Chapter 100: Time to Buy a New Wardrobe
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
The flyer landed in the parking zone. Following the terminal’s navigation, Heinrich led Lin Xu to the storefront of Gorlin’s custom tailoring. The shop owner and chief designer, Gorlin, was waiting at the door. At first glance, he was slightly surprised to see Lin Xu — then noticed Heinrich beside him, whose striking silver hair was impossible to miss.
Gorlin stepped forward to greet them. When he received the appointment request from a client named “Heinrich Chu,” he had double-checked multiple times, wondering if anyone in the Imperial’s trillions of inhabitants could share a name with the Abyss Fleet Marshal, Heinrich Chu.
But indeed, the only Heinrich Chu in Capital Star was the imposing figure before him, clad in the Abyss Fleet’s deep black uniform, standing tall and aloof. The beta beside him, however, was someone Gorlin knew well.
“Marshal Chu, it’s an honor to have you,” Gorlin said with a warm smile. Then turning to Lin Xu, he added, “Mr. Lin, long time no see.”
They nodded in near-perfect sync. Gorlin pushed open the shop’s door, ushering them inside to the vintage redwood interior. Through the entrance hall, neat rows of mannequins dressed in suits and gowns stood without any projection gadgets. The adjacent walls displayed exquisite fabric samples for customers to choose from.
Passing through a small arched doorway, sunlight filtered through stained glass, casting colorful patterns. Glass display cases sparkled with countless shimmering accessories. Gorlin invited Lin Xu and Heinrich to take a seat. Well-dressed attendants served tea and snacks.
Bowing politely, Gorlin inquired, “Which gentleman would like to commission new clothes today?”
“For him,” Heinrich said simply. Gorlin nodded, not prying into how his former client had come to know Marshal Chu. He continued, “Do you have any preferences, or would you like some recommendations?”
Recalling the similarly indifferent personalities of Heinrich and Lin Xu, Gorlin guessed that Marshal Chu, like Lin Xu, probably wasn’t someone who cared much about fashion.
With Marianna no longer here to pick styles for Mr. Lin, Gorlin had prepared over a dozen tailored designs suitable for Lin Xu.
Suddenly Heinrich’s voice interrupted his thoughts: “The second set from the left wall — the cut is good.”
“Oh! That’s one of our latest avant-garde designs. Marshal Chu likes this one?”
It was a dark gray, slim-fit three-piece suit with a double-breasted peaked lapel, the waistline cinched perfectly and smoothly.
“Mm,” Heinrich pursed his lips in approval, then looked at Lin Xu. “What do you think?”
“I’m fine with anything,” Lin Xu replied as usual, treating himself like a tool in a dress-up game. He only added, “I wear it for work — nothing too flashy.”
“Make it a gunmetal peaked lapel,” Heinrich chimed in after getting Lin Xu’s consent. He had considered asking Gorlin to add some edging details, but Lin Xu’s preference for simplicity made him drop the idea.
Lin Xu raised an eyebrow at this — he now suspected that Heinrich’s flashy military uniforms were entirely his own handiwork. After all, aside from Marshal Chu, Lin Xu hadn’t seen any other senior Abyss Fleet officers sporting a dozen completely different uniforms.
“Very well, no problem,” Gorlin said, somewhat surprised by Marshal Chu’s detailed knowledge of suit tailoring. “Mr. Lin, let’s start with your measurements.”
As Gorlin led Lin Xu to the fitting room, he caught a glimpse of Heinrich rising and walking over to inspect the suits on mannequins, his expression serious, almost as if reviewing an army.
Inside the fitting room, Lin Xu removed his jacket. Measurement was handled by machines that modeled the customer’s physique. The final cutting and sewing would be done by AI, ensuring perfect accuracy in every curve and length. But original design still required the imagination and creativity of human designers. Gorlin glanced at the machine’s readouts and asked, “Mr. Lin, are you feeling better physically than before?”
“Yes.” Lin Xu replied, slipping on a jacket and peering at the numbers himself. Thanks to the energy supplements from crystals and cores, his lost muscle was slowly rebuilding. Though far from peak condition and still lean, he no longer looked emaciated. His shoulder, hip, and waist measurements all increased — especially the waist. His old clothes felt tight now, especially around the stomach.
Lin Xu thought for a moment. It made sense. The muscle he regained was powerful — his abs had returned to a six-pack, with room to grow. There was no problem managing his physique.
Gorlin was pleased, too. Previously, when tailoring for Lin Xu, he avoided slim cuts, leaving room and using stiff fabric to create a broader silhouette that didn’t cling to the waist or expose Lin Xu’s slender frame. That had hidden his thinness but obscured the curve of his lower back.
Lin Xu had once been too thin. Now he had improved enough to go with a slim cut, accentuating a smooth, elegant waistline. The AI sewing robot worked quickly. Once the design was finalized, the suit would be ready in an hour or two. Lin Xu stepped out of the fitting room, about to call Heinrich over. Passing by the stained glass window, he paused, eyes darting sharply toward the street outside.
“Mr. Lin, would you like to see some accessories?” Gorlin asked.
“No, thank you.” Lin Xu withdrew his gaze. Lately, he’d been a bit paranoid, feeling like someone was watching him. But here in the bustling commercial center, Imperial officials wouldn’t risk plotting assassination in such a public place. The resulting panic and economic turmoil would be their own undoing. He calmed his breath and returned to the lounge area.
Heinrich hadn’t returned to his seat. Instead, he was standing before the fabric wall, requesting the attendant to bring down various materials for him to inspect. Another attendant stood beside Heinrich, holding a clipboard. As Lin Xu approached with curiosity, the attendant smiled and said, “Mr. Lin, would you like to see the styles Marshal Chu has chosen for you? Here are the design sketches—fabric details are still being finalized.”
Heinrich looked serious and focused as he examined the fabrics. Lin Xu took the clipboard and scanned the contents— Wow. Over twenty suits, plus many coats, casual shirts, hoodies, and sweaters. Scrolling down, he found a dozen or so suits still awaiting measurements, along with countless cufflinks, pins, ties, and accessories.
“What’s all this…?”
The attendant explained, “The lower section is Marshal Chu’s own wardrobe. We’ll take his measurements shortly.”
Lin Xu pressed his throbbing forehead.
Heinrich spent most of his life aboard the Victoria, where as fleet leader, he always appeared in uniform. Outside the Abyss Fleet, he hardly ever appeared without his Imperial Marshal identity. So his wardrobe had been almost entirely military attire. He definitely needed some everyday clothing. But more than a dozen suits at once was a bit much. Lin Xu tried to cross some off, but Heinrich’s taste was impeccable—every piece was hard to give up.
A flood of dazzling images filled Lin Xu’s mind. Suddenly, he found himself eager to see Heinrich wearing all these flamboyant clothes. In the end, Lin Xu didn’t remove a single item, even adding a few sets of sportswear and casual outfits.
While Heinrich went for measurements, Lin Xu opened his terminal and urgently ordered several new wardrobes to be shipped to Cacamorra Plains. Oh, and he’d better finish renovating the second floor of his house soon—there was no way to fit all these towering wardrobes otherwise.
What had been ready-to-pick-up suits turned into 48-hour home delivery. Gorlin’s face bloomed with a wide smile as he personally escorted these two extraordinarily generous clients out.
“Any plans next?” Lin Xu asked.
“No,” Heinrich shook his head. Honda Agana had eagerly recommended other date spots when she heard he was meeting Lin Xu. But Heinrich figured Lin Xu would find places like cinemas or cafes boring and a waste of time, so he politely declined Honda’s well-meaning suggestions.
He had no idea Honda Agana’s eyes had practically been burning with indignation at the time. She simply couldn’t understand how a straight-A type like Heinrich could have a wife. The two walked side by side down Second Avenue. People bustled around them, but Heinrich’s spotless military uniform and icy aura made most passersby instinctively keep their distance.
“We’re going to the Perser Hotel. Lu’a and Lu’la live there. I want to see them.”
“Okay.”
The Perser Hotel was a bit away from Second Avenue. Heinrich went to fetch something, asking Lin Xu to wait outside the docking area.
Capital Star’s artificial climate was always sunny with moderate UV levels that wouldn’t harm people—but Lin Xu disliked the sun, so he retreated into the shade of a building, leaning against the wall. A breeze stirred through a deserted alley, and the shadow flickered. Lin Xu looked down and made out a silhouette in the shade. So someone really was following him. The flickering light from the stained glass wasn’t an illusion.
The figure stopped when Lin Xu stood still. Just then, Heinrich’s flyer landed before Lin Xu. As Lin Xu stepped toward the door, the shadow seemed to move. In a blink, Lin Xu sprang like a leopard toward the corner, grabbed with one hand, kicked with one foot—and yanked a man out from the narrow gap in the wall.
The man was stunned, trying to resist, but Lin Xu’s punch came faster than his reaction and knocked him down. Lin Xu crouched and pinned him with his knee, smoothly raising a fist for another blow. Heinrich jumped down from the flyer and quickly stopped Lin Xu, “Lin Xu, wait. He’s already out cold.”
Lin Xu glanced at the man beneath him. The sudden attack had stunned him so quickly his eyes hadn’t even fully rolled back—half-open like a dead fish. Lin Xu withdrew his hand, “Sorry, I’m not good at grappling.”
His combat experience mostly involved dealing mercilessly with zombies—which no longer existed in this world. The stalker was just an ordinary man. Heinrich said nothing. He didn’t need to. The details were enough to tell him this was a tail. He knelt down to check the man’s pulse, confirming he was still alive, then called Arnold to send people over for medical aid and interrogation.
Despite the incident raising many doubts, the plan to visit the slimes continued. In the slime-specialized room at the Perser Hotel, Lin Xu barely recognized Lu’a and Lu’la. The two slimes had grown to his calves, plump and round. It seemed the slime syrup supply here was abundant.
Lu’a and Lu’la proudly showed the handsome Mr. Lin their beautiful bubbles and luxurious greenhouse. The bubbles had become semi-transparent, and after a few more spits, they’d become new baby slimes!
They excitedly told Lin Xu they were waiting for their old companions’ replies, preparing to use the Perseus Group’s compensation funds for an interstellar trip. The itinerary was already planned. Lu’a and Lu’la had once been presumed dead. Who knew what their friends would feel hearing they were alive again?
Heinrich listened with furrowed brows as the slimes called Lin Xu “handsome Mr. Lin” and “so sweet.” His lips pressed into a cold line, saying nothing. The slimes learned to keep their distance from this walking cold breeze and stuck to Lin Xu instead.
As Lin Xu prepared to leave and return to Endymion to continue fixing his house, a message popped up on his terminal. He blinked in surprise. Heinrich, watching his unsettled expression, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Xu’s eyelashes fluttered; his expression was unreadable. “Chen Jinshan, Marianna’s husband, has returned to Capital Star. He’s at the Perser Estate and… wants to see me.”
At the same time, Heinrich received a message from Arnold — the man they’d knocked out was an officer from the First Legion and was awake.
Lu’a bubbled happily nearby.
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