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

fearless expression planted a seed of doubt inside of the old dwarf's

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

through,

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

before, things

escalated the situation with his

before he couldn't have been executed for a failure not entirely on

betting

sheer gravity of Waylan's words and determination made Gernis think

one would be stupid enough to worsen their

where this bet would take the future of the

me interest. Tell me what your plan

"I apologize."

contrary to what Gernis expected. lowering his head, Waylan

this, Gernis's face

playing

and glanced at

I don't want to tell you, but I just don't really think

"Why is that?"

his head, Waylan shrugged his shoulders and looked

brow,

was then

was afraid that a spy hid amongst one of the

all of those present in

with

nonsense is 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

dwarf was none other

face was twisted with

he seemed to have this sort of vendetta against Waylan. In fact, he wasn't the only one that

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

guys be even listening ta

right? what if

the dwarves seated finally spoke up and addressed

the dwarf's

can he know when even we don't know? And why only now? Something

make a

chimed in, much

"Then..."

caused Randur's face to

ta prove himself ta us. Since Jomnuk has been kidnapped, we have nothing ta

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

blanky sat there with his mouth hung open. But, before anyone could even protest, Gernis raised his

my mind. 'Tis shall be the final decision. You can't

dwarves present could do nothing

giving ye this chance be because o' Douglas. Me faith be nae with ye but with Douglas.

his eyes, Waylan

will do my best to

all we wish

his head left and right, Gernis stood

is all for now. If Waylan needs

"Understood."

up, though displeased, the other dwarves

the others did not know was that once the decision had been made, both Randur, the dwarf that seemed to have a vendetta

was going as

***

Gulp-!

the panel in front of me. At this point, my

to

long since managed to

I could deactivate

a matter

Cli Clank-!

behind me opened up. The guard that brought me here came

here to relay a

"On with it."