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?'

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

'Something's off.'

to senior advisor, so I guess it's

and turned to glance at Orion, who

ran down my spine, but I kept

his mouth, Orion

of asking Karl

words faded, a deathly silence

sure what was happening, I listened

me about my opinion on something that was

to speak. Perhaps this was going

wait did not last for long as no one spoke

his head slightly, Orion glanced at me from

be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month

slowly started recounting to me what had happened

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

expected of them. They've

listened, the greater

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

into account when making my plans, and

once I rose to a high enough position, but

how it is. What do you think Karl? Should we accept the

out of my

"Let me think..."

I pretended to think

eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help

Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both Orion and the elders showed

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

more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

gazes,

from the

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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 the situation and create a scenario in which we

the aid of an artifact, so could the duergars accomplish

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

in a

that continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf

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

Waylan and Douglas would have no choice but

term perspective, they would also lose all possibility of allying

that, doing this would without a doubt, further

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

surrounded on all fronts.

everyone to make sure that they were following along what I

of sacrifices will be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able

"...."

after I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped in

towards each other, the

the hall, I

Now, all I have to

I was purposely screwing Waylan

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

just me trying

goal was to

all of the

and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them from

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