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?'

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

'Something's off.'

been promoted to senior advisor, so I guess

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked straight at

ran

his mouth, Orion started to

of asking Karl for his opinion, please

his words faded, a deathly

listened attentively to what they were trying

about my opinion on something

them to speak.

wait did not last for long as no one

his head slightly, Orion glanced at

have agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months ago, a human

recounting to me what had

order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for

them. They've finally

I listened, the

and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they wouldn't let go of the

making my plans, and the timing couldn't

rose to a high enough position, but it

do you think

me out of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

I pretended to think for

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

mask, my

looked at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both Orion and the

was Orion. He

I'm interested. Why should

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I

offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting,

"That is correct."

nodding my head, I

to create internal conflicts amongst them? Although there aren't many humans present, we could take advantage of the

the dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an artifact, so

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

they would need to do it in a way so that the others would realize

the Dwarf race and other

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

would have no choice but to

term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying

doing this would without a doubt, further damage the

turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as

all fronts. It would

that they were following along what

in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy the dwarves before we

"...."

speaking, the hall was

each other, the

the hall, I

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

it looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on the

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

said were just me trying

was to lure

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

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

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