Salem had a plan and money, but not the people. So she had work to do. Yes, she could tear down and use magic as she did to her forest home, but she wanted solid foundations meant to last a lifetime. She needed designers, carpenters, stonemasons, chefs, and blacksmiths. Every occupation a person could think of, Salem needed. Salem’s plan revolved around a progressive sex industry and a colorful fashion and food industry. From her quick recon with the twins, she could tell capital if not continent was behind in the most bizarre ways. To do this, she needed experts, but to get to experts she needed an in. 

So here in Salem’s temporary office atop Hager’s bar sat the Jack of the Full House: Elisabeth. Once the third daughter to the owner of the now-bankrupt merchant group Viola, Elisabeth had learned hands-on from her elder siblings and parents how to run a business, make connections, and the works. Her mother passed early and her siblings fought over the rights to the business ultimately bankrupting the business. The two met their ends at the hands of assassins the other had sent.

Elisabeth was spared as she had been but a child and ran away. She ended up in the slums biding her time. The family business no longer existed, but the skills she had learned from watching her family had stayed with her. This was how she managed to survive for so long without having to be part of the Queen's closest or the Twins’ Wonderland. But now neither existed thanks to the extra-intimidating woman before her. 

Elisabeth’s light purple hair was cut short in a pixie cut for easy management but more than ever she wished it were long to hide her face from Salem. The dark-skinned woman had been silently staring at her for the last 30 minutes as if contemplating what to say. Her expression was none too friendly. 

This of course due to Salem’s long history of resting bitch face that Elisabeth knew nothing about.

“I need contractors.” 

Salem’s husky voice brought Elisabeth back to the present and looked her in the eyes. Elisabeth heard those three words and focused again. Salem was here to talk business and she could see it in her wine-red eyes. Wheels were turning and if Elisabeth wanted even a piece of whatever she was planning, she needed to jump on. Now.

So she sat up and opened a pad of scrolls, “What type?”

Salem smiled, relaxing her tense face.

“Architects, carpenters, and stonemasons to refurbish all the buildings. business, homes, etc. I need up-and-coming chefs and seamstress helpers. The ones who have visited the district and complained about their bosses stealing their work are the best options. They will be willing to convert and jump at a new opportunity.”

Elisabeth immediately began writing down all the details and requirements Salem listed and automatically names and faces filled her mind. 

I’m impressed. It’s like she knows how things work in the capital in those specific industries…

Salem and Elisabeth went on to discuss the layout of the slums and district. Elisabeth just sat there, jaw gaping as Salem laid out the basics of her plan including the demolition of the slums and revitalization of the district completely and she just had to ask.

“As grand as your plan is… do you- do you have the funds to go through with this?” Elisabeth’s heart was bounding. Her nature as a merchant was telling her this sounded amazing and thrilling and like the forefront of the era. But the realist in her knew these types of things did not happen without money. Money ruled the world.

Salem smiled and stood up. Elisabeth leaned back in the chair concerned deeply by that suspicious smile. As she watched the darker-skinned woman stand up and walk around the table, Elisabeth could not help but take in her beauty. 

When the southern continent came and made contact with the empire, beauty standards took a sudden turn. Before having tanned skin was unseemly as a woman, but witnessing the parade from the Ambranca union and their diverse cast of delegates each with a golden brown or nearly onyx-like skin tone had thrown the continent upside down. Men and women alike came from the delegation, each so unique and different from the other but still so beautiful. Now middle and lower-class women didn’t try to avoid the sun but aimed for a more even complexion because it was realized that so long as the complexion was even and clean, who could defy their beauty. 

And as Jack of the district, she had met her fair share of Southern delegates in disguise in the upper and middle districts. And they were without a doubt beautiful. But Salem.

Salem was otherworldly. From her silver hair to her wine eyes she looked to be something out of a fantasy. Even Elisabeth, a woman who never felt an attraction to anything besides money and found intimate feelings uncomfortable, could not help but appreciate looking at Salem and honestly understand the looks she received. 

“Take a look behind you and ask again.” 

Elisabeth jumped out of her daze and turned around at Salem’s command.

“Oh my…” 

Salem had opened her spatial storage and showed this doubting girl the truth. 

Elisabeth stood up shakingly and stumbled to the man-sized opaque spatial storage next to Salem.

Gold, jewels, weapons… Are those divine items? How much mana does she have that she can open such a large spatial storage?

Elisabeth got chills as she looked up back at Salem. Salem towered over her in her heels. Elisabeth was stumped. Not even the top-tier mages in the magic tower could hold this many items in their spatial pocket.

“Ms. Salem… who are you really?” Elisabeth was becoming very scared of the existence before her. The money, the magic, her beauty, her merciless attitude.

Salem placed her left hand on Elisabeth’s right shoulder as she stepped closer and whispered menacingly sweet, “I think the question you should be asking is when I would like to meet the people on your list.” 

Elisabeth just nodded her head and bolted out of the room.