The Author's POV

335 Infiltration [3]

[Henolur, Elder council]

A deathly silence enveloped the hall.

"…what did you just say?"

Gernis's solemn voice echoed across the hall.

A terrifying pressure spread out from his small and aged body, completely enveloping the hall.

Subjected to such pressure, Waylan merely frowned.

Having been with Douglas for a long time, he was already used to the pressure. Although Gernis was indeed higher ranked than Douglas, at the end of the day, the dwarves weren't really a combat-oriented race. They were craftsmen, not warriors. They didn't possess the bloodlust or battle-aura frontline fighters did, not to the same extent.

The pressure wasn't anything that Waylan couldn't handle.

"Haaaa..."

Closing his eyes and breathing out, Waylan opened his eyes and stared directly at Gernis.

"I'll say it again. Give me a chance, and I will help you end this war."

"Pftt..."

Once Waylan's words faded, the dwarf with red eyebrows, Randur, burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, I can't-I can't believe this! What kind of nonsense is this?"'

Slapping the table, Randur continued to laugh for a solid minute.

It was only when he realized that everyone's attention was on him that he finally stopped laughing.

Looking around, he asked with a deadpan look, "What? dinna ye guys also find his delusions funny?"

"This be nae laughing matter, Randur."

Gernis spoke gravely, the look on his face severe.

"Don't tell me you actually believe his words?" Randur asked with an incredulous look.

To him, it was clear to see that Waylan was merely spouting nonsense to save himself.

Leaning his body forward, he looked towards the other dwarves present before pointing at Waylan.

"Stop tha war? bah, if he cou've done it, he wou've done it 'afore. Why now? he's clearly just trying ta save his ass. I'm sure yer all smart enough ta understand this, right?"

Unexpectedly, Randur was met with silence. No one spoke up.

The silence further enraged him. He glared at everyone present.

"Have low have we fallen for you guys to not realize this, eh?!"

In reality, everybody shared the same thoughts as Randur. However, unlike Randur, they didn't speak up because of Gernis.

The solemnity clouding his face prevented them from speaking up. He had a grim aura surrounding him, one that seemed to suffocate the air itself.

No one was as fearless as Randur in that situation.

Fortunately for Randur, Gernis didn't seem to mind his words. The latter seemed too preoccupied with Waylan's actions. All of his attention seemed focused on the human before him.

Staring at him for quite a while, he asked.

"...How confident are you in your words?"

"Very."

Waylan flatly replied.

Looking at the other dwarves present, he straightened his back.

"If you give me a chance, I'll do what I said I will do."

"Hmm.."

at Waylan's confident expression, Gernis's brows

said sounded absurd, his fearless expression planted a seed of doubt inside of

could he? Was

through, Gernis

going to be something extreme like an execution. After all, although he was one of the main people responsible for the failure, they too were at fault for

before, things were

situation with

stop the war, he had aggravated the situation. If before he couldn't have been executed for a failure not entirely on him, he

was betting on his

determination made Gernis think that

be stupid enough to worsen

bet would take

got me interest. Tell me what

"I apologize."

Gernis expected. lowering his

this, Gernis's

playing with

at all

It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I just don't

"Why is that?"

Waylan shrugged his shoulders and looked at

his brow, he indifferently

was then that it finally dawned on

reason why Waylan was not saying anything was because he was afraid that a spy hid

his words as all of those present in the room

with his words as

nonsense is this? You first say you can stop the war and then you insinuate that there

dwarf was none other than

face was twisted with

only one that thought in such a

quiet didn't want to annoy Gernis,

kinna believe ye guys be even listening ta

his words be right? what if he

dwarves seated finally

his head in the dwarf's

even we don't know? And why only now? Something ain't addin' up! I dinna and winna

make a

in, much to

"Then..."

caused

him a chance ta prove himself ta us. Since Jomnuk has been kidnapped, we have nothing ta lose. It's nae like we're going ta let him

his attention back

witness o' everyone present, I grant ye tha power ta carry on with tha plans ye have. If ye manage ta successfully do as ye've said, nae only will we clear ye O' your

elders present, especially Randur who blanky sat there with his mouth hung open. But, before anyone could even

be

respected person, the other dwarves present could do nothing but

be because o' Douglas. Me faith be nae with ye but with Douglas. If ye try anything funny, ye will nae be tha only one that will suffer tha

his eyes, Waylan nodded his

I will do my best to

we

head left and right,

all for now. If Waylan needs something, try your best to

"Understood."

displeased,

the dwarf that

was going as

***

Gulp-!

of me. At this point, my eyes were bloodshot and my mana was all the way down to ten percent of full

I had managed to last for another eight

long since managed to infiltrate

wanted, I

was only a matter

Cli Clank-!

behind me opened up. The guard that brought me

to

"On with it."