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 brows knit in consternation.

'Something's off.'

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

relented and turned to glance at Orion, who

cold chill ran down my spine,

his mouth, Orion started

decision of asking

words faded, a

was happening, I listened attentively to

looks of it, they want to ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow related

to speak. Perhaps this was going to be important

not last for long

slightly, Orion glanced at me from

about a certain matter. Since about a month to two months

slowly started recounting to

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

them. They've

listened, the greater

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

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

up to the elders once I rose to a

What do you think Karl? Should we accept the

out of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

my head, I

the eyes of every elder present,

the mask, my heartbeat couldn't help but

Orion and the

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

answer seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders

was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with

interested.

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes,

ideal is because, aside from the favor that you receive from them, we can also use their presence

referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken

"That is correct."

my

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 in which we frame

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

helped the Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non contracted humans, the duergars could have

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

the Dwarf race and other races turn

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

choice but to fight back, resulting

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

this would without

turning their backs on the humans, the

be surrounded on all fronts. It would

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

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

"...."

after I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped in

other, the elders showed

of the hall, I

to say. Now, all I have to do

screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on the

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

I just said were just me trying to convince Inferno

real goal was to lure them

of

the arrival of the

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