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 thousands and thousands of

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

they were, the more arrogant they were, making them harder

was a serious problem when guilds hired

other words, a

"Hehehe…"

sudden giggle

'This is fun...'

many diamond-graded guilds might potentially fall from their plans,

that would come

spread

head, Amanda glanced her way. Her

She then asked.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…Nothing much."

But the

gaze, Melissa came

I'm just laughing because

"Fun?"

"Yeah."

the glasses on her face once more, she pressed one of the

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

that had happened with the magic cards recently,

probably would've spent the day in the lab doing

boring. It got so boring that Melissa increased

had

was nice to have a change

"...I see."

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

her head a

"What's wrong?"

at

'What's wrong with her.'

that Amanda spoke. Her next words caused

me of Ren when you

"Wha..t."

agape, Melissa's

what I think she just

her, Melissa had a sudden urge to destroy

remind her of

Hell no.

her worst

narrowed tightly as

the people you had to compare me

"Sorry."

didn't seem to be sorry at all. Rather, she

Melissa's fist clenched.

for ruining my

the table, Melissa took

Gulp.

it, there was an audible gulp

I just took

Melissa grit her teeth as she forced herself to put the

had promised herself to control her potions

she forced

something as fun like this again, do call

in Maxwell's

"Seriously?"

in a barely audible voice. She was clearly still salty

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

still heard every one

'At least she knows...'

the area Melissa previously stood. She then shook her

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

"Understood."

Maxwell bowed down politely.

about to leave, he thought of something and called

"Young Miss..."

"Yes?"

tip of his nose, a faint smile spread across his

but overhear the conversation between the two

cocked a little as her delicate

"What is it?"

look on your faces when I entered the

"Hm?"

Amanda's face stiffened.

left before

Clank—

of the door closing, silence enveloped

Amanda didn't know how to reply as she

I really look like

mixed feelings about