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 patted

the facility are made of Rhimestone, ensuring some solid

"Rhimestone?"

raised my brow

an incredibly sturdy rock

was also ridiculously

his finger across the wall, the guard nodded in

don't have to worry about the facility if the artifacts ever do malfunction. The walls over here can withstand the full-blown attack

they

my best to memorize

turn out to be more useful than

from the other areas?"

his answer, I could probably make up for the

longer a matter of greed. This place could be instrumental to

you asking whether the mana fluctuations and

"Yea."

no. Everything in this place is

corner of the

density reaches a certain level, it will

Do they have a chance to flee? I

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

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

the system will deactivate as soon

"...I see."

quite ruthless of

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

didn't really care about what happened to the people here, I did feel

to sacrifice their own,

would be a pity to lose so many talented

information was actually quite useful to

had previously envisioned became much more

we go to

guard called out to me, moving towards

last glance

"Yes."