The next morning the guards escorted Ethan to the High Circle’s main chamber again. But this time he carried a stack of neatly organized reports under his arm. Pages of evidence. Charts. Adjusted numbers. Trends the nobles had ignored or buried. The atmosphere in the chamber felt heavier than before, like the air itself braced for conflict.

Twelve nobles sat in their elevated seats, robes glowing with enchanted threads. A new face was present: a middle aged noble with sharp eyes and a colder aura than the rest. Ethan sensed instantly that this man was a strategist. Dangerous.

The elder noble spoke first. outsider You have been allowed a day in the ledger rooms. We expect your assessment
Ethan bowed slightly. Then let us begin

He placed the stack of reports on the central table. The nobles leaned forward in disbelief. So many pages. So many numbers. So much detail. Ethan opened the first document calmly.

Your recorded supply does not match production Your tariffs do not match costs Your potion numbers are impossible Your stone records are outdated And your revenue reports contradict each other
The chamber erupted
A noble shouted. Insolence
Another snapped. outsider You accuse us of lying
Ethan replied. No I accuse your system of lying The system you let decay

The strategist noble raised a hand and silence fell. outsider Show us evidence
Ethan nodded and flipped to a page. Northern mine reports show production drops ten years ago Yet noble tariffs remained the same Explain that
A noble replied. The mines were unstable
Ethan pointed at the records. Then why are export numbers identical to the years before
The noble froze
Ethan continued. And here healing potion production supposedly increased by two hundred percent without new alchemists
Another noble choked. That is impossible
Ethan nodded. Exactly

The strategist noble narrowed his eyes. outsider You believe someone is hiding information
Ethan replied. Someone is hiding supply Someone is manipulating prices Someone is rewriting numbers to justify noble control
Gasps filled the chamber

The elder noble slammed his staff. outsider You speak of treason
Ethan stepped forward. I speak of math

A few younger nobles looked shaken, whispering behind hands. Some were truly unaware of the system’s corruption. Others knew and feared exposure. Ethan observed them carefully. Allies and enemies were taking shape.

The strategist noble leaned in. outsider What is your proposed solution
Ethan opened his primary report.
A Magic Exchange
A central marketplace for all magical goods Transparent prices Real time data Public access Official grading and verification Futures insurance and trade reports
The nobles stared at the drawings as if Ethan had placed a foreign artifact in front of them.

One noble whispered. This would give commoners the power to see prices
Ethan nodded. Yes
Another hissed. They would question noble authority
Ethan replied. They already do They simply lack numbers to prove it

The elder noble glared. outsider Even if your system works it destroys centuries of noble right
Ethan answered. Rights built on misinformation are not rights

The chamber vibrated with anger until the strategist noble raised his hand again. Silence
He studied Ethan with unsettling calm. outsider Ethan Mercer What do you want
Ethan’s answer was immediate. A functioning economy
The noble pressed. And your personal goal
Ethan paused. He thought of his old life of spreadsheets and frustration of this world’s chaotic markets of Lyra of the people in the village who trusted him.

Finally he said quietly. I want a world that works the way it should

The strategist noble sat back. outsider You are dangerous because you believe in your own logic
Ethan smiled faintly. Logic built airplanes and computers It can build markets

Some nobles snickered at the strange words but others felt the weight behind them.

The strategist noble tapped the table. Very well outsider The High Circle will conduct a trial period You will be allowed to implement part of your Exchange in the capital
The chamber exploded
A noble shouted. Impossible
Another snapped. We cannot let him do this
The strategist answered. Then control him. Watch him. Study him. But if his system makes us richer we adopt it

Money spoke louder than tradition. Ethan saw that truth spread across the nobles’ expressions.

The elder noble reluctantly nodded. outsider You will be given a small team two scribes and limited access to market districts If you exceed your limits we end your work
Ethan bowed. Limits are simply starting points

The nobles gritted teeth at his confidence.

As guards escorted him out, Ethan felt the tension fade and a new feeling replace it. Not victory. Opportunity. The nobles had not beaten him. They had invited him in.

Outside the tower, Ethan breathed in the city air. He saw merchants arguing. Adventurers haggling. Potion sellers shouting inconsistent prices. All chaos. All solvable.

He whispered to himself. Now we build
Not a market Not an auction
A system

From the tower window above, the strategist noble watched him leave. His expression unreadable.

He murmured. outsider Ethan Mercer Either you save this kingdom or you tear it apart

In Ethan’s mind the answer was simple
Saving and tearing were sometimes the same process.