I became a god through archaeology in the Wizarding World.

After hearing Rod's explanation, Sieg fell silent.

He walked to the control panel and ran his gloved fingers over the ancient runes.

He couldn't understand the symbols, but he could sense the terrifying energy contained within that enormous sphere.

That energy was indeed in a suppressed and dormant state.

Sig turned his head, a cold glint in his gray eyes.

He looked at Rhodes, and slowly drew his short sword with his right hand, the tip pointing towards the ground.

If Rhodes is lying, would killing him now and replacing him with a more obedient wizard solve the problem?

But if what Rhodes said is true, killing Rhodes would prevent anyone from understanding this complex ancient system, and the king's mission would fail completely.

Besides Rhodes in front of him, the only other person in the history department was this old man next to him who could barely breathe.

If this old man were to work under gravity, who knows when he would be able to complete the task.

The air seemed to freeze.

Professor Isaac held his breath in fright and clung tightly to Rhodes's clothes.

Rod looked at Sieg calmly, even spreading his hands out in a gesture of respect.

"Lord Sig, I am a man who values ​​my life."

Rhodes said softly, "More than anyone else, I want to offer this to His Majesty in exchange for wealth and glory. But I cannot hand over a piece of scrap metal that could explode at any moment or is completely unusable. That would be a grave crime of deceiving the monarch."

"We need time."

Rhodes pointed to the complex network of pipes around them: "We need to repair the energy circuits, find alternative bio-keys, and even rewrite the underlying control logic. This isn't a task that can be completed in a few days."

Sig stared at Rhodes for a full ten seconds.

Finally, the short sword in his hand slowly returned to its sheath, making a soft clicking sound.

He believed it.

Or rather, he had no choice but to believe it.

In an underground ruin filled with unknown dangers and ancient technology, expertise is the greatest protection.

Even though Rhodes was a history teaching assistant rather than an ancient engineering teaching assistant, he still knew more than I, an outsider.

Sig raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the exit.

It means: Since we can't take it now, let's go back and report.

Rod breathed a sigh of relief, but his face still maintained that serious, professional expression.

"Professor, record the energy readings and rune arrangement here."

Rhodes turned to Isaac and said, "We need to bring some samples back to prove our findings. Like... that one."

He pointed to a loose metal cover on the edge of the console.

The cover plate was engraved with complex circuits that the Royal Engineers had never seen before, which was enough to prove the level of technology here.

Professor Isaac was taken aback; how had he unknowingly become an assistant?

Coming to his senses, the professor nodded quickly and took out his tools to carefully remove the cover plate.

Rod then walked to the side and began inspecting the pipes.

Just now, he was gambling with his life.

If Sieg had been a more insane or foolish killer, who would kill without thinking and then inspect the goods, Rhodes would be a corpse by now.

Fortunately, Sieg is the king's dog, and dogs must consider their master's interests.

A few minutes later, Professor Isaac had collected the samples.

Rod, carrying a windproof lantern, checked the scene again.

He was certain that the traces of his chip removal had been completely covered up, and the access panel looked as if it had never been opened.

"Let's go."

Rhodes said to Sieg, "The environment here is unstable. Staying too long could lead to poisoning for various reasons. Let's retreat to the second basement level and seal off the entrance. No one can be allowed in here until we find a solution to the bio-key."

Sieg nodded and turned to walk out of the passage first.

The three of them returned along the same route.

When they emerged from the oppressive, high-gravity passage and returned to the gap in the blasted rock wall, the suffocating heaviness finally vanished.

Professor Isaac plopped down on the pile of rubble, breathing in the relatively normal air. His face was still pale, but his eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.

Rhodes stood at the cave entrance, looking into the deep darkness inside.

"Seal it up."

Rhodes ordered the royal engineers guarding the cave entrance: "Use the strongest rocks and sealing spells. No one is to approach except those with His Majesty's warrant."

The engineers looked at Sig.

Sieg nodded slightly.

So the engineers began moving stones and, under Rhodes's guidance, set up a simple early warning barrier.

With the last stone falling, the gap leading to the ancient geothermal plant was completely blocked.

Rhodes touched the hard chip on his chest, a strong sense of control welling up inside him.

Now, he has the key.

No matter how much the king urged them, no matter how much others spied on them, as long as Rhodes didn't speak up, that underground legion would forever remain just a pile of sleeping stones.

He will use this time to slowly study how to turn this key into a scepter that belongs only to him.

"Lord Sig."

Rhodes turned to the silent assassin leader, a respectful smile on his face: "We should go up and report to His Majesty. Although the core cannot be activated for the time being, we brought back samples and located its position. This is still great news for His Majesty."

The murderous intent that had been constantly lingering in Sieg's gray eyes finally subsided somewhat.

He looked at Rod and nodded stiffly.

Although the mission was not completed perfectly, at least substantial progress was made.

For a king who only cares about results, this was indeed a satisfactory outcome.

The group began to evacuate to the ground.

As they passed through the thunderstorm zone on the second basement level and climbed the spiral staircase, Rod walked in the middle of the group.

He could sense that although Sieg was still monitoring him, the tension of being ready to act at any moment had disappeared.

On the ground, Mortimer's counterattack has probably already begun.

Upon seeing these samples, the king would only become more greedy and impatient.

"One month..."

Rhodes silently recited the final deadline given by the king.

He must decipher the secrets of the chip, find a way to control the core, and improve his strength within a month until he can confront a third-ring wizard head-on, or even... an army.

This sounds like an impossible task.

Rod's fingers lightly traced the dagger at his waist.

But for someone already dancing on the edge of a cliff, it's impossible; it's death.