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?'

I heard Orion mention humans, my brows

'Something's off.'

just been promoted to senior advisor,

relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked

a cold chill ran down my spine,

Orion started to

decision of asking Karl for

faded, a deathly silence

what was happening, I listened attentively

they want to ask me about

waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going

not last for long as

glanced at me from the

I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two

Orion slowly started recounting to me what had happened moments prior to

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

them.

more I listened, the greater my

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

into account when making my plans,

rose to a

do you think Karl? Should we accept the offer or

out of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to think for a

thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder

was confident in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't

raising my head, I looked at Orion and

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

have been unexpected as both Orion

to recover was Orion. He leaned forward,

interested.

"…Okay."

gazes, I started

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

you referring to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

nodding my head, I

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

the aid of an artifact, so could the duergars accomplish

as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them

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

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

at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions

that point, Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves

would also lose all

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

their backs on the humans, the morale of the

on all fronts. It

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

to succeed in this operation, we

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once again

towards each other, the elders showed

of the hall, I

I needed to say. Now, all I have to do is wait for

was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on

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

just said were just me trying to convince

real goal was to lure them to

of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find it,

Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith

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