Chapter 453: Chapter 450 – Pepper and White Flame at the Merchant Guild

The next morning, the soft morning sunlight slipped gently through the gaps in the inn room curtains of the Silver Eagle Inn, illuminating the space with warm, gentle golden light. Small dust particles floated lazily in the sunbeams, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted with the bustling city outside. Sylvia woke up first as usual, her dark red eyes opening slowly without a trace of drowsiness. Her body felt refreshed after sleeping soundly on a soft mattress that was far better than the previous inns.

She stretched her athletic body slowly, her spine cracking lightly. Her long black hair was disheveled across her back, with a few strands sticking to her pale cheeks. With the smooth movements that had become habit, Sylvia sat on the edge of the bed and began tidying her hair with a wooden comb. It only took a few strokes to make it flow beautifully again like black silk. Beside her, the Golden Dragon in its small golden kitten form was already awake, its golden eyes gazing at its master with full affection. Its tail moved slowly, its golden fur gleaming under the morning light.

Sylvia gently stroked the kitten’s head before standing up. She washed her face at the wooden basin with refreshing cold water, then changed into comfortable black-and-white casual clothes: a loose white shirt, a thin black jacket, and black pants that allowed easy movement. A simple, inconspicuous appearance suitable for a traveling merchant. "We’re heading out now," she whispered to the Golden Dragon. The golden kitten immediately leaped onto Sylvia’s shoulder and curled up comfortably there with a soft purring vibration.

Downstairs, Stacia and Alicia were already sitting at a table near the window. Stacia was still yawning widely while eating toast with thick berry jam, her ash-gray hair tied messily. Alicia, as usual, was gracefully enjoying herbal tea, her silver hair neatly flowing and her posture perfect.

"I and the golden kitten will go to the Merchant Guild to handle the stall permit," Sylvia said as she sat for a moment and took a piece of bread. "You two stay at the inn. Try to gather as much information as possible about this empire, especially dimensional rifts, dungeons around the capital, guild power, and its internal politics."

Alicia nodded gently, her smile calm. "Understood. We’ll carefully ask the staff and other guests. I’ll also try to sense the mana fluctuations around the city."

Stacia waved with her mouth full of bread, her voice slightly muffled. "Be careful, Sylvia. If anyone causes trouble, just burn them. Don’t hesitate."

Sylvia smiled faintly, a rare expression that only appeared in front of her sisters. "I’ll hold back. We still want to keep a low profile for now."

After a light breakfast, Sylvia departed with the loyal Golden Dragon on her shoulder. The streets of the inner capital were already bustling since morning. Merchants opened their stalls with friendly calls, children ran around laughing, and the aromas of fresh bread, fragrant mana coffee, and grilled meat wafted from roadside stalls. The city felt alive, colorful, and full of opportunities but also full of hidden dangers.

The Merchant Guild was housed in a grand three-story building, its stone walls decorated with a giant golden scale carving above the entrance. The guild flag fluttered on the roof. When Sylvia arrived, the queue was already quite long. Dozens of merchants from various regions stood waiting patiently, some carrying large bags, others pulling small carts. Sylvia queued calmly behind an old cloth merchant, her hand occasionally stroking the Golden Dragon’s soft fur to calm herself.

It took nearly forty minutes before her turn came. The air inside the guild felt stuffy with a mixture of paper, ink, and various spices from other merchants. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with thin glasses and neatly tied hair greeted her with a professional smile.

"Welcome to the Capital Merchant Guild. How may I help you, Miss?"

Sylvia placed her gold merchant card on the smooth wooden counter. "I’d like to process a temporary stall permit. I carry high-quality spices and silk fabrics."

The process went smoothly at first. The receptionist quickly recorded the data using a quill dipped in ink, asking about the type of goods, permit duration, and desired stall location in the central market. Sylvia answered calmly and politely, her voice soft but firm. Everything went well until she took out sample goods from her small bag, several small pouches of pure high-quality black and white pepper she had obtained from Nocturne.

The moment the strong, sharp, and tempting spice aroma spread through the air, the receptionist’s expression changed drastically. Her eyes widened slightly, and her nose twitched. "This... pure white pepper? The quality is extraordinary. It’s very rare to see ones this fragrant in the capital."

However, before she could speak further, a rough and confident voice came from behind the queue.

"Wow, what a wonderful spice aroma! Such a rare scent!"

A middle-aged man with a prominent large belly approached with an arrogant stride. His clothes were luxurious with intricate gold embroidery, and thick rings adorned his fat fingers. Behind him stood four burly guards, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. It was clear he was a noble or a powerful merchant accustomed to getting what he wanted.

The man grabbed one of the pepper pouches without permission and inhaled deeply, his eyes half-closed in enjoyment. "Pure white and black pepper! The quality is outstanding. I’ll take all 1 silver coin."

Sylvia looked at him coldly, her red pupils narrowing slightly. "I’m sorry, Sir. That price is too low, especially since there are several kilograms."

The man laughed loudly, his belly shaking. "Hahaha! Don’t be so stingy, little girl. I’m offering you a good price. Consider it a great opportunity for you."

Sylvia shook her head firmly, her voice remaining calm. "I refuse. My price is fixed. I want to trade fairly."

Baron Veldor’s face changed instantly. His smile vanished, replaced by a dark, arrogant, and threatening expression. "Do you know who I am? I am Baron Veldor, the spice monopoly holder in the eastern part of the capital. If you reject my offer, it will be difficult for you to do business here. In fact... you might not even live peacefully in this capital. Many bad things can happen to arrogant little merchants."

The atmosphere in the guild grew tense in an instant. The other merchants looked down, pretending not to see. Some stepped back slowly. The receptionist also stayed silent, her face paling. It was clear that the spice monopoly in this city was extremely severe and feared.

Sylvia only sighed softly in her heart. She didn’t want to reveal her true power too soon, but the situation had gone too far. The baron’s four guards immediately surrounded her, their threatening auras heavy.

"Drag her out," Baron Veldor ordered in a cold, authoritative tone.

Sylvia remained standing calmly in place. The golden kitten on her shoulder stayed silent, but its eyes narrowed dangerously and its tail stopped moving. In a flat voice, Sylvia pretended to be an ordinary fire-type mage. She didn’t chant any spells. With mere intent, the War Sun Flame she controlled with extreme precision began to spread.

The temperature around Sylvia rose drastically in an instant. The air became scorching hot, like standing inside a giant furnace. The nearest guard immediately screamed in pain. Pure white flame, extremely bright and clean, engulfed his body. FWOOSH! In less than a second, the guard turned into black ash that scattered softly in the air. There was no long scream, no thick smoke, nor the smell of burning flesh, only perfect, deadly white flame.

Everyone in the guild fell silent, shocked beyond words. Time seemed to stop.

Baron Veldor stepped back, his fat face turning completely pale. "What is this?! Kill her! Kill this crazy mage!"

The other two guards advanced with drawn swords. But before their blades could touch Sylvia, the white flame appeared again like a breath from the sun. FWOOSH! The second guard instantly turned to dust. The third managed to retreat, but his leg was already burning. He screamed in agony while rolling on the wooden floor, trying to extinguish the white flame that refused to go out.

The receptionist, who had been silent, now panicked. She ran to the back while shouting hysterically, "Call the Guild Master! Quickly! Emergency on the first floor!"

Baron Veldor retreated even further, cold sweat soaking his face. "You... you dare oppose me?! I am a noble! There will be consequences! My family will not stay silent!"

Sylvia looked at him with cold, emotionless dark red eyes. The War Sun Flame still danced faintly around her body, making the air throughout the guild feel like a giant oven. The other merchants retreated in fear, some even running out of the building while shouting.

"The spice monopoly here is apparently very severe," Sylvia said in a soft voice that was still clearly heard by everyone. "What a shame. I only wanted to trade fairly, but it seems the rules in this capital are different."

The golden kitten on her shoulder purred softly, as if approving its master’s actions.

Heavy, hurried footsteps sounded from upstairs. A tall man with a gray beard the Guild Master named Harlan Voss appeared with a tense face, followed by several fully armed guild staff. His face grew even paler when he saw the ash on the floor and the white flame aura still lingering in the air like hot mist.

"What is happening here?!" he bellowed.

Baron Veldor immediately shouted like a victim, "Guild Master! This crazy mage killed my guards! Arrest her now!"

The Guild Master looked at Sylvia with a mixed expression of anger, wariness, and a hint of fear. He could feel the unusual power of the white flame. This was not ordinary fire from a low-level mage. It was something far purer, hotter, and far more lethal.

Sylvia remained standing calmly amid the chaos, the War Sun Flame slowly subsiding until it left only a light heat that still made people sweat.

The situation in the Merchant Guild had completely reversed. What had started as an arrogant baron threatening a young merchant had now left him trembling before a girl who could turn people into ash in an instant with a mysterious white flame.

Sylvia looked at the Guild Master coldly, her voice remaining calm.

"I only wanted to process a trading permit. But it seems some people here don’t like fair competition."

The air in the guild was still hot, and the tension continued to rise. All eyes were now fixed on Sylvia and the faint white flame surrounding her.