Chapter 18: A Change of Clothes [3/3]

last chapter for today, enjoy *^

Yore Clothing Store.

Located in the wealthy district, this store is not just famous in Blackhole Plains but also throughout the Holy Kingdom. The clothes and jewelry here can cost hundreds or even thousands.

Because it's a large chain store with a powerful owner, and given that the wealthy district is under the protection of the "Church" even the local gangs rarely show up here.

At this moment, a man and a woman walked out of this glitzy clothing store, instantly catching the eyes of many passersby.

The man, Renji, was wearing a brand-new brown suit. Just by looking at the cut and lines of the outfit, you could tell it was high-end. The suit made him look broader in the shoulders and highlighted his well-proportioned figure. The vest underneath filled out his chest, and the elegant wingtip collar added a touch of sophistication.

That's the power of high-end fashion; it enhances the wearer's charm.

But the real eye-catcher is the woman next to him, Eileen.

Her outfit was simple but effective: a fitted little black dress. The dress hugged her figure, showcasing the youthful vitality unique to young women. The design gave enough room for her chest while making her waist look even slimmer. The slit in the skirt added a touch of imagination, revealing her legs now and then.

The serious black color, combined with a pair of red-bottomed high heels, balanced out her youthful vibe without making her look too mature, adding instead a playful test.

People passing by took quick glances and then lowered their heads, not daring to stare. They were probably thinking,

"Where did this rich young lady come from?"

For Blackhole Plains, outsiders are pretty common, especially during the initial craze of the Relic Caves. Back then, you'd often see lavishly dressed strangers spending money in the area. But now that the craze has died down, such sightings have become rare.

It's worth mentioning that the locals, who are used to seeing people from powerful backgrounds, can easily tell the difference between a nouveau riche and a genuinely important person.

The method is simple: even the nouveau riche can grit their teeth and buy expensive clothes, but they can't fake the aura, especially the aura of the young woman standing in front of the clothing store. One look at her well-maintained, glowing skin, and you know she's never had a hard day in her life. To the locals, this is a better indicator of her "rich young lady" status than any expensive outfit.

However...

People totally misjudged them this time.

Good thing they're far away. If they were closer, they'd hear what they think is a well-mannered rich lady from a 'big city' actually saying,

"This piece of junk is just a few scraps of cloth! The fabric isn't even half as much as my old coat! And they dare to charge a fortune for it? Who do they think they are? Royalty?"

"And these crappy shoes, over 500 bucks! Can you believe it? They're uncomfortable and look terrible, and they're charging me 500 bucks for them! What a rip-off!"

"Wasteful! Suckers! Creeps! I'm so mad! So angry!"

Eileen was so ticked off that she started stomping her feet. But then she remembers she's wearing those expensive shoes and stops, not wanting to ruin them.

Seeing her act like this, Renji feels a bit helpless but also thinks it was wise to have used his "contract" to keep her quiet in the store.

"Miss Eileen, I get the first few complaints, but the last one about 'creeps'?"

"Hmph, look at those saleswomen in the store, skirts so short they can barely cover anything. And just because you bought some clothes, they're giving you their business cards and making eyes at you. They'd stick to you if they could. Just for a sale, they're acting all flirty. Ugh, disgusting!"

Eileen sticks out her tongue, pretending to throw up.

Renji glances at the dramatic girl next to him and suggests,

"If you hate it so much, I can return your outfit. We haven't gone far."

Then, as expected, Eileen's complaints suddenly stop, and she starts to look a bit flustered.

"No, no need for that. The fabric might be less, but the quality is okay. And stores like this won't take returns once you've bought something. Plus..."

Clearly, despite her complaints, Eileen really likes the black dress. She's used to wearing rough, scratchy clothes, so the soft, smooth fabric of this dress feels amazing to her.

And even though she won't admit it, those darn high-end designers know how to make clothes that people love. She used to think that any clothes would do and that women who spent money on clothes were fools. That was until she tried on this outfit.

Eileen won't forget how she felt when she saw herself in the fitting room mirror. She couldn't even recognize herself. She never thought clothes could make such a big difference.

Men and games, women and clothes. Seems like this saying applies in any world.

Eileen starts to sound a bit flustered, scrambling for reasons to stop Renji from returning the clothes. It's only when she sees Renji's amused expression that she realizes he's messing with her.

"Hmph! That money was taken from the gang anyway. Even if we return the clothes, you won't give it back to me. So why shouldn't I enjoy it?"

Eileen flicks her head, letting her hair flow freely. Her ponytail, which she used to tie up for convenience when scavenging, had been let down by Renji as part of her makeover. Now, her long, coffee-colored hair, similar to her mother's, flows freely, even curling a bit at the ends.

Maybe she's not used to having her hair down, but when she flicks her head, her hair floats around her face. She reluctantly tucks it behind her ears, a move that surprisingly suits her.

This makes Renji once again appreciate the strong genes from Eileen's mother. And also wonder how such a promising young woman could be so outspoken.

With her skin cleansed by Divine Healing, her expensive black dress and heels, and her new hairstyle, Eileen looks completely transformed. Even she can barely recognize herself, let alone the gang members.

They head openly towards the southwest side of the gathering area, where Eileen's mother's underground clinic is located. This place is a gray area, situated between the wealthy district and the gang-controlled territory.

Just entering the gathering area means getting skimmed by the gangs, so you can imagine what it's like in this gray zone.

But Eileen, being a resourceful young woman, has her own special way of getting into the gray area easily. And this time, it seems pretty reliable.

It's through the back door of a bar.

The Sea Sand Bar.