Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

---Delta, Two days after the Final---

His heart pounded like crazy, but he knew of the importance of his mission. This was their only chance to secure the document, as everything was being prepared for the evacuation from Delta. Crouched, he silently snuck along the corridors of Chrona's embassy.

Tonight was the only chance when all documents were stored together for moving them, before they were transported tomorrow. The commander had especially given him the Ring of Greater Shadows and a high-grade invisibility cloak for the mission.

Despite that, it was no easy task to sneak into the embassy. Even in the middle of the night, there was a great number of guards and security systems. The safety measures even mixed urthan technology with Chrona's magic formations.

It was next to impossible to move around the main complex of the embassy with his skills. Luckily, the documents they were after were not actually deemed highly important. He wasn't here to steal state secrets or proof of Merkraut Sar's corruption.

What he needed was located in the storage rooms on the subterranean levels, where the ordinary documents and magical contracts were gathered and stored for movement tomorrow. Down here, the security was much laxer.

The urthan cameras were easily evaded with the invisibility cloak and with his thief skills and the relic-rated ring from the commander, the guards were also no problem. Following his mini-map of the complex he found an easy way down, using the original emergency staircase, leading him to the storage parcels.

While the stairs were only surveilled by cameras and guards, his told him that he had to be more careful in this corridor lined my chain-link cages. Blowing a hand full of powered magic crystals into the air, made the various formations in the path visible.

After analyzing and identifying the various magic traps and alarm magic installed he proceeded to use the low-rank magic scroll “Water Vapor” to create a thin mist in the corridor. In addition to the formations on the floor, he found that the path was also secured by laser barriers.

They were cleverly placed in a way that someone who tried evading the formations was forced to trip the alarm with the laser sensors and if one tried to evade the barriers, they had to trip the trap formations. A simple yet effective setup that was able to thwart most simple thieves.

But that was all. A shadow thief like him, equipped with the relic-rated ring could easily evade this. The safety measures fit the perceived value of what was stored here. As a matter of fact, most of the stuff down here had no value and was not worth stealing.

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The thief melded into the shadows with the help of the Greater Ring of Shadows and was able to pass by most formations and technology by simply moving along the ceiling. He was long since accustomed to the navigation along the ceiling and quickly found the parcel he was looking for.

It was filled with stacks of boxes of magic documents. Boring stuff that mostly documented administrative processes in Delta. Really nothing one was supposed to steal, but here was the key to their plan.

He rummaged through the boxes, comparing their dates and contents until he found what he was looking for. So what if Chrona wanted to leave Delta? So what if many of the traitors left with the cowards? They would stay and they would defend Delta from outsiders.

As long as they had these, they would be able to break loose from Chrona. Of course, he couldn't just steal the boxes he needed. That would have been noticed tomorrow during the transportation, however-

Opening the boxes he emptied their contents into his inventory and filled the boxes with stacks of blank paper. Like this, they would only notice what was gone when it was already too late, if they ever found out what was missing in the first place. He kind of doubted anyone would have checked the contents of these boxes in the next decade.

With the key to their rebellion in his pocket, the thief quickly left the underground of the embassy.

...

His steps hesitated as he passed through the dark streets of Delta. The past weeks had left their marks on the city. The Peddler of Ruin had honored his name. To make their investments in Delta worth it, he had implemented various cost-saving measures. One of which was that street lighting was turned off in most of the city.

He didn't quite know, but he heard that they were using the electricity produced in Delta to create magic crystals for the empire now. They were really just sucking them dry as best as they could before running away.

He clicked his tongue in frustration. Despite working his way up, he had no influence on the politics, He was only able to watch on from the sidelines as the mismanaged the city and sucked it dry of resources.

Maybe the most disgusted he was by the council, set up by Merkraut Sar. A bunch of short-sighted old fogeys, a bunch of weather vanes, happily nodding and agreeing to whatever the foreigners told them.

Yes, Mr. Chrona. Please, Mr. Chrona. Mr Spatia will come to take over? Of course, we will accept it Mr. Chrona! His fist involuntarily clenched at the thought of their groveling before a foreign power. Especially that obnoxious little fatty Longbottom. If Merkraut Sar didn't wear shoes, Ichabott would have probably licked his feet...

He would have never thought that he could feel like this towards another human being. He also never expected that he would even consider doing, what he was about to do. However, his feet carried him steadily through the dark streets of the city.

Passing empty houses and dilapidated shops, he slowly entered a slightly more prosperous area. Stepping out of an alley, he entered a wide main street. Here there were still some shops and bars that managed to stay open because of the regular influx of people.

If he walked down to the left, he would get to the System Church’s branch in Delta. As for the other direction, it was where his destination lay. Instinctively evading the passerbies, he still mulled over his decision.

He was convinced that what he intended to do was right, but he didn’t know whether they would believe him. If things failed because of his behavior in the past, he might regret it for the rest of his life.

He couldn’t remember when, but he had already come to a halt when he realized that he arrived. Looking up, his eyes wandered across the awe-inspiring facade of Minas Mar’s embassy. Right, he had arrived.

Shaking off his worries and intrusive thoughts, he stepped towards the entrance door, guarded by two knights even in the middle of the knight. Whether things worked out or not, to see whether the cat was still alive or already dead... It was time to look in the box.

...

In a luxurious salon, hung with heavy smoke clouds, from cigarettes and cigars. men and women in eccentric, expensive clothes stood or sat around a polished wooden table.

“We should prepare to move,” a man with his face hidden in a pale blue wizard robe suggested, bending over the table, toward the person in the center of the room. Wearing a silver suit, she had a heavy aura, as the cigar in her mouth quickly burned away under her strong drags.

“hmm, you are right. It's time to stand by our oath,” she agreed ominously.

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