Evan did not sleep that night The Riverbend sabotage replayed in his mind again and again The siphon crystal the unstable energy the way Marven smirked all of it proved one thing Arcane Flavor’s growth now threatened existing businesses enough to provoke illegal attacks

When Evan arrived at the stall before sunrise Mila was already there inscribing reinforcement runes across the doorway She explained she had sensed faint magical spying the night before Rinna soon arrived bringing protective plates to shield their equipment from energy drain Loras brought paperwork for daily logs and customer flow data

They had grown into a real team stronger than before

But before they could begin work a knock echoed on the stall door A figure in a long cloak stepped in The violet color gave them all tension Hadrion the representative of the Free Traders League

He removed his hood revealing a calm but cunning smile
Good morning Arcane Flavor Congratulations on surviving sabotage Competition can be cruel in this world

Evan remained silent Mila’s jaw tightened Rinna crossed her arms Loras stepped back defensively

Hadrion continued with a soft voice
The incident across Riverbend shows the situation clearly The Guild cannot protect innovation Not really They react slowly They regulate too heavily They fear disruption

He paused letting his words settle
But the League supports it We support new systems that challenge the stagnant order And Arcane Flavor is exactly the kind of innovation we admire

Evan asked bluntly
Why are you here

Hadrion smiled wider
To offer alliance True alliance The League can give you protection faster than the Guild can give permission We can grant funding labor rune engineers We can expand your brand to ten cities within a year

Loras inhaled sharply Mila looked horrified Rinna scowled Evan kept his face unreadable

Hadrion’s tone dropped lower
You want growth We can give it to you The Guild wants to hold you back We want to push you forward

He handed Evan a purple scroll glowing faintly
This is a League partnership contract Review it Take your time But know this the Guild will never allow a new economic system to rise without chains The League can break those chains and let your brand spread freely

Then he left disappearing into the early morning fog leaving behind tension thicker than magic smoke

Evan unrolled the scroll carefully The runes inside were bold strong binding and absolutely dangerous The contract granted expansion freedom but placed Arcane Flavor as a League protected entity That meant becoming a political weapon a symbol against Guild dominance

Mila whispered
If we sign that we become enemies of the Guild

Rinna added
And the Guild does not lose gracefully

Loras asked quietly
What do we do We want freedom but not war

Evan closed the scroll slowly thinking deeply He explained the reality
A business does not grow by becoming a faction’s tool True brands stay neutral They influence the world by stability not by choosing sides But rejecting the League openly might be dangerous Accepting the offer would be worse

Before they could decide another knock sounded

This time it was Varos from the Merchant Guild

He entered with a heavy expression He did not speak immediately Instead he looked at the purple scroll on the table His eyes darkened

Finally he spoke
So The League approached you

Evan did not deny it Varos studied each of them then said
The Guild does not wish to control you but we must protect the economy If the League gains a foothold through you the consequences will be disastrous for the kingdom

Mila asked
Are we in danger

Varos answered without hesitation
Yes From both sides

He stepped closer speaking quietly
I cannot speak for the whole Guild but I believe your brand should grow I saw your work I saw your system I tasted your food You are not a threat You are a rebalance But others inside the Guild fear change And the League sees you as a weapon

He handed Evan a sealed envelope marked with a silver crest
The Guild Chairwoman requests a private meeting with you tomorrow morning She wants to understand your intentions directly

Mila looked nervous Rinna frowned Loras swallowed hard Evan accepted the envelope knowing the weight behind it

Varos paused at the door
Choose your path carefully Evan Hayes This world is shifting around you faster than you realize If you move too fast you will be crushed If you move too slow you will be swallowed

When he left the stall fell silent for a long moment

Evan finally spoke
We are no longer just building a restaurant chain We are shaping a new economic structure And everyone wants to control it

Mila touched the counter whispering
So what do we choose

Evan looked at the Guild envelope then at the League scroll
Two powers pulling in opposite directions
And Arcane Flavor stood exactly in the middle

He inhaled sharply
Tomorrow we choose not a side but a future

But tonight he would prepare
Because the next meeting could decide whether Arcane Flavor became a continental empire
Or a crushed footnote in magical economic history