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.

I was having, standing next to me, the

ensuring some solid safety. This way,

"Rhimestone?"

brow

I remember, Rhimestone was an incredibly

was also

his finger across the wall, the guard

about the facility if the artifacts ever do malfunction. The walls over here can withstand the full-blown

stupid if they didn't do this

to

place might turn out to be more useful

this place isolated from the other areas?" I carefully

his answer, I could probably make up for the sudden time

it was no longer a matter of greed. This place could be instrumental to my

mana fluctuations

"Yea."

this place is completely isolated. Take a look

corner of the room,

When the mana density reaches a certain level, it will trigger a defensive mechanism and activate the security system, which in

the ones stuck inside? Do they have a chance to flee? I assume this must happen in a

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 at any

guard's eyes as he looked at the researchers in front of

surviving, the system will deactivate as soon as it judges that the mana density in the room is

"...I see."

ruthless

the threat would not go outside of

what happened to the people here, I did feel

to sacrifice their own, after

would be a pity to lose so

information was actually quite useful to

previously envisioned became

to the

moving

glance at

"Yes."