What?! Rider is dead??

If this drama were created by someone else, a 35% viewership rating would naturally be quite good, but this is Shinji Matou's work, and the first episode even had a 40% viewership rating!!

Headlines like "Myth Shattered: Shinji Matou's First Foray into Television Drama Ends in Disastrous Failure!", "Huge Investment in Television Drama Becomes a Laughingstock!", and "Talent Exhausted! The End of a Genius Director's Road" appeared in newspapers large and small across Japan the following day.

Shinji has been so successful these past two years that Japan entertainment reporters are practically ready to strangle him.

How can someone in the entertainment industry be so successful and yet have no scandals to dig up?! Why don't you just die!

Japan journalists love to dig up the moments when high-ranking figures fall from grace, but Shinji never gives them that opportunity.

Now that they've finally met their Shinji Matou and suffered a defeat, they naturally want to make a big fuss about it.

This applies not only to journalists, but also to film critics.

After being thoroughly humiliated by Shinji Matou twice, film critics finally witnessed Shinji Matou's defeat.

Or rather, it would be more appropriate to use their perception of failure.

Mr. Kouichi Ippei, an "old friend" of Shinji Matou, specially published an article titled "The True Colors Revealed: The End of a Clown" in his special feature.

[UBW is truly a complete failure. Putting everything else aside, the fact that the plot is exactly the same as the movie version makes it unwatchable.]

[If you think FSN movies aren't hypnotic enough, then congratulations, you've now found an even better sleep aid.]

[Shinji Matou is completely wasting the huge budget of the TV series; I feel sorry for those yen! If that money were invested in real works of art, how many classic works like <Half Confession> could be produced?] "That's utter nonsense!"

Shirou tossed the newspaper aside; even a kind-hearted man like him couldn't accept the film critics' distorted and fabricated arguments.

He has no prejudice against "Half Confession," a film that won both the Blue Ribbon Awards and the Japan Academy Film Prize. Critics can certainly call it a classic, but to insist on comparing it to works of completely different styles and production scales is simply absurd.

"Ah, no... those people are definitely sick; this isn't the first time."

Shirou now truly understands what Shinji meant when he said, "If you get bitten by a dog, you'll feel disgusted whether you bite back or not."

If you even bother with someone like that, you've already lost.

"Elder brother!"

Just as Shirou was pondering whether to ask Shinji for a solution to the problem and slow down the pace of the TV series, Illya suddenly flung open the paper door and rushed in.

"Illya, what's wrong?"

Shirou, sitting on the tatami mat, looked up curiously and asked.

"Shinji just called. He said that to celebrate UBW's high ratings, a special press conference will be held tomorrow, and you, as the male lead, must attend."

"What?"

Shirou was stunned when he heard the news.

In fact, Shirou wasn't the only one stunned; the media outlets were completely dumbfounded as well.

They all had the same thought: Shinji Matou, how dare you hold a thank-you party?!

The reporters gained a new understanding of Shinji's shamelessness; they felt they had never seen such a brazen person.

At the same time, they felt that it would be very satisfying to slap a shameless guy like Shinji in the face.

Why do these reporters love seeing important figures humiliated?

Therefore, even though there were less than 24 hours left before the thank-you event when they received the notification, reporters from all over Japan rushed to Fuyuki City as quickly as possible.

Two hours before the appreciation event began, the venue was already packed.

Many reporters who weren't assigned seats could only squeeze into the front aisle and the side walkways; they certainly weren't there to show their support, but rather to watch the spectacle.

When the time came, Shirou and Ophelia accompanied Shinji into the venue on either side. The reporters near the entrance immediately pointed their cameras at the three of them, and the flashes were so bright that Shirou could barely open his eyes.

Shinji, the main figure at the thank-you party, remained remarkably calm. He ignored the buzzing chatter of the reporters and walked straight to the stage to sit down.

The host of the appreciation event first gave a brief introduction to UBW, and then proceeded to the Q&A session with the media.

"Now, please ask your questions if you have any..."

As soon as he said that, all the reporters in the audience raised their hands.

The sight of hundreds of hands raised high together was quite spectacular for the Second Master.

"Director Matou, you're holding a press conference to thank everyone for UBW. Are you really satisfied with the drama's 28% viewership rating?"

The first reporter to get the microphone stood up and asked in a very impolite tone.

Shinji sat on the stage, looking at the other person with a confident expression. "Is this a bad score?"

"As far as I know, the ratings for this TV series have already dropped..."

"12%, right?"

Shinji decisively interrupted the reporter, "I don't need you to remind me of this data again. Your reports have been emphasizing this data for the past few days, and I'm already tired of it."

"I have two questions: Do you know what the highest viewership rating was for prime time last year?"

The reporter in the audience was speechless. He knew the answer to the question, but he dared not speak.

"I can tell you, it was the last episode of <The Great White Tower>, and the rating was 32.1%. The average rating for the entire series was 23.9%."

As soon as Shinji finished speaking, a buzz of discussion arose from the audience.

These quick-thinking reporters had already guessed what Shinji was going to say.

"Not only has UBW's highest episode rating surpassed last year's ratings champion, but its current average rating is also far ahead," Shinji announced to the reporters with great pride.

Perhaps because Shinji's attitude was too arrogant, all the reporters were intimidated and speechless.

Several familiar reporters exchanged glances, all seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Wait a minute, didn't we come here to laugh at Shinji Matou? Then why is he so arrogant? The ratings have dropped by more than a quarter, why isn't he worried at all?

"Director Matou..."

A reporter picked up the microphone, frowning as he prepared to ask a question.

What do you want to ask?

Shinji raised an eyebrow, a red glint flashing in his eyes.

"Um... that... this..."

Under the influence of the Magecraft, the reporter's attitude suddenly became trembling and cautious, as if he were terrified.

"I know what you want to ask, let me answer you."

Shinji stated, "The current 28% viewership rating is only temporary. The story of UBW is getting better and better. I believe that by the time episode 6 airs, the ratings will start to climb. At that time, it might even break the viewership record of the first episode."

The reporters fell silent upon hearing this. They wanted to say something, but seemed to have lost the ability to speak, unable to utter a single word.

Many reporters even experienced symptoms of fatigue and palpitations, finding it difficult to even raise their hands.

"Shinji, that's a bit much..." Shirou muttered telepathically, having figured out what was going on. "You used a barrier, didn't you?"

Shinji curled his lip and replied telepathically, "They brought this on themselves. They're always trying to create a big news story. Let them become the big news story themselves."

Shinji had completely gained the upper hand, but he still wasn't going to let these guys go.

He asked Ophelia to get him a stack of newspapers, then unfolded them one by one and read them aloud to the audience.

The newspaper articles were all sarcastic about the failure of Shinji's drama series. What should have been a source of pride for the journalists became evidence of their public execution.

Even though Shinji only read one or two sentences from each newspaper, the authors sitting below had the illusion that Shinji read their entire articles.

After the newspaper was read aloud, the reporters in the audience all lowered their heads, and no one dared to continue to look Shinji in the eye.

Shinji cold laugh, "Now, I can also share some news with everyone. UBW has reached 12 million viewers in North America, making it the most popular TV series in the last 5 years."

The reporters who heard the news felt their faces burning, as if they had been slapped in the face.

Shinji glanced at the group of reporters below the stage, crossed his arms, and leaned back arrogantly.

"Now, please tell me what constitutes an internationally popular TV series?"

Chapter 104 What?! Rider is dead?!

"You reporters are always thinking about how to create a big news story."

The television screen was showing Shinji's speech at the thank-you party.

Perhaps because Shinji was truly angry, he kept banging his hand on the table as he spoke.

"I really think that certain people in the Japan media should seriously reflect on their actions and stop using their ignorance and shamelessness to tarnish Japan's image!"

"Hmph, you're the one who ruined Japan's image!"

Sitting in front of the television Kouichi Ippei commented with great disdain.

"They miscalculated. This guy held this thank-you party just to slap everyone in the face."

Kouichi Ippei's assistant chimed in softly, "Because everyone is only focused on the declining ratings and has forgotten that as long as it's above 20%, it's still a popular drama."

"Those reporters were too hasty," Kouichi Ippei sighed. "They should have waited another two weeks, until the rejection rate dropped below 15% before taking action."

Kouichi Ippei made no mention of the fact that he had also written an article criticizing Shinji, and his assistant even chose to temporarily forget about it.

"Forget it, at the current rate, it's a foregone conclusion that TV drama ratings will continue to decline."

Kouichi Ippei said cheerfully, "I wonder how low the ratings will drop for the fourth episode. Will it be 21%, 20%, or below 20%?"

The thought that the final viewership rating for the UBW drama would likely be in the single digits made Kouichi Ippei's lips curl into a smile.

In his view, the final outcome of this TV series was already set in stone, and Shinji Matou was just being stubborn.

"I'd like to see what you have to say next."

Kouichi Ippei gripped the cigarette pack tightly in his hand.

Following the thank-you event, Type-Moon, no longer an empty shell company, mobilized its publicity department and began publishing Shinji's statements in major Japan media outlets, while also severely condemning those who slandered Shinji and UBW.

The journalists and film critics who were criticized also retaliated by publishing articles refuting their claims.

If I can't speak to Shinji Matou, does that mean I can't write articles to criticize you?!

These people created so-called "statistical charts" and viciously cursed UBW, predicting that its final viewership would likely be below 10%.

For a time, the two sides engaged in a lively back-and-forth battle across various media outlets, once again igniting the hype surrounding UBW.

From a political standpoint, Japan newspapers and magazines are on the side of journalists and film critics, and they also dislike Shinji Matou and his works.

Magazines and newspapers have no desire to generate traffic for UBW.

However, everyone who runs a company needs to make a living.

Even if magazines can ignore the price offered by Type-Moon for publishing articles, they cannot ignore the sales boost that UBW promotion brings to their magazines and newspapers.

And so, amidst all the noise and commotion, everyone welcomed the fourth episode of UBW.

"Azu, you really never get tired of Fate, huh?"

Once again at the Kuzunoha residence, Aoko and Azu sat down on the sofa to watch UBW.

"Because the Magecraft techniques inside are very useful to me," Azu said earnestly. "Tohsaka Rin's techniques for using Gandr have greatly inspired me."

Aoko noticed that her friend only mentioned Magecraft tricks and not the plot, so she teased, "Actually, you don't want to see the plot again, do you?"

"No, I'm more interested in Archer, the Heroic Spirit. He seems to harbor an almost vengeful hostility towards Shirou Emiya. That line from the last episode, 'You're just drowning in your ideals,' makes me think he must know Shirou Emiya very well."

Then, Azu countered, "And what about you? Haven't you been complaining that repeating the same plot is boring?"

"But since you only watch Fate, I guess I'll just have to watch it with you."

Aoko rested her hands behind her head and complained, "After all, watching Fate is better than staying at my grandpa's house where we have nothing but books."

Hearing this, Azu shook her head slightly. "You should work harder on Magecraft; maybe you can become Magus."

Aoko's tone became even more disdainful. "Heh~ Mysticism has been in decline for so many years, where are there any Magus these days?"

"You..."

Azu was about to say something, a message notification on her phone interrupted her.

"Wow, someone actually messaged you! Let me see who it is?"

Because the TV was still showing commercials, Aoko, feeling bored, curiously went over to watch.

[Miss Alice, today's fourth episode will have an unexpected plot twist, so please tune in on time. --Shinji Matou]

Upon seeing that the message was from Shinji, Aoko's lips formed a cat-like ω shape.

"Oh my, that Matou Family kid actually sent you a message personally. Looks like you two have a pretty good relationship."