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?'

by the side, the moment I heard Orion mention humans, my

'Something's off.'

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

glance at Orion, who looked straight at

chill ran

his mouth, Orion

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

his words faded, a deathly

listened attentively to

ask me about my

them to speak. Perhaps

the wait did not last for long as no

glanced at me

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

slowly started recounting to

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

them.

listened, the greater my

I expected it. Ever since I killed Xavier back in the forest and provoked Mo Jinhao directly, I was sure that

fact, I took this factor into account when making my plans, and

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

is how it is. What do you think Karl? Should

my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

side of my head, I pretended to think for

thinking, I could feel the eyes of every elder

mask, my heartbeat couldn't

I looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

to have been unexpected as both Orion and the elders showed a surprised

Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling

I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

everyone's expectant gazes,

aside from the favor that you receive from them, we can also

you referring to the

Hutrud finally spoke up.

last meeting, he had

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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

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

Monolith members infiltrate the city and have them disguise themselves as non

they would need to do it in a way so that the

continued, the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other races turn

Waylan's failure at saving Jomnuk, this time, he might face severe

but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves

long term perspective, they would also lose

from that, doing this would without a doubt,

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

all fronts. It would be

at everyone to make sure that they were following

made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we

"...."

hall was once

each other, the elders showed

in the middle of the hall, I

say. Now, all I

purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only on

know, it was

I just said were just me

to lure

and despite all of

if Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the

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