Chapter 667: The Trouble With Being Popular

"Lucas?" Celestina suddenly called out.

"Huh?" Lucas replied unconsciously.

"You were spacing out, with a grim look on your face," Pauline explained, a slight look of worry appearing on her own face.

She may not have spent much time together with Lucas, but it was enough for her to think fondly of him, even treat him as part of her family, so seeing him look so worried right after she and her mother had bothered him to get them new dresses...

"If it’s too much, you don’t have to indulge us, you know?" Pauline followed up while Celestina nodded in agreement.

Both of them loved everything from Vision, from the dresses to the runners, but if trying to deliver these items was stressing Lucas out, then they were fine with not having them.

"No no no," Lucas waved his hand and smiled, "It’s not that. I was just... thinking about something."

The boy was genuinely happy that so many people cared about him, which was also why he didn’t want to disappoint either of these women, both of whom had done so much for him.

That said...

"If all goes well, the dresses should be ready in about a month," Lucas explained, before a cunning glint flashed across his eyes, "You’ll also need new sets of underwear to go with them as this new style I’m planning doesn’t have uses a very different type of strap."

"All together, it’ll probably be 700 Low Grade Spirit Crystals from each of you."

This time, it was Celestina and Pauline’s turn to have their faces twitch.

Allure dresses from Vision were outstanding in terms of quality, looks, comfort, and durability, but they didn’t come cheap.

A single dress meant for a noble of Celestina’s status, or a Cultivator of her strength, typically sold for 1,000 Spirit Crystals, and that was without any of the necessary accessories.

Complete outfits, which now featured jewelry from Louise’ Golden Flower Chamber of Commerce, could run as high as 2,000 Low Grade Spirit Crystals.

In other words, the price Lucas was quoting them was actually a massive discount, probably just enough to cover the materials and production costs.

This was also why the two ladies didn’t raise any complaints despite feeling like the young boy was fleecing them of their hard-earned money.

A year ago, Lucas had actually owed Celestina several tens of thousands of Gold Coins in the form of a loan he had taken out to help facilitate the evacuation of Redwood Town.

Celestina had been more than willing to forgive that loan once he became her official Disciple, or to count the money brought in from the businesses he started together with the Balfour Family towards the repayments, but Lucas had adamantly insisted on paying it back with his personal finances.

At the time, she thought he was just trying to be responsible by keeping his private and public affairs separate.

Now, she knew better.

Lucas had swiftly paid off that debt, which wasn’t surprising seeing how lucrative all of his various businesses were, and then gifted her 5 different outfits from Vision on various occasions such as her birthday or other special events.

He was a very filial and generous Disciple.

However...

If Celestina wanted to order something from Vision in her personal capacity, Lucas didn’t hesitate to charge her, or anyone for that matter.

Worse yet, since Lucas hadn’t taken any shortcuts when it came to repaying her, Celestina had no choice but to pay him whatever he charged or it would bring shame to her as his Master.

She still got the VIP treatment, receiving massive discounts and going straight to the head of the line for her orders, but with how frequently she had been shopping recently, Celestina was starting to worry a bit about her wallet.

If I’m already this desperate to get my hands on these things, I can only image what the other women of the kingdom are going through, Celestina mused to herself, finding the idea of all the noble and powerful women she knew fighting with each other just to get a single simple dress from her First Disciple highly amusing.

It all went to prove one important thing; Lucas knew how to make money.

Returning the sketchbook to the boy, Celestina couldn’t help asking curiously, "How’s the piece you were preparing for Lady Ariana?"

"Oh, that?" Lucas sighed, "Not well."

He had wanted to send a couple of dresses to the Second Queen Ancestor as thanks for all she had done, and had even spent a huge fortune purchasing the necessary materials to do just that, but when they arrived, Lucas discovered to his chagrin that no one under his employ was capable of working with them at all.

Low-Rank Spirit Grade Tier 3 fabrics proved impossible to cut or sew with the current equipment and personnel he had in his tailor shop, so that plan had temporarily been put on hold.

Speaking of which, Lucas suddenly remembered something and turned to Pauline, "I don’t suppose you managed to find a Spirit Tailor who was willing to work for me, right?"

To this, Pauline could only shake her head, "There are 3 Spirit Tailors in the Rockwell Kingdom, and none of them are interested in switching their employers right now."

"If anything..." Pauline started, then stopped, an awkward look appearing on her face.

"Let me guess," Lucas rubbed his temples, "They all hate my guts?"

"Putting it mildly," Pauline smiled wryly.

As the top tailors in the kingdom, it was only natural for them to be fuming when [Vision] began cutting into their businesses.

Them not trying to strangle him was probably the best Lucas could expect; as for them working for him...

Seems I’ll have to look elsewhere, Lucas shrugged, not really feeling rushed.

Being able to turn the clothes he produced at his shop into genuine Spirit Items was an appealing idea, but it wasn’t necessary just yet.

"Anyways," Celestina cut in, "It’s getting late, you should get some rest."

"En, I will," Lucas nodded, before quietly muttering, "Just as soon as I finish this..."

Rolling her eyes, Celestina gently knocked her First Disciple’s silly head before standing up together with her daughter and walking off.