Evan returned from the Guild Hall more exhausted than he had ever been back on Earth during any presentation or brand audit Yet the moment he reached the stall he felt the spark of responsibility ignite again Because now the Guild had granted Arcane Flavor a Tier Two Conditional Growth License That meant they could legally build up to five locations

He looked at Mila Rinna and Loras Their faces showed relief and excitement but also the weight of what came next Because opening a second store was not simply repeating the first It required design standardization equipment replication supply chain verification and franchisee training It was the true beginning of the brand

Loras stepped forward saying in a quiet voice that he was ready to build his location Evan smiled and nodded He explained that the first franchise branch would become the model for every future store They needed to make it perfect

Mila asked where the location should be Evan said they needed a place with foot traffic but not too chaotic A place with mixed customers adventurers nobles workers A place where they could observe performance Rinna suggested a district called Riverbend a cleaner quieter area known for craft shops and middle class residents

They agreed to scout Riverbend the next morning

Before dawn they gathered outside the stall with traveling packs Rinna carried equipment tools Mila held rune chalk and energy crystals Loras brought parchment and measuring sticks Evan carried a detailed checklist Location Visibility Foot Traffic Supply Access Building Structure Rune Stability

The walk to Riverbend passed through busy streets People recognized them whispering excitedly Some asked when they would open more stores Some begged for teleport delivery outside the radius Evan kept polite responses but noted the rising demand

Riverbend itself looked promising The streets were paved with smooth stone The air felt calmer and cleaner Houses were colorful with small gardens Shops displayed handmade goods Residents looked stable not chaotic impulse buyers This area could support predictable business patterns

They inspected three potential sites The first was too small The second was too close to a bakery with unstable fire spirits The third however stood out It was an old herb shop recently abandoned The structure was solid The layout rectangular and efficient The front windows wide enough for signage The back area large enough for a prep zone and teleport circle

Loras walked through the space imagining each station Mila tapped walls sensing rune echoes The building had mild magical resistance but nothing harmful Rinna measured the stove area saying it would hold a standardized enchanted grill with perfect stability

Evan paced the floor marking approximate placements counter area menu board assembly line drink station teleport pad customer entry and exit They discussed workflow positions Rinna even carved a small chalk outline to test movement Mila practiced spell flow in the space saying the air cooperated well

Everything about the location felt right

Evan placed a hand on the wall quietly saying
This will be the second Arcane Flavor branch

Loras nearly dissolved into tears This store would be his The first franchise location in the magic world A future historical moment

They began immediate planning Evan assigned roles Rinna would build the stove and enchanted tools Mila would set rune layouts and flame stabilization lines Loras would learn management sequencing and store opening procedures Evan would finalize the construction manual and franchise blueprint

The next days blurred into work Rinna hammered metal shaped frames carved rune pathways The sound echoed through Riverbend drawing curious neighbors Mila traced glowing lines across walls connecting energy flow circuits stabilizing magic currents so spells would behave the same way every time Evan documented each step writing the standards that future construction teams would follow

Loras trained nonstop repeating sequences under pressure practicing greetings with confidence polishing his tone and movements He even practiced teleport receiving protocols so orders would transfer cleanly into the new location

But building a franchise store was never smooth

One afternoon Rinna shouted for Evan She said the stove rune plates were acting strange Evan rushed over The frames vibrated slightly The heat rune glowed unevenly Mila cast a detection spell revealing interference Someone had tampered with the metal before they bought it

Evan’s face darkened Copycats or rival merchants must have sabotaged the supply He ordered all plates replaced Rinna agreed and bought metal from a secured supplier but warned that interference might continue They needed reliable material sources and faster oversight Evan added that to the system list

Then came pressure from the Free Traders League Hadrion appeared again this time in Riverbend asking if they needed help with construction He offered cheap labor rune workers and gold loans Evan declined politely saying they could handle it Hadrion’s eyes narrowed He warned that Guild inspection was only the first storm Bigger ones were coming

Later Varos visited the location quietly observing each step He asked who funded the expansion Evan answered with confidence saying franchise fees and internal revenue Varos studied Loras then left without explanation leaving behind uncertainty

Despite the tension the store slowly took shape Walls glowed with stabilization lines Equipment hummed with controlled magic The teleport circle responded smoothly to test transits The grill cooked patties identically just like the main branch

Finally after two weeks of intense effort the store stood ready Clean proud enchanting

Arcane Flavor Riverbend Branch

Loras wore a new apron Mila handed him a spell infused badge Evan placed the first official training scroll in his hands Rinna hammered a final rune seal above the door

Customers already waited outside drawn by rumors of a second location

Evan looked at the store his chest filling with pride and fear mixed into something powerful

This was the first step of real expansion
The moment where a brand became a chain
The moment where systems mattered more than individuals

He whispered softly
Welcome to the world Arcane Flavor Riverbend

And the doors opened