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.

having, standing next to me,

made of Rhimestone, ensuring some solid safety. This way, our researchers can conduct

"Rhimestone?"

brow in

what I remember, Rhimestone was an incredibly

was also

across the wall, the

Rhimestone. Because of it, we don't have to worry about the facility if the artifacts ever

they didn't do

responded, trying my best to

to be

the other areas?" I

I could probably make up for

matter of greed. This place could be instrumental to my

asking whether the mana fluctuations and the

"Yea."

in this place is completely

the corner of the room, where a lone

there measures the mana density in the room. When the mana density reaches a certain level, it will trigger a defensive mechanism and activate the

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

in the distance before shaking 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

flashed across the guard's eyes as he

way, if they do end up surviving, the system will deactivate as soon as it judges that the mana density in the room is at

"...I see."

ruthless of

sure the threat would not go outside of the

to the people here, I did feel that Inferno had taken

were ready to sacrifice their own, after

be a pity to lose

was actually quite

that I had previously

go to

out to me, moving towards the door

last glance

"Yes."