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,

'Something's off.'

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

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked

eyes met, a cold chill ran down my

mouth, Orion started to

against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please

a deathly

listened attentively to what they were trying to

looks of it, they want to ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow related

such, I just patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps

not last for long as

glanced at me from

others have agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month

slowly started 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

them.

I listened, the greater

Xavier back in the forest and

account when making my plans, and

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

it is. What do you think Karl? Should we

out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to think for a

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

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't

at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

as both Orion and the elders showed a

Orion. He

me more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

gazes, I

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

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

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

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

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

do it in a way so that the others would

as that continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other races turn

Jomnuk, this time, he might face

choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves suffering

also lose

from that, doing this would without a doubt,

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

would be surrounded on all fronts. It would

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

if we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall

other, the elders showed pensive

in the middle of the hall,

said what I needed to say. Now, all I have to do is wait for

screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on the

didn't know, it was that I was

said were just me trying to convince Inferno

real goal was to

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

Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and

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