Times Have Truly Changed

"Teacher, what on earth are you doing?" In the third-floor bedroom, Wayne stared speechlessly at Xifei, who was examining the sheets and pillows with a magnifying glass. Her solemn, meticulous demeanor suggested she genuinely expected to uncover something. Veronica had not returned home the previous night, so what Xifei was searching for went without saying. Long blonde hair—or perhaps blonde curls. Of course, it might just be long blonde hair. Wayne felt she was entirely overthinking things. Setting aside the fact that nothing had occurred between them, even if something had, the butler would have scrubbed the crime scene spotless long ago. A moment later, Xifei put away her magnifying glass with a look of palpable disappointment. She cast a sympathetic glance at Wayne, shaking her head. *To have zero worldly desires at your age... Don't be embarrassed. If there's an issue, we can visit the hospital. It won't cost much.* Wayne rolled his eyes and nudged Xifei right out of the bedroom. Whether from the standpoint of a mother or a teacher, you are the elder here! Could you show an ounce of dignity? The two descended to the parlor, where Butler Fra served black tea. Having evidently reached a decision, he addressed Xifei as "madam." Xifei did not register the shift in title. After all, Wayne was the sole master of this household; addressing her as "my lady" might carry ambiguous implications regarding her status. Wayne caught the nuance at once. His heart soared with delight, and he threw Fra a fervent, approving look. "Wayne, how are you finding the new place?" "It's wonderful. I spent last night studying the architectural blueprints. I gained a great deal and learned plenty of new things." Wayne knew what Xifei was actually prodding about, answering in earnest. "Do you need to hire more staff? It's a grand house, and keeping everything in order from top to bottom might be too much for just four maids." "No need. I'm not fond of crowded places." Wayne shook his head. He liked this household just as it was. The butler and maids were familiar faces, whereas bringing in strangers would only make him uncomfortable. Xifei let the subject drop, moving on to inquire about his meditation progress and whether Schrödinger had harassed him with any more phone calls lately. "My life essence is fully replenished, but lighting the hexagram will still take some time. I'm working hard at it." A trace of worry crossed Wayne's face. Cheating was undeniably satisfying, but an overpowered cheat carried equally glaring side effects: every single breakthrough demanded far more of the four elements than an ordinary mage would ever need. Sidney's basement housed a magic circle designed to gather the four elements, and at night, the surrounding woods barred the encroaching mist. Every condition favored meditation. Even so, satisfying the voracious appetite of the Book of Greed was no simple task. Wayne had tasted the sweet bounty of having a dedicated supply-transport captain. Going from luxury back to frugality was excruciating, and this sluggish pace brought him little joy. He could not help but wonder: Director Planck clearly had the makings of a stubborn old mule, not the type to surrender easily. Why had he not come knocking after all this time? Could the old fossil have seen right through him, realizing Wayne planned to drive up the price and take him for a ride, and thus was deliberately stalling to make Wayne blink first? *Sigh. Not a shred of honesty or good faith left. Times have truly changed.* *The scoundrels have just grown old!* "Don't rush, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Being able to top off your life essence in such a short window shows you've already worked exceptionally hard. All you need to do is keep it up." Xifei produced an application form and guided Wayne line by line through filling it out. It was an application to join the Church of Nature. Once approved, Wayne would stand out from ordinary believers and formally become a disciple of the Goddess of Nature. Following his teacher's instructions, Wayne filled in the blanks, writing "detective" under his career preference. He had no intention of entering Londan's church headquarters as a civil servant. Xifei did not force the issue. Given Wayne's latent talent and immaculate magic power, wasting his time behind an administrative desk was unnecessary; his future achievements would reach far higher. For instance... A Holy Son! Back in her youth, Xifei had failed to become the Holy Maiden. Though she never voiced it, a pang of regret lingered in her heart. Fortunately, the Goddess had treated her kindly. Ahead of the upcoming assessment for the next generation of Holy Maidens and Holy Sons, she had been blessed with an extraordinarily gifted student. Now serving as a regional high priest, she held the sole authority to recommend candidates on Windsor's behalf. With Wayne's talent, enrolling him would practically guarantee him tearing through the competition effortlessly. "Hehehe..." x2 Xifei covered her mouth and giggled, only to realize the laughter had come in stereo. She arched an eyebrow at Wayne. "What are you laughing at?" "No idea. But seeing Teacher laugh, how could a student not join in?" Wayne shrugged, playing the picture of filial obedience. Xifei nodded repeatedly. What a lovable boy—ten thousand times better than *that* bastard. Thinking of *that* bastard suddenly reminded Xifei of something. She rose and gathered her skirt, revealing slender calves clad in sheer black stockings. "Well? If I wore a short skirt out shopping, what kind of reaction do you think I'd get?" *Plenty of men would be standing at full salute, that's for sure!* Wayne offered the answer silently in his mind. He glanced twice, then pulled his gaze away. Splendid legs that went beautifully with stockings, but this was hardly something he ought to be ogling. Certain people might claim they were going out shopping, but they were almost certainly going home to parade around their own parlor. "Why aren't you saying anything? Does it look bad?" Xifei frowned. "It looks too good. Your student was left at a loss for words." "Such a sweet talker." Xifei let down her hem and launched into a vivid recounting of what had transpired at the church that day. With a casual lift of her leg, she had rendered Flora utterly wide-eyed and transfixed. The latter had been left in a daze, opening her mouth to ask several times before shame stopped her, ultimately departing the office in sullen defeat. Total annihilation! Wayne did not know Flora, nor did he care to. He only knew she was a newly appointed priest parachuted in from elsewhere. From his teacher's brief remarks, he could already detect the pungent, synthetic scent of plastic sisterhood. He could vividly picture the scene: Xifei had undoubtedly played the part of the insufferable green tea rival to perfection. *Clap!* Xifei retrieved four sealed packs of stockings from her briefcase and asked Wayne whether the packaging required adjustments. As the designer, his opinion carried great weight. Wayne took them in hand to examine. The packaging was simple and plain, entirely fitting the aesthetic of the era. He slipped the packaging open, spreading his fingers inside a stocking and rubbing the material to test its texture. Constrained by current manufacturing limits, the finished stockings featured an indelible back seam, creating the look of a bold black vertical line drawn down the leg when worn. "Well? Any thoughts?" Xifei watched Wayne with bated breath. To better display how they looked, she hitched her skirt up a fraction higher. *Next time, do me a favor and swap the model out for Veronica, thanks!* Wayne kept his eyes off Xifei and furrowed his brow. "What's the planned retail price?" "Twenty shillings a pair." "How many pairs are in reserve?" "Twenty thousand." "Change it to fifty shillings. Build up a reserve of one hundred thousand pairs, and spend half a month promoting them. That's for the initial batch. For the second batch, bump the price to two hundred shillings..." Wayne reeled off a rapid-fire marketing strategy. Promotion was simple: hire leggy models to wear the stockings in public venues, especially high-society galas and salons, which served as premier advertising grounds. Xifei hesitated, visibly uncertain. "A hundred thousand for a brand-new market... isn't that reserve far too large? And wouldn't fifty shillings be priced too high?" "Not high at all. As far as I'm concerned, fifty shillings for the first batch is practically charity work. Giving away a hundred thousand pairs for free almost makes my heart ache!" Wayne shook his head. His fingers felt empty, as though missing a good cigar. "Still, forget it. It's a new market, after all, and upfront investment is unavoidable. If we take a slight loss on the first batch, so be it—we'll chalk it up to advertising." Xifei was thoroughly taken aback by Wayne's confidence. She found herself half-believing her scoundrel husband's warnings. *Acting like this is a given—isn't he afraid of falling flat on his face?* Wayne smiled faintly. "From a woman's perspective, both you and Priest Flora have proven that the market potential for stockings is immense. From a man's perspective, remember to watch Mr. Auston's eyes when you get home tonight. His actions will show you exactly why your student is so confident." Wayne brimmed with certainty. He had heard countless legends regarding nylon stockings; this product would never lack a market. In wartime, nylon had once been designated a strategic material, prompting strictly rationed releases of stockings. Countless women had stopped at nothing to secure a single pair. On the black market, the price of stockings had skyrocketed to astronomical heights. Wayne could not recall the exact numbers, but he was certain that when the first wave hit the shelves, they were wiped out instantly. Subsequent price hikes only fueled greater frenzies. Many women had even drawn a black line down the back of their legs just to pretend they were wearing a pair. Only twenty shillings, and a mere reserve of twenty thousand pairs? Who were they insulting? Even if the ladies agreed to such an arrangement, Wayne would be the first to object. Raise the price! It had to be raised! Xifei mostly believed him, though a shred of doubt lingered. She resolved to head home tonight and toss that bastard a bit of eye candy to see what kind of look came over his face. *He can't possibly devour me whole, can he?* "By the way, how are your basic magic studies progressing? Would you like your big sister to help you review?" "No need. Veronica introduced me to a private tutor." Wayne brushed it aside without dwelling on the topic. Hearing that her daughter had arranged the instructor, Xifei felt entirely reassured. Without thinking further of it, she grew intensely curious about her scoundrel husband's impending reaction, eager to rush home and change into a short skirt. "Teacher, have you heard of Dragon Heart Island?" "I have. Why do you ask?" "My detective agency received a commission from the White Glove Association. An investigation into a wealthy man's suicide on Dragon Heart Island." Being a newcomer, Wayne assessed the risks with caution, prioritizing safety above all. "Then by all means, go. Crouching in one place all day will only narrow your horizons. A young man ought to travel and see the world." With a swift blur, Xifei slid up beside Wayne and hooked an arm over his shoulders, offering thoughtful counsel: "Still, travelling alone over long distances means you'll inevitably get homesick in the dead of night. It's a miserable feeling. Would you like your big sister to introduce a young lady to keep you company? Having a companion to look out for each other is always better." *That young lady you're talking about wouldn't happen to be your daughter, would it?* "No need, Teacher. You know me—aside from magic and solving cases, my eyes have room for nothing else." Wayne patted away the arm draped over his shoulder, refusing her with righteous solemnity. Putting himself in another's shoes, if his precious cabbage were travelling abroad with a lecher, he would certainly station men on the ocean liner to orchestrate an accidental plunge involving a cement barrel. Xifei had no choice but to drop the matter. *** That evening, Villy arrived as promised. The gym was close to Wayne's new home, and she intended to stay the night again. She had even brought several changes of clothes and various feminine daily necessities, cramming two suitcases to the brim without the slightest reservation, treating the place entirely as her own. Wayne was at a loss for words regarding this completely unguarded delivery. It felt as though, with just a nudge of effort, he could get the defenseless Villy drunk at any moment and fulfill his desires. Too bad he couldn't touch her! The magical girl trusted him implicitly; scheming to get her drunk would be far too monstrously depraved. To honor their friendship and respect Villy's trust, Wayne decided to drop his own guard as well—he refused to be outdone. Soon after, Chris arrived on schedule. She had research courses at the academy during the day, leaving only evenings to tutor Wayne in foundational magic. For convenience, she had likewise brought two suitcases. Aside from a few basic personal items, the rest was packed entirely with course materials she had compiled herself. If it grew too late, she would stay overnight and return to the academy the following morning. What a wonderful young lady: refined, courteous, gentle, and remarkably trustworthy. Gazing upon the trunk filled to the brim with textbooks, Wayne already had their future children's names picked out. Butler Fra bowed his head and withdrew, his monocle glinting with an inscrutable light. He felt it prudent to clear out a room and prepare a nursery. Better safe than sorry; it would inevitably come in handy sooner or later. Moments before dinner, Veronica arrived at the Wayne manor, her face stormy. Domestic violence! Without warning, her father had taken another beating, crashing through the window with a resounding smash and landing on the garden lawn. When pressed, he had refused to explain, holding his bruised face and stammering incoherently... Yet he had looked strangely delighted! Veronica could no longer make sense of her household. She detested her parents' discord, and she detested her mother's reliance on violence even more. Whatever disagreement arose could be discussed calmly; why must hands fly at the slightest friction? By comparison, the Wayne manor was free of such tension, encircled by tranquil greenery, peaceful and... Veronica: (╯°Д°)╯︵ ┻━┻ "Your house is certainly lively!" "It's alright. We're all friends. Why don't you move in for a few days too?" "In your dreams! I'd never move in here." Veronica grumbled under her breath. Learning that Villy had already decorated her own room and that Chris was prepared to stay over for the foreseeable future, she plopped down at the dining table in a huff. "I'll be travelling far for a commission soon. I've already instructed the butler to cut keys for all of you. Feel free to come by anytime; make yourselves at home." Wayne meant every word. He had never treated any of the three as outsiders. Once dinner concluded, Wayne ushered Instructor Chris into the study. As a studious scholar, he had long hungered for one-on-one instruction. Wayne possessed great self-awareness. He figured that given his aptitude, it would take his senior at least three to five years of tutoring before he could barely graduate. In three to five years, his senior would be teaching their child how to read. Brilliant! A seamless transition—downright flawless. Just as Wayne was reveling in his daydreams, taking two steps forward, the dragon-blooded girl seized his collar from behind. A sudden braking jerked him backward, nearly strangling the breath from his lungs. "Where are you going for your trip?" "To handle a commission on Dragon Heart Island in the North Sea." Wayne rubbed his throat, lamenting how the girl was growing increasingly violent toward him. Back when they first met, she had considered even looking at him a waste of effort, unwilling to spare so much as a handshake. "What about the journal?" "I already wrote several chapters today, and I'll write several more tomorrow. The journal is in the bedroom. Just remember not to read it lying in bed." Wayne waved his hand, taking a moment to remind Villy not to make a racket or run back and forth along the hallway; studying demanded a quiet environment. With that, he pulled the study door shut and locked it from the inside. *Click!* Veronica and Villy stared at the firmly shut door, their eyes wide. Two blonde heads pressed together against the wood, listening intently for a moment. Presently, the two whispered between themselves and walked away, their hushed conversation indistinct. *** When August 5 arrived, a black motorcar pulled up at Londan Port. Wayne stepped out, accepted his suitcase from Fra, and waved farewell before boarding the Polaris with his ticket in hand. At an open-air cafe not far off, the starlet Lily Hayworth slipped on a pair of sunglasses. She lit the photograph in her hand and dropped it into the ashtray. "Wayne..."