Tortuga's Reach was no longer a pirate den; it was a "Special Economic Zone." At least, that's what the sign at the harbor said.
I sat in my new office—a refurbished lighthouse with a 360-degree view of the ocean. My father was currently downstairs running a "Maritime Insurance" seminar for a group of confused buccaneers, and Kaelen was busy training the "Audit Guard" (pirates who had traded their eyepatches for polished brass buttons).
"You've been staring at that map for an hour, Elara," Kaelen said, walking in with a plate of fresh pineapple. He looked leaner, tanned by the southern sun, and remarkably happy for a Prince currently living in a lighthouse.
"I'm looking at the Leeward Trade Wind," I said, pointing to a blue line on the parchment. "If we build a deep-water dock here, we can cut the travel time from the Northern Kingdoms by three days. We won't just be a tax haven, Kaelen. We'll be a logistics hub."
Kaelen set the fruit down and leaned over my shoulder. "And the Emperor? My father hasn't sent a letter in weeks. He's either very happy with the diamond you returned, or he's building an armada to come take 'his' Auditress back."
"Let him come," I said, a dangerous spark in my eye. "By the time he gets here, I'll have 40% of the world's spice trade flowing through this port. If he wants me back, he'll have to pay the 'Early Termination Fee' on my contract."
A knock at the door interrupted us. It was Silas Vane, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
"Lady Lexen," he said, twisting his captain's hat in his hands. "We have a... 'client' in the harbor. He says he heard you can make 'ghost money' disappear. He's flying a flag I've never seen. Gold sun on a black field."
Kaelen's posture went rigid. "The Sovereign Bank of Valos. They don't have a king. They only have a Board of Directors."
"The Bankers?" I stood up, smoothing my linen suit. "They're the only people in the world who might actually be better at math than I am."
"They don't look happy," Silas added. "They brought a 'Compliance Vessel.' It's basically a floating fortress made of iron-plated wood."
I walked to the balcony and looked out. The ship in the harbor was a monster. It didn't have sails; it had massive paddle-wheels powered by some kind of steam-mana hybrid.
"They're here because I froze the Syndicate's assets," I realized. "The Syndicate owed the Bank of Valos millions. By sinking the Vengeance, I didn't just win a war—I wiped out the Bank's collateral."
"So they're here for the debt?" Kaelen asked, reaching for his sword.
"Worse," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "They're here for an Audit. And for the first time in my two lives, I'm the one being audited."
I turned to Silas. "Tell the Board of Directors they can come ashore. But remind them that in my jurisdiction, we charge a 5% 'Consultation Fee' just for setting foot on the dock."
I looked at Kaelen and winked. "Finally. A worthy opponent. My soul was starting to get bored."