Chapter 622: Day 5,144 (3) – Girl’s Night

Chapter 622: Day 5,144 (3) – Girl’s Night

Michelle

We are probably going to die, I said quietly while sipping the alcohol Clarissa had provided in her office. She had invited me here after the meeting.

You are more likely to survive than me, Clarissa replied and raised her glass. I am curious, are you and Michael a couple?

What?! No, I quickly replied, and Clarissa laughed. Why are you laughing? I didnt want to be insulted.

I am not making fun of you. It is just amusing to see that look on someone elses face for once. I get asked that question. I wanted to ask it of someone else for once, Clarissa said and I let out a huff at that.

So, you two arent togeather? I asked. I was curious about that as well.

We are friends but nothing more. He doesnt like to mix work and pleasure, and everything is work, Clarissa shared. I nodded at that.

Too bad there is no place to go for a vacation, I said while thinking of a sunny beach. The level 5 zones didnt count.

Something to fix. I know the cities were working on differentiating from each other, but that kind of thing takes time. Now it is all gone. Just poof. All those cities, revenue, organizational structures, wiped out. If we all live but dont win, I am going to quit, Clarissa said while pouring herself another glass.

Cant you delegate? I asked, thinking about how I handled my summons.

I do that, but I still have to keep an eye on things. It also took time to train people up. And after all that, the occasional person gets a case of terminal stupidity. How many governors do you think I have had killed in the last ten years? Clarissa asked me.

Um, three? I guessed.

More like ten. Stealing, corruption, and people thinking they can make some kind of power play. That I will be do busy not to pick up on it. Thinking that they can bribe or plead their way out. And I hand picked them as well. But that didnt stop them from thinking they could do something. Like the governor of the Forbidden City. He tried to have me assassinated, thinking he could replace me, Clarissa said with a scoff.

You didnt bring any of that up to Michael, why? I asked.

Because he doesnt want to deal with it. Before this crisis I would have said killing is busy, building and maintaining is far harder. Since I cant just kill everyone. If it gets out how many people I have had to kill, there will be public unrest. And this government will spiral down the path of the Dragon Empire. It already is, Clarissa said and poured herself a third glass of alcohol while I was still sipping my first one.

You cant retire, since there is no one to replace you, I said.

Exactly. You get it. That was why I invited you. Us girls need to stick togeather. Working every day to the bone. And I cant even complain to Michael about that because he works harder than anyone else. I dont think he understands the meaning of the word relax. And if he wasnt working as hard as he was, then we would have no chance against this threat, Clarissa exclaimed and then sagged backwards in her chair.

Energy infused alcohol. It isnt a simple process, and if you dont have the stats, you will die. But it is the best way to get drunk around this place. A single bottle costs a million points, Clarissa said, and I looked at my glass.

Thats a lot, I replied.

It was made during some research, and I kept the production method. Slowly stocking up on bottles long term as a luxury good to sell. If Purgatory disappears, this is the very last bottle we are drinking. Since all that infrastructure will be gone. Records, people, just woosh. There one day, gone the next, Clarissa said bitterly. She clearly had strong feelings about the current situation, and I didnt blame her.

At least we can do something. If his meta-point, I am practically useless now, I said.

Become the new supreme governor. Clarissa stared at me. I am being serious. You have the stats. Michael trusts you. You can run everything while I retire.

After what you told me, I am dont think so. I am not very good with people, I bowed my head at that statement.

Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I just have to be sure that whoever runs this place doesnt screw up and need me to take back over. I cant step down either, since Michael will refuse, Clarissa said.

He wont let you quit? But he has let teammates quit in the past is my understanding, I asked.

Oh, he will let me quit. He respects me too much to make a fuss. But there is no one else with the level of trust that I have with him that can run things. I was hoping Samantha, but she just doesnt have the backbone needed. I gave her a couple of trial runs, but she just couldnt cope.

You cant just restructure things or train people up? I asked.

What do you think I am doing and why I am complaining? If it were that easy running this mess, anyone could do it. But it takes actual work and people skills to be in my role. Also killing people if they purposely cause issues.

You could share that? Not like you can be removed, I countered.

A threat works better when it isnt nakedly used. A lot of issues are follow up problems after having someone removed in a public way. Resentment and fear build up. And then over time those feelings disappear. Which means more executions to stop people from giving into their stupidity. And then we are Dragon Empire number two, Clarissa explained.

Well, you have done a great job. So, thank you for that, I said and Clarissa gave me a smile.

I hope so. Well now it is time for you to step up tomorrow. Can you handle the defense? Clarissa asked me while staring at me intently.

I think so. My life will be on the line as well, I replied. I could tell she was asking with how nervous she was. Clarissa wasnt a fighter. Her life depended on my skills and ability to deploy my summons. There was a tremendous amount of pressure on me. Clarissa sipped the last of her glass of alcohol as did I.

Tomorrow would be incredibly hard. I felt fear, for the first time in a long time. Even with all my talent, practice, and summons I wasnt sure if I could win against an opponent of the caliber we would be facing.