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?'

Orion mention humans, my brows knit in consternation. Albeit, for but a single

'Something's off.'

has just been promoted to senior advisor, so I

relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked straight

met, a cold chill ran down my spine, but I kept

mouth, Orion

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

faded, a deathly silence permeated the

I wasn't 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

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

wait did not last for long

Orion glanced at me

asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months

was then that Orion slowly started recounting to

their help

of them.

I listened, the greater my

the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was

account when making my plans, and the timing couldn't

my 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

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

of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

head, I pretended

thinking, I could feel the eyes of

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't

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

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

unexpected as both Orion and the elders showed a surprised

Orion. He

I'm interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started to

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

referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head, I

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

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

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

in a way so that the others would realize humans were responsible

duergars could have the Dwarf race

saving Jomnuk, this time, he might

would have no choice but to fight

term perspective, they would also lose all

this would without a doubt, further damage the

breaking down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of

fronts. It would be a

everyone to make sure that they were following along what I

if we manage to succeed in this operation, we

"...."

hall was once again enveloped

towards each other, the elders

of the hall, I kept a straight

all I have to do

I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others,

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

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

real goal was to lure

despite all of the dwarves'

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

in Inferno, their location would soon be