Word of the new corridor spread through Skygrain Market faster than Alden expected By midmorning vendors were already talking excitedly about the route The central ring buzzed with energy Fresh optimism swept the stalls The tension from the previous day eased though not completely People sensed change and change always stirred hope and uncertainty together

Alden walked through the ring observing reactions A group of fruit merchants stood near a display of wind pears Their tones were cautious but lighter than the night before One merchant said with relief If the new corridor brings Mistvine shipments earlier prices will settle again We may avoid the spike after all

Another replied Maybe even a surplus if the route cuts travel time

A surplus meant smoother trade cycles and stable tax income If the merchants regained confidence the market could regain its balance Alden felt a small spark of pride The corridor was risky but it gave the people a sense of direction a sign that Skygrain was shaping its own future

But optimism carried its own shadows Too much hope could cloud judgement And Cloudport was never idle when the winds shifted

Near the eastern stalls Alden noticed several unfamiliar crates stacked behind a private cart Their surfaces bore a mist symbol burned lightly into the wood The symbol was from Mistvine but something about the color and carving looked wrong Too crude Too rushed

He approached the cart owner a short man with nervous eyes Where did these crates come from

The man hesitated A small skiff arrived at dawn They said they were delivering a special discount load for early vendors The price was too good to ignore

Alden touched the crate The wood felt lighter than Mistvine’s typical shipping boxes The lid had been sealed with low grade wax rather than the usual binding resin He opened one crate The fruit inside looked similar to storm apples but the skin was paler and the scent lacked the sharp crisp aroma

Fake shipments Fake fruit Something Cloudport would do to manipulate prices Flooding Skygrain with inferior goods could drive down value creating confusion about real supply numbers And confusion was Cloudport’s greatest tool

Alden closed the crate and looked at the vendor These goods are not from Mistvine They may be unsafe and they will damage your credibility Dispose of them immediately

The vendor’s face turned pale He nodded quickly and began removing the crates Alden moved on deeper into the ring His steps became sharper More focused

Something had begun The new corridor had provoked Cloudport faster than expected Their counterfeit goods were already in the market Trying to distort prices Trying to mix false numbers into Skygrain’s carefully balanced trade system

At the tax pavilion Elen Viridis waited with her arms crossed She had clearly noticed the same pattern Arrivals of unregistered loads have increased She said without needing to look at her tablet Most are low quality They are trying to distort the official supply chart If we show a surplus when the real stock is limited Cloudport can push real Mistvine supply through their market and steal our cycle

Alden nodded Show me the logs

Elen handed him a crystal plate It displayed the morning’s records Several private carts entered the central ring minutes apart each carrying uninspected fruit Every declaration was forged using slightly altered trade signatures

Alden recognized the trick Cloudport often used near harvest cycles They created a shadow market one that moved under the official market using fake goods and forged signatures If enough counterfeit supply infiltrated Skygrain the official charts would break Merchants would not know what was real Shipping guilds would get confused Consumers would panic

Skygrain would be forced to halt pricing until clarity returned A pause in price updates meant a pause in tax adjustments And a pause in tax adjustments meant a drop in revenue

Cloudport wanted disruption not profit

Alden called Dax immediately Dax arrived within minutes his feathered cloak fluttering behind him Bring your guards Close every gate leading to the central ring No private skiffs No carts No shipments No exceptions until I clear it

Dax nodded Already done

Alden handed him one of the fake crates Track this signature Find every merchant who accepted goods from the counterfeit ship I want the full list before nightfall

Dax took the crate and ran off shouting orders to his guards The central ring shifted into a tense controlled bustle Guards formed lines along the major walkways Vendors whispered among themselves uncertain but obeying the temporary restrictions

Alden looked at Mira who had arrived with updated pressure charts Her expression told him she already understood the situation Cloudport tested the new corridor using deception The sky games had begun

Mira said The western routes show unusual drift patterns I think Cloudport used shaping engines last night to redirect minor routes Their currents pulled tiny vessels into a different path That could explain how the fake shipments slipped in unnoticed

Alden ran a hand over the map table Of course Cloudport would not confront Skygrain directly They would erode trust The corridor gave Skygrain an advantage but only if the market saw clear numbers and clean supply Cloudport sought to ruin both

He knew what had to happen They needed proof They needed stability And they needed a way to outmaneuver Cloudport’s shadow market

Tarin approached carrying a new report from his scouts He set it on the table There are whispers among Mistvine elders They say Cloudport buyers are promising to fund protective wards around Mistvine’s harvest fields if Mistvine agrees to reduce shipments to Skygrain

A bribe A strategic bribe designed to cut Skygrain off from its most important agricultural partner

Alden stared at the glowing corridor line on the projection The new path shone bright but its value rested on Mistvine continuing to trust Skygrain Cloudport was working to break that trust

He lifted his head voice quiet but steady Then we go to Mistvine ourselves

Mira blinked You want to fly there personally

If Cloudport is negotiating with them then Skygrain must do the same Alden said If we sit and wait we will lose more than a corridor We will lose a partner

Tarin stepped forward I will accompany you The guild respects Mistvine And my presence can help show our sincerity

Alden nodded Prepare a vessel One that can travel the new corridor We leave by afternoon

The team exchanged looks of tension and determination Skygrain Market had moved boldly And Cloudport had answered with its own strike

Now Alden would go directly into the heart of the dispute to protect the balance of the sky

The corridor had been born in darkness But its greatest test was only beginning