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 the severity of Waylan's

were no falsehoods in his words, that

understood one thing, Waylan was putting his life on the line. He was putting his

"...You're being real?"

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

Waylan looked towards Gernis who

face clouded with unprecedented

a while, opening his mouth, Gernis

I see tha

"Yea you can."

a smile. Evidently prepared to have been asked

"Here you go."

up to Gernis, Waylan

focus on him, or more

have a

the contract from Waylan's hands, Gernis

me see just how valid your words

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

much

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

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

"You…to go this far..."

Let

he eagerly looked

a look at it

Randur's attitude, Gernis passes the contract onto

"What in the..."

look appeared on his face

die. If I,

mouth, he started reciting the contents of the contract for

spoke, the

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

looked at it, there were no

room also realized this as they all looked at

really know of a way to

Everyone wondered.

changes that were happening in the room, Waylan smiled in

is going just as

contract was

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

by either polishing it or expressing their inputs on areas that

they needed to cover was how to have the leaders believe their words, and

was, no explanation needed to be said when

The move worked flawlessly.

I, Waylan Roshfield, break any one of

Randur who

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

contract. Do you really have a way

how we can

that a

of the hall. All at once, everyone in

of questions, Waylan was a

a time. I can't answer everyone at

He helplessly said.

"Silence everyone."

to Waylan's

aura spread throughout the whole hall, silencing

to Waylan's relief, all

attention

everyone is quiet, tell us

words sounded normal, but Waylan knew what he meant

directly

words

the plan, and just speak about what we need to

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

"Yes, I will."

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

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