The dwarves were somewhat used to Bones asking rather…odd questions so they didn't ask why or how he didn't know about something so general.

"Really? You’ve been dying to ask?” Dar said with a smirk.

“Well Bones, you are familiar with adventurers guild rankings I take it?" Bones nodded and Darsumi continued. "Splendid! Then you know that the adventurer guild is old…pre-system old? The Guild was founded with the purpose to fight and protect the people from the magical beasts and monsters that were growing in numbers on our continent. The Guild classified the strength of adventurers in bronze, silver and gold ranks with peak adventurers being around gold rank back then. When the system came, copper ranking was introduced before bronze and platinum after the gold rank but that was a long time ago. Rarely anyone uses the term copper and platinum rank anymore." Darsumi paused, then continued.

"The system introduced advancements and The Guild later implemented tiers into their power ranking. Any kingdom or an empire, where the adventurer guild has a certain amount of influence, uses their rankings as a measure of power. I don't know why they still hold on to old rankings, but places outside of adventurers influence use tiers as a measure, according to advancements achieved. I'm sure you get the picture now, yes?" Darsumi finished and downed his ale.

Bones nodded, thinking about it. It was odd to refer to someone as simply a bronze or silver ranker. "Don't they represent a wrong display of users' strength then?" he asked. Darsumi shook his head and told him that the adventurer rankings have merits. When asked to explain, Darsumi said that The Guild's rankings were actually more accurate as they not just tell the user's advancement tier, but also level range.

I see, it makes sense then. At higher levels, level range isn't as important and advancement tier is all the info you'd actually need.

"Once you get out there and see the world, you'll see many don't bother with Guild's ranking and just refer to both the users and monsters in tiers." Dar finished.

Bones thanked him for the explanation and changed the subject back to the business at hand. The rest of the negotiation came down to deciding how they would split the cost and the profit. Going back and forth, Bones managed to secure 20% of the profit from the experienced dwarves. Considering the amount of work to be done, he knew they showed him leniency. For starting the business, they needed a lot more people, or in this case, dwarves. Fortunately, Darsumi knew a dwarf that knew a dwarf. Soon, a dwarf tailor by the name of Belmus joined them and they worked out the details until late in the night.

Bones decided to stay with the dwarves for a few more days, until they worked all the kinks out and got the shop running. From what Darsumi told him, with proper connections, it was just the matter of days. I forgot to ask them about the mana core. I have one from the Ant Queen, but I'd prefer to have an extra one, just in case. Tomorrow I'll ask if they can acquire one for me!

While the dwarves were sleeping over at Hem’s smithy, Bones took out the book he acquired in the capital, “Basics of Mana Engraving”, and started reading. By morning, he got the gist of it and - like with any other profession - learned he would need proper tools to begin practicing. He expected the dwarves to wake up anytime now but they were still sound asleep. That morning, Bones also learned that dwares considered 9 am was early morning and simply went about their day at leisure pace.

Bones was sitting in the kitchen at the table and was finishing making notes in the book when he heard the stomping of the footsteps on the wood on the floor above. Soon, three dwarves appeared, still feeling groggy from waking up.

"Morning Hem, Dar, Belmus. Coffee?" greeted Bones.

"Boney? Mornin' lad, ye had a gud nite sleep?" Hem asked while Dar shook his head and went to grab a mug, Belmus following behind him.

…

"Wut?" It took a moment for Hem to process what he asked and quickly added: "Aw shite! Sorry Boney. Wut did ye do over da nite?"

"Light reading, I suppose. I have a question, but it can wait until after breakfast." Bones replied.

"Breakfast? HAH! It be lunchtime soon Boney! We dun eat no breakfast!"

Bones turned to look at the other two. They shrugged and kept shaking their heads. I guess Hemdus has a special personality even among the dwarves.

Once they were done eating, Belmus left to make arrangements with the other dwarves regarding the shop. They needed dwarf power and luckily, there were plenty of dwarves to be found in Stonefalls. Something Bones planned to ask his new friends about. Why ARE they all here in Stonefalls of all places?

"So…wut did ye want to ask us‘bout?" Hem asked.

"Right, I bought the book "Basics of Mana Engraving", while I was in the capital, and I understood most of it but I don't have the right tools to practice. Would you know where I could acquire the engraving tools here in Stonefalls?"

"Hm hmm…" the dwarf stroked his black beard, thinking…then exclaimed. "Of course! If it's da tools for da practice then I coulda get ye one free of charge! Proper engraving tools tho, ye will need to acquire in Hagos!"

"That's good to hear! Now then, do you have free time today and possibly for the next few days?"

Both dwarves looked at each other. Darsumi was the first one to reply that he could make some time if it's important while Hemdus, without hesitation said he was totally free. Bones knew the dwarf had orders to make and appreciated him taking the time off work he so diligently kept pushing aside. Bones didn't spill out what he needed them for, just that they should follow him. "It's regarding the shop, among other things and I'd rather trust a dwarf than a human with it." Both dwarves made eye contact and nodded, perceiving how serious Bones was. The only other information he gave them was a rough location of the place they were traveling to.

They didn't take off immediately but late that night. Dwarves still had things to do before setting off. Early morning the next day, they reached a clearing. "This is close to Westbrook. Is this the area where the ritual took place?" Darsumi asked and Bones was surprised the dwarf knew so much. The information regarding the ritual and the undead army was disclosed and not publically shared. Darsumi chuckled and explained that he had a reliable information network. Bones nodded and led them to the hidden entrance to the cavern. The boars kept their distance after sensing the three. Even with their dull senses, they sensed the aura of a silver rank. Once they reached the not-as-hidden hatch, Hemdus snorted. "Wut crude craftsmanship! Wut is dis hatch made of? Bones?" *tsk tsk*

Darsumi silently stood by, shaking his head and taking in his surroundings while Bones had an indifferent attitude and replied: "Well, I did my best with what I had…"

"Eh?” *cough* “I see! I mean, it ain't gud ye no? But it aint dat bad either…ya."

If that was supposed to make Bones feel better, it didn't. "Never mind, come." With a flick of the wrist, the hatch opened up and Bones led them down the ladders he made. After reaching the first platform, Hem jumped off and landed on the shabby wooden platform.

*boom* *crack*

The loosely set wooden logs gave in under pressure and Hem had his foot stuck inside the hole he made. Bones passed him by, not saying anything and Darusmi silently followed behind.

Bones approached the wall where faint markings were visible and motioned for dwarves to take a look. Darsumi approached and squinted. He followed the markings with his eyes and his eyes went wide as he recognized the faint outline of an arch on the wall. He took out a torch, from inventory Bones guessed, and lit it up. "The runes and…this is?...I see!” Darsumi muttered, identifying the markings as runes and knew what they implied. “Hem! Hem?" He turned to Hem and saw him kneeling with his hands on the wooden platform.

"Dis damn…wooden…travesty!"

"HEM!" Darsumi called out and Hem finally responded, taking his eyes off the dubiously made platform. "Come, take a look." Dar motioned.

Hem janked his foot out of the hole and walked over. Dar pointed at the wall. Hemdus took one look and shouted in surprise. "Cor blimey! Boney! Ye realise wut dis mean?"

"Yes, I have a general idea of wh-"

"Imma hav to redo da floor!"

…

The dwarves understood the implication behind Bones showing them the dungeon. A newly discovered dungeon wasn't a small matter. No doubt if the word got out, the kingdom would seize it and exploit it for its own benefits, which is precisely what Bones planned to do!

“I thought you got the chitin from the underground ant nest you found somewhere below the mountains around Stonefalls. It would have never crossed my mind that it would be from the dungeon.”

Darsumi asked a few more questions about the size of the dungeon, level and the behaviour of the monsters and came to an understanding that it was a natural dungeon of small size. "No wonder you had so many chitin parts. This changes things, Bones. One small shop wouldn't be enough anymore if you plan to exploit the dungeon for the parts. You plan to do that, no?"

"Of course, that's why we're here! There wouldn't be a point in keeping the dungeon a secret forever. At least this way, we can make the most of it. I take it you have trustworthy peop…dwarves, you can invite to join us?"

"Of course, all dwarves! You can trust a dwarf!" Darsumi exclaimed. They both turned toward Hemdus who was making rough measurements of the ground plan of the cave.

"I have another thing I wanted to ask you about." Bones turned to Darsumi and asked.

"Ask away." Dar replied.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I could acquire a mana core, would you?" Bones asked and added. "I failed to kill the boss in the second dungeon and got kicked out of the dungeon when the timer ran out."

"Hooh? You managed to reach the boss of the second dungeon? That's impressive considering your level. Usually, it takes a party of level 30+ users to take on the boss." Bones nodded and explained how "impressive" his fight against the Widow turned out. Darsumi chuckled and continued. "As for the mana core…I guess, since you were sincere about the dungeon, I could tell you. I don't have the mana core, but I know where and how to acquire one!"

There was a moment of silence. Darsumi waited for Bones to take a hint and ask him how and when Bones was about to ask, Dar shouted." WE STEAL IT!"

*We steal it we steal it we steal it* The sound echoed in the cavern and Hem turned to Dar, frowning. "Dats real nice Dar! Now wut he gon think bout us?"

"I’m telling you! We need a bridge and deep pits on both sides so when you look to the side, all you see is darkness!"

"Boney, em tellin ye, dat don make no sense!"

They've been going at it outside a cavern for about an hour now and Darsumi was getting agitated, trying to take notes. "You two, get on with it already!"

Both Bones and Hem stopped bickering and looked at the irritated dwarf. Hem turned with a hmph and opened the hatch to the cave. "Fine! We gon do it yer way Boney!"

"Splendid!"

Finally reaching some sort of understanding. Bones followed Hem back inside while Darsumi went to get more wood. Down below, Hem motioned for Bones to stand aside, watch and learn. Bones didn't know that besides the smithing, Hem was an excellent handy-dwarf!

Hem piled the logs off the ground and threw them to the side. According to Bones’ wishes, he was to dig deep and make a pit, dozen meters deep, with the bridge in the middle that would lead to the entrance of the dungeon. To Bones' surprise, the dwarf reached deep within and started casting a spell. A moment later, two golems made of earth, crawled out from the ground. Hem ordered for golems to start digging while he worked on the entrance and the stairs. "Dis wulda be a lot easier wit more dwarves Boney!"

"I know Hem, but not right now. The three of us are the only ones that know about the dungeon and I want to keep it that way for the time being. It's not that I don't trust you, but can you tell me with certainty that the secret wouldn't easily slip out in the conversation from someone else?"

*hmph* "Arright Boney. Yer right, it shulda stay between da three of us fer now!"

Bones watched the dwarf work and was amazed at the speed and precision the dwarf worked with. Hem had plenty of materials with him, either in spatial storage or inventory, Bones couldn't tell. Regardless, he kept bringing out huge amounts of stone blocks. His main affinity with earth made both digging and construction much easier. They stopped working once the night fell down and took to drinking. Once the dwarves fell asleep, Bones continued working out his plans for the future.

The next day was the same with Hem doing most of the work and Bones had to admit, the cave looked unrecognizable. Stone beams with wooden steps in the spiral led from the entrance of the cavern, to the large stone platform below, where a hidden formation would be set up in the future. At Darsumi advice, the formation would be set up to recognise the mana signature within the users and deactivate the hidden trap under the bridge. Ahead of the platform was a narrow bridge, wide enough for a single user to pass and on both sides of the bridge was a pit deep enough to not see the bottom. Bones used his bone manipulation to set up a trap of densely packed bone spikes below. The walls were left as they were, with stalactites illuminating the cavern with dim, warm light.

Next to the stone platform, to the side, Hem built a sort of accommodation big enough for a party to stay overnight, with a designed kitchen and bathroom. The only items missing were the kitchen appliances and the bed sheets. The final touches and polishing of woodwork, Hem decided to leave to one of his cousins with a carpenter profession. On the other side of the platform, Hem extended the cavern with the storage space built in the walls.

It took two whole days to build everything and Bones looked at the dwarves with a new look of admiration. He thought the project would be months long. Never would he imagine it would only take two days and everything was made by a single dwarf! He could only imagine how efficient the earth mages specializing in construction would be. No wonder damages in Westbrook were repaired in a manner of days. Cities and towns could be repaired in weeks, if not days!

"Wut do ye think Boney?" Hemdus asked with smugness and he had every right to be smug.

"I'm speechless Hemdus. I haven't witnessed finer work!"