In the darkness the train was speeding downwards going further and further into the unknown oblivion, the overwhelming speed seemed to be increasing at a steady pace as Akko was gripping her seat tightly, Lotte was holding both sides of her head screaming internally, and Sucy...was smiling to herself enjoying the chaos like a roller coaster ride. Through the corner of her eye Akko could see a large red button labeled "emergency stop" and desperately tried to reach for it smashing it with her fist.

The train screeched to a sudden and complete stop as Akko suddenly hit the floor of the train car hard. Not even 10 min in the underworld and she already experiencing large amounts of pain, she slowly looked out the window expecting to see a sea of fire and the faces of agony of the damned souls. Akko seemed caught off guard to see it was a massive tourist attraction theme park below them instead. The theme park had vibrant colorful lights and a parade of balloons filling the air as loud screams could be heard, not screams of pain and suffering but roars of fun and excitement as ghost, zombie, and skeleton children alike were enjoying the many carnival games, foods, and rides.

"Whoa...what is this? It looks so...magical." Akko said with wide starry eyes wanting to get a taste of the purple and white swirled cotton candy and ride the bumper cars the kids were enjoying.

"Uh, Akko?"

"Yeah?"

"Maybe we shouldn't have stopped the train."

"What makes you say that?"

That's when Akko noticed the train was on a roller coaster track on top of a massive hill.

"...Oh."

Sucy and Lotte slowly raised their arms.

"...What?"

"I don't know, feels right though." Sucy said right before they could hear the screaming cheers of children as a roller coaster car was speeding down the track towards them.

Akko screamed before raising her hands as well just before the roller coaster car collided with the train ramming it off the tracks.

"WAAAAHHH!" all three screamed as the train flew a great distance through the amusement park before tumbling to the the ground.

A skeleton mother dressed in 1960's maiden clothing was pushing her baby cart up to an ice cream vendor to purchase an ice cream cone when she turned to see the incoming train, she screamed loudly holding her skeleton baby tightly against her closing her eye sockets just as the train slowed to a stop inches away from her. A crowd of skeletons, ghouls, goblins, zombies, mummies, and ghosts dressed in attires ranging from the early 1940's all the way to the late 1980's soon surrounded the sudden catastrophe as Akko kicked a cracked window out of place before climbing her way out of the train to see the crowd.

"...Uhh-hey there everyone. Nice uh, weather we're having right?" she said with an innocent expression on her face fully aware of the devastation to the theme park behind her as Sucy and Lotte climbed out to see the crowd as well.

"Great job, not even 11 minutes in the underworld and you already wrecked the joint." Sucy mocked earning her a glare from Akko.

Suddenly the blaring sirens could be heard as law enforcements soon arrived as police officers aimed their guns, castle knights on horseback aimed their crossbows, and british palace guards aimed their spear axes at the trio. Akko gulped loudly as the sharp spear was mere inches away from her throat.

Soon after the trio was chained up in handcuffs and were being carried by large zombie brutes dressed in police uniforms through a town heavily decorated in lively halloween decorations towards a building shaped like city hall but was made out of light as it glowed brightly in the distance.

"Hey hey hey! Where are you taking us!?! I have my rights!"

"Akko! We don't have rights down here!" Lotte warned her.

"Incarcerated in hell, I honestly didn't expect this to be how I go out." Sucy sighed.

Upon entering the giant double doors the trio was surprised to see a colorfully pulsating dance floor underneath a glittering disco ball as the undead citizens were partying and were in the middle of having a limbo contest, a loud record scratch could be heard as the party ended abruptly upon seeing the witch trio being escorted inside. Several jaws belonging to some skeletons dropped to the floor and a zombie man dropped his cup...and his hand inside the punch bowl in shock.

"...Hey! Nice party you got here. Looks like the zom-bee's knees, am I right? Anyone? No one? Ok."

The long moment of awkward silence was broken as the sound of echoing footsteps could be heard approaching from the crowd. A tall young man with light skin with short brown combed back hair and hazel eyes with flakes of gold. He wore a white collared button down dress shirt and black tie underneath a black and gold vest, black slacks, and dress shoes that ended with a point.

"Well, well, well. Now what we have here? You know where I'm from there's nothing more insulting than unwanted party crashers. Now, mind telling me what you are doing in my house?"

The young man spoke with a southern accent of the posture of a serious business man.

"Uh, w-well ya see-" Akko began yet couldn't think of a realistic excuse, although in a world filled with ghosts, goblins, and ghouls the term "realistic" is actually debateable.

"They were on the skeleton train...before it crashed in the middle of the Dionysus Park sir."

The young man raised an eyebrow hearing this.

"My train? You...were on my train? I have made a clear rule that no one living can board that train. How is this possible?" he said, his gaze resting in Akko's direction.

"Um, funny thing about that-"

He raised a hand to silence her before crossing his arms leering intensely at her.

"That train was my very first investment, it has been in service of escorting souls symbolizing the peaceful journey to the afterlife for over 10,000 centuries...and now you are telling me it just suddenly crashed into my park? So I guess I have you to thank for that...right?"

Akko gulped loudly saying a silent pray in her mind for the worst possible punishment this place could offer, what happened instead was the young man holding out his hand for a handshake. Akko looked at the gesture confused.

"I said I should be thanking you, I've actually been meaning to put the ol' girl down for spare scrap metal for quite some time now. The problem was me, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Thanks for making that choice a whole lot easier, that's a mighty kind favor you did for me."

"...You're welcome?" Akko said shaking his hand.

"Needless to say you three must really be the life of the party to manage something like that, so feel free to stick around for as long as you like. Enjoy the party, it's limbo night here in Limbo so party till ya drop."

With that the young man turned and started walking away and the zombie brutes removed the handcuffs from their wrists.

"...What just happened?" Lotte asked.

"I think we just got off easy." Sucy answered.

As soon as her hands were free Akko rushed through the crowd of partying monsters quickly catching up with the young man.

"Hey, um, who are you?"

The man suddenly turned around to face her.

"My, how rude for a host not to introduce himself, the name's Augustus Sinclair, Esquire."

"Akko Kagari."

The two formally shook hands again as Sucy and Lotte finally caught up with them overhearing their conversation.

"If you don't mind me asking, how come you don't allow living souls to come here yet you're human yourself?"

Sinclair chuckled at this.

"Because even if I run this place I still have to follow the company policy. This is still the underworld after all, no matter how much I'd like to renovate the place."

"I...guess that makes sense. Hmmm."

"Akko." Lotte whispered.

"Hm?"

"The orb."

"Huh? Oh! We actually came here for a reason!"

"And what reason would that be?" Sinclair asked.

"The mystical orb of Day La Sol, some shadow thing stole it from our school!"

"A shadow thing? You mean like that?"

Sinclair pointed at the very same ghostly floating spector as it was heading down an adjacent hallway.

"Huh? Hey!"

Akko started chasing after the shadow as it phased through a chamber door, she burst through the door only to realize she running was over the edge of a giant gaping chasm before falling to the deep dark depths below. She pulled her out her wand before quickly waving it, a blue cloud like aura emitted from the wand serving as a parachute allowing her to gently float to the bottom of the chasm where millions of other exotic and rare looking items were put for display on stone ledges along the many spiraling pillars.

"WHOA! This place is some kind of magic item jackpot!"

"Actually, this is my private treasury. Anything and everything of value that is lost on the top world eventually finds it's place here."

Akko turned around to see Sucy and Lotte alongside Sinclair riding on a floating stone platform landing behind her.

"Huh? Oh! Akko! There!" Lotte said pointing at the floating shadow resting the glass case with the orb inside on a stone ledge before fizzling into non-existence.

Akko sprinted towards it happy to see it was still in one piece.

"Our butts are saved! Now, let's get you back to the school before anyone notices-"

As soon as she reached out to grab it cursed blue flames surrounded the glass case scaring Akko away.

"AAAH! What was that about!?!"

"I'm sorry, but you can't just take things from me. Doesn't work that way." Sinclair said, his friendly attitude shifted to a more serious tone.

"So that's why they call you the Keeper?" Sucy asked.

"Exactly, as soon as anything enters the land of the dead I own it automatically."

Lotte gulped.

"A-A-Anything?"

"Hm? Oh, not you per say. I already decided to let you go back anytime you wish, just not with anything that belongs to me of course. Stealing is bad."

"But that shadow thing stole that from us, and that's ok? What use would you even have for it?"

Sinclair smiled at this.

"Simple, I find legendary magical items and I sell them for a profit."

"Like a thief."

"Ever heard of the golden rule? Another man's trash, is my investment."

"But that wasn't trash!" Akko said glaring at him.

"Now don't look at me like that. Besides item collecting is more of a hobby, a side business if you will. My real life's work is making deals."

"Deals?"

"Magical contracts that can do the unimaginable. Were you born short but always wanted to reach basketball rims? Call me. If you always had a burning desire to sing but had the voice of a yowling cat being beaten? Ring me up. If you've been ugly all your life but dreamed of that perfect love connection? Boy, you have no other choice but to knock on my door sport."

"So...you're some sort of...miracle worker?"

"Miracle workers wish they could do half the things I can do for people. I make dreams happen kid, nothing is impossible in my eyes. Want to make fire appear with a snap of your fingers, blow a cold wind to make ice, create thunderstorms with a clap of your hands. Anything you want I can and will give it to you...for a modest price of course." he said demonstrating those very magical feats as he spoke, Akko had to brush the snow off her hair before speaking again.

"But how did you even get down here? If you're such a good guy?"

"Now that, is a funny story. It all started on topworld, Tinseltown to be exact. A run down slum of a town full of wise cracking city slickers, and ugly rats with wings. I was just starting out there with not a dollar to my name, but I had something much more valuable that no large amount of money couldn't buy. I was always told I would do great things, and having the brains and the sense of business to help do those great things was nothing short of a blessing'. There was almost a poor ugly shop on every corner but they made good money, I managed to convince several shop owners to let me work day and night for them and earn their respect right before they all retired. In Tinseltown no one had family, they all cared about money but they had enough sense to leave their shops in my care."

"What would you want with grody old shops?" Sucy asked.

"Looks weren't important as long as the numbers were solid, everyday the shops would bring in a sufficient profit from its daily usuals. Druggies, stoners, etc. What the previous business owners didn't do was put care into their work fixing up the shops to bring in more normal customers on a daily basis. But the ultimate game changer had to be discovering I can make soul contracts with other mortals, making small deals like the next lottery ticket purchased will be a winner and stuff like that. Before long my contracts started to sell like firecrackers on the fourth of July after seeing how useful they were. I had accumulated so much wealth from all the success of the shops I had so much money left over I just didn't know what to do with it all. Then the unbelievable happened, ol' yeller death himself came knocking on my door one fateful night."

"DEATH!?!" all three asked in shock.

"Yep. Death. And I was surprised he didn't want to hack me to pieces, instead he had to admit that he was impressed that a mere mortal managed to acquire so many binding contracts creating a huge monopoly in such a short amount of time. Needless to say he only liked me for my brains, what can I say? Then, he offered to do business with me, now at first I thought ol' rattlebones was yanking my chain but then he insisted we talk about shareholding and starting a partnership...overseeing the underworld."

"You made a deal...with death?" Akko said in sheer shock and disbelief.

"Yep. We negotiated that he was willing to left me buy a quarter of the planes of damnation which I could renovate to start my hotel and housing endeavors, with the added perks of hiring the lost souls that roam the area, hey if they were really lost it would be cruel not to give them something to do. Anyway the agreement with smooth without a hitch, I even got a certificate of proof of owning property in hell. And as time went by I had gained yet another several grand from both the top world and the under one, so naturally I called up the skeleton man and gave him my own proposition."

"Proposition? Wait, you mean-" Lotte began.

"Yep. I offered him a price even a dead guy like him couldn't refuse to let me own 50% of hell, like a true business partnership ought to be. With that expansion in property I started several famous attractions like Devil's Alley, Hades Theater, The Lotus Lounge, Dionysus Theme Park, and many more fun things to keep ya busy while ya spent the rest of eternity. Needless to say I made the sinful cesspool into a luxurious paradise off earth."

"I got to admit, that park did look pretty fun." Sucy sighed.

"Then the absolute unthinkable happened. Ol' Mr. Death was announcing his two weeks notice for retirement, I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it but the old bag of bones was ready to trade his scythe and black robe for a fishing pole and a red bedrobe. But before he did he finally decided to let me own the whole shebang, from the planes of damnation to the fields of Eden. Hell, even let me have his dog, the only thing he asked in return is that I do his job for him. And that's...how I become the new face of death and made the process of the afterlife into a profitable company. Not too shabby right?"

"That's pretty neat and all but we really need that orb or else we might as well just stay here."

"And why wouldn't ya? This place isn't all that bad."

"Oh no no, its great. In fact its actually a positive spin on the whole dreading feeling of death. But without that orb I'm gonna have to give up my dream of being a famous witch like Shiny Chariot."

Sinclair's ears twitched after hearing that, a sly smile appeared on his face.

"Dream? Famous? Witch?"

"Yeah, what?"

"...I think I might be able to help with that. Please, step into my parlor."

With a wave of his hand the wall of the chamber swirled until a pair of wooden doors phased into view, Sinclair walked over opening the doors revealing a small british pub like room. A massive wooden chest could be seen behind the bartender's counter, Sinclair walked behind the counter facing the wooden chest.

"Skeleton key." he said as his index finger mimicking a key as he placed it inside the keyhole unlocking the chest that suddenly expanded to a full sized shelf with colorful bottles filling each shelf.

He traced his finger along the shelf before picking a velvet red bottle.

"Ah, here we go. This one was made specially for you, Akko Kagari."

He removed the cork from the bottle releasing a giant swirling red cloud.

"Whoa!" Akko said in awe as he allowed her to smell the cherry aroma.

"Wait we don't drink, we are not old enough!" Lotte said waving her hands in protest.

Sinclair simply laughed as he tipped the bottle, instead of a liquid a mere scroll slid out into his hands. He laid out the scroll on the counter revealing it to be a contract, "The Dream Of A Lifetime" was displayed on the top.

"Dream of a lifetime? My dream?"

Sinclair nodded.

"This one will guarantee that you will become a proper witch, it has been waiting for you for a while."

"It has?"

"I firmly believe everyone deserves to have at least one wish come true. So in the spirit of giving..."

He reached up to pull down two more bottles, one was a bright orange and the other a deep purple. Popping the cork of the first one released puffs of swirling orange fumes and the second released purple smoke clouds shaped like mushrooms as individual contracts slid out from both, he handed Lotte the first one to look at and tried to give Sucy hers.

"No thanks, I don't really buy into that junk." She said waving the contract away much to his dislike.

Lotte was looking at her contract, her eyes growing wide in disbelief.

"...No...way."

"What does yours say Lotte?" Akko suddenly asked scaring her as she hid it behind her blushing madly in embarrassment.

"Um, something...silly. You don't want to know."

"Huh? Mmm, if you say so. Man, this is the greatest thing ever! I got to sign this!"

Akko picked up a feather pen and was about to sign her name when Lotte grabbed her arm.

"Akko wait! This seems too good to be true don't you think!?! Besides we came here for the orb."

"Oh, you're right. Sorry Sinclair but this will have to wait, we need that orb back."

"...Sorry to hear that, and as much I want to help you ladies out I just can't bring myself to break company policy."

"Then...Then...sell it back to us."

"Akko!" Lotte warned.

Sinclair chuckled sounding very amused.

"You couldn't afford it." he said however in a cold tone sending a winter chill down both Lotte and Akko's spines.

"He has a point you know." Sucy added.

"Then...Then..."

Akko looked up at the many bottles containing countless contracts for every possible scenario. That's when she got a great idea.

"We...We can help you sell your contracts! Think about it, the topworld is full of people who have tons of wishes they would want to see come true. That's at least another million contracts!"

Sinclair raised an eyebrow.

"A million? Come now, be reasonable."

"Ok ok, but I bet you we can get at least a hundred contracts in...one...day."

"Akko!" Lotte pleaded.

"A hundred? Are you serious?" Sucy asked, even she seemed concerned about that kind of promise.

"Are you implying to make a bet with me?"

"...If it means getting that orb back...then yes."

This has peaked his interest.

"Hmmm, I see. Do you all agree to this?"

Akko looked at Sucy and Lotte.

"...I don't think we have a choice."

Sinclair's smile beamed.

"Alright then...I accept your offer."

He then extended his hand.

"You shall work for me until the sun rises, the price of the orb in question should be paid in full by that time I'm sure."

Akko smiled before grabbing his hand and shaking it, this time however cursed blue fire surrounded their hands sealing the verbal contract as binding. She pulled away blowing the flames off her hand but felt no pain, Sinclair simply smiled.