Another Insane Stunt?
“Finally done! It’s really over!”
“Ugh, it was seriously tough these past few months.”
“Director, you know we’re due for bonuses, right?”
“Everyone. It’s only been 30 minutes since the prince and princess left. The emperor’s the one who has to pay those bonuses.”
Today was August 31st, Thursday, by the Ailene calendar. The Beauty Tower’s revenue had shrunk dramatically over the past few months, with no regular clinic operations aside from emergencies. The only income came from aesthetic products and potions sold at the Cash Shop, plus deliveries to the old potion co-op.
Of course, even that’s more than enough to keep the territory office from complaining.
And on the last day of August, the prince and princess finally departed the Beauty Tower. Even after the separation surgery, they stayed a few more weeks for scar removal at the incision sites, hair transplants, rehab exercises to learn proper walking, and the like.
If it had dragged on even a little longer, things could’ve gotten messy.
The prince and princess were just 10-year-old kids. But years of lying on one side and spending most of their time sitting had curved their spines slightly. They couldn’t go outside, so they had less muscle mass than their peers and were quite scrawny. If puberty had kicked in, it would’ve been far harder, but the surgeries had all succeeded flawlessly.
Now, all that was left was the fat reward from the emperor.
“Surprising, though?”
“What is?”
As the medical staff involved in the surgery gathered in the break room, chatting away, Stella shot me a peculiar look.
“That you always demand full upfront payment, Director, but didn’t take anything extra this time.”
“No, I do take post-payment sometimes, depending on the situation.”
At least from duke-level clients and up. Charging upfront from people flush with cash? That’s just kicking away tips.
Back on Earth or here in this world, VIPs at the pinnacle of high-end service always had bellies bigger than their bowels. And this time, it wasn’t even a duke—these were the children of the one emperor ruling the West and North Continents. The prince could even become emperor someday if he grew up healthy, so skipping the fee was no big deal. Building that connection was worth far more.
“Director, don’t you think it’s time to hire some servants now?”
“Servants? What’s that about?”
Josephine, leader of the Jo family, spoke up, and I blinked in confusion—only for her to look more flustered.
“Pardon? Aren’t we moving soon? The house from the Ecna duke family just finished construction, right?”
“Ah!”
The land gifted by the young East Continent Marquis Ecna after his April balloon surgery. Construction had started in May and was nearly complete.
Been so tied up with the prince and princess’s surgery and rehab that I totally blacked out on it.
“Haha, yes. For a place that size, you’ll need a head butler at least to manage it properly. And I do have a knack for that sort of—”
“George, ever thought about being a gardener? Saw you trimming hedges pretty well last time.”
“……I’ll stick to my lane like always.”
“Right? So keep your nose clean.”
The key to good leadership: place people’s talents where they shine. Put George in charge as butler, and who knows what scheme he’d cook up.
“Shall we go take a look, then? Everyone needs to pick their rooms too.”
“Ah! Great idea, Director. I went ahead and sketched out room assignments.”
“Thanks, Josephine. Cherish that as a keepsake. I’ll handle the assignments.”
“Yes, sir……”
Maybe old habits die hard, but these ex-Black Moon cultists were always sniffing for an angle. Maybe cut back on their nicotine gum rations for a bit.
As I pondered that and stepped out of the Cash Shop to head to the gifted territory and mansion, it happened.
“Beauty Tower Master, greetings.”
“……?”
Savoring the fresh air deep into my lungs after so long outdoors, a burly man in a gray robe called out to me.
“What brings Wind Tower here?”
I’d seen plenty of their mages during the war, but this one greeting me was a new face. Not surprising—they ground through manpower like millstones.
“The Wind Tower is hosting a conference for medical advancement. With mages from all regions attending, we’d be honored if the Beauty Tower Master could grace us.”
The unfamiliar mage handed over a drab scroll with a straight face. It announced a knowledge exchange on medical progress in the central plaza.
But.
“……Location’s the Frederik Dungeon Zone central plaza?”
“Yes. With so many mages from various regions, we need ample space. The Wind Tower Master welcomes anyone from your tower eager to learn new medical knowledge.”
“……”
An outdoor venue? Fine. But the date was today. And it started in 30 minutes.
Look at these bastards.
Servius’s petty ploy was crystal clear, curling my lips into a smirk. They’d summoned mages from towers across the continent—everyone was probably already gathered. Couldn’t exclude just me from the local tower without backlash, but didn’t want a real invite either. So, a last-second “invitation” to pretend courtesy.
“Of course, given how busy the Beauty Tower Master is, it’s fine if you can’t—”
“No, I’ll go. Perfect timing—my schedule’s free. Tell them the whole Beauty Tower medical team’s coming too.”
“……”
As expected from a token invite—his face twisted oddly when I accepted eagerly.
“What? Don’t want me there? You look off.”
“……No. We’ll await your participation.”
The Wind Tower mage vanished after that.
“Director, you’re really going?”
“No need. Won’t help, nothing to learn.”
“Inviting you 30 minutes before start? Total disrespect!”
Rebecca, Hazel, and Stella fumed as he disappeared.
“No, opportunities like this are rare. Them trying to exclude me on purpose means they know their skills fall short. Makes it even more worth going.”
I flashed them a grin.
Isekai conferences wouldn’t help me 99.99% of the time.
But the reverse? I can help them plenty.
An old tower master pulling such childish tricks? I must really get under his skin.
“Have Walter prep the carriage. Let’s go. To the conference.”
* * *
Soon after, en route to the plaza by carriage, I couldn’t help a soft gasp.
“It’s been a while. Doing well?”
“Heh, just busy as ever. First time since the Squinoa battle.”
“Heard the Wind Tower Master developed new treatments. Looking forward to it.”
“Yeah, even in the boonies, they were unrivaled before antibiotics. Famous for the fastest blades in the West Continent.”
“Haha, let’s see.”
The vast central plaza teemed with people, packed to bursting. And most were mages—an astonishing sight.
Didn’t know this continent had so many undertakers……
Brawny mages in robes emblazoned with their towers’ emblems. Their victims’ screams echoed in my ears from all the amputees.
Not as many as on the battlefield, but scattered in clinics then—not clustered like this now. Felt even more oppressive.
“Ah! Gold Tower Master! You’re here!”
Amid the swarming crowd like maggots, a friendly face approached.
“Donald? Long time. Where’s the Tower of Truth Master?”
Mac Dollar’s disciple beamed as he neared, familiar faces from clinic visits behind him.
“Haha, Master had back-to-back emergencies, couldn’t make it.”
“Shame. Would’ve been nice to catch up.”
He grimaced and whispered.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to come either. Not as systematic as the knowledge you share, Gold Tower Master.”
“True. So why are you here?”
He shrugged.
“Skip it, and it looks bad. Plus, showing up means others attend ours next time. And thanks to you, we’re selling medical devices on commission?”
His lips curled slyly.
“As Master’s disciple, better for contract signings if I’m here.”
“Fair enough.”
“Gonna greet other tower masters. See you.”
“Yeah, later.”
He bowed and left with his group. On the central dais amid the mage-packed plaza climbed Servius, his smile warmer than anyone’s.
He traced fingers across his throat like drawing, then faced the crowd.
“Dear mages! Thank you for coming from afar!”
Some throat spell? His voice boomed like a lion’s roar through a megaphone from the distant stage.
“As always at this regular conference in the Frederik Dungeon Zone, we’ll share new medical discoveries and research from each tower.”
His booming speech continued, gaze seemingly on me—not imagination. No prep time, drag me out to humiliate. Obvious plan.
Won’t faze me, though.
A few scraps of my knowledge could upend this place.
“First, I’ll present the Wind Tower’s latest research. And it is! This!”
With his shout, an image burst from his crystal orb into the air. The crowd buzzed.
Ah…… they’re at it again with the crazy shit?