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 didn’t want to be insulted.

“I am not making fun of you. It is just amusing to see that look on someone else’s 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 aren’t togeather?” I asked. I was curious about that as well.

“We are friends but nothing more. He doesn’t 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 didn’t 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 don’t win, I am going to quit,” Clarissa said while pouring herself another glass.

“Can’t 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 didn’t 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 didn’t bring any of that up to Michael, why?” I asked.

“Because he doesn’t want to deal with it. Before this crisis I would have said killing is busy, building and maintaining is far harder. Since I can’t 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 can’t 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 can’t even complain to Michael about that because he works harder than anyone else. I don’t think he understands the meaning of the word relax. And if he wasn’t working as hard as he was, then we would have no chance against this threat,” Clarissa exclaimed and then sagged backwards in her chair.

“I mediate a lot, to check for the mental effects of my summons. I find that helps keep me steady,” I replied.

“If only it were that easy to get people to listen. Just meditate 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 didn’t go into government 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 smells best. Well let me 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 me a look but then shrugged. “Don’t want you hung over for tomorrow,” I said.

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“Probably for the best. I can’t believe I volunteered to go. Well if I die, at least I won’t have to worry about running this clown show any more. Michael can just murder his way through the bureaucracy himself,” Clarissa chuckled at that comment.

“He probably would, wouldn’t he?” I asked with a sigh.

“He would try. Don’t get me wrong. But he doesn’t have the patience or the interpersonal skills to work day in and day out in a government setting. And he would become the next Divine Empress. This crisis couldn’t have come at a worse time. Not like any time was good,” Clarissa said.

“Well, I have faith that we will win. It won’t 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 someone to figure it out. I mean Jacob seems capable.”

“And his background is questionable. Also knowing how to handle energy doesn’t make one capable of working out solutions when your capital is sunken into the ground. I am just complaining, but you understand,” Clarissa gave me a questioning look.

“Yes. I understand. Everyone thinks it is great to be on Michael’s 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 don’t know how he does it,” I complained a bit as well.

“Spite and he doesn’t 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 doesn’t know what else to do. A form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well. He just doesn’t 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 some good points, but he was overthinking the situation. I don’t know. Look at me complain. I don’t like drinking alone and there aren’t 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 isn’t a simple process, and if you don’t 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.

“That’s 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 didn’t 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 don’t 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 doesn’t screw up and need me to take back over. I can’t step down either, since Michael will refuse,” Clarissa said.

“He won’t 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 doesn’t have the backbone needed. I gave her a couple of trial runs, but she just couldn’t cope.”

“You can’t 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 isn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t sure if I could win against an opponent of the caliber we would be facing.