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?'

the moment I heard Orion mention humans, my brows knit in consternation.

'Something's off.'

senior advisor, so I guess it's fine to

turned to glance at Orion, who

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

mouth, Orion started

asking Karl

words faded, a deathly

listened attentively to what they

me about my opinion on something

to speak. Perhaps this was going to be

the wait did not last for long as no one

head slightly, Orion glanced at me from

be asking you about a certain matter. Since about

was then that Orion slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments prior to

was trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for someone, Orion

expected of them. They've

listened, the greater my

Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked

took this factor into account when making my plans,

to bring it up to the elders once I rose

is how it is. What do you think Karl? Should

my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

my head, I

could feel the eyes of

was confident in the mask, my

looked at Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and the elders showed a surprised

Orion. He

I'm interested.

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes,

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

to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting,

"That is correct."

my

you probably know, there's 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 the situation and create a scenario in which we

the aid of an artifact,

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

would happen, they would need to do it in a way

as that continued, the duergars could have the

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

Douglas would have no choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves

would also lose

this would without a doubt, further damage

down and everyone turning their backs on the

be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a

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

we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy the dwarves before we can even remove the

"...."

the hall was once again enveloped

towards each other, the elders showed

the middle of the

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

like I was purposely screwing Waylan and

elders didn't know, it was that I

were just me trying to convince Inferno

goal was to

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

if Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and

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