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?'

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

'Something's off.'

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

relented and turned to glance at

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

his mouth, Orion started

asking Karl

faded, a deathly

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

about

to speak. Perhaps this was going to be important

last for long as no

head slightly, Orion glanced at me

I will now be asking you about a certain matter.

to me

get their help in infiltrating

expected of them. They've

more I listened, the

killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they

making my plans, and the timing couldn't

plan was to bring it up to the elders once I rose

do you

me out of my

"Let me think..."

my head, I pretended to think for a

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

the mask, my heartbeat

raising my head, I looked at Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

to have been unexpected as both Orion and the

was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling

more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I

believe that accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor that you receive from them,

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

my head,

we use the chance to create internal conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many

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

them disguise themselves as non contracted humans,

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

the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other races turn

failure at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might

point, Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but to

a long term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying with the

that, doing this would without

backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race

be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

and glancing at everyone to make sure that they were following along what

to succeed in this operation, we might

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped in

other, the elders

the middle of the hall, I kept

say. Now, all I have to do is

like I was purposely screwing Waylan and

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

said were just me trying to convince Inferno

goal was to lure

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

Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them from a

the tracker led to me, and I was in Inferno, their location would soon be exposed, and that was