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?'

the side, the moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit in

'Something's off.'

advisor, so I guess it's fine to tell

and turned to glance at Orion, who looked straight

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

his mouth, Orion

if anyone is against the decision of asking

words faded, a deathly silence permeated the

was happening, I listened attentively to

about my opinion

for them to speak. Perhaps this was

the wait did not last for long as no

head slightly, Orion glanced at me from

the others have agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since

recounting to me what had happened moments

trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how

them. They've finally

listened, the greater my

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

into account when making my plans, and the timing

to the elders once I rose to a high enough

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

out of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

my head, I pretended to think for

feel the eyes of every

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

raising my head, I looked at Orion and

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders

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

interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

gazes, I started to

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

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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, we could take advantage of the situation and create a scenario in which we frame the humans

like the dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an artifact, so could the

have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have

they would need to do it in a

the duergars could have the Dwarf

at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face

have no choice but to fight back,

long term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of

that, doing this would without

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

be surrounded on all fronts. It

at everyone to make sure that they were following along what I

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

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once

other, the

in the middle of the hall, I kept

to say. Now, all

looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and

know, it was

words I just said were just me trying to

to lure them

unknown, and despite all of

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

in Inferno, their location would soon be