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?'

side, the moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows

'Something's off.'

promoted to senior advisor, so I guess

turned to glance at Orion, who

cold chill ran down my spine, but

his mouth, Orion

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

words faded, a deathly silence permeated the

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

the looks of it, they want to ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow related

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

last for long as no one

his head slightly, Orion glanced at me

others have agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain

slowly started recounting to me

trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for someone, Orion told me

them. They've finally

more I listened, the greater my

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

when making my plans, and the timing couldn't have been more

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

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

of my

"Let me think..."

of my head, I pretended

the eyes of every elder present,

the mask, my

raising my head, I looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders showed a surprised

He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling

more, I'm interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

expectant gazes,

reason why I believe that accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor that you receive from them, we can also use their presence to

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

nodding 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

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

they helped the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them

would need to do it in a way so that

the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other races turn on

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

choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves suffering

perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying with

doing this would without a doubt, further damage

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

surrounded on all fronts. It would be a despairing

everyone to make sure that they were following along

it 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

"...."

hall was once

each other, the

middle of the

Now, all I have to do is wait

was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only

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

said were just me trying to convince Inferno

was to

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

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

tracker led to me, and I was in Inferno, their location would soon