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, my brows knit

'Something's off.'

senior advisor, so

to glance at Orion, who looked straight at

moment our eyes met, a cold chill ran down

Orion started

the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please let me

faded, a deathly

was happening, I listened attentively to what they

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

patiently waited for them to

last for long as no one spoke

head slightly, Orion glanced

a certain matter. Since

slowly started recounting to me what had

in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were

expected of them.

listened,

Xavier back in the forest and

when making my plans, and the timing couldn't

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

that is how it is. What do you think

out of my

"Let me think..."

of my head, I pretended

was thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top to

confident in the mask,

Orion and the other elders

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion and the

to recover was Orion. He leaned forward,

me more, I'm interested. Why should

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started to

the favor

referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

nodding my head, I

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

demonic energy with the aid of an artifact,

themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around killing

they would need to do it in a way so that the others would realize humans

the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other races

he might face severe

that point, Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but to fight back, resulting

long term perspective, they would also lose

without a doubt, further damage the

the barrier slowly breaking down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the

fronts. It

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

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

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped

other, the elders showed

the middle of the hall, I

to say. Now, all I have to do is wait for their

I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was

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

just said were just me trying to convince

real goal was to lure them to

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

knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them from a

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