Directing on the Ark, Success If Not Banned

"Oh, no need, no need. Filming this might not even take half that," Chen Qi waved his hand. A hundred people? Even for scenes requiring more people in Yes, Prime Minister, there shouldn't be more than 20. Most of the Reunion Movement members could even make cameos.

It's just... the people Chen Qi wanted to "borrow" for filming were destined to be no ordinary individuals, but he still needed Theresis's guarantee.

"The third matter is that after we finish filming, we will leave Londinium. At that time, I kindly ask His Excellency the Regent and your subordinates not to obstruct us."

"That is natural." Theresis nodded. He had no intention of hiring Chen Qi and his crew long-term. While he very much wanted to bring so much talent into his fold, if that inclusion was merely superficial... then it was better not to have it.

"Then, those are my only temporary demands. I trust His Excellency the Regent will not go back on his word." Seeing that Theresis had readily agreed to the three requests, Chen Qi asked, "So, are you not going back on your word?"

"Most Sarkaz are mercenaries. As a general and as Regent, to gain the trust of my subjects, many of whom are former mercenaries, I naturally possess the virtue of keeping my promises."

Theresis smiled slightly and said, "For mercenaries, credibility is paramount. Sarkaz mercenaries, once they accept a contract, will honor their commitments."

"For all that has happened today, I will have Manfred draft a contract. We will both affix our blood seals, and thus, a Sarkaz 'Blood Pact' will be established."

"Any Sarkaz who violates the Blood Pact will be reviled, even if they are the Regent."

"—Then, without further ado, let us sign it now." Chen Qi was relieved to hear this. Although Theresis's quick agreement felt a bit strange, signing this agreement would undoubtedly make Chen Qi and everyone in the crew much safer.

Seeing Chen Qi so eager to sign, Theresis also found it a bit peculiar. He had a feeling Chen Qi had seen through something and maintained a strong sense of vigilance towards him.

Despite some doubts, Theresis still had Manfred act as a notary and signed the contract with Chen Qi. Both of them pressed their blood-stained fingers onto two separate sheets of paper, each keeping one copy.

"Then, regarding the actors, I need to ask for His Excellency the Regent's help right now!"

After receiving the Blood Pact, Chen Qi immediately planned to put his scheme into motion. With a smile, he looked at Theresis and said, "I already have a preliminary concept. I need a lead actor."

"Simple. I can have Manfred take you to pick someone." Theresis waved his hand after receiving the Blood Pact. But before Manfred could take Chen Qi to the army, Chen Qi immediately shook his head and said, "No, no, no. This person is different. This is the lead actor. He must fit the temperament I'm looking for in casting—in fact, the lead actors I want must all be elite-level individuals."

"For example, this lead actor must… hmm… look like he has status."

Chen Qi asked tentatively. Theresis and Manfred exchanged a glance, not understanding Chen Qi's meaning, but gestured for Chen Qi to continue.

"Possess great ambition." Seeing that Theresis did not object, Chen Qi then tentatively added, "Have a dignified appearance."

Theresis's expression began to turn a bit strange. He subconsciously wanted to laugh but couldn't.

"Preferably with long-term political experience."

Manfred was also starting to grasp what Chen Qi was implying and instinctively looked towards Theresis.

"And, able to subconsciously deter others, making the other actors obey his authority."

"…Are you referring to me?" Theresis, hearing Chen Qi's "praise," his expression changed slightly, but he still managed his emotions as he asked.

"I didn't expect His Excellency the Regent to have such a clear and precise self-awareness."

Finally, seeing that Theresis had taken the bait, Chen Qi seized the moment to deliver the perfect flattery, clapping as he spoke to Theresis, making the nearby Manfred feel incredibly awkward.

Theresis himself was also awkward. He simply felt that what Chen Qi had just said was very similar to himself, but he didn't think Chen Qi would dare to approach him. He just wanted to state his name and tell Chen Qi not to go too far.

However, now that the flattery had been delivered and he had responded, the Sarkaz, who were rather slow on matters of social etiquette, even Theresis, couldn't think of a way to backtrack for a moment.

This scene made Theresis feel a sense of déjà vu, as if it were the time when he had to ask a few of his supporters among the kings of the Royal Court to explain his merits and the benefits he could bring to others to gain their support…

Back then, they tested each other in this way. Each so-called "merit" they mentioned was actually a "promise" Theresis intended to fulfill after taking power.

And now, using the same tactic, Theresis himself had fallen into a trap. This was the first time in his life he had suffered a setback in a conversation.

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Chapter 29: The Actor for Yes, Prime Minister

"His Excellency the Regent doesn't need to answer me immediately. I know you haven't read the script yet, and it's understandable that someone in your position would have reservations about acting."

"But believe me, I will give you a satisfactory answer in a few days. I already have a concept, but I can assure you, this is definitely not a shallow comedy that will just make you laugh and forget."

"Of course, I won't have a group of distinguished individuals act like clowns on stage. You can rest assured about that. Your roles will perfectly match your identities and status."

After Chen Qi left Theresis's royal chambers, Chen Qi's words continued to echo in Theresis's mind. For some reason, every time he conversed with Chen Qi, Theresis, as a Sarkaz immortal, who had commanded armies on the battlefield a hundred years ago, felt like an ignorant child in front of Chen Qi.

The professional knowledge Chen Qi possessed was a field Theresis had never understood, let alone delved into. However, after Theresis first watched the movie The Godfather and saw the confidence and cohesion it brought to the people of Syracuse, he keenly realized that perhaps entertainment was also a very important field.

All races experienced pressure, but the Sarkaz race, due to their harsh living environment and constant wars, had few desires beyond mere survival.

This made the Sarkaz army require less logistical support than armies of other nations, allowing them to adapt to and endure even harsher environments, making them more fierce and resilient than other armies.

Therefore, in terms of entertainment… for the Sarkaz, it was generally a luxury and an unfamiliar concept. Even the old monsters in the Royal Court who had lived for countless years were either immersed in primal pleasures or engaged in a very limited range of entertainment.

And Theresis never expected that he, who knew nothing about entertainment, would become the "lead actor" Chen Qi needed.

He wasn't worried about being assigned a role as a buffoon; that would only mean Chen Qi had a death wish. But he wondered if it would truly be effective for someone like him to act in a comedy.

After all, Theresis was confident in his poker face and his willpower, honed on the battlefield. His demeanor was suitable for speeches and for being a stern king, but certainly not for acting.

"Since this has been decided, as Regent, I should also present my best side, even in an area where I am not skilled."

Now, having come to this realization, Theresis sat up in bed. The thought that his "performance" would be watched not only by the Victorians of Londinium through the television but also by the Sarkaz, made him feel that he could not do anything that would tarnish his dignity.

Even if he was not skilled at acting, he had to do his best! Theresis thought this, then immediately called out.

"Confessor!"

"Reporting, Your Highness the Regent. What are your orders?"

Soon, at Theresis's command, the Confessor, cloaked in black like a phantom and wearing a golden mask, appeared beside him, ready for deployment.

However, the Confessor, expecting an urgent matter given the late hour, was surprised when Theresis spoke with icy detachment:

"—Turn on the projector. I want to watch The Godfather."

"...Your Highness the Regent, if I may be so bold, you haven't slept in two days because of this movie." The Confessor's tone was unusually hesitant.

"I need to hone my acting skills. I don't want to disgrace the majesty of a monarch in front of the public."

Theresis's tone was firm. The iron-fisted monarch's commands always felt irrefutable—though, if he were discussing politics instead of acting, his presence would be even more imposing.

The embarrassing reason Theresis had asked the Confessor for help was... he had never bothered to figure out how to use the projector.

Faced with his sovereign's command, the Confessor, who had rushed over in the middle of the night, fell silent for a rare moment before replying without a ripple:

"Yes, Your Highness the Regent."

A few days later, after Theresis had stayed up all night honing his acting skills to his satisfaction, Chen Qi, who had "created for a long time," finally found Theresis with his work.

This time, Chen Qi wasn't just meeting Theresis. He had also asked Theresis to summon the other two "lead actors" he had anticipated: Manfred and the Bloodborne Archon.

"...Your Highness, it's one thing for you to ask me to deal with Victoria's tedious noble social events, but it's another matter entirely to take orders from a Yan national and to perform like a laughable jester."

"I request that Your Highness the Regent provide a reason, or allow this Yan national standing before us to explain."

The Bloodborne Archon was a pale, handsome Sarkaz, appearing as a youth but known to have lived for countless years. As one of the Kings of the Royal Court, his lifespan far exceeded that of Theresis and Manfred combined.

"Because this might be more meaningful than dealing with noble social events," Theresis said calmly to the Bloodborne Archon.

"Since you are weary of social events, why not give this a try? I believe that as long as you find this matter no more tedious than social events, you won't object."

"An interesting argument. I never realized Your Highness the Regent had the potential for humor." The Bloodborne Archon did not object. He was likely quite fed up with attending banquets. As one of the few Sarkaz with an appreciation for the arts, the Bloodborne Archon turned to Chen Qi and asked indifferently, "Then, I shall listen. After all, you are a guest invited by His Highness. I hope you can present a topic that interests me, playwright."

"I am not a playwright, merely a director. And of course, I will tell you about my production."

This was Chen Qi's first time seeing the Bloodborne Archon up close. However, he wasn't afraid because, on his minimap, all three individuals before him were gray neutral units, allowing him to gauge if anyone held explicit hostility towards him.

Feeling that his purchase of the minimap was increasingly worthwhile, Chen Qi collected himself and began explaining his television series. "As I mentioned to Your Highness the Regent earlier, we are filming a comedy this time. However, the genre of this comedy is rather unique, as per Your Highness's request: to subtly erode the confidence of Victoria's residents in their own country."

"Therefore, I have decided on the theme for this production: a political satire comedy titled Yes, Prime Minister."

"Political satire comedy?" X3

Upon hearing Chen Qi's declaration, not only Theresis and Manfred, who had little understanding of such matters, but even the well-traveled and ancient Bloodborne Archon were somewhat taken aback.

They understood "politics," "satire," and "comedy" individually, but how they combined into something coherent eluded them.

Politics was cruel and dull, they knew that; satire was powerful and sharp, capable of shaking a nation's confidence; and comedy was meant to be lighthearted and amusing.

These three terms seemed almost contradictory. How could they be combined to be entertaining?

"I must admit, this new term has piqued my interest." The Bloodborne Archon was the first to recover. This time, he revealed a hint of morbid amusement and said, "Continue, Director."

"This television series, by refraining from depicting the dark side of political conspiracies as much as possible, will use humor to mock and satirize the inaction and flaws of Victoria's politicians and civil servants, subtly leading to Victoria's gradual decline. Through the self-contradictory viewpoints within the story, and the actions of civil servants and politicians protecting their own interests, it will evoke hearty laughter."

Chen Qi briefly explained the characteristics of the television series Yes, Prime Minister. He then continued, "As the three lead actors have differing interests, most of the humor will be centered around them. Therefore, the roles of the lead actors are exceptionally important."

"Who are these three characters? Please introduce them to us," Theresis asked calmly.

"The first is Hark, who holds the position of Prime Minister. He is the highest-ranking official under the Crown, overseeing all of Victoria's political affairs. In a sense, he is Victoria's chief administrator. While final decisions require the monarch's approval, his opinion can significantly influence the monarch's decision. Therefore, in the eyes of civil servants and politicians, he is essentially equivalent to the monarch."

"However, he did not attain this position through strength or talent. It was simply because the other contenders tended to split the party, leading the civil service system to fully support his mediocre candidacy for Prime Minister."

"Thus, although he is Prime Minister, he is actually constrained by the interests of many civil servants and politicians. So, despite his passion and desire to achieve something, his dreams are often limited by a lack of support."

"—That sounds like the current situation of the Royal Court and the generals," Manfred interjected instinctively, then immediately realized his words were problematic.

The Bloodborne Archon was a member of the Royal Court, and Theresis was the one who had promoted him. His remark was akin to lifting a fig leaf from the two of them, who were only superficially aligned.

The Bloodborne Archon did not particularly support Theresis, but he favored him over other members of the Royal Court. Yet, he also harbored some dissatisfaction with Theresis. This was why Manfred's comment seemed to mirror the relationship between the Royal Court and Theresis.

"Very well, it's clear that this 'Prime Minister' role is for Your Highness the Regent." The Bloodborne Archon immediately understood that Chen Qi had designed the characters based on their respective situations. He then smiled and asked, "And the other two?"

"The other is Humphrey, an administrator and a civil servant. His interests are directly tied to the civil service system. As one of those who supported Hark's becoming Prime Minister, he believes he has contributed to his rise. Furthermore, he dislikes change, and therefore opposes many of the Prime Minister's new policies."

"Most of the conflicts in the plot are caused by him and the Prime Minister, as these two characters are very important." Chen Qi's gaze shifted to the Bloodborne Archon, his meaning clear.

"Then it seems this role falls to me. I don't dislike it." The Bloodborne Archon smiled faintly. He felt he might be able to play this role well, perhaps because... it was so fitting?

"Then that leaves the last one. General Manfred, this one is for you." The Bloodborne Archon turned his gaze to Manfred. While Manfred remained unfazed facing thousands of troops, he became uncharacteristically nervous when it was mentioned that he would be acting alongside Theresis and the Bloodborne Archon.

"So, Director Chen Qi, my character is..."

"The character is named Bernard. He is the Prime Minister's personal secretary. He has served as Hark's secretary since before Hark became Prime Minister, and is therefore deeply trusted by Hark," Chen Qi explained Manfred's role. "Bernard played a role in encouraging Hark to become Victoria's Prime Minister. Furthermore, Bernard has a promising future, and Hark intends to promote him, making him his personal secretary. Bernard, who achieved rapid advancement, is loyal to the Prime Minister."

"However, the difficulty of this role lies in the fact that he not only directly obeys the Prime Minister, but his interests are also directly linked to the civil service, just like Humphrey's. He also takes orders from Humphrey. Therefore, he serves as a lubricant in the plot."

"Not only to help the Prime Minister, but also to help Humphrey occasionally, but most of the time, he is loyal to the Prime Minister."

"It sounds like..." Manfred subconsciously wanted to say, "It's pretty much how I feel right now," but Manfred immediately noticed Theresis's scrutinizing gaze and quickly changed his tune:

"It sounds like a role I can take on."

"Then, without further ado, Director Chen Qi, hand over the script to us, and we'll be ready to shoot next week."

Seeing that neither Manfred nor the Bloodborne Archon had any objections, Theresis took the script for the first episode of "Yes, Prime Minister" from Chen Qi. After Chen Qi handed the scripts to the three of them, Theresis said:

"Next week, we need to shoot the first episode quickly, so everyone needs to do their best, understand?"

As soon as Theresis finished speaking, whether it was the Bloodborne Archon who felt the role suited him, or Manfred who felt he was about to lose his job after speaking incorrectly twice, they exchanged a look and tacitly said to Theresis:

"Yes, Prime Minister." X2

...This is probably the best casting for the Terra version of "Yes, Prime Minister," right? Chen Qi looked at the three of them, who were already a bit "in character," and felt a bit strange.

When he was filming this TV series, would he inadvertently turn the three of them into Terra embodiments of Hark, Humphrey, and Bernard?

Chapter Thirty: "Yes, Prime Minister" Episode One, Filming Begins!

"So, regarding this scene in the first episode, does everyone have any questions?"

"I've already had everyone prepare the equipment at Number Ten, Octre Street. We can start filming at any time."

A week of preparation time passed quickly. During this time, whether it was Theresis, who was busy with state affairs, or Manfred, who was busy with army preparations, they were both incredibly busy. They did their serious work during the day and memorized their lines at night, busy but seemingly enjoying it.

Many of Theresis's guards and Confessors noticed something was amiss... Manfred, Theresis, and the Bloodborne Archon, three people who rarely met, were actually gathering every night to discuss scripts and rehearse their lines, occasionally bursting into laughter, usually initiated by Manfred, followed closely by the Bloodborne Archon.

This struck the guards and Confessors as rather odd... The Bloodborne Archon belonged to the Royal Court and wasn't exactly a supporter of Theresis, merely not opposing him. He shouldn't be so close to Theresis and Manfred.

Moreover... laughter? This word was quite foreign to most Sarkaz. Having experienced brutal wars and survival, aside from those with particularly unpleasant personalities, most Sarkaz rarely laughed heartily. They generally lived each day with worry, hoping to see the next.