Lenar did not slow down until they reached a tall building made of polished stone. It rose above the other shops like someone wanted to prove they were richer than everyone else. A sign near the entrance said Silver Quill Merchant Guild in elegant strokes. The building looked important but Evan could tell it had no guards no alert system and no process. Anyone could walk in.

Inside the air was musty and full of ink and old parchment. Guild members hurried around carrying scrolls. Some argued about trade caravans. Others held maps with circles drawn in red ink. The more Evan saw the more he realized this guild was not failing because of magic enemies. It was failing because it did not know what a strategy department was.

Lenar led him into a long meeting room. A map of the continent covered the wall. Evan saw marked trade routes but no data about volume no forecasts no risk flags. There were scrolls piled everywhere. Half open. Unlabeled. A disaster of information management.

This is our secret planning chamber Lenar said with pride.

Evan wanted to scream.

Four merchants entered. All wore robes with silver trim. They sat around the table and stared at him like he might be a wizard.

Lenar clapped his hands. Everyone this is Evan. He comes from a faraway land and knows how to read markets.

The guild master a stern man named Halden leaned forward. Can you tell us why the Iron Crest Guild always beats us to contracts. We think they spy on us with powerful magic.

Evan looked at the table. Three open scrolls clearly listed their contract offers their upcoming bids and even their negotiation positions. All sitting in the open.

Do you always leave these out Evan asked.

Of course Halden replied. This is our planning table. We trust each other.

Do you lock the room

Lock it Halden asked. Why

Evan inhaled and thought of how to explain information security to a group of adults who treated it like witchcraft.

If someone wants to know your plans they can walk in and read your scrolls Evan said. You make it easy for them. They do not need magic.

The room froze. A woman gasped. One man actually dropped his quill.

So their espionage is that strong Halden whispered.

No Evan said. It is not strong. You have no defenses at all. Anyone can beat you.

Silence again. The kind that comes when a truth is too big to ignore.

Evan stepped toward the wall map. You have no competitive framework no analysis system no prediction model. You operate with hope. Hope is not a strategy.

They stared at him like he was inventing a new form of magic.

If you hire me Evan said calmly I can give you real intelligence. I can build a system that tracks competitors predicts price shifts analyzes supply risks and protects your information. You will know what every guild is planning before they act.

Halden slowly stood up. His hands trembled. If you can do even half of that we will make you our highest paid consultant.

Evan nodded. First I need a room. A private one. And I need your best note takers. Then I will need access to your trade history and incident records.

The merchants exchanged looks. None of them understood what any of that meant but they understood one thing. They were desperate.

Lenar stepped forward. Whatever you need we will provide. Just tell us how to begin.

Evan looked around the chaotic planning chamber. This place was a mess. But in a mess there was opportunity. He could build structures. He could build processes. He could create the first intelligence lab in this world.

He smiled. Then let us begin with step one. We stop leaving your secrets on the table.

The merchants nodded like he had spoken a divine revelation.

Evan knew it already.
This world was going to be easier to dominate than he ever expected.