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,

'Something's off.'

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

to glance at Orion, who looked

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

Orion started to

decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please

words faded, a deathly silence permeated the

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

want to ask me about my opinion

such, I just patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going to be important

the wait did not last for long as no one spoke

glanced at me from the

have agreed, I will now be asking you about a

started recounting to me what had happened

Monolith was trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently

of them. They've

listened,

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

this factor into account when making my plans, and

up to the elders once I rose

What do you think Karl? Should we accept the offer or

of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

I pretended to

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

in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

Orion and

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

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

to recover was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes

me more, I'm interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started

the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor that

referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting, he had spoken

"That is correct."

my head, I

couple of powerful humans 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 scenario in

energy with the aid of an artifact,

themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could

in a way

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

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

no choice but to

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

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

the humans, the morale of

surrounded on all fronts. It would be

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

lot of sacrifices will be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation,

"...."

the hall was once

towards each other, the elders showed

the hall,

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

screwing Waylan and the others, this was

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

I just said were just me trying to convince

was to lure them to

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

about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them

in Inferno, their location