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?'

moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit in consternation. Albeit, for but a single

'Something's off.'

to senior advisor, so I guess it's fine to

glance at Orion, who looked

met, a cold chill ran down my spine,

Orion

of asking Karl for his opinion,

faded, a deathly silence

I wasn't sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what

about my opinion on

I just patiently waited for them to

for

slightly, Orion glanced at me from

you about a certain

slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments prior

get their help in infiltrating Henolur

of them.

I listened, the

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

when making my plans, and the timing couldn't have been

to bring it up to the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like that

is how it is. What do you think Karl?

of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

the side of my head, I pretended to think for

feel the eyes of every elder present,

I was confident in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

my head, I looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

unexpected as both Orion and

was Orion. He leaned

me more, I'm interested. Why should

"…Okay."

gazes,

is ideal is because, aside from the favor that you receive from them, we can also use their presence

referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

the chance to create internal conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many humans present, we could take advantage of the situation and create a scenario in which we frame the humans and pit them against the

could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an artifact, so could the duergars accomplish the

helped the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars

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

duergars could have the Dwarf race

Waylan's failure at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions even

have no choice but to

term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying

this would without

breaking down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of

on all fronts. It would be a despairing

and glancing at everyone to make sure that they were following

be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy the dwarves before we

"...."

the hall was once again

towards each other, the elders showed

of the hall, I kept a

all I have to do is wait for their

was purposely screwing Waylan and

the elders didn't know, it was that I

were just me trying to convince Inferno

to lure

all of

Douglas knew about the arrival of the

in Inferno, their location would soon be exposed, and that was when the true fun would