The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 166: The Price of a Perfect Beginning
In a society like the Baler Federation, the idea that the amount of money you spend determines the level of service you receive had long since become part of people’s values and worldview. No one thought there was anything wrong with it.
Certainly, there was some resentment toward the wealthy.
But far more people admired wealth than hated it.
Eleanor’s mother understood that all too well.
A number of neighbors had begun gathering around her. Everyone could see that Eleanor had left with a wealthy man. They had no way of currying favor with Eleanor or the rich gentleman they didn’t know, but ingratiating themselves with Eleanor’s mother seemed much more achievable.
After all, who knew?
Maybe one day she would be able to help them land a decent job.
At that moment, Eleanor failed to notice a small detail.
As soon as William finished registering her membership, another employee quietly locked the store’s front door and hung up a sign reading, Private Client Session in Progress, directing any incoming customers to wait in the neighboring café.
Any drinks and pastries they ordered there would be paid for by the clothing brand.
The only requirement was that they present a membership card from the store.
Internally, this level of treatment allowed customers to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of superiority that money could create.
Externally, the gesture encouraged others to aspire to membership while simultaneously flattering existing members.
After all, anyone who could afford membership would hardly embarrass themselves trying to save the cost of a cup of coffee and a pastry.
The people who genuinely wanted free handouts never got the opportunity.
The entire second floor of the hotel operated on this model.
These stores were very different from the so-called luxury boutiques found in commercial districts.
To certain people, any store that sold standardized sizes could never truly be considered luxury.
Or rather, it was luxury only for ordinary people.
It lacked pedigree.
After much deliberation, Eleanor selected two summer outfits and four autumn outfits.
September was approaching.
Once October arrived, Currilan’s weather would gradually cool, leaving little opportunity to wear summer clothing.
Autumn would last for a while, roughly two months or so, before winter arrived.
As for winter fashion, no clear trend had emerged yet.
The winter collection plans would not be finalized until around November, meaning Eleanor would have to make another visit then.
Once the selections had been made, all that remained was the waiting.
After Eleanor confirmed her requirements several times, the specifications would be sent to headquarters, where specialized master tailors would handcraft the garments according to her preferences.
In truth, it wasn’t nearly as impressive as it sounded.
The whole notion of handcrafting was largely a marketing gimmick.
A prestigious brand with stores spread across the entire country was not truly operating at the very highest level.
Most of the components were pre-manufactured and assembled according to measurements.
From a production standpoint, the difference between handcrafted garments and assembly-line products mostly came down to the final stage.
Even so, many people adored the service.
Before they left, the staff presented Eleanor with a membership gift package.
Inside were several upscale cosmetics and various women’s products, all of which had become extremely fashionable recently.
If a newly registered member was male, the gifts would typically consist of ties, belts, wallets, and other small accessories.
Escorted by the entire staff, the pair left the store.
The sign on the door was turned back to Open for Business, and everything returned to normal.
“This is terrifying,” Eleanor whispered. “Can you tell me how much all of this costs? Should I take a deep breath first?”
Throughout the entire process, William had never told her how much he’d spent.
She hadn’t asked, either.
Doing so would have embarrassed both of them.
She knew how to preserve William’s dignity.
Now that they had left the store, curiosity finally got the better of her.
She wanted to know what sort of number it was.
Whether it was as suffocating as she imagined.
“Not much. Twelve thousand dollars.”
The amount no longer meant much to William.
The main reason he had chosen this brand was its influence among young people, especially fashionable young men and women.
College should never be underestimated.
Nor should the complexity of college life.
In this era, the people who could afford a university education generally fell into two categories.
The first category consisted of those who had already secured direct admission, full scholarships, and various research grants before ever stepping onto campus.
People commonly referred to them as cadet scientists.
Even the most dedicated bookworms barely reached half their height, metaphorically speaking.
These people would inevitably end up in elite research institutes, directing experiments that changed the course of human history.
The second category consisted of families with some financial resources.
Most came from the middle class or households on the verge of entering it.
Otherwise, even with education insurance, few families could afford the full cost of a university education.
They could sell their house and still come up short.
Families in this second group generally understood trends, fashion, and personal presentation far better than ordinary households.
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