Directing in the Ark, Success If Not Banned

"…Is that so?"

Chen Qi mused to himself. After a brief silence, FrostNova offered a relaxed smile. She knew what Chen Qi was thinking but didn't call him out on it.

Because, a few days after Chen Qi had administered the Originium inhibitor to her, FrostNova, who later learned that Swire had also fallen ill, had specifically gone to deliver an Originium inhibitor to FrostNova herself. Swire had even chided Chen Qi for not telling her about the situation.

As it happened, Patriot was on guard duty at the entrance at the time, and it was he who relayed this information to FrostNova.

Although FrostNova and Patriot didn't know where Chen Qi had obtained the Originium inhibitor, it was clear that it wasn't something that could be bought so quickly at the Lungmen hospital…

He must have done many difficult things for me, right? FrostNova thought. Chen Qi's current nonchalant attitude only solidified this belief.

Perhaps I should do something to repay Chen Qi? FrostNova, who had been recuperating during this time, only began to regain some of her spirit after reaching Syracuse. This incident had significantly changed many of her perceptions of Chen Qi.

"Chen Qi, can I…"

"—Director Chen Qi."

At that moment, before FrostNova could finish her sentence, a hoarse yet steady voice like a mountain rang out from not far away. Accompanied by a slight tremor in the ground, Patriot, clad in armor and wielding a halberd and shield, arrived at the film crew with several individuals who were clearly members of the mafia.

"Director, they say they want to see you." Patriot, speaking intermittently, brought the group to Chen Qi, failing to notice the slight grimace of disdain in his own daughter's eyes.

"—Madam Sicily extends an invitation to you." The mafia members wasted no time, directly stating their purpose to Chen Qi:

"Please come with us to see Madam Sicily. Furthermore, the Madam wishes to see you alone."

"No problem." Upon hearing that Madam Sicily wanted to see him, Chen Qi immediately understood. His script must have reached the hands of Syracuse's behind-the-scenes power broker, and her wanting to see him was undoubtedly to discuss future collaborations.

After all, if Madam Sicily wanted to harm him, there would be no need for such roundabout methods. Moreover, in Syracuse, anyone who misused Madam Sicily's name would surely meet a grim end.

Therefore, Chen Qi didn't hesitate. He immediately followed the mafia members away from the film crew. FrostNova and Patriot exchanged glances, and after a moment, Patriot spoke up:

"I'll go find Mephisto and have him provide protection from the shadows."

"Oh." FrostNova's reply was rather cold, leaving Patriot somewhat perplexed… Had he upset her again?

Once inside the car, Chen Qi's eyes were covered. The mafia had taken such precautions to avoid revealing Madam Sicily's residence. Chen Qi only regained his sight after getting out of the car, being led upstairs, and entering a room.

Before Chen Qi stood an elderly Lupo woman with white hair, wearing a mink coat, seated regally in her chair.

Amusingly, the old woman was playing with a cat in her hands. Upon seeing Chen Qi, she offered a smile and spoke to him with a smile:

"Chen Qi, Chen Qi."

"If you had come seeking refuge earlier, as a friend with goodwill, your talent and abilities would have allowed your film crew to begin production on this masterpiece much faster than it is now."

"But you chose to barge into Syracuse. A talent like yourself, arriving in Volcini without so much as a greeting or seeking my protection."

"To put it plainly, you don't want my friendship; you're afraid of owing me a favor."

"I know you have a film crew, talent, and many formidable bodyguards to back you up. You don't need a friend like me."

"But I don't know what I've done for you to disrespect me so."

"You won't even call me—'The Godfather'."

However, the last sentence caused the old woman before him to involuntarily reveal a smile. Chen Qi, hearing this, felt a wave of relief, certain that the old woman before him was merely joking.

These lines were all from his script, The Godfather. And the old woman before him was naturally the most powerful figure in Syracuse, the one who had established the current order – Madam Sicily.

If Madam Sicily weren't joking, her last line would undoubtedly not have been "The Godfather"… This was also the reason for Chen Qi's peace of mind.

"So, Madam Sicily seems to have read my script?"

"Does Madam find the young man's script satisfactory? And do the other twelve family heads find this script satisfactory?"

"I don't want to beat around the bush with a talent like Director Chen Qi. I must say, regarding this film's script, the other eleven family heads and I discussed it at length in the Grey Hall, and we are all very pleased."

Madam Sicily offered a faint smile, but in the next moment, her tone shifted abruptly. While stroking the cat in her hands, she continued:

"—However, there is one point on which we have been unable to reach a consensus. I believe Director Chen Qi, who is creating what will undoubtedly be the greatest mafia film of the future, can offer some input."

"Input?" Chen Qi was a little bewildered. What could the heads of the Twelve Families have debated without reaching a conclusion? His script had been specifically adapted for Terra's local context! Was there something wrong with it?

Under Chen Qi's slightly tense gaze, Madam Sicily remained silent for a long time. But after a considerable pause, just as Chen Qi's heart was about to leap out of his chest, Madam Sicily finally spoke:

"—Regarding the character of 'The Godfather', Vito Corleone, the head of the Bellone Family, Bernardo, and I have had a slight disagreement."

"We both love this character and wish for him to be tailor-made for us. Neither he nor I are satisfied with any other actor playing this role; we feel it should be portrayed by us personally."

"So, the reason I've sought you out this time is because I hope Director Chen Qi can decide who the actor for this role will be… You understand."

Saying this, Madam Sicily gave Chen Qi a meaningful look. Chen Qi finally understood Madam Sicily's intention.

—Madam Sicily wants to personally play the role of "The Godfather"?!

At this very moment, a slightly pleasant female voice from his system suddenly echoed in Chen Qi's mind:

[Congratulations on triggering a special mission! To better showcase the excellence and quality of your work, it naturally begins with outstanding actors. Please select excellent and influential actors for your script.]

[Mission Reward: Unknown. This is a long-term mission, determined by the caliber of actors chosen for each new work produced by the host. The greater the influence and reputation of the actors, the higher the settlement reward.]

Chapter Three: Actors, Take Your Positions, Texas Joins the Cast

A few days later, in the underground lounge of Penguin Logistics in Lungmen, the four young women of Penguin Logistics were enjoying their holiday after a period of hard work. However, judging by their expressions, they didn't seem to regret their recent busyness; rather, they seemed to relish the experience.

"Ah, this feels so good—this is probably the most relaxed and fastest logistics job we've ever done!"

Exusiai, with her red hair and halo, let out a satisfied sigh after taking a swig of an energy drink. She casually sat on the table, her bare legs swinging, and said:

"We only need to regularly procure supplies for the film crew each day, and the expenses are reimbursed, plus shipping costs. Boss Chen Qi is really generous and makes things easy with his work!"

"Yeah, not only have they filled our schedule, but our performance has also looked good all of a sudden, allowing us to reject those long and troublesome commissions," Sora, the idol actress Chen Qi had been hoping to recruit, chimed in with evident joy.

"Director Chen Qi also entrusted us to teach Alina and Miss FrostNova more about procurement and logistics..."

"Director Chen Qi wants to train his own production assistants so that they'll have experience for the next shoot and know how to procure things reasonably."

Texas, the calmest among them, replied while chewing on a Pocky stick.

"Haven't you noticed? Director Chen Qi's film crew consists almost entirely of Infected. And while they call it a film crew, all the equipment needed for shooting the movies is sponsored and purchased by Miss Swire."

"To put it bluntly, they're a temporary film crew, and many of them didn't even know how to use the equipment at first. Director Chen Qi has been building his own team during his time in Lungmen."

"This is why Director Chen Qi specifically asked Alina, the assistant director, and FrostNova, the head of production, to join us for procurement. He's helping them gain experience so that this kind of logistics and procurement work won't need to be outsourced to us in the future."

"Huh? Does that mean we'll basically have no opportunity to collaborate with Director Chen Qi and his crew in the future?"

Texas's words caused the other three women to freeze, their expressions filled with disappointment.

Exusiai was disappointed because Chen Qi's work was easy and quickly boosted their performance metrics. Moreover, Chen Qi's "Young and Dangerous" series really suited her taste. She had even hoped to make a cameo appearance if Chen Qi filmed a new installment.

Oh, and while Exusiai thought the movie was well-made, there were almost no gunfight scenes, only cold weapons, which she found unsatisfying. She really wished there were more gun battles!

Sora's thoughts were similar to Exusiai's. Sora also wanted to collaborate with Chen Qi's crew, as she felt the atmosphere there was excellent. As long as it wasn't a movie like "Young and Dangerous" that was filled with violence, she hoped to hone her acting skills through Chen Qi's crew.

As for Croissant, who hadn't joined the conversation... she was probably the most disappointed of the group.

"No! I just made a small fortune reselling scalped tickets for 'Young and Dangerous'! Where else can I find such a good movie that's sold out every day after its release?!"

Upon hearing that she wouldn't have the chance to work with Chen Qi anymore, Croissant, who was counting her small fortune, almost burst into tears. She quickly wailed:

"It's been so long since there was such a good movie that allowed me to make a killing on scalped tickets. The movies in Lungmen have been getting worse year after year. It's been ages since a movie was this packed. I want to keep following Director Chen Qi and make money everywhere!"

"Then you'll be disappointed, Croissant. I heard the boss say that 'Young and Dangerous' will be taken down next month. Officer Wei Yanyu is currently discussing the movie's bloody violence and its harm to teenagers, and there have been many complaints from parents," Texas replied indifferently.

"No! Don't take it down! At least wait ten years after I die!"

At Texas's words, Croissant collapsed onto the ground as if she were crying rivers of tears. It was as if she saw countless Lungmen coins turn into phantoms, grow wings, and fly out of her pockets.

"But, reselling scalped tickets is wrong, isn't it?" Sora cautiously interjected.

"But I only marked up the price by twenty percent! And I specifically used different accounts to buy tickets, choosing the best seats for viewing or for couples. Most people couldn't even get them!"

Croissant quickly defended her actions, but before she could finish, a sharp voice cut through the air, scolding:

"I've heard your wailing since I walked in! You're the loudest in the entire company! Don't you know we have a client arriving?!"

Following the reprimand, the person who appeared before the group of four was not at all like the source of that sharp voice. It was a nouveau riche-looking Penguin, dressed in hip-hop attire, adorned with a thick gold chain and sunglasses.

This was the boss of Penguin Logistics, the mysterious figure known as "The Emperor." Few people knew The Emperor's true identity, and even the staff at Penguin Logistics were unsure of their boss's nature. All they knew was that under The Emperor's name, almost no one dared to provoke them.

Therefore, even if their boss was a strange person who liked to rap and seemed unkillable, they wouldn't question it. They just followed orders.

This time, they soon saw Executioner following behind The Emperor. The four women, who were familiar with Chen Qi's film crew, naturally recognized Executioner.

"Ah! It's Junjun! Why aren't you with Director Chen Qi? Aren't you his chief cinematographer?"

Exusiai, with her cheerful and lively personality and her fondness for visiting Chen Qi's film crew, was the most familiar with Executioner among the Penguin Logistics staff. Executioner smiled and softly replied:

"Chen Qi asked me to invite you all to Syracuse. Our new movie will be filmed there. Chen Qi thinks that everyone at Penguin Logistics might be able to fill the shortage of professional actors."

"Huh?! Does that mean... Director Chen Qi wants us to be the main characters?!"

However, as soon as Executioner explained the reason, the three women from Penguin Logistics showed extremely interested expressions. Only Texas, upon hearing the word "Syracuse," trembled slightly and did not immediately respond.

"Yes," Executioner nodded. Seeing the expressions of the three women, she felt she had already succeeded halfway and said with a smile:

"Especially Miss Texas, you are the one Director Chen Qi specifically wants to recruit."

"...Me?" Texas was a bit surprised. She, who least wanted to go to Syracuse, was the one Chen Qi specifically requested. She shook her head coldly.

"But I don't know how to act."

"It's alright, Miss Texas. This role is tailor-made for you! You don't even need acting skills; you just need to be yourself."

Executioner knew it was time to play her trump card. She took out the box Chen Qi had given her and opened it in front of everyone, revealing two letters inside.

"Chen Qi said that if you're all worried about Texas's safety, you can all go to Syracuse together. The film crew will guarantee your safety, and you can supervise the filming at any time to ensure there are no dangers."

"Oh, right. Chen Qi also asked me to give this letter to Miss Texas. Additionally, there's a song composed by Chen Qi. He asked me to give it to Mr. The Emperor, saying it might convince you to bring everyone to Syracuse."

"What? A song? Your director can write songs too?"

The Emperor was surprised that he had a role to play. He instinctively took the paper that Executioner handed him and then said dismissively:

"That kid Chen Qi probably underestimates me. I am The Emperor. What good song is worth presenting to me? When I was performing classical music in Leithania, that kid wasn't even born yet."

"...Fine, I'll take a look. After all, it's something that kid worked hard on. I quite like the movies he makes, so I'll give him some face."

The Emperor said this and turned his gaze to the song in his hands. What caught his eye were the familiar Yan characters. Those particularly large characters bore the song's title: "In the Name of the Father."

The Emperor gazed at the melody and notes of the song, trying to pronounce each word. Meanwhile, Texas was reading the letter Chen Qi had given her. After a moment of silence, she spoke to Executioner:

"...If it's just for filming, and I won't be dragged into the mafia conflicts of Syracuse again, I have no objections."

"That's great," Executioner breathed a sigh of relief. Although she didn't know what Chen Qi had written in the letter, seeing Texas agree, she considered the task successful.

But at this very moment, before the others could react, the Emperor suddenly let out an indescribable penguin shriek, startling everyone present.

The next moment, the Emperor was seen flailing his fins, looking extremely excited as if he were about to fly, shouting with exhilaration:

"Genius! No, a mad genius! This kid is absolutely a mad genius! This kid is definitely a transmigator! Otherwise, how could he be so talented?!"

The incoherent Emperor wished he could fly straight to Syracuse, but he quickly calmed down. Looking at his own staff who were still stunned, he angrily shouted:

"What are you waiting for?! Pack your bags quickly! Take everything we need to bring! We're going to Syracuse right now!"

"What if I don't get there early enough and that kid sings this song for someone else?! Pack your bags! We'll be in Syracuse tomorrow!"

This time, even if the old wolves of Syracuse showed up, the Emperor would definitely send them all back home. No one could stop him from singing this song!

This song must be sung by him, the Emperor, personally. No one could snatch it away! The Emperor intended to use this song as the promotional song for this movie! This time, he would personally support Chen Qi!

Chapter 4: Everyone in Position, Syracuse National Sponsorship for "The Godfather"

"Who are you? What do you want with me?"

"I'm a member of the Public Relations Department of the Integrated Cultural Troupe," Mephisto replied calmly to the other person's question. "I've been instructed by Director Chen Qi to invite the head of the Alberto family to play an important role in our film, 'The Godfather'."

"Oh? You're from that film crew?" At this moment, the silver-haired Luper man's expression changed. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to disarm. Soon, at his gesture, a caporegime brought Mephisto a stool so he could sit down properly.

Alberto Saluzzo never imagined that one day he would face the risk of assassination, and within his heavily guarded family territory. This young man named Mephisto had appeared here silently, right in the heart of the family's domain.

If the other party had intended to kill him, as the head of the Saluzzo family, he might have died confusedly. This made him have to take the young man before him seriously.

However, just a few minutes ago, he had learned that the other party wasn't here to kill him, but was from the film crew that was about to shoot "The Godfather" and wanted to invite him to play a role. While Alberto relaxed, he also felt somewhat insulted.

"Although I know about your film crew, and I know Madam Sicily supports you, if you think you can invite me to act because of that, you're underestimating our Saluzzo family."

"I am, after all, the head of a family. I won't lower myself to play a role in a movie."

"—But Madam Sicily has already decided to participate," Mephisto said calmly. With Mephisto's words, Alberto's expression stiffened, showing a rare look of disbelief.