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.

everyone in the room knew how a mana contract worked; therefore, they knew the

were no falsehoods in his words, that was unless

was putting his life on the line. He was putting his life on the

"...You're being real?"

speak up was Randur. The dwarf that had been giving Waylan

Waylan looked towards Gernis who

face clouded with unprecedented

a while, opening his mouth,

I see tha

"Yea you can."

a smile. Evidently prepared to

"Here you go."

up to Gernis, Waylan handed him

everyone's eyes focus on him, or more specifically towards the contract in his

have a

hands, Gernis

see just how valid your

to see if

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

with Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they

seemed like they had indeed managed to remove all

"You…to go this far..."

Let me have

looked at the contract in

a look at

Gernis passes the contract onto him who quickly snatched it and

"What in the..."

appeared on his face as he looked through the

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

contents of the contract

the more

a single point of the contract, he would die. He was leaving himself with

Randur looked

others in the room also realized this as they all

know of a way to

Everyone wondered.

in the

is going

a mana contract was in

with most of the plans,

polishing it or expressing their inputs on areas that needed to have further

they needed to cover was how to have the leaders believe their words,

explanation needed to

The move worked flawlessly.

one of

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

descended in the hall as Randur's words fade. The silence did not last for long as not long after, total

contract. Do you really have

tell us immediately how we

that a real

the hall. All at once, everyone in the room kept

was a bit taken aback as he wrily

at a time. I can't answer everyone at

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's

voice and aura spread throughout the whole hall, silencing

to Waylan's relief, all forms

turning his attention back towards

quiet, tell us what you

those in the hall, Gernis's words sounded normal, but Waylan knew what

plan, he had directly asked him about what they

behind those words was clear to

speaking about the plan, and just speak about what we need

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

"Yes, I will."

to gesture that he understood his intentions, Waylan looked towards everyone in the

bring as many subordinates as possible. Preferably, ones that can fight. The