Deal With Siegbald.

Ulrich wasn't wrong when he said that it was going to be blazing hot outside.

Somehow Ulrich seemed to know that I would have chosen this spot for the grave as he even left me some tools to work on the tall and overgrown grass. Somehow or another the tools didn't turn to dust when I picked them up as they didn't register as a weapon.

No I lied, the scythe did. Which made me use a pair of sharp clippers.

I hadn't even gotten halfway through the grass before I saw the thing I heard earlier as it looked to be a cross between a giant rat and what seemed to be a mongoose. But luckily Ulrich said it wouldn't harm me as it was one of his many roaming pets that he had.

He did mention though if I did try to mess with it or attack it.

It would rip my own throat out then proceed to do horrible things. Horrible, horrible things.

It took me until almost damn near sundown to finish cutting the grass. And I got to say it was a nice plot. If anything I should make a garden afterwards. Should make me some nice tomatoes.

Wait, does this Otherworld even have tomatoes? I'll just plant their equivalent and see what happens.

I also still had to get rid of the wild plant life. I wasn't able to cut or remove some of the plants with the clippers. Luckily I was able to use the Ancient Shovel to dig the stubborn plants.

Some of the wild plants seemed familiar to me from the Otherworld I was a part of as I saved some of them to plant later after the plot was made into a garden. Maybe I should sell it as well.

"I wonder if the other wild plants are able to be used for something or if Ulrich has anything about them in his library." I asked aloud as I pulled out the last of the wild plants and looked at the bright moon in the sky.

"At least it cooled off. Plus I should be able to finish digging the graves in a few more hours. Not the first time I had to do something like this at the last minute." I started to stretch to help loosen myself, grabbed my Ancient Shovel, and started making a big hole.

The ground was nice and soft as my Ancient Shovel dug through the soil. The shovel even started to become more familiar to me with each strike.

I found a nice groove as I started to find a unique rhythm as I finished the first grave and immediately started on the next mass grave.

I had to stop halfway through with the second mass grave as I felt as if someone watching me.

"Oh, you don't have to stop on account of me. I just never thought I'd see someone so familiar with digging a hole. Normally you would only see that from one of the Dwarven-Orcs in the Sea of Mountains." A deep and very familiar voice sounded above me.

"Well, I have been digging graves for six years straight. Got very familiar with the tools of the trade." I said with a slight smile as I continued to dig. "Plus who would have thought that the Crown Prince would enjoy watching someone dig a hole in the ground. So what can I do for you, your Highness The Crown Prince?"

Normally one would stop what they were doing and face the Crown Prince, but since he said I could continue I did. Still I couldn't help but think about what could bring the Crown Prince over.

"You don't need to call me the crown prince. If anything it's a title I would never wish to have. If anything I would rather still be a Soldier on the field. At least there I had what you would call Brothers and Sisters. A family." Siegbald said with a deep and long sigh.

"But enough about a life I will no longer be a part of. I've come to ask how you liked the gift of my three new concubines as well as inform you that the King has put a price on your head. And to talk about our deal."

I stopped mid-swing as I was trying to get rid of the dirt only to have it fall back on me as I turned to face Siegbald. He didn't even twitch.

"Well the gift is nice as it'll help with our business deal. And just to give you a big heads up I'll be burying those three concubines of yours so I hope that doesn't won't interfere with our potential business deal?" I asked in a serious tone.

"Never. Business is business while that is another situation entirely. And glad you enjoyed the gift as it will be their last. They have been, a headache as of late, they think that just because I'm Crown Prince they can do whatever they want." Siegbald spoke in a strained voice in the end.

"Hey you made them your concubines man so thats on you. And good, hey what do you think those in the underworld would pay for second hand equipment?" I said as I went right back to digging the mass grave. "Oh and do you have a personal grave digger, Siegbald?"

"No, my father the King did as he showed up right after me. So they became my problem." Siegbald said in a light manner as he continued. "And they would pay a decent price. It is quite hard for that type of equipment to appear in the market. How much do you have?"

"Oh, I have about... fifty-five out of the sixty corpse hills worth. Don't have an exact number currently. But it's a lot." I said as I stopped to look at Siegbald. "Plus is there a chance I could know the strength of those of the underworld and anyone who wants to buy from me?"

Siegbald laughed slightly as his deep voice echoed in the night.

I just continued to look at Siegbald as I noticed a small genuine smile on his face.

"At the level of your equipment no. They're able to afford certain things that most can't. But their high level Lieutenants would love to deal with you." Seigbalds face returned to normal as he continued. "And for the strength of the Lieutenants should be no problem as all of them are at the Rank: Soldier level, but they are always in need of equipment."

Then his voice turned serious.

"Are you sure you wish to become a part of the Crown Prince, Siegbald of The Abyss?"

I smiled as I continued to dig.

"Sure, I'm just a grave digger, remember."

Siegbald seemed to be stunned as it got really quiet as the only noise was my Ancient Shovel digging through the ground. Only to be followed by the soft sound of it hitting the ground above.

Then laughter, genuine laughter started to echo loudly throughout Ulrich's Domain.

I turned around and saw Siegbald in a relaxed state laughing with a small look of happiness in his face.

"True, that you are. Just a Grave Digger!" Siegbald said as he continued to laugh.

"Don't worry about those that wish to claim your life, Grave Digger. What I said before still stands." Siegbald seemed to pull something from out of the dark of night as he reached in and tossed something.

I was a little surprised when I saw what Siegbald tossed until I caught it.

"Think of this as a small gift from a friend, Bastion. I saw you were able to catch quite the amount of Rare fish from The Lake of Barons. Maybe you'll do better with this fishing rod." Siegbald said as he turned around.

"Since I'm the Crown Prince's Grave Digger I would like to extend an offer to watch an Otherworld burial rite?" I asked Siegbald as I put away the fishing rod with a smile. "And I wonder if you have any large casks of wine on hand or any liquor?"

Siegbald seemed to stop as he turned around with a look of curiosity in his eyes.

"Oh, how does it differ from what we do? And I have a 'few' casks on hand."

"It differs slightly from what you're used to. But you would need to wait at least another couple days for me to finish. As I need to gather some wood to make it more proper."

Siegbald nodded his head as he started to turn around.

"Then I will return in a couple days, Grave Digger."

I did the same as I returned to quickly finish the mass grave with a smile as I remembered a spot where I could gather some wood.

"I wonder what would happen if I used some of my Otherworlds' burial rites in those under the Rank: General? Would it do something? I mean there should be some truth in it right?"

My smile widened as I continued to dig as multiple ideas started to come to mind to see what could potentially happen.

"Some of them were pretty good if I remember. I mean since magic is real here then that should have an effect." I said as I finished digging the second mass grave in record time. "Huh must be from my Skill: Grave Digging."

It was a beautiful sight in a way as two freshly dug massive graves were right in front of you.