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 brows knit in consternation. Albeit, for but a single

'Something's off.'

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

relented and turned to glance at Orion, who

a cold chill ran down

mouth, Orion

decision of asking Karl for his

a deathly silence

I listened attentively to what

about my opinion on something that was

them to speak. Perhaps this was going to be

the wait did not last for long as no one spoke

head slightly, Orion glanced at

about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months ago, a

to me what had happened moments prior to me

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

them. They've finally

more I listened, the greater my

in the forest and provoked Mo

I took this factor into account when making my plans, and the timing couldn't

plan was to bring it up to the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like that was no longer

how it is. What do you think Karl? Should we

me out of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

my head, I pretended to think for

eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top to

was confident in the mask, my heartbeat

raising my head, I looked at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and the elders showed a

first one to recover was Orion. He leaned forward,

more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

expectant gazes,

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

you referring to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken

"That is correct."

nodding my

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

aid of an

the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the

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

have the Dwarf race and other races turn on

at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions

but

long term perspective, they would also

without a doubt, further damage

the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as

be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

that they were following along what I was

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

each other, the

in the middle of the hall, I

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

purposely screwing Waylan

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

just said were just me trying

goal was to lure

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

of the Monolith

location