to compare me to,

"Sorry."

sorry at all. Rather, she had

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining my

the table, Melissa took

Gulp.

there was an audible gulp in the

just took it out

tightly, Melissa grit her teeth as she

herself to control

up, she forced a

plan on doing something as fun like this again, do

around, Melissa glanced in Maxwell's way before

"Seriously?"

whispered in a barely audible voice. She was clearly still salty about

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

still

'At least she knows...'

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

can report this to the elders. Report to me

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

to leave, he thought of something

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

of his nose, a faint smile spread

but overhear the conversation between the two of you, and I just

head cocked a little as her

"What is it?"

on your faces when I

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

had already left before

Clank—

door

how to reply as she touched

I really look

she had mixed feelings about