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.

a 1v1 scenario. It was a large-scale battle that involved

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

stronger they were, the more arrogant they were, making

was a serious problem when guilds hired external

were, in other words, a double-edged

"Hehehe…"

sudden giggle escaped Melissa's

'This is fun...'

about how many diamond-graded guilds might potentially fall from their plans, Melissa just

would

grin spread across

head, Amanda glanced her way.

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

the smile on her face said

Amanda's gaze, Melissa

I'm just laughing

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

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

a lot more entertaining than I originally thought. Kind

the

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

got so boring

had

to have a change of pace

"...I see."

Amanda some time to reply. The look on her face as she gazed at Melissa was

her head a

"What's wrong?"

was staring at her made her

'What's wrong with her.'

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

Ren

"Wha..t."

mouth agape, Melissa's body

say what I think she just

her, Melissa had a sudden urge

remind her

Hell no.

was her

tightly

all the people you had to compare me to,

"Sorry."

seem to be sorry at all. Rather, she had

Melissa's fist clenched.

for ruining my

Melissa took

Gulp.

was an

took it out

the potion tightly, Melissa grit her teeth as she forced herself to

to control

she

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

in Maxwell's way before heading for the

"Seriously?"

in a barely audible voice. She was clearly still salty about Amanda's

would have been him copying me. In the first place, I'm the one with the twisted

spite of the whispers, Amanda still heard every one

'At least she knows...'

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

elders. Report to me whether they approve of

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

he thought

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

a

but overhear the conversation between the two of you, and

Amanda's head cocked

"What is it?"

of you had the same look on your

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

left before she could ask him to

Clank—

of the door closing, silence

know how to reply

really look like

had mixed feelings about