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?'

mention humans, my

'Something's off.'

to senior advisor, so

and turned to glance at Orion,

ran

Orion

if anyone is against the decision of asking

his words faded, a deathly

happening, I listened attentively to what they were trying to

want to ask me about my opinion on something

waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going

for long as

Orion glanced at

will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months ago, a

recounting to me what had

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

of them. They've

listened, the greater my

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

fact, I took this factor into account when making my plans, and the timing couldn't have been

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

is how it is. What do you think

of my

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to

was thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top

in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help but

I looked at Orion and the other elders in

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

been unexpected as both Orion and

recover was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling

interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started to

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

referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

way, nodding my

you probably know, there's 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 the situation

the dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an

as non contracted humans, the duergars could have them go

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

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

this time, he might

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

long term perspective, they would also lose all possibility

from that, doing this would without

their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as

fronts. It would be a despairing

they were following along what

in this operation, we might be

"...."

hall was once again

each other, the elders showed

of the hall, I kept

all

purposely screwing Waylan

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

words I just said were just me trying to convince

was to lure them

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

Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly

I was in Inferno, their location would soon be exposed, and that was when the true fun would