The Mafia Empire

Julian politely knocked on the table. The sound jolted Mr. Dumas awake. He sat up suddenly, and his gold-rimmed glasses slid down his nose. Thankfully, a chain attached to the arms of the glasses kept them from crashing to the floor. As he stood and adjusted his glasses, he gave a small, apologetic smile, bowing slightly.

"I'm terribly sorry. I've been working all morning and got a bit tired. My apologies. Today, all orders will receive a ten percent discount."

As he bowed, his expression briefly changed, then adjusted back. That damned girl! Hadn't she thought to warn him beforehand? Embarrassing oneself before such a distinguished guest was unacceptable! Her pay would be docked!

Julian was quite satisfied with the "old gentleman's" dedication to his work. He pointed to himself and then to Mason. "Hello, we need two formal suits for an evening banquet. If it can be expedited, please do."

Mr. Dumas dutifully picked up a notebook, momentarily surprised, then quickly smiled and said, "Forgive me, I haven't yet asked for your name or this gentleman's name…" After Julian introduced them, Mr. Dumas jotted down the names and the request. He then directed Julian to stand under a particularly bright lamp and began taking measurements.

As he worked, he asked various questions, the whole process lasting about ten minutes. When he finished, he swiftly cut out a paper mock-up of a suit and loosely pinned it together, laying it before Julian.

"Mr. Julian, here is the suit design I've come up with for you. I've incorporated this spring's minimalist trend, which is becoming popular in the southern and central regions. I removed the subtle piping along the collar edge, favored by many gentlemen, to give it a more refined and grand appearance. It's less playful, adding an air of nobility and gravity..."

Julian raised a hand, and Mr. Dumas immediately fell silent, bending slightly with a listening expression. "I don't like purple," Julian said. Yes, he disliked purple because it reminded him of that effeminate Delier, whose all-purple outfits were annoyingly flamboyant.

Mr. Dumas's face lit up in understanding, and he nodded vigorously. "If you're not fond of purple, would a deep brown suit be to your liking?"

After another twenty minutes, during which Julian felt sweat bead on his forehead, Mr. Dumas finally wrapped up his explanations. Julian couldn't help but feel relieved—lucky, even, that the shop hadn't accepted him as an apprentice back then. He certainly wouldn't have survived!

Then it was Mason's turn. Nearly forty minutes later, both paper prototypes were complete. Mr. Dumas calculated the total cost and presented it to Julian. "Mr. Julian, for four suits and the rental agreement with Imperial Jewelry for accessories, the total is 3,700 dollars.

However, given my oversight and the error by my staff that may have caused some confusion or dissatisfaction, I'm offering a reduced price of 3,300 dollars.

"I must also remind you that the rental fee for the Imperial Jewelry accessories isn't included. You'll need to take the agreement to any Imperial Jewelry store to pay the rental fee, and a specialist will help you choose and wear the accessories. Any other questions?"

Julian glanced at Mr. Dumas and smiled. "You're a clever man, and I like clever people. Now, I'd like to get five membership cards. Is that possible?"

Mr. Dumas, as if unaware of any prior issues, nodded readily. "Of course. It would be an honor for the Paul family to serve you. There will be no charge. I'll arrange for five unlimited, nationwide membership cards immediately!"

Dumas was undoubtedly a clever man. Not only did he have a remarkable talent in tailoring, but he also had profound expertise in social interaction and communication. When Julian didn't present a membership certificate in the usual manner, Dumass immediately understood that, regardless of whether Julian was a member of Paul's Tailoring, he at least needed to pass this immediate challenge.

While tailor shops and clothing stores might not seem like the most information-laden places, the reality was quite the opposite. Most of Paul's Tailoring clients were high-society individuals, who typically had access to the latest and fastest news.

During the lengthy process of custom tailoring, it was unlikely they'd stay silent the entire time, dutifully cooperating with the tailors without saying a word.

To pass the time, they would often chat with the tailor or discuss matters within their own circles with friends, allowing the tailors to pick up bits and pieces of information.

Dumass had heard that recently, a young Guar named Julian had successively taken down "Wood the Lumberjack" and "Gador the Lizard," and was now one of the three major players in the city's illicit alcohol industry, fending off resistance from the other two forces. Though the information about Julian was fragmented, Dumas had pieced together a fairly comprehensive understanding of him.

Julian was a ruthless young man, but that wasn't surprising; in a city as large as Ternell, ruthless young men were too numerous to count, hardly worth mentioning. What made Julian notable was that he wasn't just ruthless; he was bold, audacious, and highly skilled in his dealings.

In just a few months, he had achieved things others couldn't accomplish over a much longer period, even things they wouldn't dare to imagine.

Thus, when Dumas asked Julian's name and Julian responded, Dumas knew he had to avoid crossing this figure. Perhaps he didn't realize that three months ago, this now-prominent "big figure" had once sought a job with him, only to be politely turned down. If Dumas had known, he wouldn't have charged three thousand or even three hundred; he wouldn't have dared to ask for a single coin.

He might have even thrown in some money himself to ensure Julian's goodwill and appease his wrath.

"I'll arrange for someone to pick up the clothes. Goodbye, sir!" Julian waved his hand and left with Mason.

Once they departed, a girl came over with teary eyes. "They didn't trouble you, did they, Mr. Dumas?"

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