The first customer stepped into the Riverbend branch with cautious excitement She looked around enthralled by the glowing rune panels the organized layout and the neat counter area She ordered an Arcane Burger Loras greeted her with a calm stable tone Mila activated the flame spell at the primary stove Rinna supervised the teleport receiving pad Evan stood on the side ready to intervene if anything went wrong

At first the sequence ran perfectly The patty cooked evenly The flames behaved The air smelled delicious The customer received the burger took a bite and smiled

The second customer followed then the third then the fourth Soon a line formed outside Citizens whispered with excitement Children pointed at the teleport circle Merchants praised the neatness and stability Evan felt hope rising This branch would thrive

But Arcane Flavor’s story never permitted a smooth day

Halfway through the morning rush a strange vibration pulsed through the floor Mila felt it first She frowned and checked the rune lines The glow dimmed then flickered The stove flame twisted suddenly The teleport circle trembled

Evan shouted
Stop all cooking Now

Loras paused instantly Rinna slammed a tool onto the stove plate interrupting the flame The customers gasped Mila performed a detection spell her eyes widening She said the magic flow in the building had shifted Something was draining power from the rune system

Evan demanded an explanation Mila pointed at the back wall saying the energy flow had been redirected The rune lines were intact but weakened as if something outside the store was pulling magical current away

Rinna rushed outside circling the building She returned furious saying another shop across the street had installed a siphon crystal A forbidden tool designed to drain magical energy from surrounding structures

Evan nearly cursed That was sabotage A direct attack on their first franchise shop

They rushed outside to confront the culprit Across the street stood a shop with a crooked sign Mystic Flame Diner The same shop system known for unstable and poorly cooked copycat burgers The owner a man named Marven leaned against his doorway smiling with arrogance His shop glowed faintly with stolen energy

Marven waved and said casually
Business is competition Right You rise too fast So we slow you down

Evan clenched his fists Mila trembled with anger Rinna looked ready to break the siphon crystal with her bare hands Loras asked if they should call the Guild Evan told him no They needed evidence first The Guild would punish sabotage but only with proof

He asked Mila to measure the energy leak She traced the air with rune chalk confirming their magic flow was being siphoned She recorded the signature Rinna used a resonance hammer to mark the distortion lines They now had enough proof

Evan led his team straight to the Market Regulation Office The officers analyzed the rune recordings and gasped Siphon crystals were illegal tools banned for decades They sent inspectors immediately

When the inspectors arrived at Mystic Flame Diner Marven tried to argue but the evidence glowed brightly The siphon crystal pulsed with the exact energy signature stolen from Arcane Flavor Runes on the floor revealed tampering patterns

The inspectors confiscated the crystal sealed the shop and fined Marven heavily ordering immediate closure until further investigation

Arcane Flavor Riverbend suddenly became the center of attention again Crowds gathered both in sympathy and amazement Customers praised them for resisting sabotage Merchants criticized Marven for dangerous dishonesty Even some Guild representatives arrived to ensure safety

After repairs Mila restored the broken rune lines Rinna reinforced the stove plates Loras reset workflow positions Evan inspected every inch of the shop until everything returned to stable form

They reopened by late afternoon Customers cheered as the flame revived steady again and the teleport circle glowed clean blue

When the rush ended Evan gathered everyone He said sabotage was expected Expansion always drew envy But today proved their system could withstand both pressure and attack

Mila whispered softly
This world is changing because of us

Rinna nodded saying
And change always shakes the old structures

Loras placed his hand on the counter and said
Then we will build something stronger than anything before

Evan looked at his team knowing their spirit was stronger than fear

But far away in the Guild Hall Varos received a report about the sabotage and sighed He whispered
If competition has already escalated this far the coming conflict will be enormous

The franchise revolution was no longer just a business movement
It was becoming a political and magical struggle for control

And Arcane Flavor was rising right in the storm’s center