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.

to me, the guard patted the side of

walls of the facility are made of Rhimestone, ensuring some solid safety. This way, our researchers

"Rhimestone?"

my brow in mild

Rhimestone was an incredibly sturdy rock that

was also

across the wall, the

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

stupid if they didn't do

to memorize the

turn out to be more useful than I

place isolated from the other areas?"

could probably

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

asking whether the mana fluctuations and the like reach outside of

"Yea."

it. In that case, no. Everything in this place

towards the corner of the

certain level, it will trigger a defensive mechanism and activate the security system, which in turn will

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

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

the guard's eyes as he looked at

deactivate as soon as it judges that the mana density in the room is

"...I see."

ruthless of

order to make sure the threat would not go outside of

really care about what happened to the people here, I did feel that

to sacrifice their own,

a pity to lose so many

the information was actually

that I had previously envisioned became much

to

me, moving

one last glance at

"Yes."