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.

how a mana contract worked;

words, that was unless he didn't

everyone in the room understood 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?"

that had been giving Waylan a hard time in the previous

towards Gernis who

face clouded with

a while, opening his

see tha

"Yea you can."

prepared to have

"Here you go."

Waylan handed him the

focus on him, or more specifically towards the

me have

Waylan's hands, Gernis

just how

was looking through the contract to see if there were any loopholes, Waylan merely

how much Gernis looked,

it with Douglas and Ren. As they were checking, they made sure to remove anything that

like they had indeed managed to remove all loopholes as an astonished look soon appeared on

"You…to go this far..."

it? Let me have

impatiently said as he eagerly looked at the contract in

look at it

Gernis passes the contract

"What in the..."

look appeared on his face as he looked

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

of the contract for everyone that was

the more shocked he

the point. If he breached even a single point

looked at it, there

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

of a way to

Everyone wondered.

in the room, Waylan smiled in

is going

was in

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

contributed to the plan by either polishing it or

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

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

The move worked flawlessly.

I, Waylan Roshfield, break any one of

Randur who finally finished reciting

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

really a mana contract. Do you really have a way

us immediately how

that a real mana

of the hall. All at once, everyone in

was a bit taken aback as he

I can't answer everyone

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

Waylan's aid was

powerful voice and aura spread throughout

much to Waylan's relief, all forms of

his attention

now that everyone is quiet, tell

the hall, Gernis's words sounded normal, but Waylan knew what he meant when he

asking Waylan about the plan, he had directly asked him about

implication behind those words was clear to

speaking about the plan, and just speak about what we need to

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."

understood his

bring as many subordinates as possible. Preferably, ones that