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?'

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

'Something's off.'

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

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion, who

a cold chill ran down my spine, but I kept my

his mouth, Orion started to

is against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please let me

faded, a deathly silence permeated the

was happening, I listened attentively to what

want to ask me about my opinion on

to speak.

did not last for long as no one

slightly, Orion glanced at

a certain

started recounting to

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

them. They've

listened,

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

making my plans, and the timing couldn't have been more

my plan was to bring it up to the elders once I rose to a

you think Karl?

my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I

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

mask, my heartbeat couldn't

looked at Orion and the other

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

both

first one to recover was Orion. He

more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started to

the favor that you receive from them, we can also use their presence

referring to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

my head, I

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

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

non contracted humans, the duergars could

to do it in a way so that the others would realize

the Dwarf race and other races turn

he might face severe repercussions even

but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves suffering damage

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

from that, doing this would without a

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

fronts.

glancing at everyone to make sure that they were following along

a lot of sacrifices will be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we

"...."

finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped

the elders showed

of the

needed to say. Now, all I have to do is wait

Waylan and the others, this was only on the

know, it was

were just me trying to convince Inferno to let Monolith

goal was to lure them to

unknown, and despite all of the dwarves'

what if Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and

their location would