“Not bad, not bad.”
The beautiful Master Christian circled around Lynch several times, and only when Lynch’s face turned pale did he nod in satisfaction.
“A few points to note: the shirt’s tenacity has a limit. It is not absolutely puncture proof and cannot be used to block blades; it is only a last resort for defense. Areas not covered are also not protected, like this part here.”
Lynch rubbed his back and stepped aside, expressionless.
“The limit for Slow Fall is twenty meters, though going higher isn’t impossible, you might just break your legs or fall to your death.”
“Thank you, that is truly a helpful reminder.”
“And then there is the hat’s Absorption. The effect is quite good, like this.”
As Christian spoke, he took Lynch’s cane, swung it, and struck him on the head.
Lynch was caught off guard before he could even react. It felt like wearing a hard hat; most of the impact was absorbed by the top hat. His head only felt a slight jar, and it didn’t hurt at all. It was indeed a quite impressive effect. If he had been wearing this back then, he wouldn’t have had to fear Martha and the others knocking him unconscious.
“But be aware, there is a force limit to the absorption. If the force is any greater, it would still be enough to crack your skull, like this...”
“Stop, if you must demonstrate, please use someone else.”
Lynch rolled his eyes, snatched the cane back, and carefully moved to the other side of Miss Valente, who was laughing so hard she couldn’t stand straight, before admiring himself in the mirror with delight.
Clothes truly make the man. Who was that handsome, dashing young talent in the mirror?
Such a handsome young man; you couldn’t find a second one in all of Lande. This charming appearance, these wise eyes, the reflection off his teeth when he smiled—it was practically a highlight...
Wait, Diana, stop that. Stay calm. Put down my two pounds—no, put down the Torch of Light. You don’t need to help me with the lighting right now.
Lynch snatched the ‘flashlight’ from Miss Valente’s hand, thought for a moment, and tucked it into his pocket, finally ending the fitting session.
A ten-pound suit and a suit whose price he didn’t even dare to know were simply different. Even someone who didn’t know the trade could tell at a glance. The visual effect was superb; it was like he had become a different person. Although the effectiveness of the bestowed properties still needed testing, the characteristics these garments provided were a bonus, a luxury for the wealthy. As long as they were there, they were better than having nothing at all.
It was a pity he couldn’t wear them away on the spot. Beyond the need for sewing, the details required fine-tuning, so the master had to measure him again by hand, especially...
With a yelp, Lynch darted behind the sofa, his hair practically standing on end.
Amidst Christian’s seductive laughter, Lynch, feeling his head spin, turned and ran. He marked a hundred-meter radius around the shop as a restricted zone. From this day forward, even if he, Lynch, had to streak through Crown Square, he would never come within half a step of this place again.
Still, as a top master, his craftsmanship was truly excellent. The biggest problem for tomorrow’s party was now resolved.
“You’re still far from ready,” Miss Valente said from behind, her voice faint. “Aristocratic combat is more troublesome than Soul Severers. It isn’t that easily solved.”
“Huh? There’s more?”
“Of course. You still have many flaws that people will pick out at a glance. Look at your hair. You can style it however you like, but it should be orthodox at least, and your technique... you cut this yourself, didn’t you?”
“Uh, Mrs. Maggie helped me cut it while I was recovering my legs. I think it’s pretty good, and it felt quite comfortable while she was doing it.”
“And then there is your belt. It’s frayed. The belt is one of the most important accessories, second only to cufflinks.”
“Wait, do you have x-ray vision? How did you see my belt? Also, what are cufflinks? Are they buttons on the sleeves?”
“I’m not blind, of course I can see them. And cufflinks... never mind, that’s too hard to explain. Let’s skip it. Then there’s the watch chain. The pocket watch isn’t important as long as you don’t pull it out in public, but the chain is meant to be seen. You cannot use a copper chain, and you certainly cannot use a copper chain with a broken link tied together with string.”
“Huh, I thought I hid it quite well. How did you spot that? Are you women all this sharp-eyed? I feel like a normal person wouldn’t notice that at all.”
“Anyone would notice! Hmm? You? These? All?”
Miss Valente bit her lip, her gaze becoming dangerous. Of course, the folding fan in her hand was even more dangerous.
“Wait, no, that was a slip of the tongue.” Lynch’s face turned green. “The clothes, the clothes. We can discuss the slip of the tongue later.”
“Oh, right. There are also rings. Rings are also very important accessories. They not only represent one’s personal wealth but sometimes also represent the heritage of a family. A ring with deep historical roots is enough to make you stand out at a party.”
“I have a ring, I just don’t usually wear it.” Lynch quickly pulled out The Passion of the Blazing Lady. “The heritage is certainly deep, and it will definitely be very conspicuous once I put it on. It’s impossible for anyone to be more radiant than me.”
“Hmm? What is that?”
“A mystery relic. It makes your body catch fire when you wear it.”
“I...”
The young lady’s little leather boots were itching to move, showing signs of evolving into Officer Natalie. However, she was eventually amused to the point of laughter. She gave him a glance with the grace of an aristocrat, and then her tone turned excited and expectant.
“In short, these must all be prepared. I must dress you up properly; otherwise, it would be a waste of your looks. Come, let’s go deal with your hair first, and we’ll prepare the rest one by one. We must plan this well; there is only one day left.”
“No, I’m not doubting your professionalism,” Lynch said, breaking into a cold sweat, and asked cautiously, “but why do I feel like you have an ulterior motive? And you even accidentally let it slip earlier.”
“I don’t.” Miss Valente looked away and stuck out her tongue quickly. “That’s your imagination. Really, let’s go, let’s go. Time is tight, no room for waste.”
Say what you want, but stop poking people with that folding fan. Who knows if you’re carrying a gun or a regular fan today.
But never mind. Since someone was so eager to spend money to dress him up, he couldn’t spoil the mood even if he were reluctant. Lynch felt he was truly a considerate person, and thus he was hijacked onto the carriage by the aristocratic lady once again.
For an entire day, the two of them dashed between Crown Square and the Valley District, those two great money pits, and polished Lynch inside and out. By the time he returned home, Mrs. Maggie and little Martha were startled. Both of them were even a bit skittish, especially little Martha, who kept her distance from Lynch, the timid look in her little eyes being particularly complex.
It wasn’t until Lynch grabbed her and gave her two quick pats that the little thing yelped and pounced on him, messing up his hair in return for more pats, restoring the laughter that had always filled the apartment.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The next morning, Lynch was snatched away by Miss Valente again to cram social etiquette for an entire day.
Lynch finally realized that the plays he had watched before were of no use at all, otherwise he would have made a fool of himself even over something as simple as where to stand.
He felt his learning ability was quite strong, but after the day was over, he was still dizzy and exhausted. Fortunately, or unfortunately, time would not stop for him. Soon, the day had passed.
June 10, 1399, 20:00.
Iris District.
Outside a magnificent mansion, Lynch jumped off the rented carriage.
He adjusted his collar, smoothed his cuffs, and looked calmly at the brightly lit mansion before him.
I have arrived.
Rate on N.U.
