In the past few days, Ray had taken care of all the affairs of his city. Now, as he looked around, he found himself finally free from duties. He thought he had earned a fortune in crystal stones—surely his hard work had paid off.
But when he checked his reserves, reality hit.
The crystal stones were gone.
Drained, almost entirely.
They hadn't disappeared—they had simply... migrated. Right into the hands of inventors. Those crazy lunatics had gone all out, burning through resources like wildfire. They'd taken nearly everything.
Ray broke into a nervous sweat. These people acted like hyenas, tearing through his stockpile of crystal stones as if it were their own. Even with all his ventures—his Crystal Vision, the hot air balloon business, his streaming channel—it wasn't enough to keep up with their endless hunger.
And yet... he chuckled.
Despite the cost, despite the chaos, Ray believed in the dream. These were investments, not losses. If any of those wild ideas succeeded, the return could be a thousandfold. In the long run, this madness might just be genius.
Still, he needed a way to support himself in the meantime. Another business.
Clothing.
He'd been thinking about it for a while. And to make it work, he needed Arisa's grandmother. Without her, there was no chance of success. He didn't want to launch until she was ready.
So, he made his decision. It was time to visit her—and bring help.
Ray gathered a group of ladies who had expressed interest earlier. Curiously, many of them were older than him. Not that it mattered—they followed him willingly, their curiosity piqued by the mention of the legendary grandmother. They came from different families and diverse walks of life. Most were over fifteen, the oldest nearing forty, the youngest just ten.
Today, the group walking with him was composed of ladies all above twenty. Yet they listened to him as if he were the elder, following his lead with quiet respect. Ray paused and turned to address them.
"There are rules in the village," he said, voice firm. "No injuring. No killing. If you break these, you could be cursed… or worse. Killed—without even understanding how."
A chill ran through the group. Several of them stiffened, eyes darting nervously.
Ray chuckled. "Relax. It's not like any of you plan to hurt anyone, right? If you behave, there won't be any problems. Let's go."
The tension melted into relieved laughter and murmured agreement. Ray led the way—and this time, he brought his mother, Diana, along with him.
He wanted her to meet Arisa's grandmother—the one who might awaken his cultivation talent. If things went well, he wouldn't even need to go through the academy's Awakening Hall.
The group boarded his hot air balloon—fifteen ladies and his mother among them. As they rose into the sky, the ladies gasped in awe. For many, it was their first time seeing the world from above. The clouds drifted beside them, the wind whistling past their ears, and the ground far below looked like a toy landscape.
Diana and Ray exchanged a chuckle. They were used to this.
It wasn't long before the balloon descended near the outskirts of the village. Villagers had already noticed the flying craft and gathered to watch it land.
When they saw Ray among the passengers, they didn't react with surprise. Only quiet nods and watchful eyes.
As Ray and the others stepped down, a group of children ran toward them, offering to guide them through the village. Ray smiled and gently declined.
"It's okay," he said. "We've got someone already."
His gaze shifted to the back of the crowd. A small girl was struggling to get to the front, her eyes locked on him with stubborn determination.
Ray chuckled and pointed her out. "Come on. You can guide us again."
The girl's face flushed a soft pink, but her steps were proud as she took her place at the front. She cast a quick glance back at him, grinning.
Diana watched the exchange with a raised brow. Is my son like his father? she wondered silently. Even the little ones are drawn to him. She glanced around. And the older ladies, too?
Ray remained blissfully unaware of her thoughts. To him, the children were friends, nothing more.
Their guide, Arisa, led them through the village to a familiar house. From within, a voice was shouting.
"Useless, all of you! Must I fix everything myself?! What kind of fools mess up a simple stitch?!"
Arisa chuckled beside him. "She's been like this ever since you gave her work. Hired half the village. The ladies get off easy. It's the men who get scolded the most."
Ray grinned. "Good thing I brought reinforcements."
They stopped in front of the house. Arisa knocked—something she never did.
The door flew open, and there stood Grandma Theresa, eyes sharp as ever. When she saw Ray, her face lit up.
"Ai! Isn't this little Ray?" she exclaimed. "Come in! I've got some good printed dresses ready for you. Don't mind the scolding—I have to fix all their messes myself."
She led them to the backyard, where a wide wooden table stood under the shade of trees. Clearly a gathering spot for villagers to share meals and stories.
Ray gestured for the ladies to sit, then turned to Theresa.
"I brought more help," he said. "For the sewing, designing—whatever you need."
Theresa's eyes widened. Then she beamed. "Really? That's good. Just know—I'm very strict. I don't pamper anyone."
Ray looked at the ladies. "You've seen how Granny works. If you want to leave now, I'll take you back and find something else for you to do. But if you stay, you'll learn from one of the best."
There was a pause. No one moved. No one spoke. Every woman remained seated, eyes firm.
They had made their decision.
Ray was about to speak again when—smack!—a sharp chop landed on the back of his head.
"Ah—!"
Diana stood behind him, arms crossed. "What do you mean 'Granny'? Show some respect. Call her Grandmother."
Ray rubbed his head and turned to apologize.
But Theresa only laughed. "It's fine. I like people who speak the way they are. No need for fake manners." Then she turned to Diana. "I'm Theresa. And you are?"
Ray straightened. "This is my mother, Diana Spencer. One of the top formation masters in the kingdom. You might have heard her name."
Theresa smirked. "You think I don't know? I know more than you'd guess. Robert Walker—the Duke. Diana Spencer—the war hero. I keep up with the world. And you, Ray? You're not exactly obscure either. That stunt with the king's castle and your Crystal Vision? It was… impressive."
Ray smiled. "Thanks. I left in a hurry last time and didn't get to give you these."
He reached into his bag and pulled out two sleek wristwatches.
He handed one to Theresa and one to Arisa, then explained how they worked. Both listened with interest, eyes widening as the features were revealed.
Afterward, Theresa began showing her latest clothing designs. The dresses were vibrant, detailed, and modern—each one a fusion of traditional craft and futuristic inspiration.
The ladies watched in awe.
Diana's eyes narrowed. "Wait… these designs—Ray gave you these?"
Theresa nodded. "He did."
Ray raised a finger to his lips. "Let's keep that a secret, alright?"
The ladies swore immediately—one after another, each pledging silence like a secret cult.
Diana chuckled and began storing the finished clothes in her storage ring for Ray.
As they prepared to leave, Arisa gave Ray a pointed look—the kind that clearly said, "If you leave without playing with me, I'll be angry."
He sighed playfully, then stayed for a while longer, running around with her in the grassy backyard, laughter echoing between the trees. Only when she smiled and waved did he feel ready to go.
Ray and Diana boarded the balloon once more. As they rose into the air, he looked down at the village and smiled to himself.
The clothing was ready. The designers were in place. The only thing left now was promotion.
He already knew how. The ladies would model the dresses—the elegance, the beauty, the craftsmanship. The men would show the comfort and boldness of the new fashion.
Soon, another marvel from Earth would debut in this world.
One stitch at a time.