The man placed a folded document on the counter with measured precision. From a single glance, Lin Yuan could tell it had been issued that very morning, the seal at the bottom still faintly damp and glistening under the light.
Lin Yuan read through it briefly, his expression calm and composed, yet beneath that surface a quiet irritation stirred. The contents were ordinary, but the timing—and the person delivering it—made it anything but routine.
"I was under the impression that larger medicine halls were usually reviewed first," Lin Yuan said with a slight frown. "Blue Lotus Hall holds far more stock than I do."
"That is true," the man replied with a faint smile, his tone mild but deliberate. "Yet smaller establishments are… easier to begin with. It sets the tone for everything that follows."
Easier to begin with? Lin Yuan sneered inwardly, his thoughts sharp despite his composed face.
Shouldn't it be easier to extort instead?
"My records are in order. You may examine whatever you need," Lin Yuan said evenly. "I prefer to keep things straightforward."
He placed the paper back on the counter with neat, controlled movements.
"I appreciate that," the man said with a polite nod. "It would be better for both of us if everything proceeds smoothly."
He began to walk through the shop, his steps unhurried yet deliberate. At each shelf, his gaze lingered just long enough to take in the details—labels, quantities, arrangement—before moving on.
Lin Yuan watched carefully from behind the counter. The man never touched anything, yet his eyes moved like scales, weighing each item against an unseen standard.
After some time, the man paused beside the rack of shallow-water hunting tools. His attention settled on the spears, lingering with faint curiosity.
"These spears… I have heard they are quite popular among the dock workers," he said casually.
Lin Yuan kept his tone even. "They are nothing special. They simply serve their purpose."
"They look… rather specialized."
"They are," Lin Yuan replied calmly. "A friend handles the forging. I design the rest."
The man gave a small hum of acknowledgment, offering no further comment. Instead, he returned to the counter and placed a bronze token upon it, the crest of the Azure Crown Harbor Authority etched cleanly into its surface.
"We are required to speak with every shopkeeper after an inspection," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "Some matters are better clarified early."
Lin Yuan inclined his head once, signaling for him to continue. His posture remained relaxed, yet his attention sharpened invisibly.
"There will be a new filing requirement next month," the man continued. "Independent medicine sellers must report their monthly volume and the source of their ingredients. It is not public yet, but it soon will be."
Lin Yuan rested his fingertips lightly against the counter. "I see."
"It should not cause trouble, as long as everything is transparent," the man added with a soft chuckle.
Lin Yuan understood immediately. Transparency was never the issue—control was.
"Understood," he replied with a polite nod.
The man folded the document and tucked it into his coat. "Your records appear in order. There will be no need for a return visit unless the office requests it."
"That is good to hear."
Yet he did not leave. Instead, he lingered, his gaze shifting as his demeanor subtly changed.
"If Shopkeeper Lin Yuan prefers to avoid future inspections," he said, lowering his voice, "I can make certain adjustments to the records. A definitive filing. Once done, no one will have reason to trouble your shop again."
Lin Yuan met his eyes steadily, his expression unchanged. Inside, however, his thoughts sharpened instantly.
"That is generous. I am surprised you would go to such trouble."
"It is no trouble," the man replied with a soft laugh. "Most shopkeepers eventually request such arrangements. A little cooperation keeps the Tide-Line running smoothly. Otherwise… regulations tend to accumulate."
Lin Yuan listened without shifting, This was not an offer—it was a boundary being drawn.
"I understand," Lin Yuan said calmly. "However, I prefer to keep my filings as they are. It avoids confusion later."
The man studied him closely, as if searching for hesitation. When none appeared, he slowly withdrew his hand.
"Most people learn not to choose the harder path," he said, his tone growing slightly heavier. "But if that is your decision, I will not insist."
"I appreciate the offer, Officer," Lin Yuan replied. "But I will manage."
"Very well," the man said. "If you reconsider, the Harbor Office is easy to find. Ask for Chen Wei."
He turned toward the door, then paused with his hand on the frame.
"One more thing," he added without looking back. "Inspections often increase before new policies take effect. It would be wise to keep your shelves orderly and your records accessible. Not every officer is as patient as I am."
Lin Yuan considered him quietly before nodding. "I will keep that in mind."
Chen Wei stepped outside and closed the door behind him with quiet care.
The moment the door shut, Lin Yuan's calm expression faded. His eyes darkened slightly as he exhaled slowly.
"Hmph… Azure Crown Harbor Authority leeches," he muttered. "And here I was thinking business had finally stabilized."
He rubbed his chin, his thoughts turning sharper with each passing second. "Did he visit the neighboring shops first… or come straight to mine?"
If it was the latter, then this was no routine inspection. It meant his shop had already been marked, and once something was marked by the Harbor Authority, it rarely ended cleanly.
If he lost this place, he would lose everything he had built over the years. This shop was not just income—it was his foothold, his leverage, his only stable ground in a world that shifted too easily beneath the weak.
Before he could think further, the bell above the door chimed again.
A man stepped inside carrying a woven basket at his side. His clothes were worn, the sleeves marked with dried salt, clearly a dock worker accustomed to the harsh winds along the Tide-Line.
"Lin Yuan," the man called out with a tired expression. "Tell me you have those pills today."
Lin Yuan gestured toward the cabinet behind him. "Cold Restoration Pills? Yes. How many?"
"Two boxes," the man said quickly. "The fever's spreading again. Half the morning crew is coughing like they are about to collapse."
Lin Yuan retrieved the boxes and set them on the counter. "Has the clinic near the Old Docks seen it yet?"
"They are already overwhelmed," the man sighed. "They say it is just the season shifting too fast. But we still need something to get through the workday."
Lin Yuan wrapped the boxes neatly and tied them with thread.
"Tell them to rest if it worsens," he said. "That cold wind off the water will only make it worse."
The man gave a dry smile. "Rest is not something the foremen understand."
Lin Yuan did not argue. He simply nodded as the man paid and turned toward the door.
"Oh—almost forgot," the man said suddenly, stopping mid-step.
Lin Yuan's gaze sharpened slightly, though his expression remained calm.
"A friend of mine at the Harbor Authority told me something… important," the man said, lowering his voice.
Lin Yuan felt a faint tightening in his chest.
"All profitable, unaffiliated medicine shops are about to face trouble," the man continued quietly. "The Azure Crown Harbor Authority's overseer was replaced recently. The new one is… extremely greedy."
He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping further.
"He intends to take control of every independent shop along the Tide-Line."
"It is simple."
"Either you submit… or you close."
Lin Yuan did not respond immediately. His fingers rested lightly on the counter, unmoving, as his thoughts turned rapidly beneath the surface.
So that was it — this was a net being drawn tight, and his shop was already inside it.
"I see."
But deep within his eyes, something had already begun to shift.