Morning light washed over the guild building in pale gold when Evan stepped into the intelligence room again. The apprentices had arrived early filling the tables with organized notes from yesterday. Everything was structured in neat rows. Routes. Prices. Competitor moves. Strengths. Weaknesses.

Evan felt a flicker of pride. They were learning faster than expected.

Today Evan said we take the next step. We build a counter strategy.

Lenar entered carrying bread and hot tea. His face looked tired. Iron Crest Guild is moving too fast. If they hit us first we lose everything.

Not if we make them hesitate Evan said. Not if we force them to reveal their hand.

How do we do that Lenar asked.

We mislead them Evan said. We feed them a false signal.

The apprentices gasped like he had said something illegal.

But sir one apprentice whispered would that not be deception

Yes Evan said. That is the point.

He drew a circle on the table representing the city. He marked Silver Quill’s main trading sectors. Then he marked the area where Iron Crest had positioned their new safehouse.

They want to enter herbal goods Evan said. They plan to hit prices or steal suppliers. So we fake a shift. We make them think we are moving into metal goods.

Lenar blinked rapidly. But we are not

Exactly Evan said. That is why it works.

He stood and looked each apprentice in the eye.

Lesson three. Strategy is not only what you do. It is what others think you will do.

They wrote the sentence like scripture.

Evan explained the plan. They would have a Silver Quill cart deliberately enter metal district. They would make a few public inquiries. Buy minor amounts of ore. Spread small hints through the market. Nothing bold. Nothing suspicious. Just enough to create noise.

Noise creates fear Evan said. Fear creates reaction. They will divert resources to defend metal routes. And while they look the wrong way they cannot hit your herbal sector.

Lenar looked stunned. This is genius

It is basic Evan said. But powerful in a blind market.

The apprentices prepared messages. Lenar assigned a merchant to perform the staged ore purchase. Evan coached him.

You cannot look too excited Evan said. You are not trying to buy a kingdom. Just show interest.

The merchant nodded nervously.

By midday the staged movements began. A Silver Quill cart rolled into the metal district. A few passersby whispered. The merchant casually examined ore samples. He asked about shipment schedules. He bought three crates. Not much but enough to be noticed.

Evan watched from a distance. He saw one Iron Crest operative stiffen. He hurried to whisper to another man. They both left with tense faces. Perfect.

The apprentices observed with awe. Is this still business one asked. It feels like battle.

It is Evan said. But with quieter weapons.

Later that afternoon Evan returned to the intelligence room and waited. Movements told the next chapter before anyone spoke it.

A runner burst through the door breathless. Iron Crest Guild just shifted their guards. They doubled coverage near the metal routes. They moved their safehouse operatives there too. They think Silver Quill is planning something big.

Lenar smiled in disbelief. We fooled them

Evan corrected him. We guided them. Do not confuse chaos with control. We offered them a story. They chose to believe it.

The room filled with a sense of victory that tasted sweeter because it felt earned not lucky.

But Evan lifted a hand. Do not celebrate yet. This is not the end. This is the first of many moves. They still plan to attack. They are only confused now. So tomorrow we make them more confused. And the day after that we make them desperate.

He walked to the window and watched the last light fall across the city.

This world thinks commerce is simple Evan said. They think competition is luck or magic. They have never seen strategy. Real strategy.

He turned back to his apprentices.

But they will.

The apprentices straightened. Lenar exhaled like a man who finally saw hope.

And Evan Brooks the first real commercial spy of the magic realm felt the familiar thrill of momentum.

Information was moving.
The world was shifting.
And he was pulling the strings.