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.

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

falsehoods in his words, that was

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

"...You're being real?"

Randur. The dwarf that had been giving Waylan a hard time in

Randur, Waylan looked towards Gernis

clouded with unprecedented

while, opening his

I see tha

"Yea you can."

Evidently prepared to have been

"Here you go."

up to Gernis, Waylan

him, or more specifically towards the contract in his

me have a

the contract from Waylan's hands,

me see just how valid

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

how much Gernis looked, there

Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to remove anything that the dwarfs could use as a point to dismiss his

had indeed managed to remove all loopholes as

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let

impatiently said as he eagerly looked

a look at

contract, not minding Randur's attitude, Gernis passes the contract onto him who

"What in the..."

look appeared on his face as he looked

will die. If I, Waylan Roshfield, backstab

the contents of the contract for everyone

more he spoke, the more

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

much Randur looked at

this as they all

know of a way

Everyone wondered.

changes that were happening in the room, Waylan smiled

going

a mana contract was

one that came up with most of

or expressing

to have the leaders believe their words,

explanation needed

The move worked flawlessly.

Roshfield, break any one of

who finally finished reciting the contents of the

The silence did not last for long as

contract. Do you really have a way to stop this

immediately how we can

that a

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

the barrage of questions, Waylan was a bit taken aback as he wrily

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

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

to Waylan's aid was

spread throughout the whole hall, silencing

relief,

turning his attention back

everyone is quiet, tell us what

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

asking Waylan about the plan, he had directly asked

implication behind those words

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 be exposed to the enemy

"Yes, I will."

to gesture that he understood his intentions, Waylan

bring as many