Chapter 535: The Dwarf Alþjófr
Dasha Pang was correct in his analysis. Through the vent above every cage was a room area to make every cage’s specified seal run. The Operating Floor as Dasha dubbed it. Machinery and magic circles powered the room and a golem protected every one of the entryways.
The golem could not detect him when he materialized. None of the golems, whether in the hallway or protecting these rooms, could only glance in confusion as he teleported around.
’This entire floor is disconnected from everything below. In fact, judging by the boot marks here, I’m guessing only the leader comes down here.’
It made sense. Dasha asked his enslaved Auctioneer about. The mid-tier thief replied that their leader’s office required a special teleportation device to actually go to, and it was a device strictly regulated. His slave said he had only gone once himself. He didn’t see a staircase or anything of that sort.
There were no staircases between the Receiving Chamber and the Operating Floor. The thieves were not aware of it, although the slave did mention that many theorized of the Operating Floor’s existence.
There was only one reason why the leader did not mention the floor’s existence. Plainly, it was because there was a staircase connecting the Operating Floor and the office. An office the leader wished to only keep open to those worthy. An office that he wished to keep out of reach in the event of an infiltration.
Dasha ran through the hallway. He ducked under the golems, who could never seem to notice him. Could never warn their leader of the arrival of the Great Sin.
The hallways were long and matched the layout of the Receiving Chamber. Dasha already figured where the staircase would be: the north. Simple deduction, really. It was where the residential area was. He suspected that the leader’s office was on top of it, or rather, two floors above it.
He was correct. He saw the staircase and ran up it. To the very end of it was a massive gate, guarded by two golden golems.
Dasha had to take them out. Luckily, he had not been running up around and doing nothing. He had been preparing. He had been making handseals. His hands came together one last time as he jumped, facing the giant golden golems, and called out his trump card:
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