Entering the Miracle Chamber of Commerce, Fenya noticed that the surrounding merchants briefly paused when they saw her and the guards behind her. However, they quickly turned back to their own affairs, paying her little attention.
Fenya stood at the entrance, surveying the room before striding directly to one of the chamber's attendants. "I want to see your manager," she said.
The attendant recognized her and cast a glance at the guards behind her before replying apologetically, "I'm sorry, Lady Fenya, but the manager…"
"I want to see your manager," Fenya repeated before he could refuse, producing the high-level membership nameplate that Lynd had given her.
The attendant froze at the sight of the nameplate. Straightening immediately, he respectfully took it and examined it closely.
Around them, some merchants turned to observe the scene. The newcomers were unfamiliar with the nameplate, but the veteran members of the chamber instantly recognized it as a senior membership insignia. Their gazes collectively locked onto Fenya, filled with shock and confusion.
In their memory, Fenya had always been an ordinary member of the Miracle Chamber of Commerce—certainly not a senior member.
If she had held such a prestigious status, she wouldn't have needed to take the risk of accepting delivery tasks, wouldn't have had her ship detained for smuggling contraband, and wouldn't have become a casualty in Myr's political struggles. Instead, she would have been a valued guest at the table of every Magister in Myr.
After all, there were only three merchants in all of Myr who held senior membership in the Miracle Chamber of Commerce. Even the chamber's president, Merchant Prince Pash, did not possess this status, illustrating just how rare and valuable it was.
Because of this, many suspected that Fenya's nameplate was a forgery, waiting for the attendant to expose her and have her thrown out.
However, to everyone's disappointment, the attendant instead asked Fenya to wait, then took the nameplate and disappeared into the back storage area. A short while later, the branch supervisor of the Miracle Chamber of Commerce emerged, hurrying toward Fenya with the nameplate in hand.
"Lady Fenya, please follow me," the supervisor said, bowing respectfully before returning the nameplate to her.
Fenya prepared to follow him toward the back of the warehouse. The guards assigned to monitor her were about to follow as well, but the supervisor blocked their path.
With a serious expression, he stated, "Please inform Lord Magister that Lady Fenya is a VIP of the Miracle Chamber of Commerce. We are willing to vouch for her, and until this matter is fully investigated, she will not leave Myr."
With that, he led Fenya into the warehouse office.
The overseeing guards hesitated, exchanged glances, then quickly turned to report the situation to their superiors.
Meanwhile, the merchants in the hall had watched the entire exchange. They now realized that Fenya's nameplate was genuine and, judging from the supervisor's attitude, understood that her fortunes had changed. The ongoing power struggle between Myr's merchants and nobles would likely no longer affect her.
...
Inside the warehouse office, the supervisor gestured for Fenya to sit while instructing an attendant to bring some premium iced honey milk.
"Lady Fenya, may I ask what instructions the person who gave you this nameplate has for us?" he inquired warmly, personally placing the drink in front of her.
The supervisor's deferential attitude completely caught Fenya off guard. She wasn't sure if this level of treatment was standard for all senior members or if she was receiving special consideration.
She took a sip of the iced honey milk to steady herself before responding, "The person who gave me the nameplate is just outside the city. He is Lord Ornstein, the Lion Knight. He asked me to contact you regarding the sale of a batch of Dothraki warhorses and slaves to Summerhall."
"Lord Ornstein?" The supervisor hesitated, momentarily unable to place the name. Clearly, he was unaware that Lynd had been traveling through Essos under the guise of Ornstein.
However, to him, the name of the nameplate's owner was irrelevant. What mattered was the significance of the nameplate itself.
After confirming Lynd's location outside the city, he promptly dispatched an internal merchant responsible for acquisitions to handle the purchase. As Fenya prepared to leave, believing her task was complete, the supervisor stopped her.
"Lady Fenya, do you wish to register now, or would you prefer to do so later?" he asked, gesturing for her to remain patient.
Fenya blinked in confusion. "Register? Register for what?"
"For senior membership," the supervisor clarified. Noting her bewilderment, he explained further, "This nameplate is a special authority nameplate that grants the holder the right to recommend a new senior member. When you present this nameplate at any branch or contact office of the Miracle Chamber of Commerce, they are responsible for registering you. Of course, registration doesn't mean you immediately become a senior member—it means you qualify to become one. To attain full senior membership, you must complete three procurement or trade tasks. However, these tasks will only be assigned to you after registration."
Fenya was stunned. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She had thought she was simply delivering a message and facilitating a transaction on behalf of the Lion Knight. Never had she imagined that she would be registering as a senior member of the Miracle Chamber of Commerce.
It took Fenya a moment to process everything before she finally asked, "Are these nameplates common? Why have I never heard of them before?"
"These nameplates circulate only within the Chamber of Commerce and among senior members. Ordinary members are not informed of their existence," the supervisor patiently explained. "Moreover, they are quite rare. Only high-ranking members personally recognized by Lord Lynd are granted the privilege of recommending new senior members. Once you register, the nameplate will be reclaimed and destroyed—it will never be used again."
Fenya hesitated before asking, "What if someone steals my nameplate and comes to register instead?"
"Then the senior membership will be theirs," the supervisor replied sternly. "Right now, you have the nameplate because of luck. If someone takes it from you, that is strength. Both luck and strength are fundamental to becoming a senior member."
Fenya gripped the nameplate tightly, deliberating for a moment before making up her mind. She handed it over to the supervisor and said, "I'll register now."
The registration process was simple. Fenya had to fill out a special form made of gold-leaf parchment. The nameplate's front, back, and edge engravings were imprinted onto the form's blank spaces. The supervisor of the Myr branch then signed it, stamped it with the branch's official seal, and sealed it for delivery. The document was entrusted to a Chamber of Commerce escort, who, along with thirty Unsullied, would board a merchant's fast ship and transport it directly to Miracle Harbor.
Once the formalities were completed, the supervisor melted the nameplate before Fenya's eyes. Then, without hesitation, he assigned her first test mission—one that was surprisingly straightforward: escape her current predicament in Myr's political turmoil.
"For this test, the Miracle Chamber of Commerce will offer you no assistance. You must rely entirely on your own wisdom and strength," the supervisor emphasized, his expression serious. "Until the task is complete, the Chamber will officially declare your membership revoked, severing all ties with you. If you decide you cannot complete the task and wish to withdraw, you may inform us, and we will reinstate your previous status—but in doing so, you will forfeit your qualification for senior membership. I hope you understand."
Fenya frowned. "Why is my test about escaping my predicament? Shouldn't it be a procurement task?"
The supervisor chuckled and countered, "Given your current situation, do you really think you could complete a procurement task? Where would you get the money to purchase goods? Even if you had the funds, who would risk offending Myr's Magister by doing business with you? And even if you managed to acquire goods, how would you leave Myr? Don't forget, you don't even have a ship, and no vessel would dare to take you."
"Moreover, would you abandon your men and leave on your own? With you here, their burden is lighter. Even if they are punished, they'll only be sentenced to hard labor for a time. But if you disappear, all responsibility falls on them, and they may very well end up hanging from the Valyrian Road outside the city, executed as bandits."
Fenya's expression darkened. She had not expected that not only would the Miracle Chamber of Commerce refuse to assist her, but she would also be stripped of her membership—at least for the time being.
Her ability to move freely in Myr's city was largely due to the connections she and her father had built over the years, but her membership in the Chamber also played a crucial role.
Without it, she and her subordinates could be imprisoned together. If that happened, she would have no chance to save herself—let alone complete the mission.
She asked in a low voice, "So there's no way the Chamber can help at all?"
The supervisor shook his head but then offered a suggestion. "The Miracle Chamber of Commerce cannot assist you—but that doesn't mean you can't seek help elsewhere. For example, the one who gave you the nameplate. He wouldn't have wasted such a rare and valuable nameplate if he didn't want you to become a senior member. I believe he would be quite willing to lend you a hand."
Hearing this, Fenya fell into deep thought. A moment later, she nodded, rose from her seat, and left the office in a hurry.
...
She did not return to her residence. Instead, she made her way toward the outskirts of the city. Whether it was due to her urgency or the fact that she was no longer being watched by guards, she arrived at the temporary camp outside Myr in much less time than expected.
By now, the internal merchants of the Miracle Chamber of Commerce had already purchased the warhorses and slaves. They were negotiating with the gate guards, preparing to transport the entire lot to the city's docks, where they would be shipped to Miracle Harbor.
Lynd spotted Fenya approaching in haste. He had a good idea of what had transpired at the Chamber's branch office. So before she could even speak, he asked directly, "What's your senior membership test task?"
Fenya hesitated briefly before relaying the details of her mission.
Lynd nodded as he listened. Although most test missions involved procuring rare goods, the supervisors of each branch and liaison office sometimes adjusted the first task based on the candidate's circumstances.
He analyzed the situation, saying, "Don't worry. The branch supervisor wouldn't assign you a task that is outright impossible. If he gave you this test, it means there is a way out of your situation—one that is achievable given your current circumstances. The question is whether you can recognize the key that will trigger your turning point."
"I have no idea what to do. I don't even know where to look for a way out. The Magister's Council will deliver its ruling in just a few days, and I don't have time to figure something out—unless I can find a way to delay their decision." Fenya thought for a moment, glanced at Lynd, then hesitated before speaking again. "I'd like to borrow some money from you. I need funds to smooth things over."
Lynd pulled out the Chamber of Commerce's gold vouchers for the sale of warhorses and slaves, placing them on the table. "I can lend you the money," he said. "But how do you plan to repay me?"
"I can…" Fenya hesitated. She wanted to offer herself, but she knew her own worth. While she had some charm, she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, and a knight as powerful as the Lion Knight would never be interested in someone like her.
Before she could finish, Lynd suddenly asked, "Are you interested in becoming Myr's Merchant Prince? The same position currently held by Prince Pash."
"Huh?" Fenya looked at him in confusion, but a flicker of expectation crossed her eyes, as if she had begun to grasp his meaning.
"I can fund your efforts to get through this crisis, and I'll also help you gain a higher position in Myr in the future," Lynd said, watching her closely. "But what can you offer me in return? And don't say something like 'I'm yours'—I have no interest in that. I have only one condition: when I need your help, you must assist me without hesitation. Do you agree, Lady Fenya—future Merchant Prince of Myr?"
"I do." Though Fenya knew this promise would likely bring her considerable trouble in the future, at this moment, she had no other choice.
"Good." Lynd nodded, making no demands for an oath or contract. He saw no need for such formalities—if Fenya truly intended to go back on her word, even a signed contract wouldn't stop her.
Besides, even if she did betray him, it wouldn't be a major setback. It would simply mean losing one useful piece on the board. He still had several others to play in Myr.
Lynd then handed Fenya the gold vouchers from the warhorse and slave sales. He also wrote a short note and a merchant's name on a piece of parchment, passing it to her. "Give this to him—he'll assist you."
Fenya looked at the name and immediately showed a look of surprise.
The merchant from Pentos held a status in Myr second only to Merchant Prince. Known for his generosity and willingness to help, he had aided countless Myr merchants, nobles, and military officers. Even among the common people, many influential figures maintained close ties with him.
Though he wasn't officially Myr's Magister, his influence was nearly equal to that of one—so much so that people often referred to him as the "Shadow Magister."
With someone like that on her side, escaping her current predicament would be far easier.