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?'

moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit in consternation. Albeit, for but a single

'Something's off.'

senior advisor, so

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked

eyes met, a cold chill ran down my

Orion started

decision of asking Karl for his opinion,

faded, a deathly silence permeated

was happening, I listened

to ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow

patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going to

wait did not last for long

Orion glanced at me

be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months ago, a

that Orion slowly started recounting to

them in order to get their help

them. They've finally

more I listened, the greater

forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they wouldn't let

making my plans, and the timing couldn't have been more

bring it up to the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like that was no

you think Karl? Should

me out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to think for a

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

I was confident in the mask,

at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

been unexpected as both Orion and the elders showed

recover was Orion. He leaned forward, his

interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

gazes,

because, aside from the favor that you receive from

referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

Although there aren't many humans present,

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

non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around killing

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

duergars could have the Dwarf race and other

this time, he might face severe repercussions even if he

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

term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of

that, doing this would without a doubt, further

backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf

on all fronts. It would be a

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

succeed in this operation, we might be able to

"...."

hall was once

towards each other, the elders showed

the hall, I kept

to say. Now, all I

it looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan

elders didn't know, it was

I just said were just me trying

to

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

Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

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