In his thoughts, Alister called out, ‘Terra, what do you think? How should I approach this?’
Terra’s voice rang in his thoughts as she replied, ‘My lord, the fact she still demands an answer from you means she is still not completely sure of all she knows.’
‘Meaning unless you openly admit it, she can’t hold anything against you.’
Alister smiled slightly. ‘You have a point there,’ he responded.
‘But besides that, my lord, if you wish for her to not become problematic, you have only two choices.’
‘And those are?’
‘Either you completely get rid of her, or you convince her to take a more civil approach towards things.’
‘Given the fact she is a rather influential figure and could also be said to be one of the pillars of this city’s economy, I would say getting rid of her is off the table.’ freewebnovel.cσ๓
‘So you are going to have to convince her to take a calmer approach towards things. Here is my suggestion.’
Terra then told Alister all he needed to know on how to approach things. Once she was done, Alister was impressed. ‘I must say I am satisfied with your idea. Well done, Terra.’
‘I’m glad I could be of service, my lord.’
‘But my lord, I feel it necessary to point out, from what I can see I do not belive how she is acting is genuine.’
‘Genuine? What do you mean?’
‘I belive she is putting up an act.’
‘Why would she?’
‘That I am uncertain, regardless, you may proceed as I told you to.’
Alister took a deep breath. “So, you want Spade dead?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, gauging her reaction.
Anya straightened. “Because he harmed me and my teammates. Their performance in the Wasteland Display event was greatly affected because of him. We lost valuable opportunities that we can’t get back.”
Alister raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice. “So basically, he owes you money?”
Anya’s brow furrowed, confusion flashing in her eyes. “What!?”
Alister shrugged nonchalantly. “I mean, the winners of the Wasteland Display event get bragging rights and a bunch of union credits, right? So, if he messed up your team’s performance, does that mean he owes you? I just figured-”
“Are you trying to downplay what you did?” Anya interrupted, her voice low but sharp, the weight of her anger filling the space between them.
“Downplay?” Alister chuckled lightly, his demeanor unflinching. “Ma’am, please calm down. When did I ever say I was the one who did it?”
Anya’s eyes narrowed as she took a step forward, her mana flaring around her in a brilliant display of power, illuminating the balcony with a vibrant hue. “Look, don’t think you can play games with me, Alister. This isn’t a joke.”
Alister raised his hands in mock surrender, his expression still calm. “I’m just trying to understand the stakes here. You’re talking about wanting him dead over a competition? Surely there’s more to it than that.”
“More?” Anya echoed, her tone firm. “There’s always more at stake than you realize. Every competition is an opportunity to prove our strength and worth. When Spade harmed my team, he not only affected our standing but our reputation as well. In this world, reputation can dictate the rise or fall of a guild.”
Alister studied her for a moment, the boldness in her voice contrasting with the storm brewing behind her calm facade. “So you’re saying this is about more than just the event? It’s personal?”
“It’s about the principle of the matter,” Anya replied, crossing her arms. “When someone undermines our efforts, it’s not just a slap in the face; it’s a challenge to our authority. You wouldn’t understand unless you’ve been in a position to lead. Everything we do reflects on us as a guild.”
“Sounds like you’re saying revenge is justified, then,” Alister remarked, a hint of defiance creeping into his tone.
Alister leaned forward slightly, a calculating look in his eyes. “So wouldn’t it be better to gain all you can from this revenge?”
Anya calmed down slightly, her frown deepening as she asked, “What are you getting at?”
Alister raised a hand, emphasizing, “Now, don’t misinterpret this. I’m not Spade; I’m simply offering what I believe will be the best way to approach the matter.”
Anya’s interest piqued, her posture relaxing just a bit. “Go on.”
“Since it was under your leadership that Spade dealt such a heavy blow to your guild’s reputation…”
“…then certainly it also falls on your shoulders to regain your guild’s reputation, that much is clear.”
“So, it would be best for you to personally seek out Spade and stream a live broadcast of your match. By doing so, when you win, you can not only claim honor for your teammates but also restore your reputation. You’ll show everyone what happens to those who dare to go against the Berserkers.”
Anya crossed her arms, contemplating his words. “You think a public match will be enough to turn this around?”
Alister nodded, his voice steady. “Absolutely. A well-executed victory not only elevates your standing but also sends a message. It demonstrates that you and your guild are not to be trifled with. Think of the exposure; you’ll gain supporters and maybe even new recruits. Everyone loves a comeback story.”
Anya looked thoughtful, her expression softening as she considered the implications. “So, you’re suggesting I turn this situation into an opportunity?”
“Exactly,” Alister encouraged.
Anya leaned back, crossing her arms with a sly smile. “So, when will you be free so we can
have that sparring match?”
Alister blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Anya rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. Did you really think just because you had a clever idea, I’d drop the fact that you’re Spade?”
He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Ma’am, are you seriously suggesting that you, a seasoned guild leader, were bested by a summoner in a fistfight? And someone who’s barely been a guild member for half a year at that? How believable does that sound?”