Harem Sync: Divine Edition-Chapter 21: The invited couple

It was already afternoon.

Haru and Isabela were hiding among old wooden containers, stacked barrels, and boxes covered with thick canvas. ​The smell of rotten fish, salt and damp wood.

The port was busy. ​Workers carrying bags. Wagons creaking. ​Cages being unloaded from ships, but in that specific area, near Warehouse 9, there were too many guards.

All armed. Visible scars. ​Posture of mercenaries, not ordinary guards.

Isabela was crouched beside Haru. ​Looking over a barrel.

"Haru..." she murmured softly. ​"Why do we have to hide?"

Haru turned his head and looked at her. ​He stopped... It was the first time she had called him by his name.

Not "Hey." Not "brat." Not "idiot."

Isabela realized he was looking. She frowned.

"What is it?"

Haru looked back at the guards.

"Nothing," he said, trying not to smile.

Isabela waited.

Haru discreetly pointed to the mercenaries patrolling.

"See those guys? Lots of guards. ​Too many for what should be on a common dock. ​And they’re not city guards. ​They appear to be hired mercenaries."

He paused.

"Whoever this Vandris is... he has money and secrets. ​And I’m very suspicious of him. "

He thought more. "And there’s more. ​The mercenaries who attacked us earlier said that someone paid to delay us. ​Who would have a reason to do that? ​Someone who doesn’t want us to get here."

He looked at Isabela.

"Maybe... he’s the one who took Yukihime."

The system flashed.

[NEW QUEST: RESCUE YUKIHIME]

◊ Objective: Locate and recover Yukihime​

◊◊ REWARDS:

​ ├─ Inventory Tab Unlocked

​ ├─ +1 Skill Slot

​ ├─ Skill Evolution System Unlocked (Upgrade skills using XP)

​ └─ +2,500 XP

Haru read. He took a deep breath.

Isabela touched his shoulder. ​"Look. There." She pointed.

In the distance, near Warehouse 7, was Vandris, directing the unloading, shouting orders. ​Two henchmen brought a large cage, covered with canvas, Vandris approached. He ripped off the canvas.

Inside... there was a Beastgirl. Fox ears, tail, golden eyes glowing with rage. ​Chains on her wrists and ankles, torn clothes, body covered in scars.

Vandris laughed, banging on the cage bars with his hand. ​The beastgirl growled, pulled the chains, almost managed to reach him. ​Vandris took a step back, still laughing.

"Wild! Just the way I like it!" he shouted.

Another henchman brought a smaller box, Vandris opened it.

Isabela widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand.

Inside the box... ​ Human limbs. Arms, legs, preserved in something that looked like coarse salt mixed with herbs.

Vandris took an arm and examined it. ​"This one works, send it to the client in Valis."

He closed the box. Isabela turned her face, pale.

"He... he’s selling... pieces of people..."

Haru didn’t answer, just kept looking.

"Collector... that’s what he collects."

Haru felt something, a presence behind him.

He turned immediately. It was one of the mercenaries, with a dagger in his hand, sneaking up behind them.

Haru didn’t hesitate, he punched the guy straight in the throat. ​The mercenary gasped, dropped the dagger. ​Haru punched him in the face again, breaking his nose, then... He raised his right hand. ​He concentrated mana, creating Valtherion flames and hit the mercenary’s chest. ​The guy flew backwards, hit a barrel, passed out with his chest steaming.

Isabela’s eyes widened. ​"How..." she murmured. "How did you... how did you use the Valtherion fire?!"

Haru lowered his hand, looked at her. ​"Shhh..." he said, putting his finger to his lips. ​"Come on. They’re going to the warehouse."

Isabela was going to ask again, but Haru had already started to move.

She followed him. Still processing. "He... he used my fire... how?!"

They sneaked on, passed between barrels, boxes, hanging fishing nets. ​They arrived in front of Warehouse 9. ​Huge wooden door, half closed.

Haru was going to try to force it, but... The door opened, all by itself.

"Welcome."

Torches illuminated the interior of the warehouse. ​And there, in the center, sitting in an expensive wooden chair... Vandris, smiling broadly.

"I’ve been waiting for you."

"Shit... we fell into the trap." Haru murmured tensely.

Vandris laughed, low and amused.

"Calm down, calm down. Customers are welcome here. ​There was no need to hide."

Haru put his hand on his sword. Slowly.

"He felt us. ​This guy knew all along. ​He’s not just anyone."

Vandris raised his hands. A gesture of peace.

"Look. I already knew about you. ​And I didn’t attack. So you can trust me. ​Whoever comes to me... it’s always because they want something from me."

Isabela’s eyes stopped at the box full of limbs. Disgusted.

"Ooohh!? I see, I see. ​That..." She pointed to the box. ​"I’m kind of the best alchemist in town. ​I work with necromancy. And for that, I need limbs."

He walked over to the box. ​He opened it. He took a preserved arm.

"I buy them. From families who have lost their own on my travels. ​In the capital, in the morgues. ​And I put them in people who need them. ​Of course, for a price."

He made a broad gesture.

"Leaving the district to the capital costs, you know? ​So I bring it here or to the customer."

He showed a document with official signatures and seals.

"All legal. All registered."

Haru took a deep breath.

"White hair, small ears, red eyes, half fox, child."

Vandris stopped smiling.

"We’re looking for her. Her name is Yukihime."

Vandris’ countenance changed, he became serious and cold. "...Yukihime."

He snapped his fingers.

Fog filled the warehouse. ​Green, dense, it smelled sweet and chemical.

Haru tried to hold his breath, but it was too late. ​He wanted to use magic, but he felt only dizziness, his legs failing. ​Isabela beside him, staggering.

They fell.

Darkness.

WOOOOSH!

A bucket of cold water was thrown in his face. ​Haru coughed, spat water, blinking.

"If I earned 100 coins every time I was awakened like this... I’d be rich."

He tried to move, but couldn’t, he was tied up. ​Thick rope around his chest, arms, wrists. ​Tied to a heavy wooden chair. Gag in his mouth.

And... Half-naked, only in his underwear. ​His blurred vision began to return.

In front of him... A long, dark wooden table, candles lit along it. Vandris sitting at the head of the table, eating quietly. ​A plate full of meat, bread, fruit, a glass of wine in his hand, he chewed slowly, looking at Haru.

On the other side of the table... Isabela. Also tied to a chair, rope around her body. ​Gag in her mouth. And half-naked, they took off her dress, left only her underwear, something simple, white, that covered the essentials but revealed much of the rest. ​Her body, curves she normally hid under noble clothes, pale skin marked by some training scars, bare shoulders, thighs tied by the rope, was exposed.

She was furious. Eyes glowing with rage, pulling the strings, but they wouldn’t come off. ​Behind her, a guard, sword drawn, pointed at her neck.

A guard approached Haru, removed the gag from his mouth. ​Haru spat and took a deep breath. ​The guard grabbed him by the hair, pulled his head up, forcing him to look at Vandris.

"Speak." ordered the guard.

Vandris kept eating, didn’t look up.

"If someone sent you... why you came... and how you found the girl." ​Pause... He cut a piece of meat. ​He chewed and swallowed. "Speak."

Isabela remained gagged, clearly irritated. ​Vandris ignored her completely.

"He didn’t take the gag off her because he knows she’d say shit," Haru thought.

Vandris finally looked at Haru.

He placed his fork on the table slowly, leaned forward. ​Behind Isabela, the guard pressed the tip of the sword closer to her neck, a trickle of blood ran.

Isabela froze, Vandris smiled coldly.

"I don’t want to have to kill your beautiful wife... because of your silence."

He looked directly into Haru’s eyes.

"So... talk."