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 me, the guard patted the side of

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

"Rhimestone?"

raised my brow in mild

an incredibly sturdy rock that could withstand heavy

also

wall, the guard nodded in

worry about the facility if the artifacts ever do malfunction. The walls over here can withstand the full-blown attack of an ranked

if they didn't do

my best to memorize the

to be more useful than I

place isolated from the other

answer, I could probably

greed. This place could be instrumental to

whether the mana fluctuations and the like reach

"Yea."

that case, no. Everything in this place is completely

corner of the

a certain level, it will trigger a defensive mechanism

stuck inside? Do they have a chance to flee? I assume this must

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 knows how the system works so they come prepared to die

eyes as he looked at the researchers

end up surviving, the system will deactivate as soon as

"...I see."

ruthless

go outside of the room, they were prepared

about what happened to the people here,

ready to sacrifice their own, after

pity to

actually

had previously envisioned became

to the next

out to me, moving towards

one last glance

"Yes."