A Masterpiece in Black
Time flew by, and the day of the imperial gala drew near. Franche and I headed to the Franche Corporation Workshop to inspect her dress. The moment we stepped inside the building, we were greeted by bright, cheerful faces. The contrast with the Frida factory was night and day. While some were in the middle of their work, others were brewing tea and taking a break, and some were even trying on finished garments.
"The atmosphere is wonderful," Franche remarked.
"Indeed. Everyone looks so happy."
As we quietly observed the working environment, a few employees noticed our presence. Their eyes went wide as they hurried over to us.
"Forgive us, we didn't see you come in!"
"President! You're here!"
Somewhere along the line, they had stopped addressing Franche as 'Lady' and started calling her 'President.' Well, it wasn't exactly surprising.
"How is the work coming along?" Franche asked.
"Wonderfully! Thanks to your care and consideration, President, our work efficiency has skyrocketed!"
"I am glad to hear that." Franche nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. She, too, seemed pleased with the environment.
"Yes! We're producing much better work than we ever did back at the factory, and our pace has gotten faster too! It's all thanks to you, President!"
The employee practically sang Franche's praises. It was a simple truth of labor: the better the working conditions, the higher the efficiency. It boosted loyalty and accelerated production. Only fools would sacrifice all of that just to pinch a few pennies.
Or complete scumbags, I thought.
Since I had jumped straight into MewTube without ever getting a traditional job, I had never experienced corporate life firsthand. But back in the modern world, companies like that were everywhere. Terrible working conditions, bosses who treated their employees like dirt—the infamous "black companies."
My goal was to build Franche Corporation into a massive conglomerate with top-tier welfare and an exemplary environment. We would never, under any circumstances, become one of those exploitative sweatshops.
"Keep up the good work," Franche encouraged them.
"Of course! We will redouble our efforts to repay your kindness, President!"
Looking around, even the employees still hard at work were glancing over at us with warm smiles. It seemed everyone shared the same sentiment.
Franche addressed the room. "That is enough gratitude. I would like to see Andrea. Is now a good time?"
"Ah, the Director? He's working in the inner room right now!"
Wait, what? Without us even realizing it, Andrea had been dubbed 'Director.' It seemed he had carried over his title from Frida.
"Then let us head inside," Franche said, stepping toward the room. I quietly followed behind her.
Click.
As the door opened, we saw Andrea hunched over, staring at a dress so intensely it looked as if his eyes might pop out. He was so deeply focused that he didn't even register our entry.
I called out to him. "Andrea."
No response.
"Andrea?"
I had called him twice now. Just how incredible was his concentration?
"Andrea!"
"Y-Yes!"
Only on the third try did Andrea finally snap out of it.
Deep dark circles hung under his hollow eyes. His hair was greasy, looking as though it hadn't been washed in days. His skin was dry and sallow, and his face looked half-slack with exhaustion.
"Have you been sleeping at all?" I asked.
"No... there just wasn't enough time..."
"I believe I told you there was no need to overexert yourself."
"I'm sorry! I just wanted to repay the Lady..."
I shook my head. "I'm not scolding you. I'm just concerned for your health."
"Ahaha... right, of course," Andrea chuckled sheepishly.
"So," Franche inquired, "how is this dress you've been working so tirelessly on?"
"I took your measurements from before, Lady Franche, and designed it exactly as my heart desired. I truly hope you like it."
With a bright smile, Andrea stepped aside. Hanging behind him was a black dress.
"Oh..."
An exclamation of awe escaped Franche's lips. Honestly, I was a bit stunned myself. It was an exquisitely beautiful dress, even without any flashy jewels or extra embellishments.
How on earth did he make those roses?
The quality of the details was so absurdly high it defied belief. The intricate design of the dress spoke of incredibly delicate, painstaking craftsmanship.
Franche stared, completely spellbound. "It is more beautiful than any dress I have ever seen..."
"Thank you!" Andrea's face lit up at the genuine praise.
"May I try it on now?"
"Ah, yes. There are still some finishing touches left, but it should be perfectly fine to try on."
Franche picked up the dress, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Bring in a few people to help me dress."
"Understood."
Andrea and I naturally stepped out of the workshop, and we sent in a few female employees who had some free time to assist her.
A short while later, the door opened, and Franche stepped out.
The dress was flawless, and the woman wearing it was equally perfect. However...
Isn't that... a bit too revealing?
Because it was tailored to fit her skin-tight, the subtle outline of her navel was visible, and every single curve of her body was emphasized in stark detail. The silhouette exuded an undeniable sensuality. The design was beautiful, yes, but this was a bit...
Am I just being conservative?
Perhaps because I had raised Franche like my own daughter, I felt an inexplicable urge to cover her up.
"How does it look?" Franche asked.
"It's perfect!"
"You look absolutely stunning, Lady Franche!"
The employees showered her with endless compliments. I, on the other hand, could only gape like a fish, unable to find my words. Noticing my reaction, Franche turned to me.
"Oh, does it not suit me?"
"It's not that, but..."
"Then why?"
"Well..."
I leaned in close and whispered in her ear. "The dress is a bit too provocative."
"Provocative? In what way?"
"...It seems to emphasize your figure a bit too much."
Franche blinked in confusion, staring at me blankly for a moment, before bursting into laughter. "This? My, you are a strange one."
"..."
"For a formal gala dress, this is well within the acceptable range."
What? The dress she wore before was just a standard, modest gown that anyone could picture. I was genuinely shocked. To think that such a provocative outfit was considered acceptable in a medieval fantasy setting.
"...I see. I had not considered that."
"Is the culture in the Barenberg Kingdom different?"
"Uh... yes, I suppose so."
In truth, I knew as little about Barenberg's culture as I did about this empire's. But come to think of it, just because the setting was medieval didn't mean it had to be strictly conservative. It wasn't like we were in Joseon under Confucian rule.
Besides, this is a fantasy world with magic, Aura, and magical beasts.
If I tried to apply strict historical accuracy, I'd have to nitpick everything from speech patterns to noble titles, politics, and daily life. The fact that the ducal castle had a fully functioning shower room was already historically absurd. It was best to just accept things as they were.
"Do you like the dress, Lady Franche?" Andrea asked.
"Yes. I like it immensely. How long will it take to finish?"
"It won't take long. If I push myself, maybe by tomorrow?"
"Do not overexert yourself. We have plenty of time before the imperial gala, so take your time."
"Ah... in that case, it should take about three days."
"Then I shall return in three days."
With a satisfied expression, Franche went back into the room, changed out of the dress, and emerged. A bright smile still graced her face.
"You seem very pleased," I noted.
"Of course I am. Honestly, I never expected a dress of such high quality."
Indeed. I hadn't expected it to be that good either. Even if it was a bit scandalous... regardless.
"It is a relief. Once we show this dress to the Duke, we should easily secure his backing."
"Indeed. And we can finally knock that information broker down a peg."
Franche smirked. It seemed Seldas's attitude had been grating on her nerves. Well, he had openly dismissed her as a naive, sheltered young lady, so her resentment was entirely justified.
Franche addressed the room. "We will be leaving now. Keep up the hard work, everyone. Our boutique will be opening soon, so prepare yourselves."
"Yes, President!" they chorused.
Their loyalty was incredible. Was this the power of money?
Well, a high-paying company with great benefits is always the best.
They had left a terrible sweatshop to gamble on a startup. But now, they were receiving corporate-level benefits and high wages. If I were in their shoes, my loyalty would be maxed out too.
"Let us go," Franche said.
"Yes, Lady Franche."
We left the workshop. Now, the only thing left was to establish the flagship boutique of Franche Corporation.
"Let us head to the information guild," I suggested. "We have work to do."
"What kind of work?"
"We need to secure a location for the boutique."
"Hmm? Didn't we already purchase several other buildings besides this one?"
"Even so, we must scout the most suitable location and make preparations."
When selling luxury goods like clothing and accessories, the building's exterior design and interior decor were of paramount importance. It had to look as elegant, classic, and clean as possible to attract high-end clientele. That, in turn, would elevate the perceived value of the products. This was a tidbit I had picked up from a business administration professor back in my university days.
"We have a lot to demand from the broker. Let us make haste."
We arrived at the now-familiar tavern. Even the patrons drinking in the middle of the day no longer spared us a glance. They had likely grown used to seeing us. As we approached the reception desk, the receptionist went inside without even asking a question. I appreciated the efficiency. A moment later, she returned.
"You may enter."
Franche gave a slight nod and walked in. I followed her inside.
"It has been a while. Have you been well?" Seldas greeted us.
"I do not believe our relationship warrants such trivial pleasantries," Franche replied coldly.
"My, how prickly." Seldas tilted his head, tapping his fingers against the desk at her icy response.
"You are here to discuss business, yes? In that case, I believe I should be speaking with the person behind you, rather than the Lady herself."
Franche flinched. She quickly glanced back, locking eyes with me. With a quiet sigh, I stepped forward.
"What are you playing at?" I asked.
"Playing at? I am simply choosing to speak directly with the mastermind who drew up the plans."
Given Seldas's obsession with efficiency, his attitude made sense. It was undoubtedly tedious for him to relay everything through Franche.
"Lady Franche, I will handle the discussion directly," I said.
"Ah... yes, of course."
Franche stepped aside, looking slightly dazed, and I took a seat on the sofa.
"Now then, shall we begin?" Seldas asked. "What brings you here today?"
"Our first product will be finished soon. Establishing the boutique is only a matter of time."
"Hmm. I think I know what you want."
Tap. Tap. Seldas continued to drum his fingers against the desk, seemingly calculating the costs in his head.
"The most suitable location for the boutique is District 13 of the Descartes Duchy. I have already purchased a building there with that in mind. Although the Frida boutique is nearby, it also means the foot traffic is incredibly high. If we play our cards right, we can steal their clientele."
Ah, so he had already bought a building. The advantage of District 13 was indeed the high volume of wealthy nobles who frequented the area due to Frida's presence. The only issue was that Frida was still going strong.
"Stealing Frida's customers won't be an easy task at the moment," I noted.
"You were so confident before. Are you hesitating now that you're actually facing Frida?" Seldas provoked.
Was this bastard trying to rile me up?
"I have never hesitated. I am simply considering the most effective approach."
"I am glad to hear that. I would hate to see the Lady's 1.8 billion gold go down the drain."
Franche, who had been quietly listening to our exchange, chimed in. "We already planned for me to draw everyone's attention with the dress at the imperial gala anyway. It shouldn't be that much of an issue."
She was right. Franche was going to use Andrea's masterpiece to launch a massive, unmissable advertisement at the gala. However, in business, one must always prepare for the worst-case scenario. We had to consider what to do if the advertisement failed to yield the expected results.
Though Frida's ruin is only a matter of time anyway.
The worst-case scenario I envisioned was Frida somehow surviving even without Andrea. In the game, they had collapsed, but now that this world had become reality, nothing was guaranteed. If worst came to worst, I would have to rely on my power as a Sword Master. I preferred not to resort to brute force, but if there was no other way, I wouldn't hesitate.
"Very well. We will establish the boutique there," I decided. "Now, let us move on to the exterior and interior design of the building."
"What?" Seldas scoffed. "We deal in information and handle troublesome matters. We do not offer architectural services."
I shook my head. "I will handle the exterior and interior designs myself. All I need from you is to procure the materials and introduce me to a specific contact."
Only then did Seldas nod in agreement. "That is a relief. I was starting to feel like an errand boy. So, who is this contact you need?"
I recalled a certain name from the list of Franche's potential marriage candidates.
"I want you to connect us with the Dogeza Count family."
It was time to utilize the merchant group of Armom Dogeza, which specialized in labor. It was time to pay a visit to their 'employment agency.'