Directing on the Ark, Success If Not Banned

"?" Chen Qi tilted his head in surprise at the words. Did Theresis actually watch my Godfather? And is he using my own lines against me?

But… filming? Filming in Londinium for Theresis? Don't tell me Theresis, because he liked Chen Qi's movies, plans to hire him as his personal screenwriter. That's not a funny joke.

"For the specifics, please head to Londinium first and discuss with General Theresis," Manfred said directly, not wanting to elaborate further.

"We have brought sufficient sincerity to invite you all. The General has absolute confidence in inviting you all – put them down!"

As soon as Manfred finished speaking, two large crates were quickly lowered from the aircraft. Manfred walked to the crates and said to Chen Qi, "This is the General's sincerity, and also part of the remuneration for all of you."

"As long as you can meet the General's requirements and produce a work that satisfies him, we will pay double the remuneration."

Soon, as Manfred's words fell, the two huge crates creaked open. The next moment, what fell into Chen Qi's sight were the Oripathy inhibitors he was so familiar with!

Two whole large boxes! And this was just a deposit? As soon as Chen Qi saw Theresis's "sincerity," and on the mini-map, Manfred's point was still gray…

"This matter, it seems, perhaps, is not impossible to discuss?"

Chapter 27: Deciding the Filming Subject, "Yes, Prime Minister"

"Reunion Movement, Integrated Cultural Troupe, Director Chen Qi, Talulah, Captain Bodega, it's true that hearing about you is not as good as meeting you."

A day later, after Chen Qi agreed to Manfred's conditions and consented to go to Londinium first to discuss filming matters with Theresis, Chen Qi, Talulah, and Patriot, representing their group, entered Londinium.

Most of the Integrated Cultural Troupe remained outside the range of Londinium's outer city defense cannons, allowing for immediate retreat or reinforcement for Chen Qi and his party. Although Chen Qi didn't know what Theresis was up to, with Patriot and Talulah's strength, the three of them should still have the capital to fight their way out of Londinium… assuming Theresis didn't make a move.

The scene in the game where he cleaved the old Lynx in half was too deeply ingrained in Chen Qi's memory, making him a little nervous. However, according to the mini-map… Theresis was indeed a neutral gray point.

Even the few points wandering around, probably Confessors? They were also displayed as gray points. Chen Qi looked at his remaining reputation points in the system. They were probably enough to redeem a few combat items, which wouldn't change the overall situation, but surviving wouldn't be a problem.

Sigh… still lacking reputation. He had only redeemed High-concentration Oripathy Inhibitors and forgotten that the foundation for survival in this land is strength. He thought that with Patriot and Talulah protecting him, he could walk sideways in Terra. He never expected to be targeted so quickly by someone of Theresis's caliber.

If he could safely earn Theresis's reward and reputation this time, Chen Qi would definitely strengthen himself to the point where he could walk sideways. He, as the director, couldn't be a liability.

"What a curious combination. The last pure-blooded Wendigo, the adopted daughter of Ursus Duke Koschei, and a talented director from Yan, all walking together."

Theresis, always clad in armor as if ready for battle at any moment, seemed particularly tired today. Chen Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. How come this Regent… seemed to have dark circles under his eyes?

"No matter how curious the combination, we are now just a film crew focused on shooting and writing scripts, Your Highness the Regent."

"We no longer rely on violence and combat to gain our living space – so, this time, Your Highness the Regent, with your generous offer, has invited us, wanting to leverage our expertise in filmmaking. As a small crew, we are naturally willing to serve."

Although they had no choice, Chen Qi's group really couldn't afford to offend Theresis. Moreover, their position didn't necessitate them getting into a life-or-death conflict with Theresis like Rhodes Island.

As Chen Qi said, they were just a small film crew. Chen Qi never intended to participate in any world-saving missions – he just wanted to protect everyone in the Integrated Cultural Troupe. Once they earned enough money, he wanted to settle the crew down in some country for a peaceful life.

Chen Qi was sticking to this explanation in front of Theresis precisely to send a signal: "Filming is negotiable, but we absolutely will not help you fight wars."

"A pity. If you joined us, you would certainly have a seat on the Kazdel Military Committee, even if you are not Sarkaz."

Theresis, of course, knew that someone like Chen Qi, who had directly led Reunion's transformation into a film crew, would certainly be averse to war. He wasn't Sarkaz and might not have even experienced the era of war, so persuading him to fight was unrealistic.

Especially Patriot and Talulah… they now followed Chen Qi, and their film crew was on the right track and heading towards success. It was unrealistic to have them return to a life of licking blood from the tip of a blade.

"No matter. I sought you out precisely to utilize your current expertise," Theresis said, slowly descending from the high platform. He waved his hand, signaling the surrounding Confessors not to make a move, and said to Chen Qi, "Director Chen Qi, if it's convenient, would you accompany me to my chambers for a discussion? Some topics are not suitable to be discussed here."

Chen Qi: "…Huh?"

However, Theresis's words left Chen Qi somewhat bewildered. Even Patriot and Talulah, who were standing ready, were stunned. But Talulah instinctively took a step forward, watching the handsome Regent with a vigilant expression, her eyes carrying a similar strange look to Chen Qi's.

This Regent… judging by his appearance and status, he didn't seem like someone who lacked women. Going to his chambers for a talk… it shouldn't mean anything else… right?

In the end, Chen Qi went to the chambers alone with Theresis. He surprisingly found that the Regent's chambers were unexpectedly simple, perhaps only about the size of a single room in a hundred-square-meter apartment before Chen Qi's transmigration.

And here, Manfred was already waiting. Upon seeing Theresis arrive, he immediately bowed respectfully, "General."

"Alright, Manfred, there's no one else here, no Confessors, no Royal Court. We can speak freely," Theresis said, waving his hand. He then immediately instructed, "Get Director Chen Qi a stool. We need to have a good discussion about Director Chen Qi's areas of expertise."

"Yes." Upon receiving the order, Manfred immediately fetched a chair for Chen Qi without a word, then stood by the door to prevent any eavesdropping or surveillance.

Theresis also sat down on the bed. Facing Chen Qi, the Regent showed an unusual smile and said calmly, "Director Chen Qi, I viewed your 'Godfather' last night. This film showed me your talent, and it also made me realize that perhaps besides war and weapons, there are other 'weapons' worth our attention."

"Weapons called 'culture' and 'information.' This is an aspect that Kazdel has always lacked. The thoughts of the Royal Court kings are old-fashioned, only thinking of conquest and death. Now, I intend to use your expertise to help me explore another path that does not involve bloodshed."

"…Sorry, Regent, we only know how to make movies, not fight wars. Just state your expectations, and we will do our best to fulfill them."

Chen Qi waved his hand. He hadn't expected that one of his movies would make Theresis realize the importance of "public opinion warfare," but he absolutely didn't want to get involved with Theresis. He calmly said, "As the client, you are responsible for funding, assistance, and making requests. As the contractor, we will do our best to meet your requirements. Beyond that, there will be no other entanglements. What do you think?"

"Straightforward," Theresis nodded. Seeing that Chen Qi was willing to cooperate, he nodded and said, "Since Director Chen Qi puts it that way, I'll be direct."

"Our army came to Londinium to quell the ducal disputes. We resolved the disputes and achieved our objective. However, the local residents do not welcome our presence."

"This has led my army to suffer unfair treatment. I have ordered that my troops are absolutely not allowed to attack the local populace. However, we have been stationed in Londinium for some time, and the local residents are still worried, even constantly inciting riots and strikes against us."

Nonsense. What citizen of a dignified and powerful nation would welcome the army of another country living in their capital for no reason? Chen Qi didn't believe a single word of Theresis's sob story. He had seen the plot.

The duke's dispute was merely a pretext. You never mentioned taking control of seventy percent of the city's defense forces or squeezing the local populace to build the Shattered Tower and the Aerial Fleet.

You're making yourselves sound like a security company protesting unpaid wages... The last person to pull a stunt like this was Liu Bei when he entered Yi Province, but your reputation is far worse than his. Even Cao Cao, who loved to burn and pillage, would think he was more humane compared to you.

But Chen Qi knew he couldn't just kill them over these words, so he could only say:

"So, Your Highness the Regent, you want us to film some plays to ease the local tension?"

"Precisely." Theresis nodded and said calmly, "I want to broadcast some movies through television that can alleviate the tension, and that's why I invited all of you to Londinium."

"Your films were a great success in Syracuse and gained the support of the Syracusan people, clearly, you have a talent for this."

"I hope you can film some movies that the people of Victoria will like, but I also have my requirements – that you cannot mention any words or implications related to resistance or unity."

"I want the local people to relax after watching the movies, without inciting more resistance and aggression towards our Sarkaz army. Instead, I want their sense of identity as Victorian citizens to be quietly dismantled. Can you do that?"

"...You mean, you want me to be a public intellectual?" Chen Qi was taken aback. Theresis really had a talent for propaganda, knowing how to divide and conquer the masses from within.

If this guy were in Chen Qi's original world, he'd probably be a famous, presidential-level figure.

"Public intellectual?" Theresis and Manfred were slightly stunned, not understanding the meaning of this Yan term.

"Ah, it's nothing. I sometimes say things others don't understand; it's a habit of mine." Chen Qi gritted his teeth, not wanting to explain the meaning of "public intellectual" to Theresis at all, lest such a talented person master it and start the first propaganda war on Terra, becoming its founding father of propaganda...

"However, Your Highness the Regent, I don't think filming movies is in line with your expectations in the current environment."

"Oh?" Theresis raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Chen Qi to continue.

"Most of the people in Londinium have very little rest time. A movie takes one to two hours, and their rest time isn't that long. After a day of work, they come home exhausted and probably fall asleep soon after. The length of a movie is a luxury for them."

"Moreover, the continuity of a movie is very important. If they leave halfway and come back, they might forget the previous plot, which would greatly affect the viewing experience."

"Therefore, my suggestion is that, compared to movies, television series might be more in line with your expectations."

"Television series? What's that?" After a moment of silence, Theresis finally asked. This Regent of Kazdel knew everything about war, but nothing about entertainment.

"You can think of it as a shorter movie, with each episode being about twenty to thirty minutes long," Chen Qi explained patiently. "This way, even workers with short rest times will have time to watch."

"Furthermore, television series have a huge advantage over movies that will surely allow for wider dissemination than movies."

"Oh? What is it?" Theresis asked curiously, and Chen Qi replied with a smile:

"Watching movies costs money, but watching TV series is free."

"As long as you have a TV, the TV series will play. You don't need to go to a special place or spend extra time. Just press the remote, turn on the TV, and you can watch. It perfectly suits the needs of workers with short rest times."

"—Excellent, Director Chen Qi, inviting you here was indeed the right decision."

After Chen Qi clarified things for Theresis, Theresis immediately understood that TV series were more suitable for the current situation than movies. A hint of joy appeared on his face, and then he asked sternly:

"So, Director Chen Qi, seeing how confident you are, you must have already decided what kind of TV series to film for the people of Londinium?"

"Of course, I've already decided on the genre of the TV series based on the local situation," Chen Qi nodded and said with a faint smile under the expectant gaze of Theresis and Manfred.

"To ease the tense atmosphere and provide the public with simple and relaxing entertainment, what kind of occasion is more fitting than a lighthearted and joyful 'comedy'?"

Yes, comedy. Chen Qi, combining Theresis's requirements, the current situation in Victoria, and the premise of filming TV series, felt it was time to unleash that masterpiece.

This was a work that, in Chen Qi's previous life, was known as "Half an English Series Governs the World" and was designated as "Intangible Cultural Heritage" alongside "Let the Bullets Fly." Now, Chen Qi intended to bring out this English series and make "Half a Victorian Series Governs the World" a renowned saying on the continent of Terra.

— "Yes, Minister." Chen Qi's gaze immediately fell upon this classic British comedy. He believed this comedy would definitely satisfy Theresis.

And incidentally... it would also serve as an introductory lesson for the people of Terra, who mostly lacked political awareness, perhaps he could even become a political enlightenment teacher for many people on Terra without even realizing it.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Theresis, You Play the Prime Minister

"Comedy?"

However, as soon as Chen Qi said this, a hint of disappointment appeared in the eyes of Theresis and Manfred. Especially Manfred, when he heard that Chen Qi was going to film a comedy, images of the extravagant and corrupt Victorian royal family's favorite court dramas involuntarily flashed through his mind...

When Theresis was invited to Londinium to resolve the ducal dispute, he had attended many Victorian banquets. These ridiculous court dramas... to be honest, for Sarkaz like Theresis and Manfred, what the Victorian royalty considered performance was utterly worthless to them.

As a result, Theresis later handed over all invitations to politician banquets to the Bloodborne Archon. He would rather waste time on these absurd court dramas than do something truly meaningful.

Therefore, when Chen Qi proposed filming a comedy, both of them frowned. Seeing Theresis's displeased expression, Manfred, who had reported Chen Qi, immediately spoke up:

"Director Chen Qi, you travel this land and have visited many countries, you are a knowledgeable person. With your experience, the comedy you depict should be different from what we imagine, right?"

"Hmm? Are there different kinds of comedy? Fundamentally, they are all genres that need to make people laugh heartily to be called comedy."

Chen Qi had no idea what kind of comedy the two of them were thinking of. This was actually a matter of cognitive dissonance. Chen Qi was a transmigrator, a young man from the 21st century, a time when even with the cry of "the entertainment industry is doomed," spiritual entertainment was richer than for most people on Terra.

And the Sarkaz, led by Theresis, had mostly spent their lives in war since birth. Even someone as high-ranking as Theresis in Kazdel had little spiritual entertainment, having donned armor and begun commanding wars early on.

Even the concept of "comedy" was something Theresis only learned about after arriving in Victoria. Therefore, their understanding of comedy was completely different from Chen Qi's.

"The more turbulent times are, the more people need lighthearted entertainment. This is the meaning of comedy."

"It doesn't require a high level of education; any commoner in the country can understand it. As long as the public can understand it and laugh, it's a sufficiently excellent comedy."

"...In this regard, Director Chen Qi, you are the expert. Our people are skilled in war and killing, but we are completely ignorant of these things."

Theresis said with his eyes closed. Although he was reluctant to admit the Sarkaz race's shortcomings in this area and didn't want to acknowledge that ridiculous comedies could be relaxing... he at least knew that he wasn't an expert in this field. This kind of TV series wasn't made for him, but for the Victorians in Londinium.

As long as they were happy, it didn't matter if he found it boring. Theresis never considered himself in these matters.

...But, to be honest, Theresis felt a little regretful. After watching Chen Qi's "The Godfather," even though he couldn't deeply empathize with the local culture of Syracuse, he could still feel the "cherish family" sentiment conveyed in the film.

This reminded him of Theresia... It was a pity that war and the plight of the Sarkaz forced them to put family aside and prioritize the continuation and survival of their race.

Perhaps, if the Sarkaz no longer need war to justify their existence one day, cherishing family will no longer be an empty phrase they can't empathize with.

But in the end, Theresis likes things with depth, things that aren't meaningless existences that can be tossed aside after a bout of laughter. He enjoys constantly learning and comprehending through thought.

It's a pity, however, that the "comedy" Chen Qi proposed has disappointed Theresis somewhat. He had thought Chen Qi was different from those attention-seeking clowns, but now, Theresis has no other recourse and must accept the proposal.

"The most important thing is to solve the problem. As for the methods, as long as they don't cause panic or disrupt order, nothing else matters."

Theresis opened his eyes and said calmly to Chen Qi, "I support Director Chen Qi's plan."

"If that's the case, may I now make some requests for my filming?" Chen Qi showed a slight smile upon hearing this. After Theresis nodded, Chen Qi continued:

"Our filming requires the mobilization of the entire crew. Many positions may seem unimportant, but they are actually indispensable. Therefore, I hope that within Londinium, neither your army, Your Highness the Regent, nor the Londinium city defense forces will interfere with my crew members."

"That is natural. I will issue orders immediately," Theresis nodded. He certainly wouldn't offend Chen Qi without reason, especially since the energy of their crew was considerable. If they caused unrest and other mobile cities noticed Londinium's situation, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The fact that Theresis could remain here peacefully in Londinium to a large extent was because, under his management, Londinium's situation wasn't leaked to other mobile cities in Victoria. This allowed them to "blossom from the center," otherwise, they would have been purely besieged and annihilated.

"Secondly, regarding the various requirements for our crew's filming, some are beyond our current scale to overcome, such as the issue of actors."

Seeing that Theresis had readily agreed to the first matter, Chen Qi immediately moved on to the most crucial aspect of filming – the actors!

Chen Qi had a very bold idea, and he wanted to gauge Theresis's reaction to determine if it could be executed. That idea was to have Theresis and his subordinates play the corresponding roles in "Yes, Prime Minister."

Chen Qi felt that this would not only maximize the benefits of the show but also... having someone like Theresis, who had fooled Victoria, play the protagonist in a play that satirized Victoria would be a peculiar form of dark humor for Chen Qi.

It had a certain aesthetic of dancing on a grave... But Chen Qi needed to see Theresis's reaction to this matter, and of course, the first step was to get him to agree readily.

"I might select some people within Londinium to be actors. Your Highness the Regent, what do you think?"

"It's fine," Theresis replied, feeling that this request posed no concern. He immediately said, "As long as they are in Londinium, whether they are Victorians or Sarkaz, anyone you need, you can have them cooperate with you. I grant you this authority."

"However, you cannot exceed one hundred people at a time, understand?" Theresis added a safeguard here, fearing that Chen Qi might use his name to mobilize troops and cause some major disturbance.

Even worse... someone who viewed the safety of their crew as a red line might resort to any means necessary for self-preservation and cause unrest. Theresis absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen.