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?'

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

'Something's off.'

been promoted to senior advisor, so I guess

relented and turned to glance at

ran down my spine, but

his mouth, Orion started to

against the decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please

words faded, a deathly silence permeated

sure what was happening, I listened attentively to

ask me about my opinion on something that was somehow

to speak. Perhaps this

the wait did not last for long as no one spoke

head slightly, Orion glanced

will now be asking you about a certain matter. Since about

to me what had

the Monolith was trying to contact them in order to get their help in

of them. They've

listened, the greater my

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

took this factor into account when making my plans, and the timing

was to bring it up to the elders once I rose

you think Karl? Should we accept

me out of my thoughts

"Let me think..."

head, I pretended to think for

I could feel the eyes of every elder

was confident in the mask, my heartbeat

at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

to have been unexpected as both Orion and the

first one to recover was Orion. He leaned

interested. Why

"…Okay."

expectant gazes, I

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

to the other

Hutrud finally spoke up.

the last meeting, he

"That is correct."

nodding my head,

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

could replicate demonic energy with the aid of an artifact, so could the duergars accomplish the

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

the duergars could have the Dwarf race and other

time, he might face severe

but to fight back, resulting in

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

that, doing this would without a

and everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a whole would

fronts. It would be

sure that they were following along

in this operation, we might be able to completely

"...."

the hall was once

towards each other, the elders showed pensive

the hall, I kept

already said what I needed to say. Now, all

purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this was only

it was that I was the individual the Monolith was

those words I just said were just me trying to convince Inferno to

was to lure

of the dwarves' efforts in trying

Waylan and Douglas knew about the arrival of the Monolith members and quietly followed them

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