The Author's POV

342 Taking the initiative［2]

"...I've got a way to stop the war."

A palpitating almost chilling silence enveloped the hall as everyone stared at Waylan in the middle of the room.

Before anyone could speak or voice out their objections, Waylan continued speaking.

"Yes, I know what you guys are thinking. Is he crazy? Is he out of his mind? Is he right in the head?…I'd also think the same if I were to be put in the same position as you all."

Waylan looked around before his eyes soon paused on Gernis, the Metropoliskeeper, and leader of the dwarfs.

"I know what I'm saying I absurd, but I really do have a way to end this war. You don't have to be-"

Unfortunately for Waylan, in the end, not everyone could keep themselves from voicing out their objections.

Standing up, one of the elders shouted.

"What n-"

"Quiet!"

A sharp voice echoed throughout the hall, cutting the elder off before he could formulate a sentence.

Glaring at the elder, Gernis solemnly said.

"I will nae permit any talking until he be done speaking."

His deep voice traveled through the ears of each individual present. A strong pressure came along the voice.

"...I apologize."

Reprimanded by Gernis, swallowing his pride, the dwarf apologized to Waylan who merely smiled in response.

Turning his attention back to Waylan, Gernis gestured for him to continue.

"Sorry for tha disturbance, ye may continue."

"Thank you." Waylan thanked. "As I was saying. I have a way to end this war. I know that you all must be doubting my words, hence why I came prepared."

Swiping his hand in the air, a scroll suddenly materialized out of nowhere.

"...What in the."

"A mana contract."

"Is that a mana contract?"

Everyone instantly recognized the scroll that appeared in Waylan's hands.

It was a mana contract.

Something that most individuals present in the hall had used once before, except the orcs of course.

"Correct."

Waylan said as he reached out for the contract in the air.

Grabbing the contract, he slowly unraveled it for everyone to see.

"Since none of you might believe me, I thought to myself. Is there a way to convince you guys that I'm not lying to you and that I truly know of a way to stop the war?"

Glancing at everyone in the room, Waylan flashed a smile.

"...Well, guess what? There truly is a way."

Waylan raised the hand that held onto the Scroll.

"This over here is the highest-ranked mana scroll that I could find. Meaning that it is of the highest rank available. If by any chance I breach the contract, according to the contract, I will instantly die, regardless of my rank."

As Waylan spoke, the eyes of the individuals in the room finally changed.

At the mention of the contract, the individuals who had previously treated this meeting as a mere joke finally had to change their stance.

The moment he took out the contract, they knew that this could no longer be a job.

knew how a mana contract worked; therefore, they knew the severity of Waylan's

falsehoods in his words, that was unless he didn't

life on the line. He was putting his life on the line to prove to everyone present that he truly knew of a way to end

"...You're being real?"

that had been giving Waylan a

Waylan looked towards Gernis

clouded

a while, opening

see

"Yea you can."

a smile. Evidently prepared to

"Here you go."

up to Gernis, Waylan handed

moved, Waylan noticed everyone's eyes focus on him, or more specifically towards the contract in

me have

hands, Gernis started looking through

me see just how valid

contract to see if there were any loopholes,

how much Gernis

singing it, he had gone through it with Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to remove anything that the dwarfs could

it seemed like they had indeed managed to remove all

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let

impatiently said as he eagerly looked

a look at it

eyes away from the contract, not minding Randur's attitude, Gernis passes the contract onto him who

"What in the..."

look appeared on his face as he

do not have a way to stop the war, will die. If I, Waylan Roshfield, backstab

the contract for everyone

he spoke, the more shocked

truly straight to the point. If he breached even a single point of the contract, he would die. He was leaving himself with no leeway to

Randur looked at it,

realized this as they all looked at Douglas

he really know of a way to end the

Everyone wondered.

changes that were happening in the room, Waylan smiled in

going

was

the one that came up with most of the plans, that didn't mean that he and Douglas

either polishing it or expressing their inputs

needed to cover was how to have the leaders believe their words, and it was Waylan's idea to use the mana contract to shut

was, no explanation needed to be said when presenting it to the

The move worked flawlessly.

break any one of these statements, I will

his thoughts was Randur who finally finished reciting the contents of the

The silence did not last for

mana contract. Do you really have a way to stop this

how we can stop this

a

looked at Waylan who was standing in the middle of the hall. All

of questions, Waylan was a bit taken aback as he

I can't answer everyone at the

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's

powerful voice and aura spread throughout the whole hall, silencing

much to Waylan's relief, all forms of noise

his head, turning his attention back towards Waylan, Gernis

tell us what

words sounded normal, but Waylan knew what he meant when he said 'tell

he had directly asked him

behind those words was

just speak about what we

that Gernis was aware of a possible spy hiding in their midst. If Waylan said all of his plans, there was a good chance that their plans would be exposed to the enemy and would end up no longer

"Yes, I will."

that he understood his intentions, Waylan looked towards everyone in

place. Make sure you bring as many subordinates as possible. Preferably, ones that can fight.