Marcus thought infrastructure work was complicated. Then someone made it political.
The Northern Kingdoms ask for help with their failing ward networks. Prince Adrian volunteers Fairwind & Penwright for the redesign everything to work with local materials instead of expensive imports. Except the imports aren't expensive by accident. Someone's price-gouging essential supplies, and they don't want competition.
Marcus's merchant instincts see the economic sabotage wrapped in a supply chain monopoly. When Prince Adrian gets kidnapped, the technical work becomes the easy part.
One job. Two skill sets. And finally, a payout big enough to buy their own shop.
A cozy fantasy with LitRPG progression, economic intrigue, unexpected rescues, and the discovery that sometimes your merchant skills matter just as much as your magic.
Pour yourself something warm, settle into your favorite reading spot, and discover that sometimes fixing the magic is simpler than fixing the people.
