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"Starting tomorrow, there'll probably be new rumors about me at school."
Inside the carriage, Cecilia set down her bag and shook her head.
"Rumors?"
"Yeah. When I first enrolled, didn't you ask Captain Dunn to help out?
He talked to the Tingen Police Commissioner and helped smooth things over with the school.
So on my first day, I showed up escorted by a bunch of police officers."
Cecilia gave a helpless sigh.
"Somehow that turned into a rumor that I'm the Police Commissioner's illegitimate daughter."
Silas couldn't help but smile.
"Isn't that kind of nice? At least nobody's brave enough to bully you."
Silas knew that in all-girls schools, certain things were inevitable.
His sister was so pretty, jealousy was bound to follow. While the illegitimate daughter story was somewhat absurd, at least it kept her safe.
"True, nobody does give me trouble..."
Cecilia looked at Silas's face, recalling the commotion he'd caused at the school gates, and couldn't help but sigh.
"But when I go back to school tomorrow, there'll definitely be rumors that I'm keeping a pretty boy."
Keeping a pretty boy? Me?
Silas laughed dryly. If you counted that period in the past, it actually wasn't far from the truth.
"Alright, Silas, enough about that. When did you get back?"
"Just this afternoon. I came straight to pick up my adorable sister the moment I returned, only to be scorned by her. It truly breaks my heart." Silas teased Cecilia with a smile.
"..."
Cecilia's expression was speechless. She simply ignored his theatrics and continued asking, "Did the business trip go smoothly? Did you run into any danger?"
"Everything went smoothly. I didn't encounter any danger at all."
Silas lied without batting an eye.
"Really?"
Cecilia stared at Silas's face as she asked.
The bond between siblings told her things might not be that simple.
"Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you? I only provided technical assistance. The dangerous work was all done by the local personnel."
Seeing that Cecilia seemed unconvinced and wanted to press further, Silas had a flash of inspiration and steered the conversation in another direction.
"Oh, right, sis. Guess what we're doing today?"
"What? Aren't we going home?"
"Of course not. We're going to a dress shop to have dresses custom-made for you!"
The carriage Silas had hired passed through Daffodil Street without stopping, continuing on until it reached the commercial district of Howes Street.
The carriage stopped in front of the district's largest clothing shop.
Beneath the "Barbour Clothiers" sign, the left display window showcased the most fashionable current styles, with elaborate patterns adorning ruffled hems, while the tasteful color schemes made the overall aesthetic beautiful and elegant.
The right window displayed various premium fabrics, with a sign reading "Professional Measurements, Custom Tailoring."
Inside the shop, the atmosphere was quiet and refined.
Rather than a dazzling array of ready-made clothing, the space was divided by screens into separate areas.
Soft music played, covering the conversations between customers and attendants within.
"Sir, what do you need?"
A waiter in a vest and shirt approached respectfully. His eyes lit up upon seeing the Londor siblings' faces.
"I'd like to have a formal dress and an everyday dress custom-made for my sister."
Silas said. "Could you fetch the tailor?"
"Please wait a moment."
The waiter turned and left.
Before long, he returned with a female tailor and her assistant, who escorted Cecilia into a fitting room to take measurements and discuss styles and coordination.
Silas, like most gentlemen, sat outside with patient composure, sampling the tea and pastries the waiter provided.
"Meow."
A soft meow came from near his feet. Some customers' pet cat was lying beside Silas's foot, looking up at him with dewy eyes.
Want some food?
Silas broke off a piece of less-sweet pastry and held it in his palm. The kitten extended its barbed tongue and licked the crumbs clean.
After a while, Cecilia emerged and told Silas she'd selected two dresses.
One was an ivory everyday dress with a simple, slender cut, only the cuffs and hem adorned with lace, perfectly highlighting a young woman's youthful vitality.
The other was a light purple off-shoulder formal gown with a heart-shaped neckline that layered for a luxurious effect, the skirt decorated with pleats and gold thread trim.
The two dresses, including customization and material costs, came to a total of 10 pounds. Expensive enough to make one wince.
"Sir, you and your sister have such excellent appearance and bearing. If you'd be willing to model for our shop, we'd not only make your clothing for free but also pay a generous fee..."
After emerging from the fitting room, the female tailor made her pitch with great enthusiasm.
"That won't be necessary."
Silas paid a 3-pound deposit and declined with a smile.
Turning his head, he saw his sister playing with the kitten, a smile on her face.
Even after another customer came out and left with the cat, her eyes still lingered reluctantly on the feline.
Silas had a thought.
Right, Cecilia likes cats.
Sifting through old memories, his sister seemed to have loved cats since childhood.
Even after Silas had awakened, he'd seen her playing with the landlord's cat and strays on the street.
Unfortunately, their family circumstances really didn't allow for keeping a cat, so her affection had been buried under daily trivialities.
In a while, I'll figure out a way to get her a cat. With me getting home so late every day, wouldn't it be nice if there was an animal to keep her company?
With this thought in mind, Silas and Cecilia left the clothing shop.
***
Cherishing the remainder of his time off, Silas once again faced a workday.
As soon as he entered Blackthorn Security Company, Dunn called him into the office.
"The Holy Cathedral replied. They've approved both matters concerning you. Starting today, your salary increases from 6 pounds per week to 8 pounds per week.
Additionally, you may select one item from the relatively safe Grade 3 Sealed Artifact list to carry daily as combat support."
Dunn told Silas. "So, which Grade 3 Sealed Artifact do you want to choose? Do you have any ideas?"
"Yes, Captain. I already have a target in mind."
Silas answered.
Before leaving the company on his time off, he'd already obtained the Grade 3 Sealed Artifact list and detailed descriptions.
After careful study, he'd selected the one most suitable for himself.
"Oh? Which one are you planning to choose?"
"I choose Sealed Artifact 3-169, 'Clockwork Clown.'"
As he spoke, a detailed description of this Sealed Artifact flashed through his mind:
Number: 0169.
Name: Clockwork Clown.
Danger Level: 3, moderately dangerous, use with caution.
Sealing Method: Avoid prolonged contact with living people.
Description: A clown doll with a clockwork key on its back.
Gripping the clown's key with your hand and expending spirituality allows you to wind the clockwork, though the key won't turn at this point.
Only when the user taps the clown's head will the key rotate and the clown emit laughter.
When the clown laughs, the user's movements become agile and their strength increases, as if they were the most professional circus performer.
One user once leaped back and forth on iron bars only 5 centimeters wide using single-footed jumps without falling.
Side Effects: The holder of the Clockwork Clown will occasionally burst into uncontrollable laughter.
This laughter tends to occur at the most inappropriate times, creating embarrassing situations for the user.
One holder burst into irrepressible laughter when their superior stumbled awkwardly and was subsequently transferred.
Another holder laughed uncontrollably while confessing to their crush, who thought they were being mocked, resulting in romantic rejection.
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