Regarding Von Lycaon's request, Andrew spoke up:
'I suppose I could... but could it wait until tonight? I have some things to take care of right now. I'll contact you once I'm done.'
Hearing Andrew's thoughts, Von Lycaon, who inherently prioritized the other party's arrangements and ideas, naturally had no intention of refusing.
He nodded steadily and said:
'Of course, that is no problem. Everything shall be according to your wishes.'
'Since you have made your decision, I shall not disturb you any further. You may send me a message whenever you are free; I am always at your service.'
With that said, Von Lycaon was about to hang up the phone.
However, catching sight of Ellen puffing out her cheeks from the corner of his eye, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Andrew.
Immediately, he spoke up to stop him:
'Wait, wait, wait, don't hang up yet, Lycaon.'
Hearing this, Von Lycaon immediately stopped his hand from ending the call.
Placing the phone back beside the pair of wolf ears atop his head, Von Lycaon patiently inquired:
'Is something the matter, Esteemed Manager? Have you changed your mind, or are there any additional instructions you require me to execute?'
Hearing this, Andrew hesitated for a brief moment before choosing to ask directly:
'Uh... I actually wanted to ask, does Victoria Housekeeping Co. take commissions for sewing clothes?'
Upon hearing this, Von Lycaon was momentarily stunned.
Although he hadn't expected to receive this type of commission, he quickly recovered and nodded very seriously before saying:
'No matter what kind of commission it is, you can rest assured leaving it to Victoria Housekeeping Co.'
'So you can take it?'
Hearing this, Andrew breathed a sigh of relief and then said with ease:
'In that case, I'd like to ask you guys to also moonlight as helpers and assist in sewing a few pieces of clothing when you come over later.'
Hearing this, Von Lycaon bowed slightly and said with poised respect:
'As you wish.'
Having settled Ellen's matter, Andrew slowly let out a breath and relaxed. The words he hadn't had the chance to say were finally able to be spoken.
Thus, Andrew hurriedly added:
'Alright, alright, Lycaon. The official business is over. What comes next is a private matter between the two of us, so there's no need to be so tense.'
'Private...?'
Hearing this, Von Lycaon was slightly taken aback. But with his exceptional memory—capable of clearly remembering every single detail about his friends and clients—he immediately realized what it was about.
Then, he said with some surprise:
'Are you referring to... the matter where I commissioned you to help me keep an eye out for a suitable employee?'
Seeing that Von Lycaon hadn't forgotten, Andrew nodded in satisfaction and said:
'Exactly! By a stroke of luck, I came across a suitable candidate here, and right now she's helping out in my shop as a temp.'
'When you come over later, you can interview her while you're at it.'
Completely unexpected that Andrew would already have a candidate in just a few short days, hearing this, Von Lycaon couldn't help but sigh in admiration:
'As expected of the Esteemed Manager. I never imagined that this matter, which had troubled me for so long, would be resolved by you so effortlessly.'
Recalling the report he had heard during the luncheon, Von Lycaon said sincerely:
'Whether it's combat or anything else, to be able to do everything so perfectly... it truly fills me with admiration.'
Subsequently, he nodded and said:
'I understand. Before you contact me again, Esteemed Manager, I will have everything you requested prepared in advance.'
Although he had suggested to Von Lycaon many times, hoping he could act a bit more casually, the butler would still show utmost respect when actually facing him.
Left with no other choice, Andrew just had to let him be.
One could only say that perhaps... this was the persistence that belonged to a high-end butler when dealing with everything in the world.
As the call ended, Von Lycaon dialed another number without missing a beat.
Soon, an incredibly mature voice came through the phone, a female voice that was also full of elegance and gentleness:
'What is it, Lycaon? I've encountered a minor unexpected situation here, so please wait just a little moment.'
Listening to the faint, aggrieved sobbing and weak apologies coming through the phone, Von Lycaon couldn't help but tilt his head in slight confusion.
Waiting until the other party returned, Von Lycaon finally spoke up with some doubt:
'What happened, Rina? Have you encountered some difficulty or danger?'
And at this moment, the other party's identity was completely clear. It was Victoria Housekeeping Co.'s head maid—Alexandrina Sebastian.
Of course, because her full name was simply too long, she usually referred to herself as Rina even when introducing herself.
'No, no, no, I'm perfectly fine. There's no danger. Rather, it's an unexpected piece of good news.'
First denying Von Lycaon's worries, Rina's voice carried a trace of unrestrainable joy and teasing. Then, unable to hold back, she said:
'Our Victoria Housekeeping Co., which has only consisted of the two of us, is finally going to get a new member!'
The moment he heard this, Von Lycaon exclaimed in surprise:
'What?! Rina, did you already know about the Esteemed Manager recommending a newcomer to us so quickly?'
This... no matter what, it shouldn't be this fast, right?
Or could it be that Andrew actually already knew Rina from before, which was why he told her about this in advance?
But that didn't seem right either.
After all, given Mr. Andrew's personality, there would be no need for him to hide something like this.
And Rina's subsequent reaction resolved the confusion in Von Lycaon's heart:
'Esteemed Manager?'
Rina's first reaction to Von Lycaon's question was confusion.
But lately, there was only one person Von Lycaon would address like that, so she quickly realized who he was talking about.
Immediately, she shook her head and smiled in denial:
'No, no. Although I'd very much like to meet that Esteemed Manager, at present, I haven't had any interactions with him at all.'
'Then you mean...?'
Hearing this, Von Lycaon couldn't help but feel even more confused.
Rina, meanwhile, still wore a smiling expression, speaking to Von Lycaon as if showing off a treasure she had found on the roadside:
'Through a twist of fate and the introduction of an old client of mine, I've come across a particularly suitable little girl here! I think she's a perfect fit to join us!'
As Rina's words fell, a selfie taken with her arm stretched out was sent over.
In the photo, a young girl wearing a maid outfit with an incredibly unique teddy bear backpack on her back was looking down in sheer shyness. Yet, because of the brightly smiling Rina taking the selfie in front of her, she couldn't help but sneak glances at the phone camera.
Her grayish-green hair was styled in twin tails. Paired with the young girl's tender and immature face, she always gave off the impression of a sweet, soft matcha cupcake.
But what drew the eye, aside from the soft and squishy girl, was a massive chainsaw that was significantly taller than her and completely mismatched with her petite frame, indicating that her strength wasn't as simple as it appeared.
At the same time, Rina's supplementary remarks came through the phone:
'Even The Mayor, after meeting her, said she's a very adorable child!'
Looking at the girl in the photo, Von Lycaon asked Rina:
'Is this young lady the member you are recommending?'
'Mhm~'
Rina's face wore a joyful smile as she nodded in confirmation.
'Her name is Corin. She's a super adorable child!'
Accompanied by a faint, tiny whimper in the background, Rina then said very seriously:
'The gentleman who recommended her asked us ve—ry seriously to make sure we take good care of her~'
'Take care of her... you say?'
Hearing this, Von Lycaon pondered slightly for a moment before realizing exactly which old client Rina was referring to.
'For the sake of his daughter's dying wish, and as a continuation of her life, he wanted to find a good place for her, I see.'
After all, in an environment filled with deception and covert struggles, the other party had no way to perfectly protect a young girl who was inherently just an ordinary maid.
Because, when it came down to it, her status was nothing more than a maid.
Knowing the reason why the client had chosen to entrust her to Victoria Housekeeping Co., Von Lycaon completely lost any reason to refuse.
Consequently, he simply nodded seriously and said:
'In that case, please bring her along with you tonight, Rina. Consider it her first time participating in a commission.'
'It just so happens that the Esteemed Manager has also recommended a suitable candidate for me. If that person is equally fitting, then Victoria Housekeeping Co.'s personnel numbers will be more than sufficient.'
Hearing this, the smiling Rina couldn't help but grow even more excited.
She said with great delight:
'~The Esteemed Manager has someone to recommend as well?~ I wonder what kind of child it will be. How truly exciting.'
Although the original purpose of contacting the other party had been interrupted by some unexpected events, the final result could actually be considered an unexpected stroke of luck.
After all, in the end, it still meant having Rina accompany him to Andrew's smithy.
As for that Miss Corin.
Since she could be acknowledged by both The Mayor and Rina, her personal strength was undoubtedly not an issue.
However, to prevent Rina from being completely in the dark about the upcoming commission, Von Lycaon very patiently brought the topic back on track and continued:
'The new commission issued by the other party is to sew clothes. Remember to make preparations in advance.'
'Sewing...?'
Hearing this, Rina paused slightly. She then looked at Anastella and Drusilla, who were fluttering curiously around her, and revealed a confident smile.
Then, she nodded seriously and said:
'I understand. When the time comes, leave it to me and the adorable little Corin~'
Meanwhile.
Hanging up the phone, Andrew faced Ellen's no-longer-puffed cheeks and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as well.
Subsequently, he spoke up:
'For this afternoon, I'll have to ask you to work on it alone for a while. Once I'm done with my tasks, I'll contact Lycaon and the others.'
Knowing that Andrew truly had important matters to attend to, Ellen had absolutely no intention of refusing his arrangement. Nodding, she sat down at her seat and prepared to continue sewing the clothes.
Andrew, too, picked up the experimental equipment that Meow-Da had already organized, preparing to head to the room on the second floor to conduct his experiments.
The danger posed by something like the Frenzy Virus was simply too high.
For the sake of Ellen's safety, as well as anyone else who might enter the workshop later, Andrew ultimately chose to set up the experimental area upstairs.
After all, if the vaccine proved ineffective, creatures infected with the Frenzy Virus were not the type to sit quietly and behave inside their cages.
And their physical constitutions, enhanced by the Frenzy Virus, would give them the capability to break out.
Especially with this kind of virus that had mutated after being eroded by Ether energy, even Andrew himself wasn't sure what would ultimately happen.
After thinking it over repeatedly, Andrew still felt that compared to the first-floor workshop filled with important equipment, the second-floor room—where things were either unbreakable or didn't matter if they broke—was much more suitable.
However, before carrying everything upstairs, Andrew suddenly realized there was one more thing he hadn't made clear. He turned back and added to Ellen:
'The position Lycaon mentioned requires high Ether resistance, so there's a high probability that it will involve exploring, working, and fighting inside Hollows.'
'Under those circumstances, encountering Ethereals is basically inevitable. Think it over carefully; it's up to you to decide whether you want to take that risk.'
To ensure she didn't feel any psychological pressure, Andrew added one more sentence:
'Don't worry, there's no need to feel pressured. Just follow your own thoughts on this.'
Ellen, who had been standing to the side listening to the entire conversation between Andrew and Von Lycaon, couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Seeing this, Andrew didn't push her. Instead, he simply picked up the experimental equipment, headed up to the second floor, and began setting up for the experiment.
Gearing up fully in armor for this kind of thing would really be making a mountain out of a molehill, but a hunter's weapon would inevitably be even less suitable here.
Andrew currently had no plans to move houses.
Therefore, after picking and choosing, Andrew ultimately felt that under these circumstances, the carving knife he always carried with him was actually the most suitable weapon.
One shouldn't underestimate the sturdiness of this thing.
The seemingly unremarkable small knife had actually accompanied Andrew throughout his entire hunting career.
And all hunters shared a peculiar habit.
That was, after hunting a stronger monster, hunters would habitually smelt some of the surplus materials from that monster into this knife.
Almost no hunter would be stingy in this regard.
No one wanted to painstakingly hunt down a monster, only to end up staring blankly at the materials on its corpse because their carving knife wasn't strong enough.
It could be said that for every veteran hunter...
That seemingly ordinary carving knife on their person was actually their most precious and resilient possession.
As for Meow-Da.
It brought out the weapon it was currently most proficient with: the Plunderblade.
Seeing that Meow-Da was likewise fully prepared, Andrew positioned his carving knife where he could draw it at a moment's notice to face any threat, and then began the experiment on the efficacy of the Frenzy Virus vaccine.
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