Read ahead on my P@treon...
p@treon.com/MayaMatengele01
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As Florent approached the counter, another staff member walked around what could be called a workstation (a long, narrow table) and pulled out a chair from underneath it.
After setting the chair in place, the staff member returned to their position behind the counter, ready to assist the new customer.
Another staff member glanced at Florent but quickly lowered their head, seemingly engrossed in their work.
From a distance, Florent couldn't see clearly, but it appeared they were either bookkeeping or recording company affairs.
Florent adjusted the chair to a comfortable position and sat down...
Seeing the customer seated, the two staff members also sat down and spoke in unison, "Welcome to the Golden Hampstead Life Improvement Company. How may we assist you today?"
Hearing their synchronized response, Florent couldn't help but ask, "Hello, is your coordinated reply part of your training? Also, are you still open for business? It's already past 8 p.m."
The two staff members exchanged a smile, and one of them replied, "Ah, you're asking about that. Our boss is a young noble who greatly admires Governor Roselle. It's said that these training sessions... or rather, these etiquette protocols were written by Mr. Roselle himself..."
"...As for our company, we operate in two shifts. We started at 4 p.m. and will remain open until 9 p.m. This is also a practice our boss adheres to, following Mr. Roselle's teachings."
Florent felt a sense of envy. This "Son of Steam" was truly remarkable, practically transplanting modern practices into this world and even documenting them in books for others to emulate.
This lifestyle, so different from the past millennia yet undeniably logical, made Florent feel that Roselle was close to meeting the most challenging conditions for becoming the 'Black Emperor'.
With only a little over a decade left before Roselle's fall, Florent suspected he had already reached Sequence 2, or even Sequence 1.
As he pondered this, he realized that Roselle wasn't as comical as he had seemed in his previous life. Instead, in this world, Roselle appeared as a figure of wisdom, power, and charm, holding a position of great authority.
The thought made Florent feel almost consumed by envy...
Noticing Florent lost in thought after their exchange, the two staff members wondered if they had said something wrong.
After reassuring themselves they hadn't, the one who had spoken earlier said, "Sir, you didn't come here just to ask about this, did you? How may we assist you?"
Snapping out of his reverie, Florent realized he had been silent for too long and quickly replied, "My apologies, I was lost in thought for a moment. I'm here because I need one or two servants to clean my house and do my laundry."
The staff member who had spoken first nodded and said, "I see. Could you please share any additional requirements you might have? We'll gather some materials for you to review." She gestured to her colleague, who walked to a cabinet behind them and pulled out a couple of files to show the new customer.
Florent leaned back in his chair, thinking carefully as he spoke, "The servants I need aren't the live-in type. I don't want them staying in my home. Instead, I'm looking for servants who can come at specific times to clean and do laundry."
After a pause, he continued, "I need servants with good character, those who won't engage in theft or other dishonest behavior while in my home. Anyone with a criminal record is out of the question. If they cause any trouble, I won't hesitate to report them to the authorities and file a complaint with your company. Additionally, there are certain rooms they won't be allowed to enter."
The staff member smiled reassuringly and said, "Sir, you needn't worry. Our boss would never allow low-quality servants to register with our company. The servants we represent are among the best in Golden Hampstead. What you're looking for are temporary workers who typically visit two or three households a day. Rest assured, we'll communicate your requirements clearly to them."
As she spoke, the other staff member returned with a few folders and sat down at the counter, pulling out a couple of forms to fill out.
The first staff member then asked, "Sir, we have many servants who meet your criteria. Could you elaborate on your specific needs?"
Florent noticed the division of labor: one staff member handled customer interactions, while the other managed records and logistics...
He replied, "I'm looking for young, honest women with no criminal history. They must be trustworthy and not prone to theft or any other misconduct."
The staff member nodded and said, "Understood, sir. Your requirements aren't too strict, and we have several servants who fit the bill. Please take your time to review these options." She flipped through a few pages, pointing out several candidates and showing Florent their details.
What surprised Florent was that each servant had two photographs: one full-body shot and one close-up of their face, both without makeup. This made it easy for him to gauge their backgrounds.
While he recognized the practicality of this approach, he couldn't help but inwardly grumble, 'Typical Intis, in some ways even more open than Earth. Hiring a servant requires real photos, complete with close-ups of their faces...ʼ
Still, Florent appreciated the transparency, as the eyes were said to be the windows to the soul. He also noted the company's extravagance... cameras were exorbitantly expensive, and many people disliked them.
It seemed this company was quite high-end in Golden Hampstead...
Florent carefully reviewed the candidates. With the power of choice, he eliminated those who appeared particularly impoverished, fearing that servants accustomed to poverty might be tempted to steal. He wasn't yet fully familiar with his own villa, and if something went missing, he might not even notice.
He also ruled out servants who were either exceptionally beautiful or unattractive. He felt that those who dressed too elaborately might not be the most reliable, and he only needed servants for simple tasks.
As for those who were unappealing to the eye, there were hardly any to begin with.
In the end, Florent selected three servants who met his criteria...