Chapter 26: shopping

After the representatives which included Peter—had left, the only people remaining were Smith, George, his aunt, Brian, and Jack. They went up to the living room.

​After taking their seats on the sofa, Smith looked directly toward Brian and Jack. "So, what are your plans now?"

​Brian spoke up first. "For now, as you know, we’re at the peak of the intermediate rank. once we’ve signed the contract, we’ll start preparing for the promotion to the expert rank. I know it will still take some time, but that’s our immediate plan." Jack nodded in agreement beside him.

​Smith then turned his gaze toward George, who offered his own perspective. "As for me, even though I’m at the peak of the expert rank, I still have a lot of work to do. Undertaking a promotion trial isn’t simple, and advancing to the master rank is even more complicated. I still need to build up my foundation to ensure I have a sure shot at reaching the master rank."

​Smith didn’t say much to that. He didn’t know much about those higher ranks yet; he had only asked out of politeness. Instead, he shared his own situation. "As for me, as you can see, I’ve already arrived. But because I still lack basic knowledge, I’ll be requesting some learning materials from the Browns family."

​After chatting a bit more, Jack and Brian both received a call directly from Peter. After a brief conversation, Brian ended the call and turned to the group. "It seems he has already arranged everything for us. We can sign the contract at any moment, so to avoid wasting time, we’ll be taking our leave now."

​Brian and Jack left the estate together, leaving George behind. Since George had no other pressing matters, he also said his goodbyes and headed out shortly after.

​Now left alone with his aunt, Smith decided to summon Velvet, who materialized wearing her usual red robe. Earlier, Smith had asked Peter if he had permission to summon Velvet while at home. Peter had explained that only unaffiliated free agents are forbidden from summoning their Queens inside the cities. Affiliated members or honorary guests were fully permitted to summon their queens.

​When Velvet appeared, she noticed Smith’s aunt, restrained her usual demeanor, and quietly sat beside Smith.

​Smith turned to his aunt. "Today has been a very long day, and it’s still only noon. Why don’t we go out and do some shopping? I know Harold said a specialized tailor would come here, but I want to experience the joy of personal shopping."

​With that, he dialed Harold’s number. As his personal butler, Harold had already provided his contact information, and within moments of the call, Harold entered the living room.

​"Notify the driver that we’re going shopping," Smith instructed. "Put the plans for the specialized tailor on hold until we return, as we’re going to take a stroll around the city."

​"Right away, Master," Harold replied before leaving to arrange the transport.

​Smith, his aunt, and Velvet followed downstairs. By the time they reached the entrance, the driver was waiting, and the SUV was parked with its door already open. Standing by the vehicle was a woman in her mid-twenties. She wore a black suit with a pencil skirt, black-rimmed glasses framing a striking face, and her hair was meticulously styled. She stood respectfully with her hands clasped in front of her.

​Harold introduced her. "Master, this is Diana, your new personal assistant. She will organize your schedule, handle your personal matters, and manage your external communications, while I remain responsible for the household."

​Diana stepped forward, bowed politely, and greeted him. "My name is Diana. It is my pleasure to serve as your personal assistant, Master."

​Smith nodded in acknowledgment, and they all boarded the vehicle. Since it was a spacious SUV, the five of them fit comfortably. Smith, his aunt, and Velvet took the back seats, while Diana sat in the front passenger seat next to the driver.

​Diana turned around to ask, "Master, what destination are you planning to visit?"

​Smith thought for a moment. "Just the nearest mall to buy some essential items for now."

​The driver steered the SUV out of the Everest Community estate. As they passed through the gates, the guards bowed deeply. Even though the vehicle itself was a standard luxury SUV, its license plate bore the crest of the Browns family, ensuring no traffic officers or civilians bothered them along the way.

​They arrived at the mall’s underground parking garage. The driver stayed with the vehicle while Smith, his aunt, Velvet, and Diana made their way up to the first floor.

​The moment they stepped onto the main concourse, the group drew immediate attention. Velvet was the primary focus—her striking white hair, piercing red eyes, and red robe shifted the atmosphere of the room. Even without intentionally releasing her aura, a faint, undeniable pressure radiated from her, signaling to everyone that she was a Queen. Seeing her pushing a young man in a wheelchair, the crowd instantly recognized Smith as a Chess Player. Despite his physical impairment, the onlookers held the natural reverence people reserved for Players, whispering and taking photos from a distance.

​Diana leaned in softly. "Don’t worry about them, Master. This is normal for Players. It’s one of the reasons why most Players avoid public places like this—they attract too much attention."

​Smith nodded indifferently. He had come to shop, not to care about the opinions of strangers.

​After checking a floor map near the lobby, they took the elevator up to the second floor, heading straight toward a high-end luxury women’s clothing store. Smith wanted to buy some clothes for Velvet, who currently only possessed her combat armor and her red robe.

​As they entered, the saleswoman recognized the presence of a Player and immediately approached with a warm, professional smile. "Welcome! How may I assist you today?"

​"I’m looking for clothes for the two women with me," Smith said. "I’ll be observing from the side." He then turned to Velvet and his aunt. "Pick whatever you like. We can buy several sets today, but let’s pick a few quickly for now since we have other stores to visit."

​Velvet looked reluctant to leave Smith’s side, but he reassured her. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine right here." He then asked the saleswoman to assist Velvet, knowing she was unfamiliar with modern fashion.

​A few minutes later, Velvet walked out of the fitting room. Accustomed to her robes, she had selected a pair of form-fitting blue jeans paired with a plain white t-shirt that had the words "I am Queen" printed across the front in a stylish font.

​She walked up to Smith and smoothed out the fabric, looking a bit uncertain. "Brother Smith... do I look okay in this? Dresses felt too cumbersome, but these jeans and shirt felt very comfortable."

​Smith stared at her, momentarily stunned. Though it was just a simple t-shirt and jeans, the outfit accentuating her curves made a striking impression. The jeans hugged her hips and highlighted her slender waist, while the thin t-shirt draped over her chest made her lack of undergarments glaringly obvious. The subtle sway of her movements made the rabbit bounce with the rhythm Smith turn red.

​He quickly cleared his throat and called the attendant over. "Could you please help her pick out some proper undergarments? Quickly, or else i will die with a nosebleed."

​Understanding the situation, the saleswoman smiled and led Velvet back into the dressing room. When Velvet emerged a second time wearing a fitted bra beneath the shirt, her silhouette looked much more structured and modest.

​Smith regained his composure. "Are you comfortable in those, Velvet?"

​Velvet nodded. "Yes. Back then, I used to wrap my chest tightly under my armor so it wouldn’t hinder my movement during battle. This is actually much more comfortable."

​After Smith’s aunt finished selecting sets of clothing—including one for the sleeping —they headed to the counter. Diana stepped forward, produced a card, and handled the payment smoothly.

​They proceeded to visit a men’s clothing boutique to pick up several outfits for Smith before wrapping up their trip and returning to the vehicle.

​Upon arriving back at the estate, Smith stepped out of the car, turned to Diana, and asked, "Will you be staying here with us?"

​Diana nodded. "Normally, personal assistants reside in the same household as their Master. Since most Chess Players spend their time at home unless traveling for specific matters, we stay on site to manage schedules and affairs continuously. However, if you prefer privacy, I can rent an apartment nearby and commute here every morning."

​Smith shook his head. "Don’t bother with that. You can stay here with us."

​With everything settled, they made their way back inside the estate.