This morning, Ryn came to my room unexpectedly.
She asked me to accompany her to The Moonthread Bazaar.
Honestly, I wanted to refuse.
Even after ten days, Lunaveil still made my skin feel tight somehow.
But Ryn said we only had two days left before departure, and she needed to inspect market prices before leaving the city.
So eventually, with considerable reluctance, I agreed.
We walked together through Lunaveil beneath drifting silk banners and pale morning mist.
Every Moonfen Sister who saw me stopped briefly to bow.
Some only lowered their heads slightly.
Others bent deeply enough to make me uncomfortable.
Very uncomfortable.
Ryn clearly noticed.
But she said nothing.
Only continued walking beside me at a slightly slower pace than usual.
The Moonthread Bazaar was as beautiful as ever.
Soft fabrics.
Warm lantern light.
Perfume.
Gentle voices.
Everything still looked exactly the same.
But now the beauty felt hollow somehow.
Or perhaps I was the hollow one.
I followed Ryn while she checked silk quality, trade prices, and shipment records with various merchants.
She spoke smoothly.
Professionally.
Like the heir of Roderick Street once again.
After walking for quite a while, we eventually approached The Jade Veil House.
My thoughts drifted briefly toward Kitsu.
Toward the strange comfort she once gave me.
But now…
I no longer knew what to feel about any of it.
Then suddenly—
Ryn grabbed my wrist.
Hard enough to startle me.
Before I could ask why, she quickly pulled me behind one of the large wooden pillars near the entrance of The Jade Veil House.
I blinked in confusion.
Then followed the direction she pointed toward.
There was a commotion near the street.
Several members of the caravan’s core crew were moving crates of silk from one wagon into another.
Nearby, a man was shouting furiously.
Beside him stood a young woman holding a ledger book tightly against her chest.
She looked terrified.
At first I thought it was some kind of robbery.
Then city guards arrived.
Dragonkin.
The same Dragonkin employed by Lunaveil as security forces.
They came with weapons already drawn.
Their voices thundered loudly enough to make me flinch.
They demanded to know what the caravan crew was doing.
The atmosphere escalated almost immediately.
And just as things were about to become dangerous—
The Caravan Master appeared.
I still do not know where he came from.
One moment he was absent.
The next he was simply there.
Walking calmly into the middle of the conflict as though he had arrived early for a pleasant lunch appointment.
He looked at the angry merchant and smiled politely.
“Master Eren,” he greeted warmly.
“A pleasure to see you again.”
I watched the man’s face pale instantly.
After that, the Caravan Master turned toward the six Dragonkin guards surrounding the wagons.
His tone remained relaxed.
Controlled.
Almost friendly.
He explained that he understood the guards were merely performing their duties.
And that rather than obstructing the operation…
They should actually be helping move the cargo.
The guards looked confused.
Master Eren shouted angrily and demanded an explanation.
Then the Caravan Master smiled again.
This time the smile never reached his eyes.
“This is not theft,” he said calmly.
“This is enforcement of lien under Eastern Continent Trade Decree Article 714, Clause One.”
“I do not recall this decree ever being repealed.”
“Therefore, if you interfere with me, you are the ones violating trade law.”
“And I would be fully justified in pursuing legal action for obstruction of lawful repossession.”
Silence followed immediately.
Beside me, I heard Ryn mutter quietly under her breath.
“What kind of monster memorizes something like that…?”
Master Eren yelled that this was Lunaveil and the Caravan Master had no authority here.
The Caravan Master continued speaking without raising his voice even once.
He looked directly at one of the city guards.
“Master Eren currently owes four thousand gold crowns to Roderick Street.”
“He has ignored three official summons.”
“The final repayment deadline expired over forty days ago.”
“If you doubt me, you are free to verify the matter with the city administrators.”
“Though doing so would merely demonstrate you failed to study the very laws you are tasked to uphold.”
Then he glanced toward the frightened young woman holding the ledger.
“Alternatively, you may ask Master Eren’s secretary.”
“She should already understand the situation.”
The poor girl looked moments away from collapsing.
“And as a reminder,” the Caravan Master added pleasantly, “Yggdra remains officially recognized as part of the Eastern Continent.”
“Meaning the decree absolutely applies here.”
By then Master Eren had stopped shouting entirely.
The Caravan Master slowly looked around at the gathering merchants who had begun forming a crowd around the disturbance.
Then he addressed the guards once more.
“If you prevent lawful repossession today…”
“Then tomorrow no merchant in this city will feel safe extending credit.”
“And once law bends for convenience…”
“Trade itself begins to collapse.”
The gathered merchants immediately began whispering among themselves.
Several nodded.
Others crossed their arms thoughtfully.
The mood shifted almost instantly.
Master Eren finally spoke again.
Quietly this time.
He told the Caravan Master to do whatever he wished.
The Caravan Master nodded politely.
Then informed him the silk currently being repossessed was worth roughly two thousand gold crowns.
Meaning the debt was still only half repaid.
Not including interest.
Or penalties.
“But,” the Caravan Master added kindly, “because we are friends…”
“I will consider this a gesture of good faith.”
“I trust the remaining balance will be settled once you return to Port Roderick.”
He smiled gently.
“Otherwise…”
“Well.”
“I imagine future business opportunities may become rather difficult.”
Master Eren lowered his head slightly.
Defeated.
Even the city guards eventually admitted the repossession was lawful.
Though I could still see uncertainty lingering on their faces.
After thanking everyone politely, the Caravan Master simply walked away.
As though none of it had been remarkable.
I stared after him for several seconds before finally turning toward Ryn.
“Is business always like this?” I asked carefully.
Ryn pressed two fingers against her forehead.
Looked at me.
Then slowly shook her head.
“No.”
“That,” she said tiredly, “was daylight robbery.”
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