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?'

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

'Something's off.'

just been promoted to senior advisor, so I

and turned to glance at

eyes met, a cold chill ran down my spine, but I

his mouth, Orion started to

the decision of asking Karl

a deathly

happening, I listened

the looks of it, they want to ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow related

to speak. Perhaps this was going to

last for long

his head slightly, Orion glanced at me from the

will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a

was then that Orion slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments

how the Monolith was trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching

expected of them. They've

more I listened,

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

account when making my plans, and the timing couldn't

elders once I rose to a high enough position, but

that is how it is. What do you think Karl? Should we accept

me out of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

head, I pretended to think for

thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder

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

my head, I looked at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

as both Orion and

one to recover was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes

more, I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started

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

to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting, he

"That is correct."

way, nodding my

internal conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many humans present, we

the aid

helped the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around killing random soldiers

need to do it in a way so that the others

as that continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf race

failure at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions even if he was

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

a long term perspective, they would also lose all possibility

from that, doing this would without a doubt, further damage the dwarves'

turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race

on all fronts. It would be

sure that they were following along

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

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was

the

the hall, I kept a

already said what I needed to say. Now, all I have to do is wait

it looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and

it was that I was

I just said were just me trying

to

Inferno was unknown, and despite all of the dwarves'

what if Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed

in Inferno, their location would soon be