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?'

moment I heard Orion mention humans,

'Something's off.'

advisor, so I guess it's fine to

to glance

moment our eyes met, a cold chill ran down my

mouth, Orion started to

decision of asking Karl for his opinion, please let me

a deathly silence permeated

wasn't sure what was happening, I listened attentively to what they were trying

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

I just patiently waited for them to speak. Perhaps this

not last for long as no one spoke

Orion glanced

have agreed, I will now be asking you about a certain

started recounting to

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

them. They've

I listened, the

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

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

once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like that was

is. What do you think Karl? Should we accept the offer or

out of my thoughts was

"Let me think..."

I pretended to

feel the eyes of

mask, my heartbeat

Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

unexpected as both Orion

first one to recover was Orion. He leaned forward,

interested. Why should we

"…Okay."

gazes, I started to

ideal is because, aside from the favor

to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

to the last meeting, he had spoken considerably

"That is correct."

nodding 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,

with the aid

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

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

could have the Dwarf race and other

he might face severe repercussions even if he

Douglas would have no choice but to fight back, resulting in the dwarves suffering damage

would also lose all

without a doubt, further

everyone turning their backs on the humans, the morale

would be surrounded on all fronts. It would be

that they were following

is hard and a lot of sacrifices will be made, if we manage to succeed in this operation, we might be able to completely destroy the dwarves before we can even

"...."

I finished speaking, the hall was once again enveloped

towards each other, the elders showed pensive

in the middle of the hall,

to say. Now, all I have to

I was purposely screwing Waylan and the others, this

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

words I just said were just me trying to convince Inferno

to lure them to

location of Inferno was unknown, and despite all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to find

and Douglas knew about the arrival of the

their location would soon be exposed, and that