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.."

expression,

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

it? Or could he? Was he really just saying this to

thinking things through,

failure, it wasn't going to be something extreme like an execution. After all, although he was one of the main

before, things were

situation with his

saying something like he could stop the war, he had aggravated the situation. If before he couldn't have been executed for a failure not entirely on him, he would be guaranteed death for

betting on his

and determination made Gernis

be stupid enough to worsen their

decided to see where this bet

got me interest. Tell

"I apologize."

expected.

this, Gernis's face

you playing with

at

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

"Why is that?"

his shoulders and

brow, he

why?" It was

was because he was afraid that a spy hid

who understood his words as all of those present in the

happy with his words as

this? You first say you can stop the war and then you insinuate that there might be a spy amongst us? Are you purposely trying to create a rift among

dwarf was none other than

was

he seemed to have this sort of vendetta against Waylan. In fact, he wasn't the only one that thought in such a way, but unlike the rest, Randur

the ones who kept quiet didn't want to annoy Gernis, someone whom they

ye guys be even listening ta him! Ye

ye feel, Randur, but what if his words be right? what if

dwarves seated finally

in the

why only now? Something ain't addin'

make a valuable

in, much to

"Then..."

next words caused Randur's

ta prove himself ta us. Since Jomnuk has been kidnapped,

turned his attention

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 failure, but we'll also award ye with

there with his

be the

he was the most powerful and respected person, the other dwarves present could do nothing but remain seated

turning his attention back to Waylan, Gernis continued, "Waylan, tha only reason why I'm giving ye this chance be because o' Douglas. Me faith be nae with ye but with Douglas. If

his eyes, Waylan nodded

my

we wish

head left and right, Gernis

Waylan needs something,

"Understood."

though displeased, the

what the others did not know was that once the decision had been made, both Randur, the dwarf that seemed to have a vendetta against Waylan, and Waylan, smiled, in a way similar but all too

was going as

***

Gulp-!

another potion, my eyes remained transfixed on the panel in front of me. At this point, my eyes were bloodshot and my

I had managed to last for

managed to infiltrate the

I

was only a matter of

Cli Clank-!

The guard

here to

"On with it."