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?'

heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit in consternation.

'Something's off.'

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

glance

a cold chill ran down

mouth, Orion started to

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

faded, a deathly

was happening, I listened attentively to what they were trying

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

to speak. Perhaps this was

the wait did not last for long

slightly, Orion glanced at

asking you about a

then that Orion slowly started recounting to me what had happened

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

of them.

more I listened,

Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that

this factor into account when making my plans, and the timing couldn't have been

it up to the elders once I rose to a high

do you think Karl? Should

out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

the side of my head, I pretended to think for a

of every elder present,

was confident in the mask, my heartbeat

looked at Orion and

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders

recover was Orion. He

me more, I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

expectant gazes,

aside from the

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many

energy with the aid of an artifact, so could

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

do it in a way so

could have the

at saving Jomnuk, this time, he

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

would also lose all

that, doing this would without a doubt, further damage the

on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a

all fronts.

make sure that they were following along

we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy the dwarves before we can even remove the

"...."

the hall was once again enveloped

the elders

in the middle of the hall,

needed to say. Now, all I have to do

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

know, it was

me trying

real goal was to lure them

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

and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members

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