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

control. In particular, this was

stronger they were, the more arrogant they were,

a serious problem when guilds hired external

in other words, a double-edged

"Hehehe…"

sudden giggle escaped Melissa's

'This is fun...'

might potentially fall from their plans, Melissa just

would come from their

broad grin spread across her

Amanda glanced her way.

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

waved it off. But the smile on her face said

under Amanda's gaze,

just laughing because this is

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

on her face once more, she pressed one of

and all. This is a lot more entertaining than I originally thought. Kind of relives

of everything that had happened with the magic

call, she probably would've spent the day in the lab doing the same repetitive

got so boring that Melissa increased

Amanda had called

nice to have a change of

"...I see."

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

her head

"What's wrong?"

was staring at her made

'What's wrong with her.'

Amanda spoke. Her next words caused

that you reminded me of Ren when you were talking about destroying the

"Wha..t."

Melissa's body started to

she just say what I think she just

front of her, Melissa

her

Hell no.

was her worst

eventually narrowed tightly as her teeth

of all the people you had to compare me to,

"Sorry."

seem to be sorry

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining my

the table, Melissa took out

Gulp.

staring at it, there was an audible

I just took

teeth as she forced herself to put the

herself to

she

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

around, Melissa glanced in Maxwell's way before heading

"Seriously?"

way, she whispered in a barely audible voice.

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

of the whispers, Amanda still

'At least she knows...'

the area Melissa previously stood. She then shook her head

the elders. Report to

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

was about to leave, he thought

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

tip of his nose, a faint smile

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

cocked a little as her delicate brow

"What is it?"

same look on your faces when

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

Maxwell had already left before she could ask him

Clank—

sound of the door closing, silence enveloped the

off-guard, Amanda didn't know how to reply as she touched her

really look like

she had mixed feelings about