The Author's POV

341 Taking the initiative [1]

Halting his steps in front of a large metallic door, the guard paused for a moment.

Placing his small blue hand by the side of the door, the metallic structure rumbled and slowly opened up.

Rumble-

Once the door was halfway open, the guard started talking.

"This over here is the artifact testing area. As you're probably aware, this place is dedicated to testing artifacts and their power."

"Oh? I've heard of this place."

Walking into the room, I pretended to be unamused by what I saw.

In truth, I was beyond shocked. With all sorts of complex machinery around the room, duergars could be seen testing all sorts of artifacts.

BANG-

Covered in sophisticated equipment, the duergars tested weird-looking artifacts against some sort of odd machinery. Displayed on the machine was all sorts of data which other duergars looked at by the side, taking notes on their holographic- looking devices.

Some of the artifacts were so powerful that I could sense the mana in the air convering towards it.

Keeping a straight face had never been more difficult for me.

'...I wonder if I can steal them.'

I thought to myself.

Oddly enough, that was the first thing I thought as I looked at the artifacts. I couldn't be blamed though.

Each one of the artifacts present would sell for astronomical prices back in the human domain.

To be honest, the probability of me being able to steal them was low, but a man could dream, right?

'Mhm... Actually, it's not impossible for me to steal them...'

A wild thought suddenly entered my mind.

If everything proceeded as planned, then, perhaps, I may be able to take some of the stuff here.

thoughts I was having, standing next to me, the guard

of Rhimestone, ensuring some solid

"Rhimestone?"

my brow in

what I remember, Rhimestone was an incredibly sturdy

also

finger across the wall, the

about the facility if the artifacts ever do malfunction. The walls over here can

stupid if they didn't do this

trying my best to memorize the

turn out to be more useful than I

isolated from the other

answer, I could probably make up for the sudden

of greed. This place could be instrumental to

Are you asking whether the mana fluctuations and the like reach outside

"Yea."

no. Everything in this place

towards the corner of

level, it will trigger a defensive

it shuts down, what about the ones stuck inside? Do they have a chance to flee?

his head. "They'll be sealed inside, and probably die. We don't want to take any risks. For better or worse, everyone here knows how the system works so they come prepared to die

eyes as he looked at the researchers in

the system will deactivate as soon as it judges that the

"...I see."

ruthless

go outside of the room, they were prepared to have anyone

the people here, I did feel that

to sacrifice their own,

a pity to lose so many

actually

that I had previously envisioned became

to

out to me, moving towards the door

last glance at

"Yes."