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?'

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

'Something's off.'

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

glance at

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

Orion started to

asking Karl for his opinion, please let

a deathly silence permeated

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

me about my opinion on something that was

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

for long as

slightly, Orion glanced at me

be asking you about a certain matter. Since about

started recounting to me what had happened moments prior to

to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to

of them. They've

I listened, the

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

factor into account when 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

do you think Karl? Should we accept the

my

"Let me think..."

I pretended to

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

mask, my heartbeat couldn't

raising my head, I looked at Orion and the other elders

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

answer seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion

was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes

me more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started

reason why I believe that accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor that you

referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my

a 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

like the dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid of

helped the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around killing

every time that would happen, they would need to do it in a way

could have the Dwarf race and other races

Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions even if

have no choice but to fight back, resulting in the

perspective, they would also lose all possibility

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

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

be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

that they were following along what I was saying,

is hard and a lot of sacrifices will be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we

"...."

hall was once again enveloped in

the

of the

said what I needed to say. Now, all

Waylan and the others, this was

elders didn't know, it was that I

said were just me

real goal was to lure

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

the arrival of the

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