Chapter 27: Chaos Across the Realm, Too Many Rebels

The outraged conservative forces were the first to launch a fierce counterattack. It must be said that in 1921, the conservative camp still held significant sway. Moreover, they had the full backing of the lingerie industry.

Indeed, the distinctive style of the Victoria’s Secret bras had triggered a boycott within the industry itself. This was easy enough to understand: if the mantra of "my body, my choice" were to become the new trend, it would mean a 180-degree shift in the entire industry's business strategy. It was far better to strangle such ideas in the cradle.

Once these two factions merged, nearly seventy percent of newspapers across America joined the siege against Victoria’s Secret and the "my body, my choice" movement. As for the remaining thirty percent? Don't be mistaken—they weren't supporters. They were simply the papers that were enjoying the spectacle! Even the *Sun* was happily watching the drama unfold. In short, the entire American media landscape had been sucked into the vortex surrounding the Victoria’s Secret bra ads.

However, after scanning the mainstream newspapers, Logan shook his head. The volume was deafening, but the content was devoid of innovation; it was just the same old recycled condemnations of "public indecency" and "moral decay"—flaccid rhetoric with no real bite. He pondered: on one side of the page, there were huge, grotesque, provocative bra models and the frank, semi-obscured bodies they adorned; on the other side, there were moral crusaders with faces twisted in rage, practically exploding on the spot while muttering about "eternal damnation." Which, he wondered, was more infectious?

"This won't do. A war is only interesting if both sides trade blows. I can't have the opposition getting knocked out by just these two strikes!"

Thus, under Annie’s stunned gaze, Logan rolled up his sleeves and jumped into the fray under various pseudonyms—on the side of the conservatives.

A series of "divine" articles began to appear in print:

There was the "Racist Discrimination Theory," claiming that "Victoria’s Secret bras were invented by the British to mock and discriminate against Americans because they believe Americans are unworthy of the current flat-chested trend—which is why it’s called 'Victoria’s' Secret."

There was the "Superstitious Anti-Intellectual Theory," arguing that "wearing a Victoria’s Secret bra leaves a mark of the devil on your body; it is a demonic temptation that turns women away from religion the moment they put it on."

There was the "Stigmatization Theory," asserting that "Victoria’s Secret bras are toxic, and wearing them for long periods will cause all sorts of breast diseases."

And then, the classic "Conspiracy Theory," claiming that "Victoria’s Secret bras are a tool invented by government elites to control the populace, aiming to control the entire family by first controlling the women..."

Using a colorful array of pen names, our man published all sorts of manifestos across nearly half of the conservative media outlets.

That kind of rhetoric—refined and sharpened by countless organizations and individuals from the future, possessing immense fighting power and inflammatory potential—could not be compared to the conservative hacks of the present, who could only shout slogans about "public indecency." Coupled with Logan’s own deep witnessing of the chaos in America following the pandemic, and having seen countless anti-intellectual theories that shattered the boundaries of logic, his arguments and examples were piercingly insightful and struck right at the heart of the matter.

The direct result was that the conservatives, treating his work like a precious treasure, "learned the craft" and began to churn out even more vitriolic, "divine" articles.

"It has truly opened my eyes!" remarked the Pierres, who had come to Chicago to discuss business. The Pierres were French and had originally come to America for a vacation. To their surprise, upon arriving in New York, their worldview was completely shattered by the shocking "lingerie parade." Yet, beyond his bewilderment, Pierre was sharp enough to recognize the uniqueness of the lingerie worn by the women in the parade.

Pierre happened to be in the clothing business in France, with women’s lingerie falling under his purview. Realizing he had found a product of significant value, he abandoned his vacation plans, followed the leads he gathered to Chicago, and tracked down Logan’s factory.

"In 1869, our French fashion designer Herminie Cadolle had a sudden flash of inspiration and cut the corset into two separate pieces of lingerie, separating the chest from the waist. That garment, which supports the breasts, was called a *soutien-gorge*," Pierre explained, giving Logan an intensive refresher course on the history of lingerie. "And your bras go one step further, greatly simplifying the structure of the *soutien-gorge*. I must say, it is a stroke of genius."

Logan hadn't expected that he would have a chance to break into the European market before even fully conquering the American one. Pierre then took the opportunity to describe the European market: after the end of World War I in 1919, European nations were transitioning from a wartime to a peacetime economy, and the economy was recovering. On the other hand, during those four years of war of attrition, large numbers of male laborers had been drafted to the front lines, leaving a massive void in the domestic workforce. To maintain productivity on the home front, women had gradually entered the workplace, which fundamentally changed their social status in Europe. With increased economic income, women’s status within the family improved significantly, and they gradually shed the shackles and oppression of social conventions.

In short, European women—at least French women—were now wealthy and willing to embrace new things.

"What? You say America is similar?" Pierre scoffed. "The women in your country have actually been deceived by your domestic fashion designers! Because those people only know how to clumsily imitate French fashion. Although it is fashionable in Paris for women to wear clothing that makes the chest look smaller, it never goes so far as to completely flatten the bosom."

In the realm of fashion, Pierre had every reason to look down on his American peers. "French women have never lost their feminine charm. And your Victoria’s Secret bra releases that charm to an even greater degree."

Pierre hoped to order a batch of goods to test the waters at his own boutique; if sales were excellent, he wanted to secure Logan’s authorization to open a factory and produce them directly in France. Pierre was quite optimistic about this business, after all...

"We don't have that many lunatics in France!"

Recalling the various absurd "anti-bra" theories he had seen in the American newspapers, the corners of Pierre’s mouth twitched violently. He even gave Logan a sympathetic look, feeling it was truly no small feat for a peer to persist in a place where such lunatics abounded.

Logan sighed and remarked with deep gravity, "The world is in chaos; there are far too many rebels!" He then seized the opportunity to raise his asking price to Pierre, suggesting that since he was having such a difficult time, how could Pierre have the heart to haggle?

Annie, who had witnessed Logan’s shameless maneuvers from start to finish, had to dig her nails into her palms to keep from laughing out loud. Heaven knows, the biggest lunatic of them all was the man standing right in front of her.

Even more absurdly, after his "divine articles" went viral, the conservative forces and the lingerie industry began offering high prices to hire him to write more. And even more absurdly, Logan, who claimed that his business was based on honesty and integrity, would accept the work and trash himself if the price was right. He had even made a small fortune in writing fees from this stunt!

It was, quite literally, absurdity opening the door for more absurdity; it was absurd to the core.

Yet, Logan still had the gall to act as a victim and teach the Frenchman a few tricks: "...You can place some advertorials in the newspapers, like 'Shocking! A new civil war erupts in America, and the cause is actually a piece of lingerie!?' I believe that will help boost your sales..."

Pierre looked at him with an expression of "I've learned the master's craft," full of admiration. "When it comes to stirring up trouble, you New Worlders really know how to do it!"

Annie screamed internally: *We don't, we wouldn't, the only one truly stirring up trouble from start to finish is this guy right here!*