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,

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

line. He was putting his life on the line

"...You're being real?"

The dwarf that had been giving Waylan a hard

at Randur, Waylan looked towards Gernis who was looking back at

face clouded

while, opening his mouth, Gernis

I see

"Yea you can."

a smile. Evidently prepared to have been

"Here you go."

up to Gernis, Waylan handed him the

Waylan noticed everyone's eyes focus on him, or more specifically towards

me have a

hands, Gernis started looking through

how valid your

who was looking through the contract to see if

regardless of how much Gernis looked,

Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to remove anything that the dwarfs could use

like they had indeed managed to remove all loopholes as

"You…to go this far..."

it? Let me have

said as he eagerly looked at

look at

passes the contract onto him who quickly snatched it and went through its

"What in the..."

shocked look appeared on

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

the

he spoke, the more shocked

truly straight 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

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

he really know of a way to

Everyone wondered.

that were happening in the room, Waylan

is going just

a mana contract was in

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

either polishing it or expressing their inputs on areas that needed to have further

the 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 shut everyone

what it was, no explanation needed to be said when presenting it to

The move worked flawlessly.

break any one

thoughts was Randur who finally finished reciting the contents of the

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

mana contract. Do you really have a way to stop

immediately how we can stop this

a real mana

the middle of the hall. All at once, everyone

the barrage of questions, Waylan was a bit

time. I can't answer everyone

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's aid

spread throughout the whole hall,

to Waylan's relief, all forms of

his attention

is quiet, tell

but Waylan knew what he meant when he said 'tell us what you

directly asked him about what they

words was

just speak about

to see that 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

"Yes, I will."

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

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