I Died and Became a Chapter 441: Open for Business

Chapter 441: Open for Business

Two days had passed in Elysium since Jack’s departure to Tartarus Spire.

For Jack, those two days translated to forty-eight days of grinding, experintation, and growing his army within the tower’s twisted ti dilation.

But for the Kaiser family and their growing business empire, those two days had been spent in ticulous preparation for what would beco the most significant comrcial event in Sorne’s recent history.

The monthly opening of Kaiser Holdings.

Lady Genevieve stood before the massive glass windows of their storefront, her erald gown catching the morning sunlight and making her look every inch the aristocratic matriarch she was.

Her auburn hair was styled in an elaborate arrangent that showed off both elegance and authority, and her eyes surveyed the crowd gathering outside as a gleam flickered in her eyes.

"Mother," Octavia said quietly, approaching from the store’s interior where final preparations were underway. "The inventory has been verified three tis. We have four hundred eighty-one thousand, six hundred seventy-two high-grade mana potions ready for sale, along with our full line of supplentary products."

Genevieve nodded without looking away from the window. "And the demonstration area?"

"Celeste has been practicing all morning," Octavia replied, a slight smile touching her lips. "She’s remarkably focused when money is involved. I haven’t seen her touch a drink since dawn."

That was saying sothing. Celeste’s reputation for drinking and gambling was well-established throughout Sorne, but her equally impressive ability to function perfectly despite her vices made her an invaluable asset when properly motivated.

"What about security?" Genevieve asked.

As if summoned by the question, a massive figure materialized from the shadows near the store’s rear entrance. S erged with his characteristic silent grace, his towering demonic form sohow blending into the background even as it radiated an intimidating presence.

"All periter wards are active, Lady Genevieve," S reported, his voice carrying the profound resonance that marked him as sothing far more dangerous than his human-ish appearance suggested. "I’ve established detection wards at all entrance points and on the roof. Nothing hostile will enter this establishnt without my approval."

"And Finn?" Genevieve inquired.

"Present, my lady."

The voice ca from near the front entrance, where a lean figure stood with the casual confidence of soone who’d faced death countless tis and walked away unimpressed.

Finn’s single visible eye scanned the growing crowd with the analytical precision of a veteran warrior.

Genevieve allowed herself a small smile. Jack had assembled quite the collection of dangerous individuals in the service of their family. A contract demon bound as a guardian spirit. A forr Chosen One working as personal security.

Shadow demons, death knights, and who knew what else were lurking in Tartarus Spire’s depths.

Her son had certainly inherited his father’s talent for recruiting loyalty through a combination of competence and carefully asured threats.

"Seraphina," Genevieve called, and the handmaid imdiately appeared at her side without making a sound.

"Yes, Lady Genevieve?"

"How many representatives from other kingdoms have confird attendance?"

Seraphina consulted a small notebook she carried. "Seventeen from Draconia, twelve from Cordelia, eight from Sanctorium, and five from smaller independent city-states. Additionally, we have forty-three noble houses from within Elysium itself, including three ducal families and a prince."

The numbers were staggering. In just weeks of subtle marketing and carefully placed rumors, they’d attracted attention from across the entire known world.

"And the common folk?" Genevieve asked.

"Barred from today’s opening per your instructions," Seraphina confird. "We’re positioning this as an exclusive event for nobility and wealthy rchants only. The ssage is clear: Kaiser Holdings products are premium luxury items, not commodities for mass consumption."

It was a calculated risk. Excluding the common people created an aura of exclusivity that would drive demand among the wealthy while simultaneously establishing their brand as aspirational.

Jack still implied his rule of giving back to his people. Charging them a copper or more, depending on what one could afford. This was sothing that Sorne loved, but not everyone knew.

But for today, for this opening, they would focus entirely on extracting maximum gold from the deepest pockets.

"Mother," Annabelle’s voice called from the inventory room, "the crowd is getting restless. Several carriages are attempting to bypass the queue by offering bribes to our door staff."

Genevieve’s smile widened. "Inform them that attempts at bribery will result in being moved to the back of the line. Kaiser Holdings does not tolerate circumvention of proper procedure."

She could hear the announcent being made outside, followed by indignant protests from several nobles who were clearly unaccustod to being denied anything through the application of sufficient gold.

Celeste erged from the demonstration area, her movents steady despite the early hour and her legendary tolerance for alcohol.

She wore an elegant black dress revealing just enough for all the n to stare at her.

"Everything is prepared," Celeste reported, her voice carrying none of the slight slur that usually characterized her speech. "I’ve selected three demonstration subjects from the queue. A duchess with graying hair, a rchant’s wife with damaged locks from years of harsh dyes, and a young noble lady who wants to impress potential suitors. The variety will showcase the product’s effectiveness across different hair types and conditions."

"Excellent," Genevieve approved. "Rember, we’re not just selling shampoo and conditioner. We’re selling transformation. Youth. Beauty. The promise that our products can turn back ti itself."

"I understand, Mother," Celeste replied with a slight smile. "I’ve been gambling long enough to know how to sell a dream."

The clock tower in Sorne’s central square began to chi, marking the ninth hour of the morning. The official opening ti.

Genevieve took a deep breath, her posture straightening as she prepared to address the crowd.

She nodded to Finn, who moved to unlock the main entrance.

The doors swung open, and imdiately the crowd surged forward with the desperate energy of nobility who’d been forced to wait and were now eager to assert their status through imdiate access.

But S stood at the entrance like an immovable wall; his presence alone was enough to slow the rush to manageable levels.

"Welco to Kaiser Holdings," Genevieve’s voice cut through the murmuring crowd with aristocratic authority that demanded attention. "We appreciate your patience and your interest in our revolutionary product line. To ensure all custors receive proper attention and service, we will admit patrons in groups of 20. Please form an orderly queue."

There were protests, of course. Nobles weren’t accustod to being told to queue like common rchants.

But one look at S’s impassive expression and Finn’s single eye tracking every movent made it clear that objections would not be entertained.

The first group entered, their eyes widening as they took in the store’s interior.

Crystal lighting fixtures cast warm illumination over polished wooden floors. Display cases lined the walls, each one showcasing products with the reverence usually reserved for precious artifacts. Subtle perfus hung in the air.

But it was the demonstration area that drew imdiate attention.

Celeste stood behind an ornate chair positioned before a large mirror, her hands resting on the shoulders of a duchess whose graying hair and skeptical expression suggested she’d seen enough "miracle products" to know better than to believe marketing claims.

"Your Grace," Celeste said with a smile that was sohow both professional and genuine, "if you would permit

to demonstrate the effectiveness of our hair restoration formula?"

The duchess settled into the chair with the air of soone humoring a rchant out of politeness rather than genuine interest.

"I’ve tried every hair treatnt from here to the eastern kingdoms, young lady. I doubt your product will prove any different from the dozens that promised miracles and delivered diocrity."

"Of course, Your Grace," Celeste replied smoothly. "Which is precisely why we offer demonstrations rather than simply making claims. Actions speak louder than words, after all."

She reached for one of the elegant bottles displayed on the demonstration table. Note the ornate packaging they’d use for sales, but a simple crystalline container that allowed the product inside to be clearly visible.

The shampoo glowed with a faint luminescence.

The crowd pressed closer as Celeste began applying the product. She’d spent the past two days perfecting her technique, and it showed.

The transformation began almost imdiately.

Hair that had been dull and lifeless monts before started to gleam with renewed vitality.

Gray strands seed to absorb the product like parched earth drinking rain, and before the gathered nobles’ eyes, color began to return.

Not the artificial dye-job that nobles often resorted to, but genuine restoration of natural pigntation.

"By the gods," the duchess whispered, her voice carrying clearly through the suddenly silent crowd. "I can... I can actually see it working."

Celeste continued her work with the calm confidence of soone who knew exactly what results to expect. The sli-ectoplasm base that Jack had developed was working its usual magic, the alchemical properties restoring hair at a cellular level rather than simply coating it with temporary enhancents.

When Celeste finally stepped back to allow the duchess to see the full results, the collective gasp from the watching nobles was almost musical.