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.

scenario. It was a large-scale battle that involved thousands and thousands

control. In particular, this was more pronounced when one

were, the more arrogant they

a serious problem when

in other words, a

"Hehehe…"

sudden giggle

'This is fun...'

guilds might potentially fall from their plans, Melissa just

would come from their

broad grin spread across her

her head, Amanda glanced

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

it off. But the smile on her face said

under Amanda's gaze, Melissa

laughing because this

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

face once more, she pressed one of the guilds on

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

result of everything that had happened with the magic cards recently, Melissa was

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

it simply, it was boring. It got so boring

Amanda had called

to have

"...I see."

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

cocked her head a

"What's wrong?"

way Amanda was staring at her

'What's wrong with her.'

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

Ren when you were talking about

"Wha..t."

mouth agape, Melissa's body started

she just say what I think she

in front of her, Melissa had a sudden urge to destroy

remind her

Hell no.

was her

tightly as her teeth

of all the people you had to compare me to,

"Sorry."

be sorry at all.

Melissa's fist clenched.

ruining

Melissa took out

Gulp.

it, there was an audible gulp in the

just took

Melissa grit her teeth as she forced herself to put

had promised herself to control her

up, she forced a

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

around, Melissa glanced in Maxwell's

"Seriously?"

barely audible voice. She was

someone, it 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

'At least she knows...'

Melissa

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

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

about to leave, he thought of something and

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

his nose, a faint

conversation between the two

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

"What is it?"

on your faces when I entered

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

already left before she could

Clank—

door

reply as she

really look

mixed feelings