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

'Something's off.'

promoted to senior advisor, so I guess it's fine to

relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked

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

mouth, Orion started

anyone is against the decision of asking

words faded, a deathly silence

listened attentively to what

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

head slightly, Orion glanced

a certain matter. Since about a month

slowly started recounting to me what had happened

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

of them. They've

I listened, the

it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they wouldn't let go of the

account when making my plans, and

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

you think Karl? Should we

of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

the side of my head, I pretended to think for

thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder present,

confident in the mask, my

my head, I looked at Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

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

first one to recover was Orion. He

interested. Why

"…Okay."

gazes,

offer is ideal is because, aside from the

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting,

"That is correct."

nodding my

Although there aren't many

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

disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have

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

the

Waylan's failure at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions

point, Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but to fight

would also

that, doing this would without a doubt, further damage the

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

fronts.

to make sure that they were

in this

"...."

the hall was once again enveloped

each other, the elders

of the

to say. Now, all I

like I was purposely screwing Waylan

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

just said were just me trying to convince

to lure them to

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

knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

in Inferno, their location would soon be