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.

next to

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

"Rhimestone?"

raised my brow in mild

I remember, Rhimestone was an incredibly sturdy rock that

was also

wall, the guard nodded in

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

if they didn't do

best to memorize the layout

to

the other areas?" I

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

of greed. This place could be instrumental to my

fluctuations and the like reach outside

"Yea."

In that case, no. Everything in this

guard pointed towards the corner of the room,

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

stuck inside? Do they have a chance to flee? I

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

flashed across the guard's eyes as he looked at the researchers

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

"...I see."

quite ruthless

go outside of the room, they were prepared

the people here, I did

ready to sacrifice their own, after

a pity to

the information was actually

plan that I had previously envisioned became much

to the

me, moving towards

one last glance

"Yes."