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,

'Something's off.'

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

relented and turned to glance

a cold chill ran down my

his mouth, Orion started

against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion,

a deathly silence permeated the

I 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

for long as

head slightly, Orion glanced at me from the

be asking you about a certain matter.

Orion slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments prior

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

of them. They've

more I listened, the greater my

forest and

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

elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like that was no longer

you think Karl? Should we accept the offer or

my

"Let me think..."

the side of my head, I pretended to

feel the eyes of every

mask, my

I looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and the elders showed a

He leaned forward, his

interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

gazes, I

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

to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

my head,

them? Although there aren't many humans present, we could take advantage of the situation and create a

like the dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid

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

do it in a way

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

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

choice but to fight back, resulting in

also lose all

would without a

their backs on the humans, the morale of the

would be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a despairing

to make sure that they were following along what

in this operation, we might

"...."

speaking, the hall was once again

towards each other, the

in the middle of the hall, I kept a

say. Now, all I have to

like I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only

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

words I just said were just me

to lure them

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

Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of

to me, and I was in Inferno, their location would soon be exposed, and that was when the