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?'

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

'Something's off.'

has just been promoted to senior advisor, so I guess it's fine

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion, who looked

cold chill ran

his mouth, Orion started

anyone is against the decision of asking Karl for

his words faded, a

was happening, I listened attentively

ask me about my

waited for them to speak. Perhaps this

not last for long as no one

glanced at me from the

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

then that Orion slowly started recounting to me

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

expected of them. They've finally

listened, the

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

making

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

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

out of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

of my head, I

thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder

I was confident in the mask, my

my head, I looked at Orion and the other elders

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

to have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders

recover was Orion. He

I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I

why I 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 had spoken

"That is correct."

nodding my head, I

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 and create a scenario

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

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

need to do it in a way so that the

as that continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf race

saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe repercussions even if he was

no choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves suffering

they would also lose all possibility of

would without a

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

be surrounded on all fronts. It would be a despairing

glancing at everyone to make sure that they were following along

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

"...."

speaking, the hall was once again enveloped

towards each other, the elders showed

the middle of the hall, I kept a straight

already said what I needed to say. Now, all I have to do

Waylan and the others, this was only on the

it was that I was the individual the Monolith was looking

me trying

to lure them to

and despite all of the

if Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of

Inferno, their location would soon be exposed,