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.

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

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

understood one thing, Waylan was putting his life on the line. He was putting his life on the line to prove to everyone present that he truly knew of a way to end the

"...You're being real?"

one to speak up was Randur. The dwarf that

at Randur, Waylan looked towards Gernis who was

face clouded

opening

see

"Yea you can."

nodded with a smile. Evidently prepared to have been asked such a

"Here you go."

Gernis, Waylan

everyone's eyes focus on him,

have a

from Waylan's hands, Gernis started looking through

just how valid your words

to see if there

confident that regardless of how much

singing it, he had gone through it with Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to

to remove all loopholes as

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let me have a

looked at

look

passes the contract onto

"What in the..."

a shocked look appeared on his face as

stop the war, will die. If I, Waylan Roshfield, backstab the

his mouth, he started reciting the contents of the

more he spoke, the more shocked

a single point of the contract, he would die.

Randur looked at

others in the room also realized this as they all looked at

really know of a way to end

Everyone wondered.

in the room, Waylan

is going just

contract was in fact his

up with most of the plans, that didn't mean that he and Douglas

the plan by either polishing it or expressing their inputs on

have the leaders believe their

no explanation needed to be said when

The move worked flawlessly.

any one of these

was Randur who finally finished reciting

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

that really a mana contract. Do you

us immediately how we

that a real mana

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

Waylan was a bit taken

a time. I can't

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

to Waylan's aid

aura spread throughout

to Waylan's relief,

his attention back towards

quiet, tell us what you want us

knew what he meant when he

he had directly asked him about what they

implication behind those words was clear to

just speak about what we

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 no longer

"Yes, I will."

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

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