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

no falsehoods in his words, that

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

"...You're being real?"

up was Randur. The dwarf that had been

at Randur, Waylan looked towards Gernis who was

clouded with

while, opening his mouth,

see tha

"Yea you can."

smile. Evidently prepared to have been asked

"Here you go."

Waylan handed

moved, Waylan noticed everyone's eyes focus on him, or more specifically

have

contract from Waylan's hands,

see just how valid

was looking through the contract to see if there

how much Gernis

were checking, they made sure to remove

seemed like they had indeed managed to remove all loopholes as an astonished look soon appeared

"You…to go this far..."

Let me

he eagerly looked at the contract

look

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

"What in the..."

shocked look appeared on his face as

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

his mouth, he started reciting the contents of the contract for everyone that was present

he spoke, the

point. If he breached even a single point of the contract, he would die. He was leaving

matter how much Randur looked at it, there were

in the room also realized this as

know of a way to end

Everyone wondered.

the changes that were happening in the room,

is going just

a mana contract was

was the one that came up with most of the

plan by either polishing it or expressing their inputs

believe their words, and it was Waylan's idea to use the mana contract

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

The move worked flawlessly.

I, Waylan Roshfield, break any one of

out of his thoughts was Randur who finally finished

as Randur's words fade. The silence did not last for

mana contract. Do you really have a way

us immediately how we can stop this

a

of the hall. All at once, everyone in the room kept asking question

a bit taken

one at a time. I can't

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's

spread throughout the

relief, all forms

attention back

is quiet, tell us what you

sounded normal, but Waylan knew what

asking Waylan about the plan, he had directly asked him about

implication behind those words

about the plan, and just speak about

his plans, there was a good chance that their plans would be exposed to the

"Yes, I will."

he understood his intentions, Waylan looked towards everyone in

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