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

'Something's off.'

advisor, so I guess it's fine to

glance

met, a cold chill ran

Orion started to

of asking Karl for

words faded, a deathly silence permeated

I wasn't sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what

ask me about my

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

did not last for long as no

glanced at me from the

asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months

Orion slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments prior

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

them.

listened, the greater

in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly,

this factor into account when making my plans, and the

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

do you think Karl? Should we

my thoughts

"Let me think..."

my head, I pretended to

eyes of

confident in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

I looked at Orion and the other elders in

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both

Orion. He leaned forward, his

me more, I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started to

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

you referring to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

my

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 and pit them

the dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an

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

to do it in a way so that the others would realize humans were responsible for

as that continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf

time, he might face severe repercussions

choice but to fight back, resulting in the

also

would without a doubt,

barrier slowly breaking down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a

would be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

they were

lot 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

"...."

the hall was once again enveloped in

each other, the elders

the middle of the hall, I kept a

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

was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was

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

just said were just me

to lure

unknown, and despite all of the dwarves'

what if Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members

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