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

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

"Rhimestone?"

brow

Rhimestone was an incredibly sturdy rock

was also

across the wall,

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

they didn't

trying my best to memorize the layout of

might turn out to be more

this place isolated from the other areas?"

I could probably make up for the

a matter of greed. This place

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

"Yea."

that case, no. Everything in this place is completely isolated. Take a look over

guard pointed towards the corner of the room,

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

they have a chance to flee? I assume this must

on the artifacts in the distance before shaking his head. "They'll be sealed inside, and probably die. We don't want to take

he looked at

deactivate as soon as it judges that the mana density in

"...I see."

ruthless of

go outside of the room, they

what happened to the people here,

to sacrifice their own, after

to

the information was actually quite

I had previously envisioned became

go to the next

moving towards the door of

last glance

"Yes."