Jacky’s tail lashed nervously. "What are you thinking of doing? Sienna, I am warning you--"

Sienna’s laughter rang out, sharp and mocking. "You are warning me! Please? Not even Lady Cadelaria has been able to warn me successfully on anything. Who do you think you are?" She pointed into the factory. "The workers here are counting on the approval of the royal family to start working officially. Their earnings will feed them and their families. Do you know the value of their labor? Do you know what your desire to humiliate me could cost them?"

The manager and factory workers who were outside glared at Jacky. If it was a simple case of gossip, they would laugh. But this concerned their livelihoods. Suddenly, it seemed more serious than before.

Jacky’s face flushed crimson.

Sienna’s words poured like arrows. "You think your attendance today was a joke. You think you have money so what do you care if this factory is given approval or not. You just run your mouth without thinking. But speaking without wisdom is worse than not speaking at all. Your values are clearly not the values of this new council of fox ladies and for that reason, you are suspended starting today."

Jacky’s knees buckled.

Sienna reached into her sleeve. Out came the infamous frying pan, assembling piece by piece. A gasp came from the crowd as she wielded the gleaming weapon of legend.

Jacky huffed. "You...you dare! Do you know who my father is?"

Sienna twirled it casually, as if it were a fan, circling Jacky slowly. "I am Lady Veythar, matriarch of the fox tribe. Whoever your father is, unless he is the King, I don’t give a damn. As the leader of the council, I have every right to discipline you for dereliction in duty. Today. you have earned your punishment fair and square."

With theatrical flair, Sienna swung the pan.

CLANG.

Jacky could have dodged, using her fox reflexes. Or maybe, she could have blocked it with her mental strength. But, she didn’t think to do those things because she was sure Sienna was just putting on a show. She only realized it wasn’t one when the pan connected with her backside.

The woman yelped, clutching her backside. She stumbled forward, snarling rabidly.

Sienna rested the pan on her shoulder, eyes glittering. "One hit ought to do it. Consider it a lesson learned. Next time you open your mouth remember: words can wound, but pans leave bruises."

Jacky unleashed her claws, yelling, running towards Sienna. Linera kicked her back, and Sienna’s fox guards pinned her to the ground.

Sienna shook her head. "Tsk, tsk, we could have ended this with one pan. Why must you become savage? Now look at yourself." She turned to the manager and workers, friendly aura restored. Her pan gleamed like a prize jewel. "I apologize for the unsightliness you have witnessed. The Interim council of fox ladies is still undergoing changes. You will not see behavior like this from us again.

If Miss Twindell’s behavior affects the approval of the factory, I will lead you all to sue her and get compensation for the workers. I will also work with all of you to find something else that can be produced here so that your jobs are saved."

The workers applauded. The manager looked like his age suddenly reversed ten years. He shook Sienna’s hand rapidly, with too much strength, nearly pulling it out of the socket.

The group left in their different flying ships finally, accompanied by the fading applause of the workers.

"Great job," Timothy said, handing Sienna a glass of water a minute after their ship set off and she settled comfortably in the chair.

She looked at him curiously, with anticipation in her eyes. "You think so?"

He nodded. "You held your anger inside in the face of humiliation and handled official business first. At least, the inspectors will not call us messy in their report. You protected yourself and the fox lord’s reputation. You also fought for the dignity of the factory’s workers. If this was a test, you would have passed with flying colors."

Sienna patted her chest. "I am glad to know I did not bring shame to your boss."

"My only worry is the future of the factory that you have promised." The rabbit beast man looked at her keenly. "I don’t think we are going to get the approval we seek. Even if the king is on our side, half of the royals will not agree to expand this silk into the common market. They see it as an extension of their identity. If others can wear it, then it loses its special charm."

Sienna frowned. Surely, Elias must have known this. "So why bother trying? Your boss must have known that the possibility of succeeding was slim."

Timothy nodded. "The fox lord has his ways of getting things done. Even if the approval doesn’t come this year, he will continue pushing until he gets his way in future. But, if the approval doesn’t come, the workers will all turn their immediate focus on you because of the promise you have made them."

Sienna shrugged. "Then we find something for the workers to do. I can come up with like ten different ideas. For example, I noticed that sea food is ridiculously expensive in this kingdom because everyone thinks it must be eaten while it is fresh from the sea. We can manufacture canned sea food. Not just fish but fruits too, and other foods like meat, chicken."

Timothy’s eyes widened the more she spoke. "Carrots, beans, cabbages."

She lifted her eyes to meet those of the excited rabbit. "I have never eaten canned carrots, but I think they can be made." She had seen the cans on shelves of grocery stores on earth. If memory served right, she had seen sliced carrots. But, she was not sure if they had been raw or cooked because she never bought them. Much like a rabbit, she like her carrots raw and crunchy.

Suddenly, Timothy grasped her hand. "How could I forget the most important thing? Mr. Grace Twindell, Miss Jacky’s father." He groaned. "This is not over."

Sienna furrowed her brows. When Jacky asked ’do you who my father is?’ she had not considered it important. Looking at Timothy, she realized that maybe she was wrong. So, who was Mr. Twindell and should she be scared of him?