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, for but a single

'Something's off.'

to senior advisor, so I

to glance at Orion, who looked straight

met, a cold chill ran

Orion started

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

a deathly silence

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

it, they want to ask me about my opinion on something that was

patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was

did not last for long

slightly, Orion glanced at me from the

will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month

was then that Orion slowly started recounting to

Monolith was trying to contact them in order to get their help in

expected of them. They've finally

I listened, the

forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that

when making my plans, and

up to the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but

What do you think

of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

I pretended to think for

thinking, I could feel the eyes of every

was confident in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't

looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both

first one to recover was Orion. He leaned forward,

I'm interested.

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started

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

to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he had spoken considerably

"That is correct."

nodding my

amongst them? Although there aren't many humans present, we could take advantage of the situation and

with the aid of an artifact, so could the duergars

disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around

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

the duergars could have the Dwarf

saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe

but to fight back,

term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying

this would without a

their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf

on all fronts. It would

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

succeed in this operation, we might

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped in

the elders showed pensive

middle of the hall, I kept a

Now, all I have

looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan

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

me trying to convince Inferno

goal was to lure

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

the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them

I was in Inferno, their location would soon be exposed, and that was when the true