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.

was having, standing next to me, the guard patted the side

facility are made of Rhimestone, ensuring some solid

"Rhimestone?"

raised my brow in mild

incredibly sturdy

also ridiculously

across the wall, the guard nodded in

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

stupid if they

responded, trying my best to memorize

might turn out to be

from the other areas?"

could probably make

it was no longer a matter of greed.

fluctuations and the

"Yea."

that case, no. Everything in this

towards the corner of the room, where a lone

density in the room. When the mana density reaches a certain level, it will trigger a

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

the duergars working on the artifacts 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

as he looked at the

do end up surviving, the system will deactivate as soon as it judges that the mana density in

"...I see."

ruthless

order to make sure the threat would not go outside of the room, they were prepared to

what happened to the people here,

sacrifice their

to lose

the information was actually quite useful

that I had previously envisioned became

to the

called out to me, moving towards

one last glance

"Yes."