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.

everyone in the room knew how a mana contract worked; therefore, they knew the severity of Waylan's

words, that was unless he didn't

his life on the line. He was putting his life

"...You're being real?"

speak up was Randur. The dwarf that had been giving Waylan a

towards Gernis who

face clouded with unprecedented

a while, opening

see tha

"Yea you can."

nodded with a smile. Evidently prepared to have

"Here you go."

Gernis, Waylan handed him the

he moved, Waylan noticed everyone's eyes focus on him, or more specifically towards the contract

have

the contract from Waylan's hands, Gernis started looking through

me see just how valid your

through the contract to see if there were any

that regardless of how much

it, he had gone through it with Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to remove anything that the dwarfs could use as a

to remove all loopholes as an astonished look soon appeared

"You…to go this far..."

is it? Let me have a

he eagerly looked at the contract in Gernis's

a look at it

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

"What in the..."

on his face as

If I, Waylan Roshfield, backstab the dwarves in

started reciting the contents of the contract for

he spoke, the more shocked

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

looked at it, there were no

realized this as they all

he really know of a way to end the

Everyone wondered.

changes that were happening in

is going just

a mana contract was in fact

with most of the plans, that didn't mean

to the plan by either polishing it or expressing their inputs on areas

believe their words, and

was, no explanation needed to be

The move worked flawlessly.

I, Waylan Roshfield, break any one of these statements,

thoughts was Randur who finally

The silence did not last for long as

that really a mana contract. Do you

tell us immediately how we

that a real

standing in the middle of the hall.

questions, Waylan was a

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

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's aid

aura spread throughout the whole hall, silencing

Waylan's relief, all forms of

his attention back

now that everyone is quiet, tell

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

Waylan about the plan, he had directly asked him about what they were

words

plan, and just speak about what we need to

all of his plans, there was a good chance that their plans would be exposed to the enemy and would end up

"Yes, I will."

Gernis to gesture that he understood his

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