Ethan walked back into the district with a new clarity. If the nobles were scared and the shadow faction was watching, then he needed to change the battlefield. He could not wait for the next attack. He needed to understand the invisible network pulling strings behind the scenes.

Renn rushed to him. outsider What did the nobles say
Ethan replied. They are afraid
Mira frowned. outsider Of the shadow faction
Ethan shook his head. Of losing control

He sat on a wooden bench beside the Index board and opened a fresh parchment. Mira and Renn sat on each side. People gathered slowly in curiosity.

Ethan drew a circle at the top of the page.
Nobles
Then a second circle below it.
Merchants
Then a third.
Miners
A fourth.
Adventurers

He connected lines between them.

Renn blinked. outsider This looks like a market cycle
Ethan nodded. It is But we are missing something

He drew a final circle above everything else and labeled it
Unknown Influence

Mira whispered. outsider The shadow faction
Ethan nodded. They sit outside the system but influence every part They are not nobles They are not merchants They are something else

Renn exhaled. outsider So how do we find them
Ethan replied. By finding their pressure points Every system leaves traces Even invisible ones

He wrote three headings
1. Influence
2. Timing
3. Reaction

Ethan pointed to the first.
If they influence the mines they leave marks in supply
He pointed to the second.
If they struck last night they follow patterns of risk avoidance
He pointed to the third.
If they reacted to the Index they fear transparency

Mira whispered. outsider That means if we increase transparency they will react more
Ethan nodded. Yes And reactions reveal identity

He stood up and turned to the crowd.
People of Ardrel We will not fight shadows with weapons We fight them with clarity We will publish not only prices but everything
Gasps
A man asked. outsider Everything
Ethan nodded. Everything Tariffs Trade routes Daily fluctuations Mine output Adventurer contracts Even noble decrees

Renn whispered. outsider That is too bold
Ethan replied. That is necessary

He named it out loud.
The Transparency Ledger

The merchants exchanged looks. Adventurers nodded. Alchemists murmured. Even guards seemed unsettled.

Ethan continued.
We start today We will write a daily report summarizing everything we observe Anyone may read it Anyone may submit information Anyone may challenge inconsistencies

Mira whispered. outsider You are building a new institution
Ethan smiled. Institutions outlast men

Before the crowd could respond, a sudden whistle cut the air. A guard sprinted toward Ethan.

outsider Ethan Mercer Urgent message
Ethan took the scroll and broke the seal.

His expression changed.

Renn grabbed his arm. outsider What happened
Mira whispered. outsider What is it

Ethan looked at them slowly.
The High Circle just ordered a containment strike on the southern tunnels

Renn paled. That is where the miners fled
Mira covered her mouth. outsider They will be killed
Ethan clenched the scroll.
No They will not

He turned to the crowd.
I need volunteers Adventurers anyone who can move fast
At least twenty people stepped forward immediately.
Miners
Adventurers
Potion makers
Even a few guards

Ethan nodded.
Good
The nobles think they can destroy evidence again
We will get there first

Renn whispered. outsider You are openly defying the nobles
Ethan replied.
No
I am saving the kingdom from them

He folded the scroll and looked toward the city gates where the southern tunnels lay miles away.
The shadow faction moved
The nobles reacted
Now it was his move

Ethan Mercer stepped forward.
Time to change the rules again.