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 knit

'Something's off.'

advisor, so I guess it's

turned to glance at Orion, who

our eyes met, a cold chill ran

Orion started to

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

a

I wasn't sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what they were trying to

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

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

the wait did not last for long as no one spoke

his head slightly, Orion glanced at me from the

agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two

to

them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for

of them. They've finally

I listened, the greater

back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was

factor into account when making my plans, and the timing

my plan was to bring it up to the elders once I rose to a high enough

What do you think Karl? Should we accept

out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I

eyes of every elder present, scanning me

in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't

Orion and the other elders in

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

answer seemed to have been unexpected as both

Orion. He leaned forward,

I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

gazes,

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

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

couple of powerful humans working together with the 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 and create a scenario in which we frame

energy with the aid of an artifact, so could

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

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

continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other

failure at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face

would have no choice but to fight back, resulting in

also lose all possibility

this would without a doubt, further damage the

the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a whole

all fronts. It would

and glancing at everyone to make sure that they

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

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped in

other, the elders showed

the

all I have to do

screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on

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

words I just said were just me trying to convince Inferno to

was to lure them to

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

knew about the arrival of the

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