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.

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

his words, that was unless

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

"...You're being real?"

that had

at Randur, Waylan looked towards Gernis who was looking

face clouded

while, opening his mouth, Gernis

see tha

"Yea you can."

a smile. Evidently prepared to have been asked such

"Here you go."

Waylan handed him the

everyone's eyes focus on him,

me have

from Waylan's hands, Gernis started

see just how valid your

the contract to see if

regardless of how much Gernis looked, there wouldn't

they were checking, they

to remove all loopholes as an astonished look

"You…to go this far..."

it? Let me have a

as he eagerly looked at the contract in Gernis's

a look

the contract, not minding Randur's attitude, Gernis passes the contract onto him who quickly snatched it and

"What in the..."

a shocked look appeared on his

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

his mouth, he started reciting the contents of the

the more

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

Randur looked at it, there were no

room also realized this as they all

really know of a way to end

Everyone wondered.

changes that were happening in the room, Waylan smiled in

going

contract was in

most of

by either polishing it or expressing their inputs on

they 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 everyone

explanation needed to be said when presenting it to

The move worked flawlessly.

break any one of these statements, I will

Randur who finally finished reciting the contents

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

that really a mana contract. Do you

tell us immediately how we can

that a real

at Waylan who was standing in the middle of the hall. All at once, everyone in the

of questions, Waylan was a bit taken

ask one at a time. I can't answer everyone at the same

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's

powerful voice and aura spread throughout

relief, all forms

his head, turning his attention back

now that everyone is quiet, tell

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

the plan, he had directly asked

behind those words was clear to

and just speak about what we need to

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

"Yes, I will."

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

is simple. In two days, come to this place. Make sure you bring as many subordinates