The plume of smoke rising from the northern mines felt like a warning written across the sky. Ethan watched it with a tight jaw. This was not an accident. Mines did not burn without reason. And if the northern mines were the source of hidden supply, someone out there was covering their tracks.

Renn stood beside him pale. outsider The nobles will blame anyone but themselves
Mira whispered. They might accuse miners. Or adventurers. Or you
Ethan shook his head. The truth points to one direction but the nobles will not accept it easily

The crowd in the market district shifted uneasily as rumors spread. People repeated what they heard from passing adventurers
The mines were attacked
The mines collapsed
Nobles sabotaged something
A beast awakened
Workers fled

Nobody knew what was real.

Ethan walked toward the board and added a note at the bottom of the price index
Northern mine disruption reported. Expect volatility. Maintain caution in bulk trades.
People gathered around the note like it was a beacon.

Mira whispered. outsider You predict fallout
Ethan nodded. Supply shocks move markets faster than armies

Before he could say more, a group of adventurers rushed toward him. Their leader, a woman with silver braids, held a cracked fire stone pulsing weakly.

Are you Ethan Mercer
I am
She pressed the stone into his hands. We found this outside the northern mine It should be an A grade stone but it is cracked like a fragile C
Ethan examined it. Scorch marks. Mana leakage. Signs of forced extraction
He asked. What happened out there
The adventurer shook her head. Something collapsed We saw shadows moving inside the tunnels Someone sealed passages with unstable magic

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. Someone was destroying evidence
Renn asked. outsider You think nobles
Ethan exhaled. Someone with something to hide. Nobles or smugglers or both

Lyra would have wanted to be here. She would have taken notes faster than he could speak. The thought hit him harder than expected. He missed her.

The silver braided adventurer continued. There is worse The mine overseer is missing His office was ransacked
Ethan’s pulse quickened. Overseers kept supply logs If someone wanted to erase records they would start with him
Ethan asked. Any survivors
She nodded. A few They are hiding in the old quarry afraid nobles will punish them
Ethan stood. Take me to them

Renn grabbed his arm. outsider You cannot leave openly The nobles are watching
Ethan nodded. Then we leave quietly

Mira pulled up her hood. I know a back path
Renn sighed. outsider If we are arrested this is your fault
Ethan smirked. If we are arrested this means we found something important

They slipped through side alleys and narrow stone bridges until the city walls disappeared behind them. After two hours of walking they reached a forest path leading to an abandoned quarry where a handful of miners huddled around a weak fire. They froze when they saw strangers.

Ethan stepped forward palms up. We are not here to accuse We are here to understand
One miner shouted. The nobles sent you
Ethan shook his head. If nobles sent me you would not be talking right now
Silence
The miners studied him more carefully. One whispered outsider Wait He is the market mage from the capital

Ethan sat on a rock. Tell me what happened
A miner finally spoke. Something has been wrong for months We mined full crates but nobles collected half and ordered us to shut the rest away
Ethan asked. Stored where
The miner pointed toward the forest. Old sealed tunnels
Renn whispered. Hidden supply
Ethan nodded

Another miner added. We were told not to record extra crates But we did secretly We hid logs under the floorboards
Ethan leaned forward. Logs
The miner nodded. Written proof
Ethan felt a spark of adrenaline. Evidence. Real evidence.

The silver braided adventurer asked. And the collapse
The miner swallowed. Last night someone came A group in noble armor They took the overseer Then set fire to the sealed tunnels We ran
Ethan tightened his fist. Destroying hidden supply. Erasing logs. Eliminating witnesses. Whoever controlled those mines did not want reform

Ethan asked quietly. Do you still have the hidden logs
The miner pointed to a small sack. They are here
Ethan stood. Then you need to give them to me
The miners hesitated. Why trust an outsider
Ethan met their eyes. Because nobles fear numbers And I use numbers as weapons
Silence. Then a miner handed him the sack. Use it well outsider Market Mage

Renn whispered nervously. outsider If nobles learn we have this—
Ethan cut him off. They will

He turned to the adventurer. Get these miners to safety Hide them in the southern district Tell no one
She nodded. I owe you outsider
Ethan smiled faintly. You owe the truth Not me

As they rushed back toward the capital Mira asked. outsider What will you do with the logs
Ethan exhaled. The same thing I do with everything else Make it public

Renn groaned. Nobles will explode
Ethan nodded. Yes
Mira whispered. And you
Ethan answered. I will be exactly where I belong In the storm

When they reached the market district the sun was setting. Ethan climbed onto a crate and addressed the crowd.

People of Ardrel I have news The northern mines were not destroyed by beasts or collapse They were sabotaged
Gasps
Supplies have been hidden for years by forces who profit from chaos
More gasps

He lifted the logs. And now we have proof
The crowd erupted in shouts anger disbelief fear hope

Nobles would hear about this.
The High Circle would hear.
House Rahl would hear.
Everyone would hear.

Ethan felt the world tilt toward change. Dangerous change.

He whispered. Tomorrow the kingdom learns the truth

And truth was the most dangerous market of all.