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.

how a mana contract

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

in the room understood one thing, Waylan was putting his life on the line. He was putting his life on the line

"...You're being real?"

up was Randur. The dwarf that had been giving Waylan a hard time in the

looked towards Gernis who was

clouded

while, opening his mouth, Gernis

I see tha

"Yea you can."

Evidently prepared to have been asked such a

"Here you go."

Waylan handed him

focus on him,

me have

contract from Waylan's hands, Gernis started

me see just how valid your words

Gernis who was looking through the contract to see if there were any loopholes, Waylan merely

was confident that regardless of how much Gernis looked, there wouldn't

gone through it with Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to remove anything that the dwarfs could use as a

to remove all

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let me have a

impatiently said as he eagerly looked

a look at

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

"What in the..."

just like Gernis, a shocked look appeared on his face as he looked

stop the war, will die. If I, Waylan Roshfield, backstab the dwarves in any way,

contents of the contract for everyone

he spoke, the more shocked

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

much Randur looked

also realized this as they all looked at Douglas with shocked

he really know of a way to end the

Everyone wondered.

were happening in

going just as

a mana contract was in

one that came up with most of the plans, that didn't

by either polishing it or expressing their

of the areas they needed to cover was how to have the leaders believe their words, and it was Waylan's

everyone knew what it was, no explanation needed to be

The move worked flawlessly.

Roshfield, break any one of

of his thoughts was Randur who

words fade. The silence did not last for long as not long after, total chaos erupted in

Do you really have a way

us immediately how we can stop this

that a real mana

the hall. All

the barrage of questions, Waylan was a

at a time. I can't answer everyone

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's

aura spread throughout the whole hall,

Waylan's relief, all forms

head, turning his attention back towards

that everyone is quiet, tell us what

hall, Gernis's words sounded normal, but Waylan knew what he meant when he said 'tell us

directly asked him about what they were

those words was clear to

and just speak

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

"Yes, I will."

his intentions, Waylan looked towards everyone in the

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