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

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

this moment, everyone in the room understood one thing, Waylan was putting his life on the line. He was putting his

"...You're being real?"

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

towards Gernis

clouded

a while, opening his

see

"Yea you can."

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

"Here you go."

to Gernis, Waylan

eyes focus on him, or more specifically towards the contract

have a

from Waylan's hands, Gernis started looking through

how valid your

the contract to see if

of how much Gernis looked, there

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

to remove all loopholes as an astonished look soon appeared on

"You…to go this far..."

Let me have

as he eagerly looked

a look

the contract, not minding Randur's attitude, Gernis passes

"What in the..."

appeared on his

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

the contents of the contract for everyone

the

to the point. If he breached even a single point of the contract,

looked at it, there were no

realized this as they all looked at Douglas

he really know of a way to

Everyone wondered.

that were happening in the

is going just as

was

up with most of the plans, that

by either polishing it or expressing their inputs on areas that

cover was how to have the leaders believe their words, and it was Waylan's idea to use the mana contract to shut

explanation needed to be said when presenting it

The move worked flawlessly.

break any one

Randur who finally

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

contract. Do you really have

immediately how we can stop

that a real mana

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

questions, Waylan was a bit taken aback as he wrily

a time. I can't

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

to Waylan's aid

aura spread throughout the whole

much to Waylan's relief, all forms of noise

attention back

quiet, tell us what you want us to

knew what he meant when he said

directly asked him about what they were

implication behind those words

just speak

was aware of a possible spy hiding in their midst. If Waylan said all of his plans, there was a good chance that their

"Yes, I will."

understood his intentions,

two days, come to this place. Make sure you bring as many subordinates as possible. Preferably, ones