As Sarei glared at me I gave an internal wince. It probably would have been sensible to give her a little warning. Too late now

  "I bought Qin's Fresh Catch," I said. "The paperwork's done. Qin Laoxu needed the money, I had it."

  "Just like that?"

  "I mean, yes."

  Sarei stared at me like I had sprouted gills.

  Time to move on. "Actually, I'm glad you came in. I wanted to talk to you."

  Her expression shifted, wariness replacing shock. She crossed her arms. "What, are you going to fire your own sister?"

  "What? No. Why does everyone think I'm going to sack them?" I gestured toward the door where Master Wei waited. "I want you to manage the main floor."

  Her mouth opened slightly.

  "Actually. Once I get this place solvent again, I'd like you to manage the whole business." I leaned against the desk, watching her process this. "Obviously, each promotion comes with a significant pay rise."

  "So I'm going to be working for you?"

  "Is that a problem?"

  She remained silent, her fierce eyes studying my face like she'd never seen me before. The warehouse sounds filtered up through the office floor as I waited.

  Finally, she shook her head slowly.

  "No." The word came out slowly as if she had shocked herself with her answer. "No, it's not. You've changed in the last few weeks. The transformation is almost..." She paused. "No, definitely, unbelievable. But it's for the better."

  Her arms uncrossed, tension leaving her shoulders.

  "If it lasts, then I'll be interested in seeing what you do next."

  As Sarei headed out, Master Wei gave her an amused look as he passed her on his way in. He settled into the chair across from my desk and folded his hands in his lap as he listened to my plans to grow the business.

  When I finished I gave him a ghost of a smile. "So, what do you think, Master Wei? Ambitious enough?"

  Master Wei scratched his chin, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he wrestled with the implications. "Ambitious barely scratches the surface, Master Shen. Doubling the delivery routes in a month? We'd need more porters, a lot more."

  "We'll hire them. What about the scheduling changes?"

  "Triple the number of deliveries each porter makes in a day? I hear what you say about doing multiple deliveries per trip..." He trailed off and pulled out a small notebook, flipping through pages covered in his neat handwriting. "It's possible, but the team will grumble about the extra work."

  "They'll grumble less when they see their wages increase."

  His eyebrows rose. "You're serious about paying more?"

  "Deadly. Quality work deserves fair compensation."

  We spent another quarter hour working through the details. Master Wei argued about logistics, questioned timeline, but, as I anticipated and countered all of his concerns, his skepticism gave way to a grudging respect, then a spark of genuine enthusiasm.

  When I dismissed him, he actually smiled. "I worked for Master Qin's father and I started under his grandfather when I was a boy. None of them had the vision for this place that you do. If you actually pull this off I'll be proud to have been a small part of it."

  "Oh on that, I would like you take Laoxu on as my replacement in your delivery team."

  His brow furrowed. "Laoxu? Who's…wait do you mean Old Xu?"

  I nodded. "He needs a fresh start and I'm minded to give it to him. Treat him just like everyone else, and you have my permission to fire him if he doesn't work out. But I want to give him a chance."

  Master Wei nodded. "I've known him his whole life, I've got a soft spot for him ever since he was one of my delivery boys back in the day. It's why I hung around so long making sure this place didn't totally fall apart. I'll whip him back into shape."

  "Glad to hear it. Also, if you don't mind, on your way out could you send Lian up?"

  A few minutes later, Lian appeared in the doorway wearing her habitual half smile.

  "Well look at you," she said as she settled into the chair Master Wei had vacated. "When I said you were planning on having your own operation, I didn't realize you meant this one."

  "I'm just full of surprises." I returned her smile. "Now, did you manage to find anyone looking to change fish suppliers?"

  "I have, actually. Around twenty so far." She crossed one leg over the other. "But assuming you're asking because you want their business, only about six of them would have any real chance of coming over to Qin's Fresh Catch."

  I frowned. "Why only six?"

  "Four of them had bad experiences with this place in the past. They'll need to see long-term evidence of change before they risk moving back."

  "Fair. And the others?"

  Lian's smile turned sardonic. "They're all currently customers of Starlit Lagoon, so they're scared of repercussions if they change suppliers."

  I recalled signs for the Starlit Lagoon Fishery I had seen above several warehouses around the docks. I had noticed it but hadn't paid much attention. "Repercussions? Like what?"

  "A number of times, not always, but often enough, there have been unexpected accidents when customers take their business elsewhere." She ticked them off on her fingers. "Unexpected fires. Rodent invasions. Collapsing roofs. Nothing that can be proved, but enough to make people wary."

  Very interesting indeed. "I'll need to do some thinking about that. For now, can you get me meetings with the six businesses who might be open to dealing with us?"

  "Definitely."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "And are there other businesses that might be interested in changing suppliers?"

  "Oh, yes. Shuilin's a large city so there are plenty of opportunities out there. But I have to make my deliveries, so there's not much time to search them out."

  "That's actually the main reason I wanted to see you." I leaned back in my chair. "I'd like you to take on finding new customers and expanding sales full time. Obviously, it would pay better than doing deliveries."

  Her eyes lit up. "Better pay? Now you're talking my language."

  * * *

  I spent the rest of the morning walking through Qin's Fresh Catch, talking to the workers. The picture that emerged wasn't encouraging.

  Jiru's dock team worked efficiently, but they complained about delays waiting around as the rates for each catch were negotiated afresh with each fisherman every morning. The sorting crews had developed their own informal systems to compensate for Old Xu's erratic management so they weren't in bad shape. By contrast, Master Wei's porters spent half their time waiting for orders that should have been planned days in advance.

  Every conversation reinforced what the ledgers had already told me, this place had been limping along on momentum and the goodwill of people who deserved better.

  By afternoon, I needed to clear my mind and to focus on what actually mattered. I headed home and went down into the cellar, where the familiar weight of the weapons centered my thoughts. The forms flowed as I painstakingly recreated the muscle memory I had previously earned over seven centuries.

  My accuracy with the throwing knives was still concerning me. It had improved dramatically, but I still wasn't where I needed to be. It would be too easy to get seduced by the challenges of the fishworks, but when a Vanguard came hunting, pretty business plans wouldn't save me.

  Weapons stowed away, I had a quick word with Yanzi and then set out to visit the moneylenders who owned the debt of Qin's Fresh Catch. The first three offered the same well-rehearsed charade. Overly polite smiles that didn't bother to hide the doubt in their eyes, preceded hollow encouragement, all punctuated by pointed reminders about the date that the next payment was due. Each interaction left me with the distinct impression that their only real question was whether my new venture would collapse in days, weeks or months.

  The Golden Current was a similar affair, although here I had no desire to interact with Yin Chi again. Inside, the receptionist's pinched face lit up when he recognized me. His fingers literally twitched in anticipation of another bribe.

  "Back so soon? I assume you need another meeting with Master Yin? Very busy today, I just don't know what I can do…"

  I cut over him. "No meeting necessary. I just need to record that I'm the new owner of Qin's Fresh Catch so the loan needs to be moved into my name."

  His face fell and he sighed dramatically as he pulled a thick ledger from the shelf behind him. He made the necessary amendments with obvious reluctance at having to actually do his job.

  "Interest payment is due in a week," he said, looking up. "There's a note here that it should be added to the principal debt. Is that still correct?"

  "No. I'll be back to pay it by then."

  He snapped the ledger shut with unnecessary force, then gave me a greasy smile that didn't reach his eyes.

  "Well I'll see you next week then."

  Walking back toward the harbor, I reflected on the day's conversations. Every creditor expected failure. The workers anticipated disappointment. Even Sarei harbored doubts beneath her cautious optimism.

  Perhaps that skepticism would work in my favor. It had been a long while since I had been underestimated. It was rather invigorating.

  On the way back to Qin's Fresh Catch, I took a deliberate detour through the port district. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the weathered docks, and I used the time to learn about the competition.

  What I discovered was illuminating.

  At the Crimson Scale Gutting House, workers stood idle while their foreman argued with a supplier over payment terms. Three buildings down, Blue Harbor Processing had barrels of catch sitting in the sun while clerks searched for misplaced invoices.

  Every operation I watched suffered from the same fundamental problems plaguing Qin's, poor organization, inefficient workflows, and management that seemed more interested in maintaining tradition than improving results. It was only their slight edge of competence that meant that they weren't in the same state as Qin's Fresh Catch.

  The one exception was the Starlit Lagoon Fishery. They still weren't efficient, but from what I could see they were a step change more organized than the others. They also had a clear advantage in the quality of the seafood that they were buying in.

  Near the harbor's edge, an old fisherman sat mending his nets. I bought two cups of rice wine, handed him one and settled beside him on a weathered crate.

  "You look like you could use this. Hard day on the water?"

  He chuckled, and clinked my cup before throwing it back and carrying on with his work. "Every day's hard when you're dealing with these fishworks. Twenty different places all want your catch, but none of them'll make it easy."

  "What about Starlit Lagoon? They seem to do well enough."

  The old fisherman's face twisted. "Starlit Lagoon," he spat the name like a curse. "Aye, they get the prime catch, but not with fair coin. It's owned by Lord Shuilin so they've locked up all the high-end restaurants in the inner city tighter than a…" He paused and glanced at me. "Very tight. The Golden Phoenix, the Jade Pavilion, and all the rest pay a premium but we only see a sliver of it. You want to supply their tables? You dance to Starlit Lagoon's tune."

  I nodded sympathetically. "Must make it hard for the smaller operations."

  "Hard doesn't begin to cover it. We sell to them because we have to, not because we want to. But what choice do we have? The little fishworks can't compete with the Lagoon's ultimate patron."

  We sat in silence for a few more moments as I finished my drink then giving him a nod I headed back toward my newly acquired business. My mind was racing with possibilities as I walked. The opportunity, and the risks, here might be larger than I had thought.

  * * *

  That evening, I was unsurprised to find that no word came from Ironjaw about my return to the Broken Mast. It actually suited me well. Time to handle some unfinished business.

  The Dockside District where we now lived held better homes than the slums, although it was still modest by any reasonable standard. The house I was looking for was only a few minutes walk away from our new home. It sat tucked between a cooper's workshop and a seamstress, with whitewashed walls and a solid oak door. A group of housewives were gossiping in the street while a gaggle of children played tag next to them. All in all a picture of urban working class gentility.

  I knocked twice, firm but not aggressive. No need to startle the horses.

  The door opened to reveal the weathered face of Jiru, the man in charge of buying and checking the delivery of all the fish that came into Qin's Fresh Catch. Confusion creased his features when he saw me but, before he could speak, I stepped past him into the small but well-appointed front room.

  "Master Jiru, good evening."

  A woman I assumed was his wife sat at a wooden table, mending clothes by lamplight. She started when I entered, needle freezing mid-stitch.

  "Forgive the intrusion, Madam." I offered her a respectful bow. "I have an urgent work matter to discuss with your husband. I hope you'll pardon the late hour."

  I produced a silver fang from my pouch and placed it gently on the table beside her sewing.

  "I appreciate that it is a presumption, but could I ask if you would be so kind as to fetch us a bottle of rice wine? Something we can all share while your husband and I talk business."

  She looked to Jiru, who jerked his head toward the door after a moment's hesitation. She gathered her shawl and slipped out, silver clutched in her palm.

  I settled into the chair across from where she had been sitting, taking my time to examine the room. Well made furniture, a small shrine to household ancestors in the corner, and a fine tapestry on the wall. The trappings of a successful man. One who had worked steadily and saved carefully. I would go so far as to suggest that they were the signs of someone who you would expect to have reached a higher position in life than a middle manager in a small failing fishworks.

  "You've done well for yourself, Master Jiru. This is a fine home."

  An almost-empty wine bottle sat on the table. I lifted it, and took a sniff.

  "What is that vintage? From the nose that's superb. At least two silvers a bottle unless I'm mistaken. Excellent choice, though perhaps a touch indulgent given your gout." I set the bottle down carefully. "Wine tends to inflame the joints, or so I've heard."

  Jiru remained standing, hands clenched at his sides. "What do you want, boy?"

  The contempt in his voice was expected. Yesterday I had been just another porter making deliveries. Today I owned the business that employed him. That kind of shift made men uncomfortable, especially proud men with something unsavory to hide.

  "I want to have a conversation about the future of Qin's Fresh Catch. Your future specifically."