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?'

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

'Something's off.'

been promoted to senior advisor, so I guess

and turned to glance

ran down my spine,

Orion

decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please let

his words faded, a deathly silence

I listened attentively to what they were

want to ask me about my opinion on something that

waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going to

not last for long as no one

glanced at me

be asking you about a certain matter. Since about

started recounting to me what had happened moments prior

help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for someone,

them. They've

I listened, the

it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao

when making

elders once I rose to a high

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

my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

my head, I pretended to think for

eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help but

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

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both Orion

recover was Orion. He

I'm interested. Why should

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started to

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

to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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

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

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

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

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

he might face severe

and Douglas would have no choice but to

long term perspective, they would also lose

doing this would without a doubt, further damage

backs on the humans,

would be surrounded on all fronts. It would be

they were

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

"...."

finished speaking, the hall

other, the elders showed

the middle of the hall, I kept

needed to say. Now, all I

like I was purposely screwing Waylan and the

didn't know, it was that I was

words I just said were just me trying to convince Inferno

to

of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find it,

arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them from a

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