Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 423 06.0422: "Money is not a problem"

After the triumphal welcome ceremony, Horatio drove the black luxury floating car specially allocated by the Navy Department to officers, which was hung with the logo of the Imperial Navy, to the high-end tailor shop recommended by his colleagues.

Just like the British Royal Navy in history, the Admiralty only issues commissions but not uniforms.

When a naval officer is promoted from lieutenant to colonel, he needs to spend his own money to customize a colonel uniform that meets the uniform standards but can appropriately highlight his individuality.

This is a small privilege of the captain. After becoming the captain of a ship, he does not have to wear the uniform with the same style and monotonous decoration like the lieutenants.

As long as it complies with the school officer uniform standards, he can add any elements he wants to the uniform to make himself look more solemn and his authority inviolable.

Moreover, after the battle on the planet Far, the military uniform Horatio wore, which was custom-made by Brigadier General Peru's family tailor, had to be patched several times due to lack of maintenance and battle damage. The surface of the tweed fabric was pilling, which was really not decent enough.

After becoming the captain, as the top leader on the warship, he represented the authority of the Imperial Navy.

He could choose a simple and neat uniform style, but he didn't want to lose face in front of his colleagues in the Astra Militarum, nor did he want those Imperial nobles to nag him behind his back and make them look down on the Imperial Navy.

What's more, after inheriting the Cochrane family's property, he was not short of money.

A full ten digits, one billion Gothic coins in liquid assets.

Plus his current salary level as a lieutenant commander in the Imperial Navy, as well as hunting dividends.

Even on a super metropolitan planet like Abyss Port, he can definitely be considered a top-tier figure based on his personal assets alone.

No noble family could use local authority to compare power with the 'Captain of the Emperor' appointed by the central authority of the Imperial Fleet.

According to the Imperial Official Chart, a Lieutenant Commander could even serve as the planetary governor of certain Decuma Prima tithe planets.

This is often a primary civilization world, or a medium-level hive world.

The sedan stopped outside the elegant mahogany glass door, and people could see at a glance the photos of successive planetary governors posing with the founder of the tailor shop, either reserved, majestic or cordial.

"Welcome to Savile & Huntman Tailor Shop, distinguished naval officer. Whether you want to customize a gorgeous and dignified high-end dress uniform or a luxurious and durable sword and walking stick, we can provide you with extremely satisfactory service here!"

I saw a naval officer with pilling uniform pushing open the door and entering the store. The owner, dressed in low-key and luxurious clothes and wearing a gold-framed monocle, pinched his moustache elegantly and greeted him with a smile.

"I want to order a new officer's uniform. This one has pilling and doesn't look solemn enough." Horatio stood on the shop's welcome carpet, patted the dusty uniform he had been wearing since his reserve officer days, and gestured with a smile.

[Oh, God-Emperor, how could anyone wear a military uniform so wrinkled?

The material is nice, but the whole suit is pilling.

Is this the only uniform he has and does he never have a dedicated servant to take care of it?]
Seeing the dust stirred up by the flapping of the clothes in the sunlight, the owner twitched slightly behind his gold-framed glasses, but he still maintained a warm business smile and suppressed his inner disgust.

In fact, this was the only uniform Horatio had, and the lieutenant's gold-tasseled shoulder boards had been returned to the Admiralty.

The new school officer's gold tassel shoulder boards would not be issued until he was promoted to lieutenant commander.

Because according to the supplementary uniform regulations for the new rank, Lieutenant Commanders wear officer uniforms but do not wear tassel shoulder plates.

This decision was finally made after considering that naval colonels wore gold shoulder plates on both shoulders, while naval lieutenant colonels only wore a single gold shoulder plate on their right shoulder.

(Uniform of lieutenant colonel in the British Royal Navy in 1810. Lieutenant colonels only wear epaulettes on their right shoulders, while colonels wear epaulettes on both shoulders.)
"Ah, respected lieutenant. Welcome to the historic Sahen shop. If you need to clean your uniform, you can take it off first. We have someone to serve you, but please don't slap it here."

Seeing that the visitor was wearing a wrinkled and pilled lieutenant's uniform and was not wearing shoulder pads, the owner initially thought that he was a candidate officer who came from a fallen family but had obtained the qualification to board the ship through past connections.

There is a basis for this judgment. High-end tailor shops often also include pawn businesses, and the cabinet behind the boss is filled with various expensive and vintage accessories.

And... a lot of power swords.

These somewhat incongruous high-end weapons came from many naval midshipmen from poor families and fledgling naval lieutenants.

When their wallets are not full and they need to customize a set of expensive and decent uniforms that allow them to enter high-class occasions, or when they are in urgent need of cash, they often choose to temporarily mortgage their swords here.

Therefore, the shopkeeper initially mistook Horatio for a candidate officer, but he soon discovered that the visitor did not have the candidate officer's iconic white cloth mark on his collar.

Then this person can only be a naval lieutenant.

"But where I'm standing is still far away from the clothes in your store." Horatio frowned, slightly displeased with the little thorn in the owner's words just now.

"Ah! sir, I mean you don't have to do it yourself. Come, please take it off and let our clerk do it for you. I didn't mean to offend you with what I said just now. If you find it unpleasant, I apologize to you."

Seeing the customer frown, the boss suddenly realized that his words just now were a bit harsh.

Even if the visitor's attire was shabby, he was still a commissioned lieutenant in the Imperial Navy, and was not someone that ordinary citizens like us could despise. His remarks just now were like those of a fox seeking to curry favor with the powerful, which was not good for the business of his own store.

[Tsk, such a snobbish, petty-bourgeois look.]
As the shopkeeper called, two young men in black swallowtail waiter uniforms quickly appeared and stepped forward to help Horatio take off the battle-worn military uniform.

"Well, take it. Be careful when cleaning it, remove the pilling and other things, and make it look like new. Maybe I won't wear this suit again, but I will still hang it in my closet as a souvenir."

Horatio generously opened his arms and allowed the waiter to take off his military jacket, and gave instructions.

"So, respected officer, would you like to order a uniform of the same style?" a waiter asked humbly as usual.

"Oh, there are still battle scars on the clothes, sir, did you just come back from the battlefield?" A sharp-eyed waiter said in surprise when he was sorting out the uniforms, seeing that the inside of the clothes had obviously gone beyond the normal level of sewing.

"Yes, I just came back from the expedition to Far Star."

After these words came out, many customers in the store changed from ignoring him at first to observing him secretly. "Hiss, he seems to be the only naval officer who received three medals at the awarding ceremony, and the medals were awarded by the Lord Admiral of the Gothic Fleet himself."

"What's his military rank? It's the first time I've seen that rank. I heard it was newly created and he was the first one to be awarded..."

The other customers began to murmur.

"Ah! So you are the triumphant hero! I was so blind that I didn't recognize you before! Please forgive me."

The owner walked out of the counter, took the waiter's uniform jacket from his hands, and straightened it out himself.

"Sir, would you like to customize a uniform that matches the style of this hero's sweat? Or would you like to have the latest and most fashionable style? We have many sample costumes for your reference."

“Isn’t it covered with body parts and blood?” A customer whispered, as if feeling uncomfortable with the store owner’s corny words.

"No, no, no." Horatio pretended not to have heard the complaint and calmly adjusted the collar of his shirt.

"What I want to order is the Imperial Navy officer's uniform, the officer's bicorne hat, and..."

Horatio looked at a naval officer's uniform on the wall that was being displayed as a card. The attire worn on the human idol was dignified and solemn, yet bright, and it also had a wide-brimmed hat that was very similar to the modern naval hat on Blue Star, with a white face and a black brim.

"Captain's long-brimmed hat. Three sets of the officer's uniform and two sets of the officer's military uniform must be customized. I need to wear them alternately. The material must not only be good, but also durable. It is best to use memory fabric, which is easier to take care of.

In addition to the golden borders that indicate the officer's status, the decorations above also need to use gold thread... In short, the materials must be the best, and money is not a problem."

When the owner heard the visitor asked for the colonel's uniform, he was stunned and stood there blinking his eyes at a loss.

At this moment, almost all the men and women in the store no longer concealed their feelings and looked straight at this young officer who looked a little too young and was dressed like a naval lieutenant. The volume of their whispers suddenly rose by two levels.

"He looks no more than 20. How can there be a 20-year-old naval officer?!"

"It was probably custom-made for his father. He's already a second lieutenant at such a young age. His family must have some strong connections."

"Sir, are you ordering uniforms for your elders?"

After the waiter's subtle reminder, the owner of the tailor shop came back to his senses and confirmed it with a hint of respect in his tone.

What the guests said was right. Maybe it was a gift customized for his father. He is such a filial and generous sponsor.

"No, it's custom-made for me. Hurry up, I have something else to do. Don't dawdle. Measure the size. I'm in a hurry." Horatio impatiently took out the pocket watch that Thei specially customized for him from the chest strap of his inner vest, glanced at the time and said.

These words immediately caused an uproar.

"Wait, I remember now!" said a gentleman, "I saw that rank for the first time at the triumphal welcome ceremony. It seemed to be called Lieutenant Commander!"

Just as people in the store were talking, the elegant mahogany door was pushed open again, and a group of naval captains walked in in groups. They were also officers from expeditionary ships, and they came here to have their uniforms customized to replace the wrinkled old uniforms they were wearing.

When they saw the newly promoted major standing in the store, they all stepped forward to salute and greet him.

"Oh, Major Cochrane, I just recommended this store to you. I didn't expect you to come faster than us." One of the captains stepped forward and shook hands, jokingly saying.

"Of course, after being promoted to major, I do need a new uniform urgently." Horatio responded with a smile.

"Mr. Henderson, please allow me to introduce him to you. He is the first lieutenant commander of our Gothic Fleet, a hero of the expedition to Star Far. He is a rising star. He used to be the captain of the aviation department of our flagship and the acting flagship captain. You have to treat him well." The captain introduced him to the shop owner.

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you... Major, nice to meet you." The poor boss with a small mustache had a flushed face and was tongue-tied. He was so nervous and ashamed that he couldn't even utter his usually fluent and witty remarks.

He could only stammer and repeat, "Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!"

Perhaps they feel that a boss who behaves inappropriately is not decent enough.

The captain took a step forward and introduced solemnly again: "Lieutenant Commander Horatio Cochrane is the descendant of the legendary Admiral Speyer, a naval rookie legend at only 18 years old."

“Ah!——”

I don’t know if it was because he was too excited or too frightened, but the poor boss’ eyes went dark and his body was shaking. He almost fainted on the spot. He was quickly supported by the quick-eyed and quick-handed waiter next to him. After he took a breath, his complexion looked better.

"I never thought that a distinguished guest like you would visit our shop. I am so lucky to be the 32nd generation successor of the 'Savier & Huntman' tailor shop! May the Emperor bless you!"

The boss, who had recovered his breath, looked so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. After getting Horatio's tacit consent, he held the lieutenant's right hand tightly with both hands.

"Well, can we take measurements?" Horatio smiled bitterly, shook his hand briefly, and then pulled it back.

"Of course!" The shop owner, with a flushed face, responded loudly, "This time, I will tailor it for you personally! Major!"

The other people in the store were so stunned by the changing situations that they couldn't close their mouths.

It was truly a strange news that the Imperial Navy actually had an officer captain who was less than 20 years old, and such a person actually appeared right before our eyes.

"I guess I don't need to repeat my request for custom uniforms?" Horatio opened his arms to make it easier for the owner to call in a large group of top tailors with tape measures to measure his body.

"Of course! Of course! I have remembered all your requests, the naval officer's uniform, the officer's bicorne hat, and the captain's wide-brimmed hat.

There are three sets of colonel uniforms and two sets of colonel military dress uniforms to wear alternately. The materials must not only be good, but also durable. It is best to use memory fabric, which is easier to take care of. In addition to the gold edging of the colonel's identity, the decoration above must also use gold thread...

In short, the best materials are needed, and money is not a problem.”

(The Imperial Navy officers not only had bicorne hats, but also white-topped wide-brimmed hats which were in accordance with the Navy's uniform regulations.)
(End of this chapter)