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

that was unless he didn't

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

"...You're being real?"

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

Waylan looked towards Gernis who was looking

clouded

opening his mouth, Gernis

see tha

"Yea you can."

smile. Evidently prepared to have been

"Here you go."

up to Gernis, Waylan handed

noticed everyone's eyes focus on him,

me have a

contract from Waylan's hands,

how valid

who was looking through the contract to see if there were any

was confident that regardless of how much Gernis looked,

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

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

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let me

he eagerly looked at the contract in

look

attitude, Gernis passes the contract

"What in the..."

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

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

he started reciting the contents of the contract

the

even a single point of the contract, he

how much Randur looked at it, there were

room also realized this as they all looked

of a way

Everyone wondered.

were happening in the

going just

was

with most of the plans, that didn't mean

either polishing it or expressing

was how to have the leaders believe their

was, no explanation needed

The move worked flawlessly.

Waylan Roshfield, break any one

who finally finished reciting the contents

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

contract. Do you

us immediately how we can

a

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

Waylan was a bit

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

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's aid

aura spread throughout the whole hall, silencing everyone

to Waylan's relief, all forms of noise

head, turning his attention back towards Waylan,

everyone is quiet, tell us what you want us to

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

the plan, he had directly asked him about what they were supposed

words was

and just speak

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

"Yes, I will."

understood his intentions, Waylan

Make sure you bring as