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

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

were, the more arrogant they were, making them harder

problem when guilds hired

other words, a

"Hehehe…"

giggle

'This is fun...'

fall from their plans, Melissa just

money that would come from their

broad grin spread across

head, Amanda glanced her

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

it off. But the smile on her face

gaze, Melissa

laughing because this

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

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

entertaining than I originally thought. Kind of

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

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

had

to have

"...I see."

look on her

her head

"What's wrong?"

was staring at her

'What's wrong with her.'

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

that you reminded me of Ren when you were talking about

"Wha..t."

her mouth agape, Melissa's body started to

just say what I think she

of her, Melissa

remind her

Hell no.

was her

narrowed tightly as her

of all the people you had to compare

"Sorry."

sorry at all. Rather, she had a

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining

the table, Melissa took

Gulp.

at it, there was an audible gulp in the

took it out of

teeth as she forced herself to put the potion

herself to control

she forced

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

in Maxwell's way

"Seriously?"

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

copying me. In the first place, I'm the

whispers, Amanda still heard every one

'At least she knows...'

Melissa previously stood. She then shook

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

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

Maxwell was about to leave, he

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

tip of his nose, a faint smile spread across his

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

sentence, Amanda's head cocked a

"What is it?"

of you had the same look on your faces when

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

already left before she could ask him to

Clank—

door closing, silence enveloped the

reply as she touched her

I really look like

she had mixed feelings about