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

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

were, the more arrogant they were, making

serious problem when guilds hired

in other words, a

"Hehehe…"

giggle escaped Melissa's

'This is fun...'

fall from their plans,

money that would come

spread across her

turning her head, Amanda glanced her way.

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

the smile on

under Amanda's gaze, Melissa

laughing because this

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

once more, she pressed one of the

is a lot more entertaining than I originally thought. Kind

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

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

had called

have a change of

"...I see."

some time to reply. The look on her face

her head a

"What's wrong?"

was staring at her made

'What's wrong with her.'

then that Amanda spoke. Her

that you reminded me of Ren when you were

"Wha..t."

her mouth agape, Melissa's

say what I think she just

of her, Melissa had a sudden urge to destroy

remind her of

Hell no.

her worst

eyes eventually narrowed tightly as her

of all the people you had to compare me

"Sorry."

to be sorry at all. Rather, she had a look filled

Melissa's fist clenched.

for ruining my

Melissa

Gulp.

staring at it, there was an audible

just took

her teeth as she forced herself to put the potion

had promised herself to control her

she

as fun like

in Maxwell's way before heading for the

"Seriously?"

the way, she whispered in a barely audible voice. She was clearly still salty

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

spite of the whispers, Amanda still heard every

'At least she knows...'

the area Melissa previously stood. She then shook her head and

elders. Report to me

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

he thought of something and

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

his nose, a faint smile

the conversation between the two of you, and

his sentence, Amanda's head cocked a

"What is it?"

you had the same look on your faces when

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

left before she could ask him to

Clank—

the door

how to reply as she

I really look like

had mixed feelings about