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?'

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

'Something's off.'

senior advisor, so I guess it's fine to

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion, who

eyes met, a cold chill ran down my spine, but

mouth, Orion

anyone is against the decision of asking Karl for his

his words faded, a deathly silence permeated the

I wasn't sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what they

want to ask me about my opinion on something that

just patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was

wait did not last for

Orion glanced at

agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a

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

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

of them. They've finally

listened, the greater my

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

account when making my plans,

to bring it up to the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it

do you think Karl? Should

out of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

I

eyes of every

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

my head, I looked at Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion and the

Orion. He leaned

interested. Why

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started

accepting the offer is ideal is because, aside from the favor

to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my

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

aid of an artifact, so could

helped the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go around

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

the duergars could have the Dwarf race

Jomnuk, this time, he

point, Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but to fight

a long term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying

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

and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race

would be surrounded on all fronts. It

they were

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

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall

towards each other, the

the middle of the hall, I

Now, all I have to do is

Waylan and the

know, it was that I was the individual the Monolith was

just me trying to convince Inferno to let

real goal was to lure them

Inferno was unknown, and despite all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find it,

the arrival of the Monolith

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