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 single

'Something's off.'

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

to glance at

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

his mouth, Orion started

of asking Karl for his opinion, please

faded, a deathly silence

what was happening, I listened attentively to what they were

looks of it, they want to ask me about my opinion

waited for them to speak. Perhaps

the wait did not last for long as

Orion glanced

I will now be asking you about a certain matter.

Orion slowly started recounting to

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

them. They've

I listened, the

Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that they wouldn't let go

into account when making my plans, and the timing couldn't have

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

What do you think Karl? Should we accept

me out of my

"Let me think..."

my head, I pretended to think for a

eyes of

mask, my

raising my head, I looked at Orion and

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

as both Orion and the elders showed a

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

me more, I'm interested.

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I started to

the favor that you receive from them, we can

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

them? Although there aren't many humans present, we could take advantage of the situation and create a scenario in which

dwarves could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an

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

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

duergars could have the Dwarf race

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

would have no choice but to fight back, resulting

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

doing this would without a doubt, further damage the

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

surrounded on all fronts. It would be

they were following along what I was saying,

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

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall was once again

other, the elders

in the middle of the hall, I kept

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

I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only

was that I was the individual the Monolith

just me trying to

was to lure them

unknown, and despite all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to

the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them from

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