Chapter Twenty-Seven: Choosing the Subject of the Film: "Yes, Prime Minister" / Chapter Twenty-Eight: Theresis, You Can Play the Prime Minister

"?" Chen Qi tilted his head in surprise as well—Theresis had actually seriously watched the The Godfather he filmed? And he was even using Chen Qi's own lines against him?

But... filming? Going to Londinium to film something for Theresis? Don't tell him Theresis wanted to hire him as his personal screenwriter because he liked Chen Qi's movies. That joke was not funny.

"For the specifics, please go to Londinium first and discuss them with General Theresis." Manfred clearly did not wish to say more and bluntly stated:

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

As soon as Manfred finished speaking, two enormous crates were lowered from the aircraft. Manfred walked over to them and said to Chen Qi:

"This is the General's sincerity, as well as part of your payment."

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

Soon, as Manfred's words fell, the two massive crates opened. What entered Chen Qi's sight the next moment were vial after vial of Oripathy Inhibitor that he knew all too well!

Two whole crates! And this was only the deposit? The moment Chen Qi saw Theresis's "sincerity," as well as Manfred's still-gray dot on the Mini-map...

"This matter... perhaps... might not be impossible to discuss?"

Decided Filming Subject: Yes, Prime Minister

"Reunion Movement, Integrated Cultural Troupe, Director Chen Qi, Talulah, Captain Buldrokkas'tee... truly, seeing you is better than hearing of you."

A day later, after Chen Qi accepted Manfred's terms and agreed to travel to Londinium first to discuss filming with Theresis, Chen Qi, Talulah, and Patriot entered Londinium as representatives.

Most of the Integrated Cultural Troupe remained outside Londinium's defensive artillery range, ready to retreat or support Chen Qi's group at any time. Chen Qi had no idea what Theresis was plotting, but with Patriot and Talulah's strength, the three of them should have the means to fight their way out of Londinium... provided Theresis did not personally intervene.

The scene from the game where that bastard cleaved the old lynx in two with one strike had left too deep an impression on Chen Qi. It made him a little nervous. But judging by the Mini-map... Theresis really was a gray dot without hostility.

Even the few dots wandering nearby, probably Confessarii, were gray as well. Chen Qi checked the remaining Reputation Points in his system. It was probably enough to redeem a few combat items. They would not change the overall situation, but keeping himself alive should not be a problem.

Sigh... he was still short on Reputation. He had spent it all redeeming High-concentration Oripathy Inhibitor and forgotten that strength was the foundation of survival on this land. He had thought Patriot and Talulah's protection would be enough for him to swagger across Terra. Who could have expected someone on Theresis's level to set his sights on him so quickly?

If he could safely earn Theresis's payment and Reputation this time, Chen Qi would absolutely strengthen himself until he could walk sideways wherever he pleased. A director like him could not keep dragging everyone down.

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

Theresis was always clad in armor, as though he could march onto a battlefield at any moment. Yet today, he seemed unusually exhausted. Chen Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. Why did this Regent... seem to have dark circles under his eyes?

"No matter how unusual our combination may be, we are now merely a production crew focused on filming and writing scripts, Your Highness the Regent."

"We no longer rely on violence and battle to secure living space for ourselves. Since Your Highness has invited us here with such generous compensation, claiming to wish to make use of our filmmaking expertise, then a small production crew like ours is naturally willing to be of service."

Though they had little choice, Chen Qi's group really could not afford to offend Theresis. Besides, their position gave them no reason to get involved with Theresis to the same life-or-death extent as Rhodes Island.

Just as Chen Qi had said, they were merely a small production crew. Chen Qi had never intended to take part in any mission to save the world. He only wanted to protect everyone in the Integrated Cultural Troupe and, after earning enough money, settle them somewhere in some country so they could live peaceful lives.

Before Theresis, Chen Qi held firmly to that claim in order to convey one signal—we can discuss filming, but we will absolutely not help you fight wars.

"What a pity. If you joined us, there would certainly be seats for you on the Kazdel Military Commission, even if you are not Sarkaz."

Theresis naturally knew that someone like Chen Qi, who had personally led the Reunion Movement's transformation into a production crew, must harbor an aversion to war. He was not Sarkaz and might not even have lived through the era of war, so persuading him to fight was unrealistic.

Especially Patriot and Talulah... they now followed Chen Qi, and their production crew had already gotten on track and was moving toward success. Asking them to return to a life of licking blood from the blade was equally unrealistic.

"No matter. I sought you out precisely to make use of your current expertise." Theresis slowly descended from the platform, waved for the surrounding Confessarii not to act, and said to Chen Qi:

"Director Chen Qi, if it is convenient, how about accompanying me to my chambers for a proper discussion? Some matters are not suitable for this place."

Chen Qi: "...Huh?"

Theresis's words left Chen Qi somewhat stunned. Even Patriot and Talulah, who had been standing ready for battle nearby, were dumbfounded. Still, Talulah instinctively stepped forward, watching the handsome Regent before her with open wariness. Her eyes held the same strange expression Chen Qi wore.

This Regent... whether by appearance or status, did not seem like the sort of person lacking women. Discussing matters in his chambers could not possibly mean something else... right?

In the end, Chen Qi still went to Theresis's chambers alone. To his surprise, the Regent's chambers were remarkably plain, roughly the size of a single room in a hundred-square-meter apartment from before Chen Qi's transmigration.

Manfred was already waiting there. The moment he saw Theresis arrive, he immediately bowed respectfully.

"General."

"Enough, Manfred. There is no one else here—no Confessarii, no Royal Court. We can speak freely." Theresis waved his hand and immediately ordered:

"Bring Director Chen Qi a chair. We have much to discuss regarding his area of expertise."

"Yes." Upon receiving the order, Manfred brought Chen Qi a chair without a word, then positioned himself by the door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping or spying.

Theresis sat down by the bed. Facing Chen Qi, the Regent revealed an unusual hint of a smile and calmly said:

"Director Chen Qi, I watched and appraised The Godfather you filmed last night. That film showed me your talent, and it also made me realize that besides war and weapons, there may be another kind of 'weapon' worthy of our attention."

"The weapons known as 'culture' and 'information.' This has always been something Kazdel lacked. The monarchs of the Royal Court are antiquated in thought, thinking only of conquest and death. Now, I intend to use your talents to help me explore another path—one that sheds no blood."

"...My apologies, Your Highness the Regent. We only understand filmmaking, not warfare. Just tell us what you expect, and we will do our best to fulfill it."

Chen Qi waved his hand. He had not expected one of his films to make Theresis understand the importance of waging a "war of public opinion." But Chen Qi had no desire whatsoever to become entangled with Theresis. He merely remained calm and said:

"As the client, you only need to provide funding, support, and requirements. As the contractor, we will do our utmost to meet those requirements. Beyond that, we will have no other connection. What do you think?"

"Straightforward." Theresis nodded. Seeing that Chen Qi was willing to cooperate, he nodded again and said, "Since Director Chen Qi has spoken so plainly, then I shall be equally frank."

"Our army came to Londinium at the invitation of the dukes, in order to settle their dispute. We resolved the dispute and achieved our objective. Yet the local residents have not welcomed our presence."

"This has subjected my soldiers to unfair treatment. I ordered that the army must never attack local civilians, yet we have been stationed in Londinium for some time now. The local populace remains anxious and continues to launch riots and strikes against us."

Bullshit. What citizens of any nation with dignity and strength would enjoy having another country's army camp in their capital for no reason and refuse to leave? Chen Qi did not believe a single word of Theresis's lies. He had seen the plot.

Settling the dukes' dispute was merely an excuse. Theresis said nothing about taking control of seventy percent of the city defense army and squeezing the local populace dry to build the Shattered Tower and the Aerial Fleet.

He made himself sound like a security company whose employees had protested over unpaid wages... The last person to pull something like this was Uncle Liu when he entered Yizhou, but Theresis's reputation was far worse than Uncle Liu's. Even Boss Cao, who loved tormenting commoners, would think himself more humane after meeting these people.

But Chen Qi knew he could not casually say any of that, so he could only ask:

"So, Your Highness the Regent hopes we can film something to ease the local tension?"

"You have grasped it precisely." Theresis nodded and calmly said, "I wish to broadcast films through television that can ease the tense atmosphere. That is why I invited you to Londinium."

"Your films achieved great success in Syracuse and earned the support of its people. Clearly, you possess talent in this regard."

"I hope you can make films that Victoria's citizens will enjoy. But I have one requirement—there must not be any words or implications concerning resistance, unity, or similar concepts."

"I want local citizens to relax after watching these films without stirring up greater resistance or hostility toward our Sarkaz army. Instead, I want them to quietly lose their own sense of identity as Victoria citizens. Can you do that?"

"...You mean you want me to become a public intellectual?" Chen Qi was stunned. Theresis really did have a talent for waging a war of public opinion. He even knew to divide the people from within and dismantle them.

If this bastard had existed in Chen Qi's original world, he would probably have been the kind of figure qualified to become president of the United States.

"Public intellectual?" Theresis and Manfred were slightly taken aback, unfamiliar with the meaning of that Yan term.

"Ah, never mind. I occasionally say things others do not understand. It is a habit of mine." Chen Qi shook his head, having no desire to explain what "public intellectual" meant to Theresis. If someone as talented as Theresis figured it out, he might start Terra's first war of public opinion and become the founding master of public-opinion warfare in Terra...

"Still, Your Highness the Regent, I do not think making films suits your expectations in the current environment."

"Oh?" Theresis raised a brow, indicating that Chen Qi should continue.

"Most Londinium citizens have very little leisure time. A film easily runs for one or two hours, while most of them do not have that much free time. After working all day, they return home exhausted and may fall asleep almost immediately. A film's runtime is a luxury to them."

"Moreover, continuity is extremely important in a film. Once someone leaves halfway through, they might forget the earlier plot when they return, which would greatly damage the viewing experience."

"Therefore, my suggestion is that compared to films, television dramas may better meet your expectations."

"Television dramas? What are those?" After a moment of silence, Theresis finally asked. The Regent of Kazdel knew everything there was to know about war, but he knew nothing at all about entertainment.

"You can think of them as shorter films, with each episode lasting around twenty to thirty minutes." Chen Qi patiently explained, "That way, even workers with brief breaks will have time to watch them."

"And television dramas have one tremendous advantage over films. They are guaranteed to spread farther."

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

"Watching films costs money, but watching television dramas does not."

"As long as there is a television, a television drama can be broadcast. There is no need to go to a special location or deliberately set aside time. Just press the remote, turn on the television, and you can watch. It is highly suited to workers with limited rest time."

"—Excellent, Director Chen Qi. I was right to invite you."

After Chen Qi laid it out for him, Theresis immediately understood that television dramas were more suitable than films for the current situation. A hint of delight appeared on his face before he seriously asked:

"Then, Director Chen Qi, since you seem so confident, I presume you have already decided what kind of television drama to make for Londinium's citizens?"

"Of course. Based on the local circumstances, I have already decided on the subject." Chen Qi nodded. Under Theresis and Manfred's expectant gazes, he smiled faintly and said:

"To ease the tense atmosphere and provide the people with simple, relaxing entertainment, nothing fits better than a lighthearted and cheerful comedy."

Yes, a comedy. After combining Theresis's demands, Victoria's current circumstances, and all the prerequisites of filming a television drama, Chen Qi felt it was time to bring out that masterpiece.

In Chen Qi's previous life, it had been called "half a British drama rules the world," and together with Let the Bullets Fly, it had been rated as "intangible cultural heritage." Now Chen Qi would bring out this British drama, letting the saying "half a Victoria drama rules the world" spread across Terra in the future.

—Yes, Prime Minister. Chen Qi immediately set his sights on this classic British comedy. He believed it would definitely satisfy Theresis.

And perhaps... it could also give the largely politically unaware people of Terra an introductory lesson. Maybe, without realizing it, he could become many people's political enlightenment teacher across Terra.

Theresis, You Can Play the Prime Minister

"A comedy?"

However, the moment Chen Qi said this, disappointment appeared in both Theresis and Manfred's eyes. Manfred in particular could not help imagining the court plays admired by the extravagant and corrupt Victoria royal family when he heard Chen Qi intended to make a comedy television drama...

After Theresis had been invited to Londinium to resolve the dispute between the dukes, he had attended quite a few Victoria banquets. These absurd court plays... to be honest, to Sarkaz like Theresis and Manfred, the things the Victoria royals considered performances had absolutely no value.

Thus, Theresis later handed all invitations to those politicians' banquets over to the Bloodborne Archon. He would rather spend the time wasted on such ridiculous court plays doing something genuinely meaningful.

Therefore, when Chen Qi proposed filming a comedy, both men frowned deeply. Seeing that Theresis's expression had changed, Manfred spoke up because he had been the one to recommend Chen Qi.

"Director Chen Qi, you are a knowledgeable man who has traveled this land and visited many nations. With your experience, the comedy you describe should not be the same thing as the comedy we are imagining, correct?"

"Hm? Are there different kinds of comedy? At its core, it must be a genre that makes people laugh heartily before it can be called a comedy."

Chen Qi had no idea what kind of comedy the two were imagining. This was really a difference in perception. Chen Qi was a transmigrator, a young man from the twenty-first century. Even in an era where people cried that "the entertainment industry is doomed," the spiritual entertainment available to him had still been richer than what most people on Terra possessed.

As for the Sarkaz led by Theresis, most of them had spent their lives in war and turmoil from the moment they were born. Even someone as powerful and high-ranking in Kazdel as Theresis had little in the way of spiritual entertainment. He had put on armor early in life and begun commanding wars.

Even the concept of "comedy" was something Theresis had only learned after coming to Victoria. Therefore, the comedy they understood and the comedy Chen Qi understood were entirely different.

"The more turbulent the times, the more people need relaxing entertainment. That is the meaning of comedy."

"It does not require a high level of education. Any ordinary citizen of the country can understand it. As long as the people can understand it and laugh, it is an excellent comedy."

"...In this area, Director Chen Qi, you are the expert. Our people excel at war and slaughter, but we know nothing about such things."

Theresis spoke with his eyes closed. Though he was unwilling to admit the Sarkaz race's shortcomings in this area, and unwilling to acknowledge that those absurd comedies could help people relax... he at least knew that he was not an expert. This television drama would not be made for him, but for Victoria citizens in Londinium.

As long as they enjoyed it, it did not matter if he found it boring. Theresis never considered himself in such matters.

...But honestly, Theresis felt some regret. After watching The Godfather filmed by Chen Qi, Theresis, who could not deeply empathize with Syracuse's local culture, had nonetheless felt the emotion conveyed by the film—the importance of cherishing one's family.

It made him think of Theresia... Unfortunately, the war and the Sarkaz predicament had forced them to leave familial affection behind and first deal with the survival and continuation of their race.

If the Sarkaz one day no longer needed war to prove themselves, perhaps cherishing family would no longer be an empty phrase beyond their understanding.

But ultimately, Theresis liked things with depth, not empty entertainment that could be discarded after a burst of laughter. He liked learning and gaining insight through continuous thought.

Unfortunately, the "comedy" Chen Qi proposed disappointed Theresis somewhat... He had thought Chen Qi was different from those clowns who sought attention through sensationalism. Yet now, Theresis had no better option and had to accept the proposal.

"The first priority is solving the problem. As for the method, as long as it does not cause panic or disrupt order, nothing else matters."

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

"In that case, may I now make some requests necessary for filming?" Chen Qi smiled slightly. After Theresis nodded, he said:

"Our filming requires the entire crew to mobilize. Many positions may appear unimportant, but they are indispensable. Therefore, I hope that within Londinium, whether it is Your Highness's army or Londinium's city defense army, neither will touch anyone from my production crew."

"Naturally. I will issue the order immediately." Theresis nodded. He would not provoke Chen Qi for no reason, especially when the production crew's influence was considerable. If unrest broke out and other mobile cities noticed Londinium's situation, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The reason Theresis could remain in Londinium so calmly right now was largely because, with him in control, Londinium's situation would not leak to Victoria's other mobile cities. Only then could they achieve a blossoming in the center. Otherwise, they would simply be surrounded and destroyed.

"Second, some of the requirements for our filming are beyond what our crew's current scale can overcome, such as the issue of actors."

Seeing Theresis agree so readily to the first matter, Chen Qi immediately brought up the most important issue in filmmaking—actors!

Chen Qi had an extremely bold idea. Whether it could be put into practice would depend on Theresis's reaction: he wanted Theresis and his subordinates to play the corresponding roles in Yes, Prime Minister.

Chen Qi felt this would not only maximize the drama's benefits, but also... having Theresis, who had toyed with Victoria like this, play the protagonist of a satire about Victoria was a different kind of malicious amusement for Chen Qi.

There was a certain beauty to dancing on someone's grave... But Chen Qi still had to gauge Theresis's response. First, naturally, he needed to get the other party to agree without hesitation.

"I may choose some people in Londinium to serve as actors. What do you think, Your Highness the Regent?"

"That is fine." Theresis felt he had nothing to worry about in this request and immediately said, "As long as they are in Londinium, whether Victoria citizens or Sarkaz, anyone you require may cooperate with you. I grant you that authority."

"But not more than a hundred people at a time, understood?" Theresis added a safeguard here. He feared Chen Qi might mobilize troops under his name and cause some major disturbance.

Perhaps... someone who viewed the safety of his production crew as a reverse scale might resort to any means necessary to protect himself, even causing unrest. Theresis would never permit such a thing.