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.

the thoughts I was having, standing next to

some solid safety. This way, our researchers can conduct experiments without

"Rhimestone?"

brow

an incredibly sturdy rock

was also

across the wall, the guard nodded

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

be stupid if they didn't

my best to memorize the layout of the

place might turn out to be more useful than I

from the other areas?" I

answer, I could probably

no longer a matter of greed. This

you asking whether the mana fluctuations and the like reach outside of

"Yea."

in this place is

the corner of the room, where a lone

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

they have a chance

looked at 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

flashed across the guard's eyes as he looked at

up surviving, the system will deactivate as soon as it judges

"...I see."

quite ruthless

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

what happened to the people here, I did feel that

were ready to sacrifice their

to lose so many talented

information was actually

that I had previously envisioned became much more

we go to

called out to me, moving towards the

one last glance at

"Yes."