Due to the materials, formal wear in this world is actually very expensive. A cotton shirt, a wool coat, a silk top hat, and leather shoes—each item costs a considerable sum. The set left by the original owner of the body was of the cheapest street vendor quality, and a whole outfit still cost around ten Lande pounds. Slightly more upscale ones often cost thirty or forty Lande pounds.
To Lynch, this was already an astronomical price. Even after receiving the extortion money conveniently brought by the two inspectors, and now possessing a huge sum of sixty Lande pounds, an outfit would still make his heart ache and his face blanch.
No wonder wearing high-end formal wear was itself a symbol of status.
But he still intended to buy a set, after all, money that had to be spent, no matter how expensive, still had to be spent.
Now, someone suddenly offering to pay was, of course, a good thing, but Lynch felt a little displeased.
He had a feeling he was being a kept man.
Business is business, and friendship is friendship. If he ran out of money, he could earn it himself, scam it, or extort it, but he hadn't fallen to the point of being kept. Lynch had his pride; even if he had to run naked without clothes, even if he was so poor he had to jump off the Tower of Justice and die, he wouldn't live off others. No matter what you say, I won't let you buy me clothes.
"No offense, Mr. Lynch." Seeing Lynch's strange expression, Miss Valente said softly, "The clothes you usually wear must be bought from ready-to-wear stores, right? That's right, no wonder I can't feel any mystery characteristics on your attire."
"Hm? Clothes can have mystery characteristics?"
"Ordinary clothes, of course, do not. Only top master tailors have the ability to imbue characteristics into the clothes they sew by hand. They're not powerful characteristics, mostly just minor ones like slightly increasing defense or making the body a bit lighter. The effects are quite ordinary, and imbuing them is troublesome, so powerful Soul Severers aren't very interested in them. Often, only nobles or wealthy individuals prepare one or two for self-defense."
It was subtly put, but Lynch immediately understood that these items were probably quite expensive, which was why they only circulated within a small circle.
"This is one of the reasons I brought you here today. You are not a Soul Severer who fights with your body, and you often confront the mysterious. I believe you need some truly 'protective' clothes. You are a friend of the Valente family, and we sincerely hope that every one of our friends can be safe and forever free from the erosion of mystery. So, please accept this gift, so your friends can be at ease when you confront the mysterious, alright?"
"This..."
"Furthermore, Mr. Lynch, you must understand that this trip is premised on someone maliciously pushing you into the spotlight. Every flaw in your attire could become a point of ridicule and mockery for them. Ready-to-wear clothes, which cannot avoid minor issues, will not suffice. It must be custom-made by hand, and personally crafted by a top master tailor. These professional masters are very busy and only accept orders from old clients. Most people, even with Lande pounds, cannot buy their services. Our Valente family happens to know a master who is only willing to serve the Valente family, so please understand the family's difficult position and bear with us a little. This time, I will prepare your attire for you. I'm truly sorry."
Why do her words make me sound like a pretentious kept man? Are nobles' words always so terrifying?
Lynch was speechless. After a long silence, he muttered, "My stomach isn't well lately; I can't eat hard food."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. I mean, it's my pleasure. Thanks."
"Pfft, you got it right this time."
Miss Valente trembled with laughter, covering her mouth. Lynch's eyes were fixed on her until she took a step back in a panic, blushing and lowering her head, then led Lynch out of the carriage.
Only then did Lynch notice that the girl had brought him to a very unfamiliar environment.
From the tall buildings, magnificent temples, and the unignorable tallest building, the Tower of Justice, in the distance, he could tell this place wasn't far from Crown Square. But it was Lynch's first time realizing that the Crown District, the extremely valuable heart of Rhine City, actually had such a neighborhood.
This entire street consisted of more than ten residential houses. The buildings were indeed exquisite and beautiful, and also spacious, but they were all low, single-story structures, standing out remarkably, surrounded by three or four-story tall buildings.
"When my grandfather came to Rhine as a child, this was a large settlement of artisan masters. Unfortunately, just over fifty years have passed, and everything has changed. Only a few masters still remain here. Especially in recent years, only the products of cold, hard machines remain. The appearance seems to be no different, but the artistic conception is too far off. Heh, perhaps the times really have changed."
This is the inevitable outcome of industrialization, my dear. Like a steam locomotive fully stoked with coal, once it starts, it will smash through everything in its way. No one can stop it anymore.
Approaching a residential house without any markings, Miss Valente didn't knock, but pushed the door open directly.
Inside, the scene was completely different from what Lynch had imagined. There were no neatly arranged shelves, no mountains of fabric, no startling mannequin models.
It was like a spacious Victorian-style living room, bright and clean. Incense wafted gently through the living room, and melodious tunes emanated from the gramophone, instead adding a touch of tranquility to the room.
Two young girls were idling in a corner of the room. As soon as they saw Miss Valente enter, one turned and ran to the back, while the other quickly came forward to greet them. Without a word, she smilingly led the two to sit on the sofa, offered steaming hot black tea, then curtsied lightly, lifting her skirt, and returned to her corner.
"Is it always this quiet here?" Influenced by the atmosphere, Lynch unconsciously lowered his voice.
"Yes, Master Christian prefers quiet when creating."
"Hm? Christian, is that a lady?"
Miss Valente nodded with a smiling face: "That's right. It's just that his hobbies are a bit peculiar. You might need some time to get used to it."
"Little sloth, you're talking bad about me again, aren't you?"
Pfft, an elegant and low voice, but the address almost made the tea in Lynch's mouth flow out backward. This girl's slow and leisurely temperament really was quite like a sloth. However, seeing the folding fan that seemed ready to move, Lynch didn't dare to let out a single laugh. He quickly straightened his face and looked in the direction of the voice, then whistled in his heart.
A very beautiful woman.
Dressed in a long, bright red dress, she was tall, slender, and well-proportioned, exuding charm from her eyes and brows. Every gesture was full of femininity, and he couldn't find any flaws except for the slightly heavy makeup.
More importantly, as soon as he saw her, a sharp pain came from between Lynch's eyebrows, and a simultaneous tremor in his heart.
Soul Severer, mid-tier.
Lynch subconsciously looked at Miss Valente. Seeing the noble lady subtly nod at him, he finally relaxed.
"So this is the young man? It's your first time bringing a friend here, little sloth. Needed by tomorrow? No big deal, his figure is quite standard, can be assembled with existing parts."
As he spoke, the tall, elegantly dressed lady, wearing high heels, walked gracefully to Lynch, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Being stared at like this by a beautiful woman, Lynch's face soon turned red, and he didn't know where to put his hands.
"The young man is quite handsome, but too thin and weak, unfortunately. Not the type older sister likes. Older sister prefers strong, muscular handsome men. What a pity."
Christian, in the red dress, crooked his finger at Lynch:
"Get up, get up, let older sister take a look."
It's fine, it's fine. It's just being teased a bit by an older woman, what's the big deal? Anyway, he's the one losing out, not me.
Taking a deep breath, Lynch gritted his teeth and stood up, spreading his arms, allowing Christian's soft hands to gently explore his chest and back.
"Hm, good. Sleeve, number 39. Collar, number 8. Placket, number 23..."
The beautiful Lady Christian gently stroked Lynch's body with his fingers, calling out parts and numbers one by one. The two girls behind him, accustomed to this, wrote and drew in their notebooks, recording each item.
Lynch was being poked by fingers. The more he was poked, the itchier it got, and the pokes were getting lower and lower, making Lynch's face bright red and him unable to stand still. Yet Christian wouldn't stay still in one place, constantly swaying back and forth in front of Lynch, standing very close. Lynch didn't know where to look; no matter which way he looked, he could see Christian's figure.
Long golden hair, a voluptuous figure, a beautiful face, a protruding Adam's apple, a long red dress, slender high heels.
Wait a minute, what did I just see?
Is this a man touching me all over?
The effect of Cat's Favor instantly erupted. Lynch let out a yelp and jumped on the spot, darting behind the sofa, glaring furiously at Christian and Miss Valente. Miss Valente blinked, her gaze drifting to the side, looking incredibly innocent.
"Hehehe, you found out. What a pity, what a pity. But at least the measurements are done."
Christian winked alluringly, then snapped his fingers with a smile:
"Now it's work time."
Whoosh, the entire room changed in an instant.
Rate on N.U.
