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

'Something's off.'

promoted to senior advisor, so

turned to glance at Orion, who looked straight

a cold chill ran down my spine, but I kept

Orion started to

if anyone is against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please

his words faded, a deathly silence permeated

listened attentively to what they were trying

me about

for them to speak. Perhaps this was going to be important

not last for long

glanced at me from

you about a

Orion slowly started recounting to me what had

trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were

them. They've finally

I listened, the

and

factor into account when making my plans, and

to the elders once I rose to a high enough position,

how it is. What do you think Karl? Should

me out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

head, I pretended to

feel the eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top

in the mask,

my head, I looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

as both Orion and the elders

one to recover was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes

more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

gazes,

aside from the favor that

you referring to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting,

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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

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

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

course, every time that would happen, they would need to do it in a way so that the others would realize humans were responsible for

could have the Dwarf race and other races turn

time, he might face severe repercussions even if

choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves

would also lose all possibility of allying with the

this would without a doubt, further damage the

barrier slowly breaking down and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the

surrounded on all fronts. It would be a despairing

sure that they were following along what

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

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once again

towards each other, the elders showed pensive

middle of the

what I needed to say. Now, all

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

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

those words I just said were just me trying to convince Inferno to let

was to lure them to

of

about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

me, and I was in Inferno, their location would soon be