The city slept under a thin veil of moonlight when Evan led his team into the streets Mila carried glowing detection runes Rinna held a reinforced hammer and portable rune detector Loras carried a lantern and alert scroll Selra walked slowly between them pointing toward distribution paths

Evan had already sent an emergency report to Varos The Guild acknowledged but could not deploy instantly They needed time to mobilize enforcement squads leaving Arcane Flavor to intercept the first wave

They began at the North Market the closest route marked on Selra’s scroll The streets were quiet but Mila instantly sensed something wrong She whispered
The magic here feels too warm like unstable heat

They hurried forward and found a cart sitting unattended Boxes stacked high with a fake Arcane Flavor logo The logo shimmered slightly wrong the rune shapes too sharp the color off

Rinna used the detector The device glowed red
Counterfeit

Mila traced the rune lines
Three of these boxes will explode if heated above minimal threshold They are designed to mimic flame stabilization but collapse after activation

Evan exhaled
We need to secure them

Rinna smashed the activation runes carefully disabling detonation Mila sealed the boxes with a containment charm Loras dragged them into a nearby alley for recovery

They moved to the second site a narrow corridor behind a spice market They found two cloaked League operatives placing more boxes Mila threw an emergency flare of light exposing them The agents fled Evan chased but they vanished through a teleport rune

Selra panted
They are ahead of schedule

Evan said nothing He pressed forward

At the south district they found a larger shipment more than fifteen boxes each humming with unstable violet energy Mila gasped
If these were set off near the crowd thousands could be injured

Rinna knelt and examined rune patterns
It is worse than before They have built chain detonation sequences If one collapses they all collapse

Evan asked
Can you disable them

Rinna nodded
But not quickly Unless

She looked at Mila Mila understood immediately
We synchronize stabilization

Together they cast runes weaving white and yellow light around the boxes The unstable magic thrashed violently but the stabilization field slowly locked it Evan and Loras guarded the perimeter in case more League operatives appeared

The field finally quieted Rinna collapsed momentarily then stood with determination
Next

They moved toward the central plaza where the largest concentration of counterfeit goods was expected Selra warned them the League liked symbolic locations

As they approached the plaza Mila suddenly froze
Something is wrong Evan

The entire plaza trembled with faint unstable magic It felt like walking across a field of dry leaves ready to ignite Rinna activated her detector

The entire plaza is seeded she whispered shocked
Dozens of invisible rune anchors are buried under the ground

Loras looked horrified
If they activate all anchors the plaza will erupt

Evan swallowed hard
We need to break the network before activation

He pointed
Mila identify the anchor lines
Rinna break them
Loras block entry
Selra guide location

They sprinted across the plaza Mila tracing glowing paths showing anchor lines Rinna hammering each one breaking the chain reaction Selra directing them to hidden clusters Evan diffusing smaller runes with his emergency board

At the center of the plaza they found the core anchor a heavy violet crystal pulsing like a heart ready to explode

Selra gasped
This is the primary trigger If we do not disable it before midnight the entire network detonates

Rinna examined it
Too much energy Mila can you stabilize

Mila shook her head
Not this one The energy is corrupted We cannot stabilize before it ruptures We must contain

Evan nodded
Then we bury it in a null field

He placed the emergency rune board against the crystal and slammed his palm against it The board activated sending a shock wave up his arm Mila and Rinna joined channeling energy into the board

The crystal resisted shaking violently light flaring outward Selra stepped back Loras shielded his eyes

Evan shouted
Hold it steady

The crystal surged again but this time the board locked around it sealing its magic like a box closing Around them the entire plaza’s instability began to fade

Then with a final shudder the violet core went dark

They all collapsed breathing hard Mila trembling from exhaustion Rinna panting Loras shaking Selra crying from relief Evan barely standing but determined

They had stopped the first wave

Moments later Guild enforcers arrived led by Varos His face shifted from shock to fury as he inspected the disabled anchors

Varos looked at Evan
You prevented a catastrophe tonight The Guild owes you a debt

Evan said quietly
This was never about the Guild It was about protecting the city

Varos turned to the others
Arcane Flavor your warnings your coordination your systems saved thousands of lives

Then his voice hardened
The Free Traders League has crossed into terrorism The Guild will respond with force

But Evan shook his head
They will adapt They always do

Varos nodded
Yes Which is why Arcane Flavor must prepare even further You are now a central figure in this conflict whether you want it or not

Evan looked at his exhausted but determined team Mila Rinna Loras Selra

He answered
Then we face it together

As dawn broke the city unaware of how close it came to disaster Evan understood something clearly

Arcane Flavor was no longer just a brand or a business
It was now a shield
A force for order
And the League had declared open war