Should I raise you too?

Elisa tapped the "Notes" section. This wasn't a fixed entry; it only appeared randomly.

Last time, when I reached number 9, the "Notes" popped up to remind me that there were new features in number 10. This time, when I reached number 20, the "Notes" popped up.

Is there any pattern to this?

……

The pattern is that it gets stuck after the progress is more than halfway done.

Simon assigned tasks to the male servants and then wandered around the manor, pondering game design.

The new feature is not a reward, but a lure.

Just like in the workplace, bonuses are not used to praise the work you have already done, but to inspire your potential and enable you to do more work.

Players are always busy completing tasks and getting rewards, even though most of the rewards are useless and are just small toys.

This is because what players enjoy is not the reward itself, but the process of completing the goal and obtaining the reward.

"Note" refers to the goal Simon set for Elisa.

This objective should not be given immediately after the previous stage is completed, otherwise it will make players feel that the objectives are endless and thus become tired.

Ideally, new objectives should be introduced after players have received the rewards from the previous stage, enjoyed the novelty, relaxed for a while, and perhaps even completed some new progress goals.

A goal that pops up with 0% completion is completely different from one that has 50% completion. The latter gives you the feeling that you'll lose 50% if you don't finish it.

Although Simon felt that in this simple era, there was no need for such insidious game psychology to immerse Elisa, as a senior game designer, he had strict requirements for games.

He also strictly controlled the game's progress, anticipating that the next stage of the game would begin after the literary salon.

“Mr. Simon,” Maria called out to Simon from behind, “we should start preparing for the literary salon.”

You've advanced to the rank of "Mr."

“Okay,” Simon agreed.

The literary salon storyline was originally about Elisa's setbacks. After she drove away the butler and his party, it only served to introduce the characters and didn't have many twists and turns, but there were still some interactive elements.

Chapter 9 She still has to thank me.

“Miss Elisa, you are truly perceptive and quick-witted.”

In the restaurant, Elisa enjoys afternoon tea with the etiquette teacher and they talk about the butler, Sheldon.

Elisa said modestly, "It was all a coincidence. I just wanted to investigate a case of a male servant harassing a female servant."

"Without sufficient insight, even if you trace it back to the butler, you won't discover anything," the etiquette instructor praised.

Elisa blushed slightly.

Actually, the whole process had nothing to do with her; it was the male servant Simon who discovered everything.

Moreover, at first I really only regarded this as a harassment incident, and even planned to let the housekeeper handle it.

If it weren't for a mention of Bacon in "Simon's Journal," I would have been completely fooled, and I would have become the laughingstock of the elite at the salon.

The scary thing is that the ladies attending the salon won't tell me this, and I'll be left cluelessly being harassed by crickets for a long time.

A lot of gold pounds will also be embezzled!

Miss Elisa smiled at the thought of the gold pound.

她前天晚上光临了前管家的住所，得到了83镑4先令7又1/2便士的现金，并获得了价值100镑左右的奢侈品。

Robbery is still the fastest way to make money!

“Your handling of the matter was also very proper,” the etiquette instructor continued. “I have heard that in the homes of island masters, servants are often put to death on the spot.”

Elisa felt a pang of guilt. Although she hadn't executed the butler, she had taken all his money, not even a single coin.

“Ms. Helen,” Elisa changed the subject, taking out the salon invitation, “would you be so kind as to attend this literary salon?”

Etiquette instructor Helen accepted the invitation: "It is my honor."

……

Food, drinks, carriages, and bonuses for servants—a literary salon cost 15 pounds, the annual salary of an ordinary male servant.

Simon marveled at the pomp and circumstance of the nobility.

Moreover, the £15 wasn't all; there were also appearance fees, or sponsorship fees, for the three female authors, as well as a gift for each of them.

The sponsorship fee is £5 per person, and the budget for the gift bag is less than £1.

Is it too late to become a female writer now? I could write a book called "Skill Breaks the Sky," which tells the story of a superhuman girl who is jilted at the altar but makes a triumphant comeback.

What was the first chapter again? Oh no, I've completely forgotten.

Simon's dream of becoming a writer unfortunately failed, so he had to find other ways to make money.

Simon profited 13 shillings by undercutting prices during procurement and exaggerating Sharon's funds.

What?! Elisa, who had just woken up, looked at the light screen and covered her head.

I knew this day would come, but I didn't expect it to come so soon!

And where did you get the purchasing authority?! Isn't purchasing Maria's responsibility?! You two are colluding... ugh, you're in cahoots?

After washing up with the help of her personal maid, Elisa went to the dining room and met the head maid.

Before she could ask, the head maid offered her something: "Miss Elisa, this is a gift we prepared."

Is this the project that cost me 13 shillings?

Elisa took the wooden box and immediately noticed its difference. The box was printed with a pattern resembling thorns, and instead of opening it by lifting the lid, it was gently pushed open like a flower bud.

It instantly looks high-end!

“The pattern on the gift box is the bramble bushes behind the manor. We wanted to use it as a symbol of the manor and also engrave the pattern on the gift. This way, while showcasing the manor, it will also remind the user of this salon,” Maria explained.

These are Simon's original words; they are actually about brand logos, which didn't exist in this era yet.

"Whose idea was this?" Elisa went straight to the point.

“Simon’s idea,” Maria replied.

Sure enough, it's you!

Picking up the gift box and taking a look, Elisa actually felt that 13 shillings were a good deal, and it would be even better if it came with 1 point of intimacy.

This male servant is very capable!

Perhaps we don't need to be too wary of him; the value he brings outweighs what he embezzles.

Elisa put down the gift box: "Let's do it this way."

Maria nodded and continued watching her.

Elisa was silent for a moment, then said with heartache, "Reward Simon with a decent summer outfit."

They were clearly embezzled themselves, yet they still rewarded the corrupt official!

Miss Elisa chewed the muffin vigorously.

……

The salon was scheduled for the afternoon. On the advice of etiquette teacher Helen, Elisa invited some neighbors from around the manor and had three sponsored female writers write invitations for the ladies they knew.

There were 8 guests present, plus 3 female writers, as well as Elisa and etiquette teacher Helen, making a total of 13 people.

The maids busied themselves preparing tea and refreshments, with the head maid also joining in. Simon, along with two subordinates, worked at the edge of the living room.

As male servants, they could not get close to the ladies like the maids; they could only watch them play from afar.

Elisa didn't see this as a game.

To portray a proper young lady, she put in her best effort, mentally rehearsing every word and every expression.

This left her physically and mentally exhausted. Moreover, the novels she had been cramming on were only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the salon discussion; they were never actually discussed afterward!

Does this literary salon not discuss literature at all?!

When afternoon tea time arrived, the ladies were kept quiet with snacks and ice cream, and Elisa, holding a cup of black tea, finally had some free time.

She sighed. Although I said quite a bit, the topics were all superficial, and I didn't really connect with these ladies at all.

The atmosphere of the salon was too formal and not lively enough.

After all, I was a stranger. I didn't know any of the three female writers or the ladies. Ms. Helen was cooperating with me, but the effect was limited.

This literary salon was largely ineffective; it merely served as a starting point, announcing my entry into the social circle.

That's a waste of 33 pounds.

She sighed, opened "Simon's Journal," intending to take a look and relax.

Simon observed the young ladies with some disappointment; none of them were as beautiful as his own Miss Elisa.

Elisa blinked, sat up straight, and glanced in the direction of the male servant.

You have a very good eye, servant!

"Unfortunately, Miss Elisa's figure is flawed and far inferior to that of Ms. Helen."

Elisa's smile froze as she plotted a night raid on the arrogant male servant and drained his blood!