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?'

I heard Orion mention humans, my

'Something's off.'

promoted to senior advisor,

turned to glance at

ran

mouth, Orion started to

the decision of asking Karl for his opinion,

his words faded, a deathly silence permeated

I listened attentively to what they were trying

looks of it, they want to ask me about

patiently waited for them to

not last for long as no one spoke

his head slightly, Orion glanced at me

others have agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months ago, a human

recounting to me what had happened moments prior to

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

expected of them. They've finally

more I listened, the

development, I expected it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they

account when making my

the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like

it is. What do you think Karl? Should

my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

of my head, I pretended to

I could feel the eyes of every elder present, scanning me from

was confident in the mask, my heartbeat

my head, I looked at Orion and the other elders

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

to have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders

first one to recover was Orion. He leaned

me more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

gazes, I started to

the favor

you referring to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he had spoken considerably

"That is correct."

nodding my

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

could replicate demonic energy with the aid of

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

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

have the Dwarf

time, he might face severe repercussions even

Douglas would have no choice but to fight back, resulting

a long term perspective, they would also lose

that, doing this would without

and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the

surrounded on all fronts. It would be

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

be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy the dwarves before we

"...."

the hall was once again enveloped in

towards each other, the elders

the hall, I kept a

said what I needed to say. Now, all I have

looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and

was that I was the individual the Monolith was looking

me trying to convince Inferno to

to lure

all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find it, they

Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

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