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.

mana contract worked; therefore, they knew

were no falsehoods in his words, that was unless he didn't value

one thing, Waylan was putting his life on the 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

Gernis who was

face clouded with

while, opening his mouth,

see tha

"Yea you can."

Evidently prepared to have been asked such a

"Here you go."

to Gernis, Waylan handed

Waylan noticed everyone's eyes focus on him, or

have

contract from Waylan's hands,

see just how valid your

was looking through the contract to see if there

confident that regardless of how much Gernis looked, there

were checking, they made sure to remove

managed to remove all loopholes

"You…to go this far..."

it? Let me have

eagerly looked

a look at it

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

"What in the..."

appeared on his face

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

the contract for everyone that

the more shocked

to the point. If he breached even a single point of the contract, he would die. He was leaving himself with no leeway

how much Randur looked at it, there were

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

of a way to

Everyone wondered.

changes that were happening in the room,

going just as

contract was in fact his

one that came up with most of the plans, that didn't

or expressing their inputs

areas 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

was, no explanation needed to be said when presenting

The move worked flawlessly.

any one of these

of his thoughts was Randur who finally finished reciting the

silence did not last for long as not long

you really have

how

that a real

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

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

time. I can't answer

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

to Waylan's aid

throughout the whole hall, silencing

Waylan's relief, all forms of

attention back

quiet, tell us what you want

sounded normal, but Waylan knew what he meant when

he had directly asked

behind those words

about the plan, and just speak about what

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 the enemy and would end

"Yes, I will."

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

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