The morning sun bathed Velmara's Grand Bazaar in golden light, but to Rion, the marketplace wasn't a thing of beauty it was a battlefield.

  His first trades had been successful. Twelve silver turned into fifty. But success was dangerous. A merchant who makes money is a merchant who gains enemies.

  Today, he would face his first real challenge.

  The Market Is Always Moving

  Rion stood at his small vendor stall, displaying his latest investment spices from Drayhark. A calculated risk, but he had spent almost all his silver to buy a few sacks of exotic saffron and crimson pepper. If he sold them fast, he could triple his profits.

  But as the morning crowd passed, something was wrong.

  No one was buying.

  Rion scanned the market and saw why his prices had been undercut.

  Across the street, a rival stall now sold the same spices for less.

  At the center of it stood a young woman in a deep green merchant's robe, arms crossed, eyes sharp and amused.

  Lenora Vaelis.

  A Silver-Rank Merchant.

  And she was targeting him.

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  The Rivalry Begins

  Rion kept his face neutral as he walked up to Lenora's stall. She smirked.

  "You're Rion, aren't you? The kid making a name for himself."

  "And you're Lenora," he said. "The merchant who just so happens to sell the exact same product as me, at the exact same time, for a lower price."

  She shrugged. "That's just business. If you can't handle competition, go back to selling fruit."

  Rion glanced at her stock her saffron was slightly lower quality, but the price difference would still attract customers. If he didn't act fast, he'd be stuck with unsold goods.

  This wasn't an accident. It was a test.

  The First Trade War

  Rion had two options:

  Drop his prices but that would mean smaller profits.

  Find a way to outsell her without losing money.

  Then, he had an idea.

  Rion stepped onto a wooden crate, raising his voice just enough for the passing nobles to hear.

  "Ladies and gentlemen! Have you ever bought cheap spices, only to find them weak, dull, and worthless?"

  Some turned to listen. Lenora frowned.

  Rion held up a sack of his saffron. "This? This is real Drayhark saffron. Imported, sun-dried, and ground by expert hands. But across the street?" He gestured toward Lenora's stand. "I wonder has that saffron been cut with cheap flower powder to make it last longer?"

  A noblewoman raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Is that true?"

  Lenora narrowed her eyes. "You little "

  Before she could argue, Rion pulled out a demonstration board, two glasses of water, and a pinch of each spice.

  He dropped his saffron into one glass a rich, deep golden color spread instantly. Then, he dropped Lenora's saffron.

  It dissolved weaker. The color was less vibrant.

  "Good saffron speaks for itself," Rion said simply. "If you care about quality, you know where to buy."

  The noblewoman stepped toward Rion's stall. Then another customer. Then another.

  Lenora gritted her teeth as she watched her buyers walk away.

  The First Victory

  By midday, Rion had sold out his entire stock. His 50 silver investment had become 150 silver.

  Lenora didn't speak to him again that day, but Rion knew one thing for certain.

  This wouldn't be the last time they faced off.

  Because in Velmara, the real merchant war had only just begun.