Night fell over the capital like a heavy curtain. The market district, usually loud with shouts and bargaining, had turned strangely quiet. Lanterns flickered against the stone walls and long shadows stretched across empty streets. Even the guards seemed more alert than usual, hands resting on hilts and eyes scanning rooftops.

Ethan sat in his small chamber, staring at the folded note left by the mysterious woman.
They will come tonight. Be ready.

He tapped it against the table lightly. Whoever wrote this understood timing. And whoever “they” were, they were not amateurs. Rumors from the nobles’ quarter, hidden mine evidence, and now a nighttime visit. Pressure was converging. Which meant opportunity was converging too.

Renn paced nervously in the corner. outsider Maybe the note is wrong Maybe nobody is coming
Ethan shook his head. Someone is always coming when secrecy is threatened
Mira hugged her notebook close. outsider Should we… leave
Ethan looked at her. Leave and go where Every noble district entrance is guarded Every main bridge is watched And the High Circle already restricted me to the market district
Renn groaned. So we wait
Ethan nodded. We wait And we prepare

He moved to the center of the room and dimmed the lantern until only a soft glow remained. Then he placed the mine logs on the table and stacked several parchments on top, drawing quick markings like a strategist outlining a battle.

Mira frowned. outsider Why are you writing new charts
Ethan kept working. Because information is my shield If someone tries to silence me tonight they will not succeed unless they silence the numbers too
Renn swallowed. outsider That is not comforting
Ethan replied. It is realistic

They waited.

The clock tower struck midnight.
Then one.
Then silence returned.

Ethan listened carefully. Markets taught him to pay attention to small shifts. And suddenly he heard it—a faint scrape along the outer wall, a whisper of friction too low to be wind.

He whispered. They are here
Renn froze
Mira held her breath

Three shadows slipped across the roof tiles like ink flowing over stone.

Ethan extinguished the lantern.

A single knock echoed through the door. Not a loud aggressive knock. A quiet, controlled one. The kind used by people confident in power.

Renn whispered. outsider Ethan do not answer
But Ethan walked to the door and cracked it open.

Three figures stood in the hallway wearing dark combat cloaks without noble crests. Their eyes were covered with enchanted visors that glowed faintly.

The leader spoke. outsider Ethan Mercer
Yes
You will come with us
Ethan replied. Under whose authority
The man answered. Authority higher than the nobles
Ethan narrowed his eyes. That does not exist
The man’s voice hardened. It does now

Before Ethan could react, two more figures dropped from the ceiling beams. They weren’t here to arrest him. They were here to remove him quietly.

Mira gasped. Renn grabbed a chair in panic.

Ethan stepped back into the room slowly.
If you want me, come in
The leader entered first.

But what he didn’t expect was that Ethan had been preparing the room like a trap—not with weapons, but with information.

When the intruders stepped inside, Ethan grabbed a bundle of parchments and thrust them forward.

The leader’s visor scanned the pages instinctively—mana readings, charts, evidence lines, supply numbers, and signatures from the logs.

He froze.

Ethan’s voice was calm.
If you kill me these records go public by morning Copies already exist
The man hissed. You lie
Ethan smirked. No I diversify. It is basic risk management

Behind him, Renn and Mira held additional copies—shaking but loyal.

Ethan continued.
If you silence me, you create the one thing nobles fear more than numbers
The leader gritted his teeth.
What
Ethan answered softly.
A martyr with good math

One of the masked intruders murmured to the leader. He might be telling the truth They said he spread the Index faster than the Circle expected
The leader cursed and pointed at Ethan. You are destabilizing the kingdom
Ethan replied. The kingdom was already unstable I am stabilizing it before it collapses

Mira whispered under her breath. outsider please be careful
Ethan kept his eyes locked on the intruders.

The leader finally lowered his hand.
You think information will protect you
Ethan smiled faintly. It already has

The masked men slowly backed toward the door.
But the leader paused.
outsider Ethan Mercer You were warned tonight There will not be a second warning
Ethan replied. Then I will not need one

They vanished into the shadows with terrifying speed.

Renn collapsed into a chair shaking. outsider They were serious murder serious
Mira sat on the floor breathing hard. outsider How did you know your bluff would work
Ethan sank onto the table. Because secrets fear exposure more than assassins fear failing

He looked at the logs, the charts, the Index.
They saved him tonight.
Numbers saved him.

But he knew something else now.
Someone beyond the nobles was moving.
Someone who saw the kingdom shifting.
Someone who thought killing him might be easier than confronting truth.

The storm had changed shape.

And tomorrow he would have to change with it.