Evan knew expansion would attract attention but he underestimated how fast political interest would grow The Merchant Guild had always controlled trade routes ingredient pricing magic tool distribution and even contract regulation Their influence ran through the entire kingdom like hidden roots No new economic system could rise without the Guild noticing

But now the Guild was doing more than noticing They were preparing

The morning after their Greenfall deal Evan opened the stall and saw a sealed message stuck to the door A blue wax crest with a spiral symbol Mila recognized it instantly It was the official signature of Guild Internal Review Evan’s stomach sank Internal Review was not simple monitoring It was the department that handled potential economic disruptions

He broke the seal The message inside was brief
The Guild requests a formal presentation of your business model in seven days Prepare documentation magic demonstrations and expansion projections Noncompliance will result in commercial restrictions

Mila gasped Loras nearly dropped the tray he was holding Rinna stared at the parchment in disbelief

Evan had dealt with investor meetings brand audits and corporate interrogations before but nothing with magical authority This presentation could decide whether the Guild supported Arcane Flavor or crushed it

He read the message again and immediately shifted into preparation mode He created categories on parchment Presentation Runes Menu Consistency Financial Projection Supply Chain Documents Teleport Safety Logs Equipment Standard Plans Franchising System Proof

Mila watched him outline details with rapid precision He explained that the Guild needed to see structure logic and stability If they saw chaos they would shut everything down Mila nodded Rinna said she would craft demonstration tools Loras volunteered to help practice Evan felt grateful but also pressured

Before they could begin however a stranger arrived A man with a sly grin and smooth voice He wore a violet cloak the color associated with independent merchant consortiums He introduced himself as Hadrion representing the Free Traders League a faction known for undermining Guild authority

Hadrion praised their stall saying he saw potential in their product He offered them private protection saying the League could shield them from Guild pressure Evan stiffened immediately He asked what the League wanted in return Hadrion smiled thinly and said they wanted partial ownership of the brand ten percent

Mila quickly stepped between them saying they were not selling anything Hadrion chuckled saying growth always required allies Evan replied that they built their system to stay independent Hadrion’s smile faded He warned them the Guild would not tolerate rapid disruption and left quietly but the threat hung in the air

After he left Mila asked if they should worry Evan said yes The Free Traders League only approached businesses with high potential or high danger Their interest proved Arcane Flavor’s power but also its vulnerability

They returned to preparing the presentation Evan assigned tasks Mila would create visual spell charts showing flame stability Rinna would craft portable rune boards demonstrating equipment identity Loras would demonstrate customer interaction and assembly rhythm Evan would draft the business explanation showing structure scalability and controlled growth

The next days passed in exhausting waves They trained Loras harder than ever repeating sequences until he could perform them without thinking Mila practiced flame consistency until every spark obeyed her will Rinna built a mini stove with etched runes so the Guild could test consistency themselves

But pressure grew too

Whispers spread through the market Some said the Guild wanted to buy the brand Others said the Guild wanted to ban them Others said the Guild wanted to force a partnership Mila overheard a street vendor saying independent growth was impossible Evan heard customers complain that the copycat shop had burned food so badly that someone got sick The imitators were collapsing but also damaging the public’s trust in magic fast food Evan realized they needed to protect the brand image before rumors spread further

He created a new board outside the stall Quality Guaranteed by Binding Runes Customers read it curiously Some tested the claim by ordering twice The flavor matched perfectly They gasped and spread the word again This time in Arcane Flavor’s favor

Still the shadows around them deepened

One evening Mila returned from grocery shopping pale She said she saw two men tailing her both wearing Guild style boots Evan grew tense because surveillance meant the Guild considered them a potential threat

Later that night Rinna knocked on the stall window whispering urgently She said someone tried to break into her workshop searching for rune designs She fought them off with a burst of reinforcement magic but they escaped Evan clenched his fists That meant someone wanted their equipment secrets

Arcane Flavor was no longer just a stall It was a target

He called everyone together Loras Mila Rinna They gathered around the counter Evan said they must prepare for every scenario The Guild might support them restrict them or try to absorb them The Free Traders League might try to manipulate them Rival merchants might try to undermine supply They needed unity discipline and proof that their system was sustainable

Mila promised to strengthen defensive runes around the stall Rinna vowed to hide critical blueprints Loras said he would train extra hours to perfect his sequence Evan watched their determination and felt pride stronger than fear

The franchise revolution was no longer theoretical
It was now a battlefield of ideas money power and magic

And they were standing at the center