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.

a mana contract worked; therefore, they

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

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

"...You're being real?"

first one to speak up was Randur. The dwarf that had been giving Waylan

Waylan looked towards Gernis who was looking back

face clouded

a while, opening his mouth,

I see

"Yea you can."

nodded with a smile. Evidently prepared to have

"Here you go."

Gernis, Waylan handed him the

everyone's eyes focus on him,

me have a

from Waylan's hands, Gernis

just how valid your

who was looking through the contract to see if there were

much Gernis looked, there wouldn't be any

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

seemed like they had indeed managed to remove all loopholes as an

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let me have

he eagerly looked at the contract in Gernis's

look

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

"What in the..."

look appeared on his face as he looked through

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

his mouth, he started reciting the contents of the contract for everyone that was present

the

to the point. If he breached even a single point of the contract, he would die. He was leaving

matter how much Randur looked at

in the room also realized this as they

of a way

Everyone wondered.

that were happening in the

is going just as

was in fact his

with most of the plans,

to the plan by either polishing it or expressing

of the areas they needed to cover was how to have the leaders believe their words, and it was Waylan's idea to use

no explanation needed to

The move worked flawlessly.

any one of these statements, I

of his thoughts was Randur who finally finished reciting the contents

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

contract. Do you really have a way to stop this

tell us immediately how

that a real mana

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

Waylan was a bit taken aback as he

one at a time. I can't answer everyone at

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's aid was

voice and aura spread throughout the whole hall,

relief,

turning his attention back towards

quiet, tell us what you want

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

he had directly asked him

implication behind those words was clear to

just speak about what

in their midst. If Waylan said all of his plans, there was a good chance that their plans would be exposed to

"Yes, I will."

Gernis to gesture that he understood his intentions, Waylan looked

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