Reincarnation of Audemars - Who Am I...?

Keating's Armoured Fashion Apparel

"Yes sir, what can I do be of your assistance since I had been summoned to the Great Hall of Keating's? This is the first time once I had entered in many years when Master Keating was still alive." the owner of the Atelier said.

"I heard that your business, as well as some others, are not doing that well? Is that so? Some say that it is dwindling and some say it might go off business. Is that really true?" I asked since I had an idea on how to improve his business.

"It is true, sir. Business had been bad and I only get to sell a piece per day and sometimes not even one would enter the store at all. What can I humbly do to serve you, sir? It seems your products here are booming and doing very well." he said.

"Well, look here. I would like to buy over your store... No, as a matter of fact, just your space in the store. Rent out to me 2 mannequin space, and show me the colours that I need from the colour chart you have with you right now."

I gestured for the colour chart booklet he was holding and I choose dark colours such as black, brown, dark green, dark blue, maroon and grey. 6 colours for 2 mannequins that would be dressed up as an Assassin and a Ranger.

These mannequins would be equipped with a set of daggers and a short sword for the Assassin and a long sword and a light bow for the Ranger and they would be in a dramatic pose at the front of the shop.

"Why do you ask for these colour codes and their matching clothes, sir? I don't mind the mannequins but these requests were a bit hard for me to digest."

"Just bring me each of all the 6 colours for these two types of Class. I would buy them all complete with their belts and boots. So it would be a hood, a tunic, a cloak, pants and boots, am I right? 5 sets of 6 colours and 2 sets for these two classes add up to be 60 pieces, right? "

"That's right sir, it would be... Uhmm... A total of 7500 credits. For all the 60 pieces. I don't make much profit from it but at least I'm able to help you out." he said as he gave a huge discount over these pieces and informed his assistant to come and collect the pieces according to what I need.

"What I am going to tell you is that I am an atelier as well. It had been some time since u practised my art. Here... Take a look at the tunic I bought from you, and here, take this dagger and try to slice it stab at it."

I said as I took my meshed steel-reinforced tunic. He held my blade and asked me, "Are you sure you want me to slice it with this dagger? It would be destroyed sir..." and eyed me with worry that I would be angry with that he was supposed to do.

"Just do it, my friend, I will explain later." Prius, Patricia and Rebecca were there watching me as I persuaded the atelier to slice my tunic apart with my dagger. When he sliced through the fabric, the sharp knife didn't leave a mark...!!!

"Eh... I just sliced it and now am stabbing it in top of the wooden table. The blade doesn't penetrator this at all. Could I borrow young master Keating's blade instead?" and Prius handed the atelier his own dagger as the three looked at it with dumbfounded faces as their own blade didn't even penetrate the tunic at all after being stabbed and sliced by the atelier that his face was red from all the exertion.

"What is this, kind sir? Even an iron blade doesn't even make a mark in this tunic. You said you are also an atelier? This is a normal tunic and it bore like a suit of armour." he said finally when the idea sank into his head, finally.

"Yes, it is the KAFA Grade 2 which is finer and much more expensive than a normal armoured tunic that I have. KAFA stands for Keating's Armoured Fashion Apparel. Grade 2 is a finer piece of metal and it would cost 10 times the amount for a 5 piece set."

"What you need to do is we will supply the materials once it's ready. You sell it as per 5 piece set and then you will earn 60/40 while we take the 40. Would that be alright with you? How much did you sell these 5 pieces set to me?"

"5 piece sets at 600 credits, sir. It is below the selling price since you are buying at a bulk. How much should I sell back to the public? Would there be any kind of upfront payment?" he asked as he was worried that I might need him to pay a sum.

"Don't worry, if I am helping you and if I ask credits in return before you make a sale is to kill you, right? No... No... I'm not trying to kill your business, I would be handing you 50 pairs per colour for these 2 mannequins. All I need you to do is to sell them at 3000 credits for the 5 piece set."

"Which means 50 sets x 6 colours x 2 Classes and equals to 600 sets and each set sells for 3000 credits for a total of 1.8m credits. I would be sending you these 50 sets each day for a total of 30 days. As I've said, you take 60 and we take 40. If the customers inquire about the weapons, direct them to the bowsmith and Blacksmith respectively. We only collect for the sale after the end of the month after your apprentice had made a stock check on them. Understood?"

"So it's something like a consignment good then, pay for the goods sold. So how much is the KAFA Grade 2?"

"As I've said, it's 10 times the amount and it would something in between 6000 to 10,000 credits per pair. I would not manufacture them as yet but in due time my friend. Now that your assistant is here I'd pay for the 7200 credits first."

"Thank you so much. Please inform your assistant to set up the two mannequins upfront at your store glass. Please inform Blake and Bruce on your way out to come over so I would need to talk to them later. Please make an embroidery coat of arms on every piece here."

"Return it back when it's ready. Sorry, my bad. I almost had forgotten all about it." I said as the assistant and atelier brought back the pieces and would be putting embroidery on every piece of KAFA as directed by me on the desired positions.

....

"How come I didn't know your tunic is impenetrable with a dagger even being sliced and stabbed with such force?" asked Prius as he picked up the tunic and found that its slighted heavier by 250 grams.

"Ah... I thought you are able to scan me and find out my professions? Well, I made this and I would be making the rest as well. By the way, all the clothes that were given to me on the first day I awoke had been imbued with something to look like a normal pair but work as an armour."

"I would be spending a lot of time meditating and I would not wish to be disturbed. I hope you can understand, Trish. This is one of my marketing strategy that would spread the name of Keating's around the 80+ towns."

I explained as Prius had gotten several artists over and had them copy my drawings to be drawn on 60 pieces of tarps. Rebecca had also summoned for 30 caravans and 60 horses for rental to market the products around the neighbouring towns.

The caravans would be moving out in phases of 3 per day and the 15 couples would be attending the makeup course held by Patricia. Everything works like clockwork and the new travelling merchants were happy about their salaries as the highest-paid would be just 1200 credits a month.

Once we had settled the matter and the draft of the order form was being made with an option of Assassin and Ranger class wardrobe complete with the pricelist and the colour available. Only the light bow, arrowheads, dagger, short sword and long sword prices would then be decided later on.

I am glad that right now what I had in mind had finally begun to form and slowly take shape. I am sure that once I had met with Blake and Bruce, we can start to embark on our project. Right now, the only thing is for the first 3 caravans to make their first advertising campaign and would be followed up with the orders and sales of the product.

Since the 15 couples would be taking a 2-day course, the dispatch of the first 3 caravans would take 5 days from now.