Zouken: I'm Hardly Some Kind of Demon / Artoria: Who Told You to Shout in Your Room, Master?

"Just like how the director left the decaying Department of Mineralogy and led everyone to start afresh in the Modern Magecraft Department, we need to build an entirely new publicity campaign that belongs to us alone!"

Listening to Chloe's speech, Shinji curled his lip and said, "Tch, isn't that just parroting my words? (Chinese)"

The meeting room was very quiet, and everyone heard what Shinji said.

Chloe narrowed her eyes and asked in a dangerous tone, "Shinji, what the hell are you saying?"

Shinji looked up and met Chloe's eyes. Without so much as a blush or a flutter, he replied,

"I said, Sister Chloe, what a brilliant idea."

Chapter 48: Zouken: I'm Hardly Some Kind of Demon

Since Touko still had to put together a team, Shinji didn't bring her along when he returned to Japan.

But the two return tickets Shinji had booked didn't go to waste. His new secretary, Ophelia, was just the right person to fill in for Touko.

Shinji didn't relax after returning to Japan, despite FSN's near-perfect box office performance. On the contrary, preparations for FZ kept him even busier.

While Master Shinji was away from Japan, Zouken had put together a list of Mage families that might be open to working together.

Some of them simply wanted to make money and get a cut, others had their eyes on the Holy Grail War ritual in Fuyuki City, and there were even those who were set on sending their daughters to the great bed in Second Master's bedroom.

Shinji couldn't possibly accept every family on the list. He prioritized those interested in purely financial cooperation, as well as those willing to rent or sell their Ley Lines.

Filming FZ would inevitably require summoning new Heroic Spirits, but with the current state of Fuyuki City's Ley Lines, summoning seven Servants was already the limit.

The best way to expand the Heroic Spirit team was to connect other Ley Lines to those in Fuyuki City. That would channel magical energy into Fuyuki City's Ley Lines and increase their total supply.

This plan had quite a bit in common with Chaldea's attempt in FGO to connect directly to the Earth's Grand Ley Lines to support summoning more Heroic Spirits. Both were looking for ways to increase the number of Heroic Spirits they could summon.

However, Chaldea's method was not only enormously costly, but also utterly inhumane. All the reserve Masters used in the experiments were melted into the Earth's Ley Lines and fused with Miss Tanaka (Gaia).

Shinji didn't want to become a murderer, so naturally he wouldn't use Chaldea's brutish method.

Fortunately, he wasn't facing a major crisis like the destruction of the Human Order, and he had no requirements for the Heroic Spirits' strength. As long as he could summon them and put them to use, that was good enough.

Under normal circumstances, connecting the magical energy of several Ley Lines was extremely dangerous. Too much magical energy accumulating in the Ley Lines could easily lead to the spectacular sight of "Fuyuki City being nuked into a peaceful plain."

Fortunately, each Heroic Spirit was like a floodgate. With them consuming the Ley Lines' magical energy, there would only be too little, never too much.

As a qualified capitalist, Shinji didn't let his employees sit around while he was busy.

He sent all the Heroic Spirits off to an acting class to train their acting skills.

Artoria, the future cash cow in Second Master's eyes, was even given a job on a late-night TV drama, where she would hone her acting skills by appearing in the show herself.

Of course, considering Artoria's unpolished acting, Shinji didn't make her do anything too difficult. He simply had His Majesty King Arthur show off her special talent—eating.

Taking inspiration from the hugely popular late-night drama The Solitary Gourmet from his previous life, Shinji put together The Solitary King Arthur.

Artoria would visit restaurants all over Fuyuki City and introduce the city's delicious food to people across Japan.

Putting aside the sheer amount she could eat, Artoria's graceful yet hearty eating style was quite adorable, and more than enough to attract a large audience.

On top of that, Artoria was already popular in Japan, so Shinji was confident that even if the show didn't become a huge hit, it wouldn't flop.

It was a late-night drama, after all. Even the ratings couldn't fall too low.

Shinji chose a food show not only to train Artoria, but also to promote Fuyuki City through the drama.

With FSN's popularity soaring, more and more tourists were visiting Fuyuki City on pilgrimages to the places featured in the story. Giving the city's restaurants a bit of publicity was also Shinji's way of looking after his hometown.

While Shinji ran all over Japan and the Heroic Spirits worked hard to hone their acting skills, the elders who had stayed in Fuyuki City gathered to discuss filming FZ.

"Well, this thing called the internet really is convenient. Even though we're half a world apart, we can still talk face-to-face. Shinji wasn't just making things up when he said this was the way of the future."

Kenseth, appearing on the screen beside the tea table, commented on the video call.

"Enough, head of the El-Melloi Family. We didn't gather here to discuss what the internet can do."

Tokiomi Tohsaka, seated farthest from the screen, spoke in a calm voice. "Magecraft can do things like this, too."

Kariya immediately mocked him. "And then you'd run out of magical energy after a couple of sentences and turn into a dried-up husk? Tokiomi Tohsaka, you're still as rigid as a rock."

Although Kariya had long since come to terms with the failure of his romance all those years ago, he still couldn't stand Tokiomi. Whenever he got the chance, he took a shot at him.

Tokiomi said scornfully, "Matou Kariya, I thought you knew how to distinguish between primary and secondary issues."

"What did you say?!"

Kariya instantly bristled.

Kiritsugu quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "You two, keep it down. Don't forget why we're gathered here."

It had been some time since Shinji submitted the FZ proposal, and the Masters playing the roles had already read the story outline.

The reason they had gathered was simple: they wanted to find a way to get Shinji to change the story.

They couldn't help it. Every one of them had a miserable time in FZ.

Tokiomi, betrayed by his student, had it relatively easy. At least he died quickly. Kenseth was paralyzed, betrayed and deceived at every turn, then couldn't even die in peace. Kiritsugu also lost everything in the script, and even after the story ended, he suffered from illness for years. Kariya had it worse still—he died without even leaving a body behind.

Although they all knew the events in the script were fictional, no one could stay calm after seeing their own character die so horribly.

"Although FZ's prequel story was written in the same vein as FSN, I believe none of us can accept what happens along the way." Tokiomi put it succinctly. "If we're going to die, we should at least go out in a blaze of glory, not so... pathetically."

As he said this, Tokiomi glanced at Kirei Kotomine, who was also attending the meeting.

Ever since reading the script, he'd found it hard to look his old friend's son in the eye. Something always gnawed at him, and he was afraid Kirei might suddenly pull out a knife and stab him.

Kirei himself hadn't noticed Tokiomi looking at him. He stared quietly at the table, thinking about which restaurant to visit for Mapo Tofu after everything was over.

Swish—

The door opened, and Zouken Matou walked in chatting and laughing with Irisviel.

"Kiritsugu."

Irisviel grabbed her husband's arm, bubbling with excitement. "Mr. Matou just told me he thinks we could fence off the entire mountainside behind the house and renovate it. Then film crews would be shooting movies everywhere on our property!"

Kiritsugu thought for a long time, then simply smiled. "As long as you're happy."

Zouken tapped his cane against the floor, smiling as he looked around at everyone present. Then he slowly sat down beside Kariya.

"Everyone's here, huh? Ever since the Holy Grail War stopped being held, the people in charge of our three families haven't gathered like this. Shinji's done a fine job."

The old man spoke slowly, a hint of pride in his voice.

A flicker of anxiety crossed Tokiomi's face. He asked tentatively, "Zouken Matou, have you already read the proposal?"

"Of course I have." Zouken nodded. "To tell you the truth, I saw it even before you did."

Tokiomi hurriedly followed up. "Then what do you think of the script?"

The best way to change the script was for Zouken Matou to take the lead, with all the elders opposing it in unison.

Tokiomi couldn't believe that, with all the elders against him, Shinji would still dare to defy everyone and stick to the original proposal.

As for whether Zouken Matou would agree, Tokiomi thought he would.

After all, the script made Zouken Matou out to be irredeemably evil. Tokiomi couldn't believe Zouken would cheerfully accept his grandson slandering him like that.

But the old man Zouken actually did accept the script with a cheerful smile.

"What's wrong with the script? This time, there are even more grand scenes than in FSN. The results are sure to be more spectacular."

"But the plot..."

"What's wrong with the plot?" Zouken said, deliberately playing dumb. "Compared to FSN, this script is more serious. It feels more like a war where everyone is trying to kill one another."

"Besides, since my dear grandson came up with such a masterpiece, of course I give it my full support!" Zouken loudly proclaimed his affection for his grandson.

"Dad, at your age, you can still raise it?" Kariya blurted out.

"Foolish son, I meant my cane. What did you think I was talking about?"

"Uh... I meant the cane, too. Aren't your hand and your cane getting tired from holding them both up?"

Whack.

Zouken hit Kariya on the head with his cane.

"Zouken Matou... um... it's just... I think..."

Tokiomi, sitting on the other side, looked a little displeased. He hurriedly gestured to Kiritsugu and Kariya, asking them to speak up for him.

Useless. Too gutless to stick your neck out.

Kariya curled his lip, despising Tokiomi even more.

"Dad," Kariya said on Tokiomi's behalf. "I think the story gets a little too dark. Its style is too different from the last movie. Wouldn't it be better to make some changes?"

"Change what?"

Zouken swayed his head with exaggerated realization. "I see. You're afraid people will find out your lover was stolen from you, and you'll never be able to hold your head up again, is that it?"

Whack.

Zouken tapped Kariya on the head with his cane.

"Look at you, being so pathetic. Take a good look at yourself."

"..."

Listening to Zouken, Tokiomi felt awful. The old man's expression was practically saying, "You might as well just say my national ID number out loud."

Should I try the Yayoi family's? The spice isn't much, but their numbing flavor is first-rate.

Kirei, the Mapo Tofu fanatic, remained properly seated in place, completely ignoring everyone else.

These idiots are all useless. I'll have to do it myself.

Seeing Tokiomi and Kariya both silenced by Zouken, Kiritsugu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and decided to speak up himself.

He raised his head and said to Zouken, "Head of the Matou Family, I think we should change the script. The head of the El-Melloi Family is a major investor in our early days, after all. Isn't his treatment in the movie a bit much?"

"No, no."

Kenseth, attending the meeting by video, waved his hands. "Shinji's already discussed it with me. I'll personally choose the actress for Sola's role."

Although Kenseth didn't say who he had in mind, his animated expression suggested he already had someone picked out.

The few people present darkened at the sight of Kenseth's expression.

Tch! Women. A pretty face brings ruin!

Tokiomi frowned and clicked his tongue.

Could he have forgotten that his Servant would seduce her away?

Kiritsugu felt he should have a serious talk with Kenseth—or maybe really leave him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, just like in the script.

Shinji! You're definitely a pro at screwing over your uncles!

Kariya made another note about his dear nephew in his account book.

Ah, the tea stem stood upright. Looks like something good will happen later. Kiritsugu seems eager to act in a movie with me, too.

Irisviel smiled as she held her teacup.

Hmm... Maybe I should go with the Xiangxiang family's instead. Their tofu is more fragrant and has more spices. Wait... I think Lin's Restaurant had green Mapo Tofu, didn't it?

Kirei was still torn over which Mapo Tofu to choose.

Chapter 49: Artoria: Who Told You to Shout in Your Room, Master?

"Hmm..."

Shinji opened his eyes groggily. He looked around and realized he was lying in bed in his own room.

"Did I get drunk again? Wait... why did I say 'again'?"

Grrr...

A strange sound came from Shinji's stomach, and he rubbed it hard.

"I'm so hungry... How long has it been since I ate?"

Rubbing his stomach with a resentful look, Shinji climbed out of bed.

"I feel like I could try Uncle Hai's whole-roasted beef feast today..."

Grrr...