The Author's POV

336 Infiltration [4]

[Utility center, fourth level.]

"This is a lot more complicated than I first thought."

Malvil muttered under his breath as he studied the pale green flute in front of him.

After completing his work for the day, he had spent most of his free time analysing the flute.

It was then that he realized that the flute was even more sophisticated than his original estimates.

"...Just how did they manage to make the mana flow this way?"

Touching the shaft of the flute, a white hue emanated from his finger, entering the object.

The moment mana circulated in the flute, it lit up and Malvil was able to see thin vein lines inside. His eyes locked intensely on it, his gaze enraptured.

"I see….. So, in order to create an oscillating sound, the mana is stored and released in short bursts that causes the frame of the flute to burst..."

Taking out a piece of paper, Malvil started to sketch an image of the flute.

Although there was technology that could perfectly capture an image of the flute, Malvil was the type of dwarf who preferred to use a regular pen and paper.

Sitting by the side, Ava curiously looked at Malvil. He seemed to have completely forgotten her presence. The dwarf was utterly fascinated by the flute in front of him.

Having stayed in the workshop for almost a day, she was understandably tired. Moreso than Malvil, even.

Hein and Leopold were still in the facility, but they were currently looking through the other sections, having a merry time.

It was currently just her and Malvil in the room.

"...Excuse me."

"Hm?" Malvil turned, looking at Ava curiously.

"Yer still here?" A hint of surprise in his voice.

"Yes..."

"You should probably go back, it will still take me a while before starting to fix this thing."

That was a half-truth.

Although it would indeed take him a while to fix the flute, in reality, Malvil wanted to spend more time analyzing it. Therefore, he was planning on slowing down the rate at which he was going to fix the flute.

It was selfish, but there was nothing in the world that could stop a dwarf from his craft.

'Consider this as a small payment for fixing the flute.'

Malvil mused as he put more mana into the flute.

Typically, he would've never done this kind of job, but the situation at hand was an exception.

The flute was just that intriguing.

"I can already tell you now, I won't be able to fully fix this thing immediately."

"Is that so..."

Ava dejectedly lowered her head. Her small frame looked pitiful at that moment. There was so much depending on the flute. Without it, her power would drop considerably.

With the current ongoing war, Ava couldn't wait long for the flute to be fixed. She simply didn't have that much time.

Staring at Malvil, she asked quietly, "How long do you think it will take?"

"Hmm..."

Stroking his beard, Malvil put the flute down and pondered more to himself than Ava, "Given that I still don't quite fully know the structure of the flute and the fact that I'm quite busy with other repairs, I would estimate that it would take me at least a year to fix this."

"A year?!"

widened in shock, her jaw nearly dropping to the ground. Malvil's reply was beyond her wildest

understood if it was just one week or a month, but one year was far

get fixed, then she wouldn't be able to participate in the war. It would be extremely detrimental both

reassured, "Don't worry. Although it will take me over a year to fix the flute, that doesn't mean you can't use

her head up in surprise, Ava hurriedly asked, "Really.? I can use the flute

"Ye."

smile played

it. It's not

needed relief to Ava. She put her hand

like that then there is

Rumble-!

she could finish her words, the whole structure started

"_ _!"

"What is going on?"

Ava panicked. Holding onto the side of the

"Just what in the..."

uneasy footing, Malvil took out a small device from his dimensional

a holographic image appeared before

"Oh, god almighty..."

happening outside, his jaw dropped in shock. The colour of his

unnoticed by Ava

"What is going on?"

slightly, Ava took a peek at the

"Ah!"

when her eyes fell upon the image,

because the barrier protecting the city from the

of the barriers were a wave of black demons that stretched all the way till they couldn't

The scene looked horrifying.

***

you're saying is…. you want us to help you

sounded inside of a dark

"...That is correct."

cold and emotionless

are you trying to

aged female voice sounded; it belonged to none other than Durara, one of the

present, and their gazes remained transfixed

an old man with dull grey eyes.

currently in the middle of a war? We, by ourselves, face great difficulty infiltrating the place. What makes you think that we can help you

Durara spat.

with annoyance due to the unreasonable

by Durara's words, the old man in the hologram spoke up, "I'm trying to

why should we

Another Duergar spoke up.

a monocle, the Duergar had thin white hair on top of

Orion, and he was one of the

for a human? You're not planning on asking us to do this

words were met with nods of approval from some of the

logistical constraints Inferno currently faced, to

reward, the elders of Inferno did not see the need to approve

holographic projection, the human, Mo Jinhao, squinted his eyes and spoke in a cold, dead tone devoid of the slightest trace of emotion, We can compromise then. Help us capture the human. In

"Owe us one?"

"Yes."

interest in the human piqued. To be owed

of right now, but we have a tracking system on him. With it, you should be able to locate

"I see..."

elbows on the table, Orion

the other duergars present in the hall, confirming their expressions, Orion spoke up, his voice and words on behalf of the

We'll contact you later to let

"I understand."

with an indifferent tone. Moments after, his projection disappeared from the

the hall moments

you think? Should we accept the