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.."

Waylan's confident expression, Gernis's brows knit in

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

could actually do it? Or could he? Was

things through, Gernis

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 being

that was before,

escalated the situation with his

executed for a failure not

was betting on

words and determination

would be stupid enough

where this bet would take the future of the

interest. Tell me

"I apologize."

contrary to what Gernis expected. lowering his

this, Gernis's face

playing

and glanced at all of the individuals seated in

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

"Why is that?"

shoulders and

his brow,

obvious why?" It was then that it finally dawned on

was because he was

only one who understood his words as all of those present in the

with

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

face was twisted

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

who kept quiet didn't want to annoy Gernis, someone

even listening ta

his words be right? what if he truly knows o' a way

finally spoke

in the

only now? Something ain't addin' up! I dinna

make a valuable point,

chimed in, much

"Then..."

caused Randur's face

has been kidnapped, we have nothing ta

turned his attention back towards

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,

Randur who blanky sat there

up my mind. 'Tis shall be the

could do nothing but remain seated in quiet. Displeasure could be seen

ye this chance 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

his eyes, Waylan nodded

will do my

we

head left and right,

is all for now. If Waylan needs something, try

"Understood."

up, though displeased, the other

made, both Randur, the dwarf that seemed to have a vendetta against Waylan, and

was going as

***

Gulp-!

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

I had managed to

managed to infiltrate the

I wanted, I could

a

Cli Clank-!

door behind me opened up. The

here to

"On with it."