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?'

humans,

'Something's off.'

promoted to senior advisor, so

relented and turned to glance

a cold chill ran down my spine, but I

mouth, Orion started

anyone is against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please

faded, a deathly

listened attentively

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

such, I just patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going to be important

last for long as no one spoke

head slightly, Orion glanced at

I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months ago, a human

to me what had happened moments

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

of them.

listened, the greater my

I expected it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they wouldn't let go of

account when making

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

you think Karl? Should we

out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

the side of my head, I pretended

the eyes of every elder present,

confident in the mask,

I looked at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and

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

interested. Why should

"…Okay."

gazes, I

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

to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

my head,

them? Although

the aid of

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

need to do it in a way

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

he might face severe repercussions

would have no choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves

would also lose all possibility of allying

this would without a doubt,

everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale

would be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

make sure that they were following

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

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once

the elders

the middle of the hall, I kept a straight

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

Waylan and the others, this was only on the

elders didn't know, it was that I

words I just said were just me trying to convince

goal was to

all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find it,

knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

led to me, and I was in Inferno, their location