The weekend passed, and Monday arrived.

"Every time I visit, I can’t help but marvel at the rapid progress in the North. It’s like watching the heavens and earth transform before my eyes."

Entir Bishop, having finished his audience at the High Citadel, headed straight for the industrial complex.

"The lovely secretary who’s always by your side, Lady Mary, isn’t here today?"

"She took a personal day off."

"A… personal day off? What’s that?"

"It’s a paid day off employees can take once a month."

"Good heavens."

"Pardon?"

"Ah, nothing. Haha…"

Entir shook his head slightly as if he’d heard something he wasn’t supposed to and quickly changed the topic.

"By the way, about the purchases you requested last time… I’m terribly sorry for not being able to help, Mr. Jin."

"No need to apologize. I understand completely."

After exchanging brief pleasantries, we began strolling through the industrial complex together, accompanied by company staff and guards.

"Your employees at Arad Company seem different from the last time I saw them," Entir remarked as he surveyed the area.

"In what way?" I asked.

"They seem to have a stronger sense of belonging. Perhaps it’s because they’re all wearing the same clothes?"

"That’s precisely why we issued uniforms," I replied.

"Uniforms, huh… These feel different from workwear, though. They’re sharper, more refined, and well-designed. At the same time, they look practical and comfortable. They’d work perfectly as stylish casual wear."

When designing academy uniforms, we also mass-produced uniforms for our company employees.

While the academy students wore light blue tops and black pants, the company uniforms were entirely made of gray Rian fabric, paired with black leather boots.

The company logo—a golden carriage—was embroidered on various parts, including the chest, shoulders, and hips.

For autumn and winter, we even provided fur coats, gloves, and boots.

"Interesting. I might consider introducing uniforms for the Bishop Company as well when I return," Entir said, his eyes gleaming as he examined our uniforms.

He’s probably planning to deduct the cost from his employees’ wages, I thought, sighing inwardly.

Then again, perhaps Bishop Company employees wouldn’t mind, given the practicality and quality of the uniforms.

Still, by the standards of this world, our company was unusual—so much so that even Mary had expressed her concerns.

"But producing such fine clothing in large quantities must cost a fortune. Surely Arad Company charges its employees for these uniforms?" Entir asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

Of course.

I could tell he was planning to charge his employees for their uniforms.

"We provide them for free," I replied, completely dashing his expectations.

"What?!"

Entir’s reaction was priceless, and the expressions of those around us were just as vivid. On our side, there was pride and satisfaction; on theirs, a mix of envy and disbelief.

"That must have been incredibly costly. Uniforms of such quality would be a significant burden even for a company as wealthy as Arad," Entir said, regarding me as if I were an enigma.

"Surprisingly, it wasn’t that expensive. The total cost per employee, including all the uniforms, was about half a silver coin."

"!!"

"Since we produced them ourselves, we saved a lot. The primary expenses were for purchasing cotton and powdered mana stones."

"I did notice an unusual increase in cotton imports to the North recently… Wait, did you process the raw cotton yourselves?"

Even with in-house production, the cost was remarkably low, especially considering this included the winter uniforms.

"How were you able to produce them so cheaply?"

The current season was spring, and even in the cold North, fur coats and boots weren’t worn during the day. Entir wasn’t even aware of the winter uniforms yet, and he was already astounded.

"Isn’t that Rian fabric? It’s known for its durability and resistance to cold and moisture, often used for ship sails, right?"

"That’s correct," I replied.

"But how…"

The uniforms weren’t made from ordinary fabric.

Rian fabric, akin to brushed denim on Earth, was a high-end material unique to this world.

"Rian fabric isn’t just about cost; it’s also difficult to produce in large quantities, isn’t it?"

"Exactly. The expense lies more in the technology and labor required than the raw materials themselves," I explained.

To create Rian fabric, cotton soaked in powdered mana stones had to be dried, spun into threads, and woven into cloth.

This process was more challenging than producing standard fabric, making it both expensive and scarce. Only well-off mercenaries or knights typically wore clothing made from Rian fabric during colder seasons.

"For reference, it’s been less than two weeks since our employees started wearing these uniforms."

"Which means…"

"Come with me. It’ll be easier to show you than to explain."

I led Entir Bishop to a building. It was slightly smaller than a factory but larger than a typical workshop, with security and protective wards rivaling those of a vault.

"What kind of place is this?" Entir asked, scanning the interior nervously as the doors opened.

"A research lab. It’s where we test new equipment and products before launching them."

In the center of the building was a large piece of equipment, meticulously maintained by some of our most skilled employees.

"Isn’t the North known for its principle of always repaying a grudge?" I began, gazing at the machinery.

"The North has endured far too much at the hands of the Empire. The recent plague was just the tip of the iceberg."

"…"

"It’s time we delivered some retribution to the Empire—or rather, to the Imperial family specifically."

Placing a hand on Entir’s shoulder, I continued.

"And you, President Entir Bishop, will be at the forefront of that reprisal."

Entir turned to look at me, his gaze lingering before he spoke.

"I hear the coronation is about to begin."

"Yes. As soon as I finish my business here, I’ll head straight to the capital."

"Isn’t it overwhelming?"

"Hah… I can’t deny it."

At the mention of the Emperor, Entir’s expression darkened considerably.

"After the coronation, the pressure will only increase. In the worst case, I might have to offer up a few of my businesses to appease the Emperor."

It was clear that Entir’s hasty journey to the High Citadel was driven by this looming threat.

"Do you have a plan?" I asked, watching his determined expression.

"The Church and the Noble Council have agreed to form an alliance. I’ve pledged financial support for it," he replied.

"You’ll need a great deal more money," I noted.

***

"That’s correct. The trade guilds and merchant associations that dislike Bishop Company will side with the Imperial Family," Entir said grimly.

"Practically every guild in the Empire will claim allegiance to the throne. This means Bishop Company will need to pour even more money into the alliance," I added.

"Indeed… It’s the only way for me to maintain my standing with the Church and the Noble Council. After all, I’ve essentially alienated every other guild in the Empire," Entir said, his tone heavy with regret.

"But our company’s funds are woefully insufficient for this task. If I’m not careful, I could end up abandoned by both sides."

"That cannot happen. The growth of Bishop Company is directly tied to our shared vengeance. Now, look back at the center of the lab," I said, directing his attention.

"Let me introduce you to the sewing machine, the mechanical loom, and the spinning machine."

At my signal, the workers, who had been standing by, activated the machinery.

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat.

Since we hadn’t yet discovered rubber, magical engines were still out of reach.

However, steam engines were fully operational.

Hisssss.

Steam hissed noisily from the engines attached to the loom and spinning machines.

Compared to magical engines, steam engines were inefficient in terms of fuel, output, and maintenance costs.

Chug-chug-chug.

Tat-tat-tat-tat.

Even so, these machines operated at an unprecedented speed and efficiency, spinning threads, weaving cloth, and even sewing garments.

"Ah… Ahhh!"

Entir finally understood.

He now grasped how we had managed to quickly and affordably outfit all our employees in uniforms made from Rian fabric.

"Rian fabric… Will you grant Bishop Company exclusive rights to sell it? Is that it?"

"No," I replied.

"What?"

"I intend to sell these machines—spinning machines, looms, sewing machines—and steam engines."

"??"

"With these, you can dominate the economy and industry of the entire Empire. Even the Emperor will have to tread carefully around you."

"!!"

Entir’s eyes widened in shock.

"You mean… You’re really selling all of this?!"

His expression was a mix of disbelief and unrestrained excitement, his pupils betraying the possibilities racing through his mind.

He’s probably already thinking about mass-producing Imperial steel and weapons, I mused, catching a glimmer of his hidden ambitions.

"Go ahead and apply them however you see fit. I won’t interfere," I thought.

"May I ask why? I can hardly believe it," Entir asked in a trembling voice.

It was a fair question. Without disclosing the recipe for porcelain, I was now offering something far more advanced.

"If we monopolize this technology, it will unite the Empire instead of dividing it. Just like how the Imperial Family and the Church banded together during the recent plague, this time the Noble Council, the Imperial Family, and the Church would form an alliance."

"Ah…!"

"Do you understand now?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then let me show you the factory where these machines are housed," I said.

Industrial Revolution Unleashed

The mechanical spinning machines, looms, sewing machines, and primitive steam engines were no trivial matter. Introducing them carried the risk of sparking an industrial revolution in the Empire—a move with a hidden agenda.

I’m throwing steampunk into the Empire’s lap. This will divert investment and focus away from magical engineering, slowing its progress.

The development of magical engineering was at a critical stage, where every investment could drastically influence its advancement.

While they’re busy with their steam-powered toys, we’ll advance magical engineering!

This was my plan: sow the seeds of steampunk in an arcane-punk world.

Let them spin their wheels for a while.

Eventually, people would realize that magical engineering was far superior to steam engines. But by then, their progress would lag far behind the original timeline.

Factory Tour

Leaving the research lab, we headed to Factory No. 20.

Inside, machines reminiscent of the mule spinner from Earth operated tirelessly, drawing thread.

Nearby, steam engines hissed and puffed, powered by coal mixed with small amounts of low-grade mana stones attuned to fire, wood, wind, and light attributes.

Chug-chug-chug.

In another section of the factory, mechanical looms wove fabric with equal precision and speed.

These were purely mechanical marvels, devoid of any magical components—products of my Earthly memories and MAX-level mechanical engineering skills.

"Not just fabric—we’re producing clothes on a large scale," I explained, leading Entir to Factory No. 25, filled with rows of sewing machines.

"The era of making clothes at home is ending. While the wealthy might still commission custom garments, the majority of commoners will simply purchase affordable ready-made clothes and make minor alterations."

Unlike the spinning and weaving machines, the sewing machines were manually operated, requiring both hands and feet to function.

Inside the factory, a hundred women of various ages sat at sewing machines, hard at work.

"This will reduce the number of women forced into prostitution," Entir muttered softly, observing the scene.

Given his prior experience running divided factories, Entir would likely manage things well with just the machines.

"May I share a piece of advice regarding clothing production?" I asked.

"Advice from you? I should be the one asking. Please, I’m all ears," Entir replied, eager to listen.

This time, I decided to teach him something new: standardization and uniform sizing.

"These are uniforms ordered by the High Citadel the other day. Over there, we’re producing robes for the Renslet clergy, and in that factory, we’re manufacturing military uniforms for Northern soldiers," I explained.

I continued, "Beyond mass production and division of labor, we’ve implemented standardization. We’ve categorized the physiques of Northerners into five sizes."

"Standardization…!"

"For adult men, we’ve divided them into S, M, X, XL, and XXL. The same applies to women’s clothing."

"Should smaller sizes be cheaper and larger sizes more expensive, then?"

"Not at all. Unless the size is unusually large, it’s more effective to price all sizes the same," I clarified.

"Hmm…"

"For footwear, we’ve created 13 sizes, and for gloves, we have 3 sizes, each further divided by gender," I added.

Executives from Bishop Company, accompanying Entir on the tour, listened intently, their focus as sharp as disciples absorbing the teachings of a master.

They would undoubtedly adopt these practices, filtering out what didn’t suit their needs, and integrate them into their business.