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?'

mention humans, my brows knit in consternation. Albeit, for

'Something's off.'

senior advisor, so I guess it's fine to

glance at Orion, who looked

ran down my spine,

Orion

the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please let

a deathly silence permeated the

sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what they

to ask me about my opinion on something

patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this

wait did not last for long as no one

glanced at

now be asking you about a

was then that Orion slowly started recounting to me what had

help in

of them.

listened, the

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

this factor into account when making

rose to a high enough

is. What do you think Karl? Should we accept

of my

"Let me think..."

of my head, I

was thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder present, scanning

in the mask,

my head, I looked at Orion and the other elders in

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and the elders showed

first one to recover was Orion. He

more, I'm interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

gazes,

reason why I believe that accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the

to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head, I

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

non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around killing random soldiers here

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

the Dwarf

this time, he might face severe repercussions even if

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

term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying with

would without a

their backs on the

be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

that they were following along what I was saying, I

will be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able to

"...."

hall was once

towards each other, the elders showed pensive

the middle of the hall, I

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

like I was purposely screwing Waylan and the

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

said were just me trying to convince Inferno to let Monolith

to lure them to

was unknown, and despite all of the

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

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