The first rule of building an empire was simple.
Never let everyone know who built it.
Three weeks had passed since Lucian Marrow entered the Veiled Sanctum.
During those three weeks, something strange had begun happening across Dregmoore.
A new medicine had appeared in the markets.
It was cheap enough for wealthy commoners to afford, effective enough to attract nobles, and powerful enough to make experienced physicians question everything they knew.
Its creator was supposedly a mysterious merchant named Aren Vale.
Nobody knew where he came from.
Nobody knew his family.
Nobody knew where his laboratories were located.
And that was exactly how Elias wanted it.
Inside a private office overlooking the Sanctum's growing marketplace, Elias sat behind a wooden desk.
A pile of reports covered its surface.
"Sales have exceeded expectations," Lucian said.
He stood opposite Elias with several documents in his hands.
"The medicine has already reached Greyhaven, Eldermere, and several surrounding towns. Demand is increasing every day."
Elias slowly turned a page.
"Competitors?"
"Three major merchant houses have started investigating us."
"Names."
"House Valcrest. House Orwyn. And House Damaris."
Elias smiled faintly.
"Which one is the most dangerous?"
"Valcrest."
"Why?"
"They control nearly forty percent of the medicine trade in the western territories."
Elias leaned back.
"Then they are the ones we watch."
Lucian frowned.
"You don't intend to fight them?"
"Not yet."
Elias stood.
"First, I want to know how they fight."
That evening, Greyhaven's merchant district was unusually crowded.
A young man dressed in simple black clothing walked between the shops.
His dark hair was slightly messy.
His face looked ordinary.
His eyes did not.
This was not Elias, according to anyone watching.
This was Aren Vale.
A minor merchant.
A nobody.
At least, that was the identity written on the papers in his pocket.
Elias entered a tavern overlooking the market.
He ordered tea and sat alone.
Within minutes, he heard what he wanted.
"Valcrest is furious."
"They're losing customers."
"I heard they're buying information on Vale."
"Whoever this Vale person is, he appeared from nowhere."
Elias quietly smiled.
Perfect.
He wasn't here to sell anything.
He was here to listen.
A man at the next table suddenly leaned closer.
"You Aren Vale?"
Elias looked at him.
"Perhaps."
The man's hand moved beneath his coat.
"I have a message."
Elias glanced at his hand.
Then at his eyes.
"You're lying."
The man froze.
"You aren't carrying a message."
Elias continued calmly.
"You're carrying a weapon."
The man's expression changed.
"So?"
"You're also not a merchant."
The man reached for his weapon.
He never drew it.
Elias moved.
One step.
A hand caught the man's wrist.
A twist.
The weapon fell.
Before the man could react, Elias struck him once in the chest.
The man crashed into a table.
The tavern went silent.
Elias calmly picked up the weapon.
"Cheap steel."
He looked at the terrified man.
"Tell Valcrest something."
The man swallowed.
"What?"
"Next time, send someone intelligent."
Elias walked away.
Outside, he disappeared into the crowd.
Nobody noticed the faint smile on his face.
He had learned three things.
Valcrest was investigating him.
Someone within Greyhaven was supplying information about his business.
And the merchant house had already become nervous.
Which meant they were predictable.
Elias returned to the Sanctum before midnight.
Lucian was waiting.
"Did you find anything?"
Elias placed the weapon on the table.
"Enough."
Lucian stared at it.
"You were attacked?"
"Investigated."
"There's a difference?"
"For them."
Elias looked toward the massive city forming within the pocket dimension.
"Prepare the next shipment."
Lucian nodded.
"And what do we do about Valcrest?"
Elias smiled.
"We let them think they're hunting Aren Vale."
His eyes darkened.
"While they never realize they're standing inside Elias's trap."