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?'

by the side, the moment I heard Orion mention humans,

'Something's off.'

promoted to senior advisor, so I guess

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion,

our eyes met, a cold chill ran down

mouth, Orion started

decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please let

words faded, a deathly silence permeated

happening, I listened attentively to what

of it, they want to ask me about

to speak. Perhaps this was going

the wait did not last for long as no

slightly, Orion glanced at me from

will now be asking you about a certain

slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments prior to me

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

of them. They've

I listened, the

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

account when making my plans,

to bring it up to the elders once I rose to a high enough position,

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

me out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to think for a

eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top to

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

my head, I looked at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

as both Orion

was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling

I'm interested.

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes,

accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor that you receive from

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

probably know, there's a couple of powerful humans working together with the dwarves. What if we use the chance to create internal conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many humans present,

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

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

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

continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other races turn on

saving Jomnuk, this time, he

but to fight back, resulting

long term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of

would without a doubt, further

backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf

be surrounded on all fronts. It

glancing at everyone to make sure that they were following along what I was saying, I

manage to succeed in this operation,

"...."

the hall was once again enveloped

other, the elders

of the hall, I kept a straight

Now, all I

looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and

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

words I just said were just me trying

goal was to

location of Inferno was unknown, and despite all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find it,

about the arrival of the

their location would