At this point my upload schedule might become more erratic. I'm growing concerned with the rising number of dislikes (it's only one away from double-digits...) and I've been getting more suggestions on how to progress certain characters, which I think may work out. I'll try to keep the uploads frequent, but I think it might be best not to do the whole "one upload a day" thing.

That said, enjoy.

"They still won't lend us Six Arms?," Barbro asked Boullope. "Eight Fingers' holdings have been attacked by Blue Rose," Boullope explained, "The leadership of Eight Fingers needs the extra security." Eight Fingers was a criminal empire that worked within Re-Estize. It was named for two things. One was a legend that the God of Theft had eight fingers on each hand. The second was that they divided their organization into eight departments, slave trafficking, assassinations, smuggling, larceny, drug trade, security, banking, and gambling.

Because of their connection to the noble faction, Eight Fingers more or less ran the kingdom behind the king's back and without his knowledge. Barbro sighed as he heard Boullope's explanation. "It's not like we can command them to stop or it would paint a target on our backs that either Momon or Joestar would aim for. Still, with how they were able to defeat Stagnox I thought it necessary to gather stronger forces." "I'm not sure they qualify regardless," Boullope noted, "None of Six Arms are Stand users. And it takes a Stand user to beat a Stand user."

"Maybe so," Barbro agreed, "But I was of the mind that they could test the Stand powers Joestar and Momon's band possess. The more knowledge we have of these potential enemies the easier it will be to remove them. And then we can move to undo the progress they made in restoring the Spirit Tracks. And it must be done soon. Our agents have informed me that the Spirit Tracks have extended into the lizardmen's territory. If those dirty reptiles are once again permitted to have open trade with our fair kingdom, it could sully the thoughts of all involved about racial equality. This is the reason we worked to remove the tracks... To remind people that humans are superior to these demi-human races."

Elsewhere in Re-Estize, Sebas was busy on an errand for Herohero. With him was Touch Me, who went by the adventuring name Tucson to avoid awkward stares from his code name. Touch Me was acting as a personal guard for Herohero, not that he truly needed it but it was best to keep up appearances. Both men got plenty of adoring stares from various women in the magic shop they entered. Spellcrafting was such a simple task in the alter verse that most utility spells could be sold in bulk, the runes or incantations infused into parchment for this purpose.

The errand is question was that Herohero wanted to purchase a Floating Board spell, designed to carry large loads for projects, in the hopes that it could streamline future actions. However, he was busy acting in his role as wealthy merchant, which meant getting deep into the major trading districts. As such, Sebas and Touch Me were sent to make the purchase instead. With the scroll purchased, the duo started to return home. However, Sebas smelled something odd on the wind. "Copper...? No... More like blood..."

Touch Me got concerned. "That could mean someone is hurt badly." He turned to his shadow. "Inform Herohero that we will be a little late." A sudden shape dashed out from within the shadow and sped off. It was one of Nazarick's shadow demons, skilled messengers and spies that, as their name suggested, dwelled within various shadows, although that did not stop them from moving through light in the course of performing their duties.

The duo walked nonchalantly in the direction of the smell, and spotted a large sack in the middle of the street. "It's coming from there," Sebas noted. He raised his hand before waving it in such a way that a vacuum was created in the air which sliced the tied off part of the bag open. He was careful to aim in such a way as not to further damage whoever might be inside. He slowly approached, and got surprised when a young woman's hand suddenly grasped his ankle. "Please...," she said weakly, "Help... Me..."

Touch Me approached and carefully pulled away some of the bag, recoiling at the sight. It was indeed a young woman, perhaps around the same age as Sebas, but heavily bruised, bleeding, and that was just what he could see on the surface. "Hey!," a man called out as he came out of the nearby building, "What are you doing with her!?" "You know this woman then?," Sebas asked, in a rather angry tone. "Yeah, she's one of my employees," the man explained. "Then why was she so carelessly tossed out on the streets like this!?," Sebas demanded, grabbing the man by his collar and lifting him up a few inches off the ground.

"And don't try to feed us any garbage about taking her to the temple for healing," Touch Me pointed out, "Else you would not have gone back inside after dumping her here. Unless this is how you treat all your employees." The man's eyes shifted around, and it was clear Touch Me's words had backed him into a corner. He sighed. "The truth is... She'd gotten too banged up from one of my regular customers, and my boss decided she was useless. Bastard didn't even have the decency to stock healing potions. I was told to just dump her and not ask questions. I... Kinda thought that if I left her in the middle of the street someone would pick up the sack, take it home, learn what was inside and heal her up."

Sebas dropped the man. "So why bother us if you intended to pass her onto someone else?" "Well, I wasn't expecting you to actually open the bag," the man explained, "Now there's a chance we could get in real trouble from Eight Fingers. They're the criminal organization that runs this city." Touch Me tapped his chin. "We happen to be in good with the royal family of the kingdom, and I'm sure you know of Princess Renner and her passing laws to abolish slavery. If we offer to buy this girl's contract and have it destroyed legally, that would leave Eight Fingers no choice but to resort to drastic measures."

He smirked. "And I assure you whatever enforcers they possess are no match for us." The man noticed Touch Me's Adamantite plate. "I guess that's doable, but I'd still need protection until it's time to testify." "That can be arranged," Touch Me assured him. The man was sent via a Gate spell to a holding cell within Nazarick, where the best spies in all of Eight Fingers would never find him. As for the girl, Sebas carefully carried her back to the mansion where Herohero made his estate.

"I was wondering what was taking so long," Herohero said, spotting the poor girl, "We intended to find some way to handle Eight Fingers at some point. Criminal organizations tend to thrive when a kingdom is divided, so they would benefit from seeing the Spirit Tracks gone." He pointed to the girl. "So, what shall we do with her?" "I was hoping we could heal her damaged body," Sebas suggested, "Though her mind..." Herohero waved a hand dismissively. "Not a problem. Tabula Smaragdina has a Stand well suited to handling psychological trauma. Solution, we should get to work."

Solution nodded reluctantly. "If you wish." As Sebas brought the girl upstairs, Solution waited until he was out of earshot before adding, "But I don't understand his reasoning for this." "I thought you were well versed in the concepts of love and compassion," Herohero pointed out. "Yes, for those one knows well," Solution clarified, "But to show such things for a total stranger?" Herohero chuckled. "If one applies such things to a stranger, it is possible for that stranger to become a friend, or even more." Solution's face showed she came to understand Herohero's reasoning.

Later Herohero and Solution had laid the woman out on one of the beds. On Herohero's insistence, they contacted the head maid at Nazarick, a cu sith named Pestonya Shortcake Wanko, whose appearance was that of a beautiful woman with a dog's head. Despite her gruesome appearance, she was actually quite benevolent and even motherly. This made her despair as she assessed the woman's condition. "It's just gruesome," she noted, "The brothel where she was being forced to work clearly didn't care about their employees as much as their profits."

"What's the damage?," Herohero asked. "I can't say what her mental state must be in," Pestonya admitted, "But her physical state is a doctor's nightmare. At least three sexually transmitted diseases, one of which being syphilis, several cracked ribs and fingers, torn tendons in both her arm and leg. Her teeth have been forcefully removed, and I think you can imagine why. She also has an anal fissure, and there's evidence of severe drug usage, enough that it's likely she's been forcibly addicted to it."

"No regular doctor could repair all that damage," Herohero noted, "Luckily we have various healing spells and potions to do the job instead, but this will require removing much of the diseased and damaged flesh. Solution, I think you know how to dispose of it." Solution smiled. "It would be a pleasure to act as such, my beloved." Thanks to their assortment of magical healing items, it took about an hour before the woman was completely healed of all her injuries and illnesses.

Still, the extent of the damage sickened even Solution. "It was enough to sour the flavor of her flesh," she noted, "Whoever did this to her is enough of a monster to make those of us in Nazarick seem like saints in comparison." Shortly after the healing was done, Tabula emerged from the gate. "Is this the girl?," he asked, pointed at the woman, now sleeping, albeit fitfully. Tabula narrowed his eyes. "Looks like my Stand will have plenty to work with. Tears for Fears!"

A humanoid figure dressed in a cloak and having a head similar to a squid appeared, and was quickly drawn into the woman's head. Seconds later, her sleep became more sound, her breath becoming regular. "She'll remember what happened," Tabula pointed out, "But now it will only seem to be a horrible nightmare. The rest, should be left up to Sebas." He and Pestonya returned to Nazarick through another gate. "I guess that's it then," Solution said. "Not yet," Herohero said, "This is only the beginning."

The woman found herself waking in a comfortable bed, as Sebas came in with a tray holding a bowl of hot soup. "You seem to be feeling better," Sebas said, relief in his voice. "Yes," the woman replied, "I'm not sure why, but for some reason I feel as though all my horrible experiences were just a dream. I know they were real, but... Well, it's hard to explain." Sebas smiled warmly. "Here," he said as carefully placed the tray in front of her, "You must be hungry."

The woman tasted the soup, and suddenly couldn't stop herself from eating it. It was the first warm, delicious meal she'd had in months. "I don't think I've asked your name yet," Sebas noted. "Tuareninya Veyron," the woman replied. Sebas raised an eyebrow. "Do you... Happen to have a sister, by chance?" Tuare's eyes widened. "You know where Ninya is!? We lost track of each other during a previous war when my father..." Tears fell from her eyes. It was clear her troubles did not end with just slavery, that was merely the worst that had happened to her.

"I know where she can be found," Sebas assured her, "And she'll most likely be relieved to hear you were rescued." Tuare smiled. "Thank you. But... What happens when they come for me again?" Sebas grinned. "No need to worry about that. As it happens my master already took that into consideration. If they try force they'll find us fighting back with more muscle than they can overcome. If they try subtlety they'll find us far more clever. I assure you, you will be safe in our care." Tuare nodded, finding herself comforted by Sebas' words.

While this was happening, George and his group were traveling through a cave on the way to the sub-well that would allow the Spirit Tracks to expand to the Snow Temple, up near the mountains north of the lizardmen territories. Traveling with them was Zaryusu, Crusch, Shasryu, Zenberu, and the other two tribal chiefs, Kyuku Zuzu of the Small Fang, and Sukyu Juju of the Razor Tail. As the Green Claw's priestess predicted, neither tribe was opposed to an alliance with their old friends in Green Claw to deal with the forces of the demon train.

The group was now looking at the smoldering carcass of the maneater, which had attempted to ambush them in the cave. The skull nest was easy to crack open with Ticket to Ride's weapons, and Imina was able to utilize the offensive power Love Train had to offer once the insect inside the nest was exposed, the white-hot plasma launchers easily incinerating the creature. Kyuku snorted at the monster. "Insect not tough. Mere voice for demon train. Should not have bothered to fight."

"The sanctuary should be just past the cavern," Zenberu noted, "But there's something else to note. The area around the temple is covered in a massive blizzard." "I can feel our way through it," George assured him, "The real problem will be whoever is waiting to attack us inside the temple. At the very least, whoever was sent to keep the magic well inside the temple shut will be there." They got back on the train and hurried off, their path to the temple clear yet murky.