Chapter 70 Clockwork Clown
"I reckon starting tomorrow, there will be new rumors about me at school."
Inside the carriage, Cecilia put down her schoolbag and shook her head.
"Rumors?"
"Yes, when I enrolled, didn't you ask Captain Dunn for help? He went to the Tingen Police Chief to smooth things over with the school, so on the day I enrolled, I was surrounded by a lot of police officers." Cecilia said helplessly, "But then a rumor started circulating that I was the police chief's illegitimate daughter."
Lu Ze couldn't help but smile.
"Isn't this a good thing? At least no one will dare to bully you anymore."
Lu Ze knew that some things were inevitable in an all-girls school, and his sister was so beautiful that she was bound to attract jealousy. Although the idea of her being an illegitimate child was a bit absurd, it at least guaranteed her safety.
"Although no one has come to cause me any trouble."
Cecilia looked at Luze's face, recalling the commotion he had caused at the school gate, and couldn't help but sigh, "When I go back to school tomorrow, there will definitely be rumors that I'm keeping a gigolo."
Keeping a gigolo? Me?
Lu Ze chuckled to himself. If you include the past period, it seems that you could actually say that.
"Alright, Lu Ze, let's not talk about that. When did you get back?"
"Just this afternoon, I got back and couldn't wait to pick up my lovely little sister, but she rejected me. It really made me sad," Lu Ze said with a smile, trying to cheer Cecilia up.
"."
Cecilia looked somewhat speechless, so she simply ignored his joke and continued to ask, "Was the business trip smooth? Did you encounter any danger?"
"Everything went smoothly, and we encountered no danger."
Lu Ze lied without batting an eye.
"Really?"
Cecilia stared at Luze's face and asked.
The connection between her family members made her feel that things weren't so simple.
"Of course it's true, why would I lie to you? I only provide technical assistance; the dangerous work is all done by the locals." Seeing that Cecilia seemed unconvinced and wanted to press for more information, Lu Ze had a sudden inspiration and changed the subject. "By the way, sister, guess what we're going to do today?"
"What are you doing? Aren't we going home?"
"Of course not, we'll go to a clothing store and have a dress custom-made for you!"
The carriage hired by Luze passed through Narcissus Street without stopping, and continued on to the commercially vibrant Halles district.
The carriage stopped in front of the largest clothing store in the neighborhood.
Beneath the "Barber Clothing Store" sign, the left glass window displays the latest fashion styles, with intricate patterns adorning the ruffles of the skirts, and tasteful color combinations giving the overall look a beautiful and elegant feel. The right window showcases various high-end fabrics, with a sign that reads "Professional Measurement and Custom-Made Clothing".
Upon entering the clothing store, the environment was quiet and elegant. Instead of a dazzling array of clothes, there were separate spaces partitioned by screens, accompanied by soft music that masked the conversations between customers and waiters.
"Sir, what do you need?"
A waiter in a shirt and vest stepped forward and asked respectfully. His eyes lit up when he saw the faces of the Rondor siblings.
"I want to order a formal dress and a casual dress for my sister."
Lu Ze said, "Could you please have a tailor come over?"
"Please wait a moment."
The waiter turned and left, and soon brought in a female tailor and assistant to take Cecilia's measurements in a private room to discuss clothing styles and combinations. Luze, like most gentlemen, patiently waited outside, enjoying the tea and pastries served by the waiter.
"Meow."
A soft meow came from below. It was the pet cat of one of the guests, lying at Lu Ze's feet, looking at him with wet eyes.
Do you want to eat something?
Lu Ze broke off a small piece of the less sweet pastry and placed it in his palm. The kitten stuck out its barbed tongue and licked the pastry pieces clean.
After a while, Cecilia came out and told Luze that she had chosen two dresses. One was an ivory-white casual dress, simple in style, fitted and slender, with only lace decorations on the cuffs and hem, which perfectly accentuated the girl's youthful charm; the other was a light purple off-the-shoulder gown, with a layered sweetheart neckline for a luxurious feel, and a skirt decorated with pleats and gold trim.
The two outfits, including the customization fee and material cost, totaled 10 pounds, which was so expensive it made you want to grin.
"Sir, you and your sister have such excellent looks and气质 (qi zhi - a combination of temperament, bearing, and style). If you would like to become models for our store, we will not only make custom-made clothes for you free of charge, but also pay you a generous fee."
After emerging from the cubicle, the female tailor made a very excited suggestion.
"No need."
Luze paid a 3-pound deposit and said with a smile.
Turning his head, he saw his sister playing with the kitten, a smile on her face. Even after the other customer came out and left with the kitten, her gaze lingered on the cat with reluctance.
Lu Ze's heart skipped a beat.
Yes, Cecilia likes cats.
Flipping through his memories, it seemed that his younger sister had loved cats since she was a child. When Lu Ze was lucid, he had seen her playing with the landlord's cat and the cats on the street. Unfortunately, his family's circumstances made it impossible to keep cats, so her love for them was buried in the trivialities of daily life.
After a while, I'll try to get my sister a cat. She usually gets off work so late, it would be nice for her to have an animal to keep her company.
With this thought in mind, Lu Ze and Cecilia left the clothing store.
————
Having cherished the rest of his vacation, Lu Ze returned to work. Upon entering Blackthorn Security Company, Dunn immediately called him into his office.
"The Sanctuary has replied, agreeing to both of your requests. Starting today, your salary will be increased from £6 to £8 per week. Additionally, you may choose one item from the relatively safe Tier 3 Sealed Artifacts to carry daily as a supplement for combat."
Dunn said to Luze, "So, which level 3 sealed artifact do you want to choose? What's your opinion?"
"Yes, Captain, I already have a target."
Lu Ze replied.
Before leaving the company for the holiday, he had obtained a list of Level 3 sealed items and their detailed descriptions. After studying them carefully, he selected the one that best suited him.
"Oh, which one are you going to choose?"
"I choose seal item 3-169, 'Clockwork Clown'."
As he said this, the detailed description of the sealed artifact flashed through his mind:
Number: 0169.
Name: Clockwork Clown.
Danger level: 3, there is some danger, use with caution.
Sealing method: Avoid prolonged contact with living people.
Description: A clown doll with a wind-up clockwork mechanism on its back.
Holding the clown's key in your hand and consuming spiritual energy will wind it up, but it won't turn at this time. The key will only turn when the user strikes the clown's head, at which point the clown will laugh.
When the clown laughs, the user's movements become agile and their strength is enhanced, making them appear like a professional circus performer. One user once hopped on one leg, leaping back and forth between 5-centimeter-wide iron frames without falling.
Side effect: Those who possess the Clockwork Joker may occasionally burst into uncontrollable laughter. This laughter often occurs at the most inopportune times, leading to embarrassing situations for the user. One user was transferred after laughing uncontrollably when his boss fell awkwardly; another user laughed uncontrollably while confessing his feelings to his crush, only to be perceived as being toyed with, resulting in a heartbreak.
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