Crystallis Verdantglass's Arc

Chapter 13 of 18

Crystallis arrived at the hall before dawn to check the repairs. The first buyers were scheduled for nine. He walked through the archway and stopped. The wall was gone. Not repaired—collapsed. Rubble covered the entrance in a wide pile that spilled across the threshold. He stared at the moss-covered stones scattered across the muddy ground. The administrator had warned about structural concerns yesterday. This wasn't an accident—it was sabotage timed perfectly to block opening day. Crystallis turned and walked back through the archway. The competition grounds were already stirring with early vendors. He found a crew of laborers setting up stalls near the main entrance and offered them double wages to clear the rubble before nine. They looked at each other, then nodded. Crystallis watched them head toward the hall with shovels and carts. The buyers would arrive to see workers instead of a polished entrance, but they'd also see him solving problems instead of making excuses. He opened his journal and wrote down the labor cost. The marketplace would open today, even if it opened messy.