Chapter 366: Chapter 358, Flame Spider_i
The ivory-colored gown had been designed to have a hanging skirt and cinched waist.
The elongated waistline made Rebecca appear more upright and dignified.
It was clear the design was an imitation of Fang Hao’s, and it was quite well done by an experienced designer.
But, it was unclear whether it was due to time pressure, or they only briefly glanced at Fang Hao’s sketch.
There were many shortcomings in this dress.
It might also be a rushed prototype.
When Faker mentioned that this dress was similar to what his maids wore, Rebecca shot him a disapproving glance.
The maids subtly chuckled, thinking Fang Hao was speaking nonsense.
After all, Fang Hao’s design was original, while this garment was an imitation.
Anyone would be upset if their designs were copied.
“In that case, tell mewhat’s wrong with this dress,” Rebecca suddenly insisted. Moriqi Fabric Store was also a well-established fabric store and their apparel was famous.
However, according to Fang Hao, their clothes were fit only for maids.
Even though she understood Fang Hao’s emotions, she wanted to know whether it was just out of spite, or there were genuine flaws.
Fang Hao stood up, went to Rebecca’s side, and said, “The design of the waistline can make one appear taller. However, this dress has not entirely abandoned the old-fashioned corset concept. The waistline should be raised to this level.”
His finger traced upwards along her waistline, stopping just beneath her breasts.
When a young man traced his fingers upward from the waistline, Rebecca’s heart started to pound violently.
Her face and even her bare collarbone began to flush slightly.
“What else?” Rebecca continued to ask.
Of course, the color is monotonous, the texture is uneven, which are the downsides of this gown. It might be a decent dress for an average lady, but it’s not quite suitable for you,” Fang Hao said as he stood behind her, his gaze falling on her white bosom.
The dress was actually quite good, but it was at best a copied prototype.
The uneven texture revealed the traces of rushed sewing work.
Moreover, the beige color was too monotonous. At a ball, where other ladies would be in striking reds and purples, this beige dress would stick out inappropriately.
“You…” Rebecca was at a loss for words.
She was very pleased with the dress, given her longstanding relationship with the Moriqi Fabric Store.
But after Fang Hao’s criticism, it no longer looked as appealing.
“Doesn’t it have any redeeming qualities?” Rebecca asked again forcefully.
In casual settings, it’s a decent dress.” After saying this, Fang Hao sat back down in the chair.
The room suddenly fell silent.
The maids stood aside, unsure whether to continue dressing their mistress with jewelry.
“Will I not look good tonight in this?” Rebecca could not let it go.
You look good, but your attractiveness has nothing to do with this dress,” Fang Hao complimented honesty, then continued, “Imagine, an entire room full of ladies in striking red and purple gowns, who would wear a light-colored dress at such a gathering, only a maid right!”
Whew!
Rebecca let out a heavy sigh, turned to the maids, and said, “Alright, put this away for now. I’ll wear it another time.”
“Yes, madam,” the maids responded. They stepped forward and helped Rebecca out of the dress.
It seemed Fang Hao’s comments had changed her mind.
After changing into her casual clothes, Rebecca sat back down in the chair and looked at Fang Hao.
“So, what should I wear to the auction tonight?”
Auction? What auction?” Fang Hao was a little taken aback.
Rebecca was choosing a gown, not for an aristocratic ball, but for an auction?
Aren’t auctions supposed to keep their guests’ information confidential!
No matter how prettily you dress, what’s the point?
Who’d know who you are even if you showed up naked?
Tonight, there will be a ball at the city lord’s mansion. Noble merchants from all around will be invited to participate in an auction for ‘confiscated’ items. The money earned will be used for the development of Lyss City,” a maid at the side explained.
Upon hearing this explanation, Fang Hao understood.
It was the otherworldly version of judicial auctions.
The recent arrests of the Faceless Ones, who were the city’s merchants and nobility, must have resulted in a sizable haul of valuable items.
“Can I participate too?” Fang Hao immediately switched from his critical tone to a hopeful one.
He had already saved up quite a bit of money.
What use was saving it if not to spend? If good items were on auction, he could buy them.
Rebecca gave Fang Hao a surprised look.
If you wish to participate, that’s fine. However, I still haven’t found a suitable dress, Rebecca looked at Fang Hao meaningfully.
Fang Hao understood her hint instantly.
“Let me check in on it. If the dress is ready, I will have someone deliver it before the evening,” he replied promptly.
Such a public and significant occasion was also a great opportunity for advertising.
His fabric store was about to open, and this was a golden chance to advertise amongst the nobility.
“Humph! I’ll be waiting for your dress then,” Rebecca crossed her legs and slid open the drawer to hand over an invitation.
Fang Hao took the invitation and saw his own name written on it.
It seemed Rebecca had prepared in advance, and only wanted Fang Hao to deliver the dress.
“By the way, will you be providing dinner tonight?” Fang Hao asked, putting away the invitation.
Again, the maids stifled their giggles.
This wealthy young entrepreneur was really amusing.
Everyone knew that he could design garments that even pleased Rebecca.
Not only was he wealthy, but he had also bought two shops in the commercial street and a mansion in a noble district.
A man of such wealth, actually cared if dinner would be served or not.
“All you do is talk nonsense all day,” Rebecca laughed scoldingly and then said to the maids, “You all can leave now.”
“Yes, madam.”
The maids left the room, closing the door behind them.
The room was now left with only Fang Hao and Rebecca.
“There will be some new actions in the next two days, you’d better stay in town for a bit,” Rebecca said softly.
A serious expression immediately settled on Fang Hao’s face.
I can do that, but my workers need some secrecy, or they’ll easily be investigated by those people,” Fang Hao continued.
Hmm, I’ll take care of it,” Rebecca nodded.
Fang Hao thought for a moment before asking, “Did everything go smoothly with the last interrogation of those four individuals?”
Rebecca’s face darkened.
Not smoothly at all, you could say that we’ve lost all leads.”
“What happened, were those four people killed?” Fang Hao rushed to ask.
The four individuals are unharmed, but the people they named were all found dead in their homes before the guards arrived. We’ve lost all leads again,” Rebecca leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.
Her tone was somewhat one of helplessness.
Rebecca provided protection for these four, fearing that their mouths would be shut by death.
However, the opponent’s approach was more straightforward, killing everyone involved, leaving Rebecca with nowhere to continue her investigation.
“Their intelligence network is quite terrifying,” Fang Hao admitted, a bit surprised.
Yes, for the next mission, we’ll have to be more cautious,” Rebecca said.
“Hmm.”
The two chatted a little while longer.
Finally, Fang Hao walked out of the City Lord’s Mansion with a broad smile.
At the entrance, he met up with Anjia and called a carriage to go to the commercial street in West City.
In the carriage, Fang Hao took out the Sound-transmitting Shell to inform Eira in their territory.
Check on the progress of the ceremonial dress at the tailor’s shop.
If it’s already done, arrange for someone to deliver it directly to Lyss City.
With the Bone Dragon and swift Purple-scaled horses in their territory, there was enough time to deliver the dress to Lyss City before dark.
Upon approaching the commercial street.
The speed of the carriage started to slow down.
Noises of various vendors selling their goods started to come from all around.
This street wasn’t only lined with shops; there were also many vendors loudly promoting their goods on the edge of the road.
The carriage stopped in front of a shop.
Fang Hao took out a key and opened the door.
The goods inside the shop had already been moved, leaving behind various useless items and some valueless tables and chairs.
“What are you planning to do with this shop?” Anjia looked around the shop and asked.
A clothing store, I guess? There are lots of luxury goods around here, let’s open a clothing store here,” Fang Hao casually replied.
“Oh! Alright.”
The two chatted as they went upstairs.
In a small gap in the corner floor, Anjia found a ruby the size of a little finger.
Its edges were cut smoothly, and it was very beautiful.
Fang Hao gave a thumbs up.
Valuable items could never escape Anjia’s keen eyes.
After wandering around the shop for a while, the sound of noisy footsteps came from outside the door.
Gray Bear brought his men and quickly arrived.
“Sir,” Gray Bear said once.
Fang Hao walked down from upstairs and instructed: “From now on, this shop
is ours. Clean it up and throwaway all the useless stuff.”
“Yes, sir,” Gray Bear called out, leading the workers straight into the shop, starting the cleaning process.
Leaving the store in Gray Bear’s care.
Fang Hao took Anjia to the task hall once more, but again found no suitable tasks.
So, they went directly back to their residence.
It was just around two in the afternoon when they returned to their residence.
After a quick meal, Fang Hao shut himself in his room.
He took out all the books on [Multi-Headed Fire Python Mysteries] from the storage space.
He turned to where there was the bookmark.
And proceeded to carefully study and decipher it bit by bit.
Every Mage is also a scholar.
Not just because they can cast extraordinarily powerful spells, but because every individual who chooses the path of a Mage needs to read a vast amount of books and documents.
To explore the secrets of natural elements, to seek the rules of materials.
Therefore, the path to becoming a Mage is challenging, and also tremendously rewarding.
The author of this book is a Fire Elemental Mage named ‘Caryl’, who once served as a magic instructor at a noble academy.
He is heavily focused on the practice and research of fire elemental magic.
Besides the final goal of the Multi-Headed Fire Python recorded in the book, there are also explanations of fire elemental magic and small magic practices.
What Fang Hao was reading was another type of fire elemental summoning magic.
[Flame Spider],
After casting the spell, a flame spider can be summoned to attack targets or follow the caster.
Fang Hao stood up.
He took out the Starfire Wand, reading the explanation in the book while beginning to concentrate magic.
With the gathering of magic power.
Suddenly, in front of him, spiders made of gathered fire elementals began to materialize.
Whoosh!!
Just as they had formed, the flame spiders instantly extinguished.
The spell failed!
“What happened…”
Fang Hao sat down and carefully recalled the process.
He went to the desk, and started to record in his notes.
First attempt at the Flame Spider Conjuration: Steps weren’t clear and cobbling was hindered. The flame spider disappeared shortly after it began to form.