The Author's POV

337 Setting the pieces in motion[1]

''Two months..? Why? Since it takes you about two days for each beacon, shouldn't you be able to complete this in a month's time?" Durara asked in wonder. She seemed confused.

In response to her question, I shook my head in denial.

"That would only apply if I sorted all of Jomnuk's information. Unfortunately, I didn't. It will take a bit of time for that."

"I see."

Orion nodded in acknowledgment from the side, understanding what I was trying to say.

"Orion, I don't think it matters much whether it will take two months or not."

One of the elders spoke up, looking at Orion. He was Hutrud, the elder who'd previously doubted my capabilities. I still remembered him.

With both hands interlocked together in a display of thought, Hutrud's eyes remained fixed on the table where a small projection of the outside appeared.

He then pointed at the beacons outside of the walls.

"If we change our plans, as long as my estimate is right, once we manage to deactivate eight of the fifteen beacons, we can break the barrier completely. By then, the barrier will be too weak to withstand a full-frontal assault."

"That's true..."

Durara muttered from the side, her head repeatedly nodding in agreement.

Then, she turned to face me once more.

"I guess that's settled. Do your best in deactivating the rest of the beacons. As I've said before, you will be granted authority at the level of senior advisor. Do as you please."

"Thanks."

I replied with a disinterested look.

Since I was Karl, I had to act the part.

And it soon became apparent that my acting wasn't too far off from the original Karl. The elders merely turned a blind eye to my blatant show of disrespect.

"Since you're here, let me hear about your opinion on a certain matter."

It was then that Orion opened his mouth.

"Wait, are you planning on asking him about that matter..?"

Opening her eyes wide, Durara looked at Orion with an incredulous look.

Orion then glanced at her and the other elders present.

"Even if he's not an elder, it doesn't hurt to ask. The matter has little to no significance to us anyways."

Orion shrugged.

However, Orion wasn't being completely honest.

"I'm just asking for his opinion since he seems to have a bright head on his shoulders. Who knows, perhaps he can even come up with a good plan."

He wanted another opinion because he couldn't get rid of a nagging feeling in the back of his head.

"Well..."

"I think Orion makes a valid point, Durara.

Hutrud spoke up.

Tap.Tap.Tap.

Tapping on the table with his small, chubby blue hand, he looked at Durara and the other duergars present.

"Since he's smart enough to be able to find a way to deactivate the city's defensive system, he should be able to come up with reliable input regarding those humans."

'Humans?'

the side, the moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit

'Something's off.'

has just been promoted to senior advisor, so I guess it's

turned to glance

cold chill ran down my spine, but I

Orion started

the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please

words faded, a deathly silence

listened attentively to what they were trying to

to ask me about my opinion

for them to speak. Perhaps this was going to

did not last for long as no one spoke

slightly, Orion glanced at me from the

will now be asking you about a

recounting to me what had happened moments prior to

them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for someone, Orion

expected of them. They've

more I listened,

it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I

I took this factor into account when making my

rose to a high enough position,

is. What do you think Karl?

me out of my

"Let me think..."

head, I

could feel the eyes of every elder present, scanning

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

answer seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders showed a surprised

He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with

me more, I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started to

reason why I believe that accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor that you receive from them, we

to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

nodding my head, I

working together with the dwarves. What if we use the chance to create internal conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many humans present, we could take advantage of

the aid of

members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted

happen, they would need to do it in a way so that the others would realize humans were

the

time, he might face severe repercussions even if he

Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but to fight back, resulting in

a long term perspective, they would also

this would without a doubt, further damage

slowly breaking down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a

fronts. It

sure that they were

to succeed in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once

the elders

of the hall, I kept

to say. Now, all I have to do

it looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others,

one thing the elders didn't know, it was that I was the individual

just me trying to convince Inferno to let

to lure them to

all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find

knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and

in Inferno, their location would soon