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 moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit in consternation. Albeit,

'Something's off.'

senior advisor, so I guess

relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked straight at

cold chill ran down

Orion started

decision of asking

faded, a deathly

sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what they were

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

for them to speak.

did not last for long as no one

Orion glanced at

I will now be asking you about a certain

to me what had happened moments prior to me

their help in infiltrating Henolur

of them. They've

more I listened, the

I expected it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they wouldn't let go of

fact, I took this factor into account when making my plans, and the timing

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

it is. What do you think

my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to think

of

in the mask,

I looked at Orion and

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and the elders showed

He leaned

me more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

gazes,

is because, aside from the favor that you receive from them, we

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

use the chance to create internal conflicts amongst them? Although

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

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

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

the Dwarf race

Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions

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

would also lose all possibility of

would without a doubt, further damage the

down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a whole would decrease

on all fronts.

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

is hard and a 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

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped

other, the

the hall, I kept a

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

purposely screwing Waylan and the

thing the elders didn't know, it was that

me trying to convince Inferno

was to lure

all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to

Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

in Inferno, their location would soon be exposed, and that