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, my brows knit in consternation.

'Something's off.'

advisor,

eventually relented and turned to glance at Orion,

cold chill ran down my

mouth, Orion started

is against the decision of asking Karl for

faded, a deathly

I wasn't sure what was happening, I listened

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

them to speak. Perhaps this was going to

did not last for long as no

head slightly, Orion glanced at me

you about a certain matter. Since about a month to

to me what had happened

the Monolith was trying to contact them in order to get their help in infiltrating Henolur to how they were apparently searching for

them. They've finally

more I listened, the

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

when making my plans, and the timing

the elders once I rose to a high enough position, but it looks like that was no longer

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

out of my thoughts was Orion's

"Let me think..."

head, I pretended to think

the eyes of every elder present,

I was confident in the mask,

looked at Orion

"Accept it."

"Oh?"

answer seemed to have been unexpected as both Orion and

first one to recover was Orion. He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling

I'm interested. Why

"…Okay."

gazes, I

is because, aside from the favor that you receive

you referring to

Hutrud finally spoke up.

meeting,

"That is correct."

way, nodding my head,

probably know, there's a 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

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

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

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

could have the Dwarf race and other races

he might face severe

have no choice but to fight back, resulting

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

without a doubt, further

their backs on the humans, the morale of the Dwarf race as a

all fronts. It would be

at everyone to make sure that they were following along what

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

"...."

speaking, the hall was once again enveloped in

towards each other, the elders

in the middle of the

said what I needed to say. Now, all I have to

Waylan and the others, this was only

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

me trying to convince

to lure them to

unknown, and despite all of the dwarves' efforts in trying to

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

Inferno, their location