The Last Gentleman

This extremely audacious and ungentlemanly remark instinctively made Yi Chen take a step back in shock.

And just by hearing the voice and observing the attire, it was still hard to determine the speaker's gender.

"Not very appropriate..."

Yi Chen refused immediately.

"Tsk~ I thought you'd be an interesting person, but you’re just as boring as all those gentlemen."

"Being overly restrained is no fun. We’re not going to live long in this world, so being bound by various rules would be tragic—worse than a lion in a circus cage, don’t you think?"

"By the way, how did you come to know Mr. Ivan?"

Just then, there was the sound of a secret door opening on the second floor.

Yi Chen quickly put this eccentric person out of mind and hurried upstairs.

However, the young man wearing a colorful mask followed him closely, moving in perfect sync—right down to the overlapping footsteps.

Ivan, the shop owner, emerged from the hidden door, leaning on his cane and looking visibly more exhausted than yesterday, with half of his face uncovered by his mask.

His gaze landed on the other person as well.

"Jin, are you also part of this year’s evaluation group?"

"Indeed~ Mr. Ivan. When I moved into the temporary dormitory yesterday, I got into a minor conflict with a dorm mate. Unfortunately, I accidentally cut his tendons, causing quite a bit of blood loss... dealing with the aftermath took up my whole day."

"Oh…

You’ll have to wait a moment. Mr. Behrens here was referred to me by a good friend, and his garment has just been completed. We still need to do a final ‘product fitting’."

"In case there are any adjustments needed, I might be tied up for a bit."

"No worries; I’d also love to see just how unique the ‘first gentleman's skin’ is. Why not change here?"

"Jin, show some restraint..."

Ivan gestured for Yi Chen to follow him alone.

The young man called "Jin" tilted his head and waved goodbye.

Click~

The secret door locked.

This was Yi Chen's first time entering the *Garment Room*.

The tungsten filament light overhead buzzed like mosquitoes, providing its luxurious illumination.

Inside, it was far from the spacious, high-end setting he had expected. Instead, it was a narrow, elongated room.

Every usable space was packed with tools, equipment, and fabrics.

1. A perfectly balanced sewing table made from an ancient wood, the texture incredibly smooth to the touch, allowing prolonged contact without causing any sweat. Various types of scissors and rulers hung from hooks in front of the table for easy access. РÁꞐȎ฿Ёṥ

2. Wall cabinets were filled with various fabrics and a few rarely-used special tools.

3. At the far end of the room, there was a sink-like station reminiscent of a photo developing basin. Bottles of unknown chemicals were neatly arranged, and a fine line strung across the station held pieces of specially-treated, soaked "skin," which would serve as essential materials for garment production.

4. Several slender mannequins stood in the room, their heads still covered in white cloth. The intricate detail in their arm structures allowed pores and nails of varying lengths to be seen. These seemed to serve as 'assistants' for Mr. Ivan.

"This room feels a bit cramped..." Yi Chen had to turn sideways to navigate, careful not to bump into any important tailoring tools.

"The confined space compresses the mind, heightens focus, and reduces the chances of errors and mistakes."

"Follow me~ your clothing is further inside. Let’s not keep ‘it’ waiting too long."

Behind a wall cabinet in the Garment Room, there was yet another secret door.

The *Finished Product Dressing Room*.

A roughly ten-square-meter, sealed-off room with candle holders in each corner.

An oval mirror with a golden frame hung on the wall directly opposite the entrance.

In the center stood a mannequin exactly matching Yi Chen in body shape, height, and even hand, navel, and posterior measurements.

However, this mannequin still had no facial features; instead, a swirl was engraved on its face in place of features, spiraling toward a symbol matching Yi Chen's book emblem.

And dressing this mannequin was a finished suit crafted from "gentleman’s skin" as its material.

This ensemble includes:

1. "Shirt": A standard white shirt with a rounded collar, designed with ivy-style adjustable cuffs and paired with a set of black sleeve bands.

2. "Vest": A must-have piece with a vintage British flair. Originally designed to cover the shirt, it has now become an essential part of the gentleman’s attire. Made from Morata wool in a deep gray between black and white, it has a distinct inverted triangular structure.

3. "Pants": High-waisted, single-pleated pants with alternating black and gray stripes. These support the vest, creating a seamless connection and bridging any gaps between the two.

4. "Outerwear": The most important part of the outfit, with two options: "Suit" or "Overcoat," both in black.

- The ‘Suit’ is ideal for daily activities, such as Zion’s outings, study sessions, meetings, etc. Its material enhances mental clarity and promotes active thinking, making it well-suited for cultivating and showcasing a gentleman’s character.

- The ‘Overcoat’ is primarily used for field investigations and battles against pathogens. Its material effectively blocks harmful contaminants and complements one’s personal combat style. Generally, it uses the most "gentleman’s hide" material.

However, this isn’t a fixed rule; some gentlemen may choose the suit as their main attire for external investigations, explorations in gray zones, or even frontline battles.

Items like leather shoes, socks, belts, ties, or bow ties, as well as other external decorations, fall outside the 'Tailoring' scope and can be selected based on the occasion.

---

Shopkeeper Ivan's simply explained:

“I designed this outfit with an emphasis on the interplay between life and death and a emphasis on knowledge.

The use of alternating black and white colors, complemented by gray, highlights the boundary between life and death. Knowledge, the core of your chosen growth path, is carefully emphasized in the suit design.

Using the classic Ivy style, the suit has narrow natural shoulders, a straight cut with no front dart, and a widely spaced single-breasted three-button layout. I recommend fastening only the middle button.

Given the ample amount of ‘gentleman’s hide’ you provided, I used half of it in the suit to maximize your professional qualities.

As for the overcoat, considering your background, I designed a *cemetery-themed* piece, combining 'Son of Lucifer' black goat wool with gentleman’s hide. The style blends ruggedness with discretion, with slightly extended length and thicker fabric.

Try it on.

The suit and overcoat should be tried on separately.

I believe this near-perfect outfit will grow into your skin, like a rash you can't escape.”

---

“Alright…”

The moment Yi Chen stepped into the fitting room and saw the completed outfit, he could barely contain himself.

During the fitting process, he felt the fabric gliding over his skin like a gentle caress, perfectly tailored to his form.

If the ready-made clothes purchased temporarily in Easton Town were already comfortable, then this custom-made suit far exceeded the maximum possible comfort one could imagine. Every inch of fabric, every fold, and seam was flawless, beyond reproach.

When he put on the outermost suit layer, the clothing immediately *resonated* with Yi Chen as its wearer. It felt as though the threads woven into the fabric connected deeply with his veins, nerves, and muscle fibers, merging as one.

Under the suit’s embrace, his mind activated, and at the back of his brain, a book emblem formed by the brain's gyri, along with his heart and the entire suit, pulsed in perfect harmony.

“This is…”

Rows of *ancient characters* appeared before his eyes, flowing smoothly.

Yi Chen was certain he had never seen such text before, yet he could understand it.

At the very top, bold and highlighted, appeared an important message:

*[Profession: Student]*

Author: When writing this chapter, I looked up some relevant literature on suits, and it was as if I was back to my painful student days.

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