Michelle
We are probably going to die, I said quietly while sipping the alcohol Clarissa had provided in her office. She had invited here after the eting.
You are more likely to survive than , 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 soone elses face for once. I get asked that question. I wanted to ask it of soone 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.
Sothing to fix. I know the cities were working on differentiating from each other, but that kind of thing takes ti. 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 ti 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 .
Um, three? I guessed.
More like ten. Stealing, corruption, and people thinking they can make so 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 sothing. Like the governor of the Forbidden City. He tried to have assassinated, thinking he could replace , 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 governnt 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 aning of the word relax. And if he wasnt working as hard as he was, then we would have no chance against this threat, Clarissa exclaid and then sagged backwards in her chair.
I diate a lot, to check for the ntal effects of my summons. I find that helps keep steady, I replied.
If only it were that easy to get people to listen. Just ditate at them. The only thing that is truly endless is the never-ending tidal wave of stupidity I have to deal with. This is why I didnt go into governnt work back on Earth. A nice corporate job. Sure there are office politics, but at least everyone is trying to make the company do better, or just lazy. But in politics, everyone has their own idea, and think their shit slls best. Well let tell you, it all stinks, Clarissa said and poured herself a fourth glass.
I got up and picked up the bottle and moved it away. She gave a look but then shrugged. Dont want you hung over for tomorrow, I said.
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Probably for the best. I cant believe I volunteered to go. Well if I die, at least I wont have to worry about running this clown show any more. Michael can just murder his way through the bureaucracy himself, Clarissa chuckled at that comnt.
He probably would, wouldnt he? I asked with a sigh.
He would try. Dont get wrong. But he doesnt have the patience or the interpersonal skills to work day in and day out in a governnt setting. And he would beco the next Divine Empress. This crisis couldnt have co at a worse ti. Not like any ti was good, Clarissa said.
Well, I have faith that we will win. It wont be easy, but we have pulled through tough spots before, I said.
I like your optimism. But this entire place is falling apart. I am less worried about winning, but more worried about rebuilding after. If Purgatory has sunk into the ground, how are we even going to get it out? Clarissa asked.
Tell soone to figure it out. I an Jacob seems capable.
And his background is questionable. Also knowing how to handle energy doesnt make one capable of working out solutions when your capital is sunken into the ground. I am just complaining, but you understand, Clarissa gave a questioning look.
Yes. I understand. Everyone thinks it is great to be on Michaels team. There are perks, but it is also exhausting. Getting all those crafting crystals. I want a break after this crisis, a long one. But I will be needed to keep grinding. I dont know how he does it, I complained a bit as well.
Spite and he doesnt know what else to do. I know he says he wants to determine his own future and being in control. Sure, but to keep going as he has with plans to not stop, that takes spite. Fear will only carry you so far before it wears away. But spite, well that can keep you warm as you plot revenge, Clarissa said.
Revenge against what? I asked.
Against everything. The System. I have no idea. But I say spite. And he doesnt know what else to do. A form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well. He just doesnt know what else to do but fight. He needs an opponent to focus on. Not whatever existential crisis threatens him, Clarissa muttered.
That none of this is real? I asked and Clarissa nodded.
We all think that. But it really got to him with the sphere. He had so good points, but he was overthinking the situation. I dont know. Look at complain. I dont like drinking alone and there arent many people I can drink with, Clarissa said.
What is this stuff? I feel a bit woozy, I said while looking at my glass.
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 so research, and I kept the production thod. 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 bla her.
At least we can do sothing. If his ta-point, I am practically useless now, I said.
Beco the new supre governor. Clarissa stared at . I am being serious. You have the stats. Michael trusts you. You can run everything while I retire.
After what you told , I am dont think so. I am not very good with people, I bowed my head at that statent.
Well, if you change your mind, let know. I just have to be sure that whoever runs this place doesnt screw up and need 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 quit. He respects 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 ss, 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 soone removed in a public way. Resentnt and fear build up. And then over ti those feelings disappear. Which ans 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 a smile.
I hope so. Well now it is ti for you to step up tomorrow. Can you handle the defense? Clarissa asked while staring at 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 trendous amount of pressure on . Clarissa sipped the last of her glass of alcohol as did I.
Tomorrow would be incredibly hard. I felt fear, for the first ti in a long ti. 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.
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