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?'

Orion mention humans, my

'Something's off.'

to senior advisor, so I guess it's fine

to glance at Orion, who looked straight

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

mouth, Orion started

is against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion,

words faded, a

happening, I listened attentively to what

want to ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow related to

such, I just patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this was going

the wait did not last for

glanced at

asking you about a certain matter. Since

to me what had happened moments prior to me

to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were

expected of them. They've

more I listened, the

Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that

factor into account when making

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

it is. What do you think Karl?

me out of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

I pretended to think for a

eyes of every elder present, scanning me from top to

confident in the mask, my heartbeat couldn't

looked at Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

been unexpected as both Orion and the elders

was Orion. He leaned forward, his

more, I'm interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes, I started

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

referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken considerably

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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

the aid of

them disguise themselves as non contracted humans,

every time that would happen, they would need to do it in a way so that the others would realize humans were responsible

that continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf

this time, he might face severe

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

long term perspective, they would also lose all

that, doing this would without a doubt, further

turning their backs on the humans, the morale

all fronts. It would be a

make sure that they were following along what I was saying, I

it is hard and a lot of sacrifices will be made, if we manage to succeed in this

"...."

after I finished speaking, the hall was once

other, the elders

of the hall, I kept a straight

I needed to say. Now, all I have

looked like I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on

it was that I was the individual the Monolith was

those words I just said were just me trying to convince

goal was to lure them to

all of the

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

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