I'm a Director on Rhodes Island, Success If I'm Not Banned

Even so, Amiya couldn't help but admire Nian's ability to actually find a way to recoup the money invested in filmmaking from Lungmen—though it was unlikely the money was earned through filmmaking itself.

"Amiya, who is this?" Vina, standing beside her, didn't recognize Nian either, but she could vaguely sense something unusual about her. Lacking strength herself, she wanted to meet as many capable individuals on Rhodes Island as possible.

"Ah, this is Nian. She's a friend we met while resupplying in Lungmen."

Amiya began to introduce Nian to Vina, but she had a nagging feeling that it was a mistake—Vina might very well be tricked into starring in a new movie.

Many operators on Rhodes Island who didn't know Nian were first tricked this way. They thought they'd achieve their dream of stardom with one movie, only to become the lead in a terrible film, which wasn't something to be happy about. As a result, it was now difficult for Nian to trick anyone into participating in her projects on Rhodes Island.

"Oh, Miss Aslan, you're so beautiful! Interested in acting in a film with me?"

As expected, after scanning Vina, Nian's eyes lit up with interest, and she immediately began to try and lure her:

"I have a great script recently! I was inspired by a TV series and thought we could make a political satire comedy!"

"A political satire comedy?"

However, as the Crown Prince, Vina showed an expression of confusion for the first time upon hearing these familiar words. Even Amiya was surprised by Nian's whimsical idea and instinctively asked:

"When did Miss Nian come up with this idea?"

Amiya knew that Nian, as a director, actually did many things quite well. Her only failing was in scriptwriting. According to Doctor Kal'tsit's evaluation, it was "a hodgepodge of various classic films, taking the bad and discarding the good, with a few whimsical ideas that were truly unbearable to look at."

Simply put, Nian's creative ability as a screenwriter was limited to stitching together and imitating. Even most of her own ideas were largely failures.

But a political satire comedy... Amiya found it hard to believe that such an unprecedented idea came from Nian.

"Huh? Didn't you guys watch 'Yes, Prime Minister'? I thought that show had a pretty good concept! It's rare for a show about Victoria to be so interesting!" Nian said without hesitation, revealing the source of her inspiration, and then proudly continued:

"I think I can follow this concept and make a political satire comedy. Amiya, which country do you think would be good to satirize?"

"...A Victoria drama?"

However, before Amiya could respond to Nian's words, Vina, standing beside her, immediately sensed something was wrong.

Londinium was currently controlled by Theresis and his Sarkaz legions, who had long since blocked all communication channels. All film and television works from Victoria had to be officially approved by Londinium Television.

How could Theresis possibly allow any information to leak out? Broadcasting a new TV series was even more impossible!

Unless... he deliberately allowed it. The moment Vina thought of this TV series being a political satire comedy, she automatically ignored the "comedy" part and focused on the "political satire."

"Miss Nian, that TV series is called 'Yes, Prime Minister,' right?"

Vina immediately grasped the crux of the matter. She was certain that this TV series was problematic. Theresis would only have allowed it through if he had malicious intentions!

A few dozen minutes later, Vina returned to her room and turned on the TV to search for the series. Just as Nian had said, the series was now being broadcast throughout Victoria and was incredibly popular, yet she hadn't even noticed.

Most importantly, Vina immediately recognized some of the main actors. Theresis, disguised as a Feline, and Manfred, disguised as an Aslan. Although she didn't recognize the third person, even through the screen, she could smell the distinct "Sarkaz stink" emanating from them!

"As expected, these guys are impersonating high-ranking Victorian officials, using satire to try and undermine the confidence of Londinium, and even the people of Victoria."

Vina gritted her teeth slightly. She understood Theresis's intentions, but now, displaced and helpless, she could do nothing but watch this hateful TV series being broadcast—she even watched two episodes.

And although Vina was reluctant to admit it, she reached the same conclusion as Alde: purely as a TV series, it was quite excellent, with both its satirical and comedic effects being top-notch.

But behind it all was Theresis's malicious intent, which made Vina resent the people who made this TV series.

"With the minds of those Sarkaz, they definitely wouldn't come up with this... So, it must be the idea of the director and screenwriter of this TV series?"

"...Colluding with the Sarkaz, don't let me catch you."

At this moment, Vina's reaction was the same as Alde's. They both felt that the people who filmed this TV series were sinners of Victoria! To collude with the Sarkaz at this time was nothing short of treason against Victoria!

"Yes, yes, Master! These people are simply vermin of Victoria, and they must be dealt with severely!"

But Vina wasn't alone. Her guard Indra and Dagda, the former Tower Knight, were watching with her. At this moment, both women had flushed faces and tears in their eyes, clearly struggling to suppress their laughter.

Indra, in particular, although she righteously supported her master, had almost burst out laughing while watching earlier, even letting out a few sounds while speaking.

As for Dagda, she was covering her mouth tightly, looking like she wanted to laugh but dared not. Not only was she Vina's person, but she was also the former Tower Knight and the heir to an Earldom. If she were to mock Victoria, according to the law, she would be stripped of her title!

Indra dared not laugh simply because she supported Vina as her master. In the future, when Vina regained imperial power, she might ascend to the heavens. But Dagda could not. Both her current position and her identity prevented her from laughing.

Vina, however, had no time to consider them and was murmuring to herself:

"The first and second episodes mainly discuss the inaction of civil servants and politicians, and issues with national defense... So, let's see what our bastard screenwriter and bastard director say about us in the third episode."

As Vina spoke, she clicked on the next episode. She had to admit that the first two episodes of the TV series were packed with comedic effect. For example, the famous line, "To make Victorians feel protected," almost made Vina break character, but she felt that was the limit.

She definitely wouldn't laugh in the next episode. As the Crown Prince of Victoria, she had to fight against such absurd comedies that deliberately smeared her kingdom's image!

But clearly, Indra and Dagda didn't think so... Judging by their expressions, they were about to break.

"Master, that's not slander; we think it's the truth!" Indra and Dagda's hearts cried out, but they had to continue enduring the torment of wanting to laugh but not daring to...

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Chapter 38: Infected individuals are our Victoria's benefactors!

"Speaking of which, no matter how many times I watch it, I'm still amazed... Theresis and Manfred, those two high-ranking demons, actually personally acted in this TV series."

As the third episode just aired, Indra, sitting beside Vina, said this to distract herself and avoid recalling the previous scenes and laughing.

"One is a Regent, the other a General, and the other Sarkaz is definitely someone of high standing, right? Aren't they all quite arrogant? How could they personally act?"

"—It must have been that damned unknown director's suggestion that convinced them."

Vina came to this conclusion after some speculation. She picked up another lollipop and put it in her mouth, the sourness inside relaxing her a bit as she said faintly:

"Few Sarkaz understand art. It must have been the director or screenwriter of this drama who convinced Theresis with the script. Theresis is a cunning fellow; he plans to use this script to undermine the loyalty of Victoria's citizens to the nation."

"Indra, Dagda, after we finish watching these few episodes, we'll go see Doctor Kal'tsit. She should know who the director of this drama is. The lack of a cast list for this show must have been deliberately hidden by Theresis."

"When we have the chance to return to Londinium, besides Theresis, we must kill this director and send her to the gallows. Do you understand?"

However, Vina's words were met with nods from Indra and Dagda, but... they actually wanted to say that the drama was quite accurate... The way it satirized the Victorian government felt exactly like their own perceptions.

But Vina was currently angry, and they had to side with her. For now, they could only silently agree.

As the three women refocused their attention on the television, at that moment, Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon, was discussing a topic that immediately captivated the three women with a new character, Frank, the Treasury Secretary: tax cuts.

Tax cuts were naturally a good policy for a nation's citizens, and as Prime Minister, one naturally needed to gain more votes and support through such people-benefiting policies.

But what was so satirical about this? Shouldn't this be a decision that benefits the people? Vina continued watching with a strange thought. At this moment, the Treasury Secretary seemed to have some opinions on the tax cuts and said frankly:

"He wants to hand over fifteen hundred million of our money. It took me a long time to convince the Chancellor of the Exchequer to oppose this policy."

"How did you do it?" the Bloodborne Archon asked subconsciously.

"I said we need money to fund hospitals, schools, and the elderly," Frank replied straightforwardly. The corners of both old foxes' mouths couldn't help but reveal knowing smiles.

"Artificial Kidney Tactic."

"Understood, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs." The Bloodborne Archon let out a slight chuckle. However, the smiles on the faces of the two on the television made Vina frown, feeling disgusted as she said:

"...So that's how it is. No wonder the Ministry of Finance always uses this excuse to brush us off. And the schools, hospitals, and nursing homes haven't seen renovations in so many years. So this is why."

"Master, they just don't want to spend the money." Indra, as the former leader of the Glasgow gang, had a lot of say in these matters and stated:

"Just like how those orphanages receive so many applications but never have money. Once the money reaches their pockets, it never flows out."

"...This kind of thing must change, if we can go back." Vina nodded and continued watching the interaction between the two on the television. At this moment, the Bloodborne Archon also spoke:

"But there's no need to make such a fuss about this, is there? It's only fifteen hundred million."

"—Yes, it's not a lot of money. I'm surprised you let it pass so easily." Frank couldn't help but accuse the Bloodborne Archon at this moment. His implication was clear: the cabinet secretary here couldn't control the Prime Minister and couldn't even persuade him to abandon the policy.

The Bloodborne Archon naturally understood this and responded elegantly: "If I were your Treasury Secretary, I would be more concerned about the current economic situation and low productivity."

"That's not our fault." As soon as Frank heard this, he immediately retorted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on:

"It's all the fault of Victoria's workers – lazy and greedy, only hoping for pie in the sky! Absenteeism is increasing, and no one is willing to work honestly for a day!"

Frank's blatant accusation of Victoria's workers being lazy and greedy was met with a round of laughter from the TV audience. This time, however, the three women, led by Vina, couldn't laugh. They stared at Frank on the screen with righteous indignation.

"We should throw this guy into a factory and let him see what it feels like to work twelve hours a day," Indra said fiercely. Vina nodded at this moment and said faintly:

"These vermin will surely be eradicated in the future. The Victorian Parliament cannot contain these parasites."

However, while Vina resented the civil servants on the television, she also felt a sense of relief in her heart. As expected, the screenwriter had run out of ideas. After the first two episodes, the quality of the jokes in the third and fourth episodes had plummeted. The first joke hadn't made her laugh at all.

What Vina feared most was laughing at a comedy that satirized Victoria as the Crown Prince, which would be undignified for her status. Therefore, she absolutely would not allow herself to lose composure.

At this moment, the plot continued to develop. Humphrey, played by the Bloodborne Archon, went to watch a cricket match and was received by people from the Originium industry. The Originium industry brought up the matter of the Minister of Health and the "Prohibition of Originium Tools March" and asked the Bloodborne Archon for help, which he readily agreed to.

When the Bloodborne Archon returned to his office, he and Theresis, playing the Prime Minister, once again expressed differing opinions on the tax cut matter.

"Why would the Chancellor of the Exchequer oppose tax cuts? It's a great opportunity for him to gain votes, yet he doesn't want it?"

"He listens to the Ministry of Finance; the money they take in doesn't come back out," the Bloodborne Archon replied as a matter of course. Theresis, upon hearing this, quickly shook his head:

"It's not their money; it's the taxpayers' money."

"There is that saying, but the Ministry of Finance disagrees." The Bloodborne Archon smiled faintly and explained the Chancellor of the Exchequer's thoughts to the Prime Minister:

"Taxation is not related to demand. Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance doesn't think about how to spend the money first and then find ways to collect it."

"As long as it's possible, the more they collect, the better, and then they find places to spend it! If you return the money because it's not needed, you'll be breaking many years of established customs."

"Taking their money is equivalent to taking their power, so they will naturally resist."

Clearly, Theresis's tax cut plan was once again delayed. Seeing no progress on the tax cut plan, and with the Minister of Health arriving, Theresis asked the Bloodborne Archon to leave first and receive the Minister of Health.

As soon as the Minister of Health entered, he proposed a plan that surprised everyone both inside and outside the drama: "Prohibition of Originium Tools." He proposed making Originium tools as expensive as Originium Crystals through various means, canceling advertisements and sponsorships for the Originium industry, which would reduce the infection rate by 80%.

As soon as this proposal was made by the Minister of Health, everyone knew that this proposal would absolutely not pass. Even Vina, who was just starting out, knew it was impossible. She shook her head and said:

"This plan is impossible to pass... The Originium industry accounts for a large portion of the national finances, and there are many workers related to Victoria's Originium industry. How could this plan possibly pass?"

"Yes... but this Minister of Health is quite competent," Indra said, nodding. Since the three women present were also non-infected, even though they didn't hold out hope for the Minister of Health's proposal, they still felt he was competent.

After all, no one wanted to see the spread of Oripathy.

"Yes, I have friends who died from Oripathy," Dagda also nodded. The three women did not want Oripathy to spread, so they expressed their support for this radical proposal.

However, unexpectedly, Theresis did not immediately reject the proposal. Instead, he thought of using it as leverage to negotiate with the Ministry of Finance, making them choose between the Originium industry tax and a 1.5 billion tax cut, using this method to push through his tax cut policy.

As expected, when the Bloodborne Archon returned to his office, Theresis brought up his support for the Prohibition of Originium Tools order. As expected, the Bloodborne Archon clashed with Theresis on this issue.

The Bloodborne Archon found it utterly absurd, believing it had no possibility of being implemented. Instead, he was surprised by Theresis's support for this policy and argued forcefully:

"Originium tools cause infections, killing a hundred thousand people every year. However, we investigated, and if these hundred thousand people survived and lived out their natural lives, the pensions and social security they would require would be more than the medical insurance!"

"So, from a fiscal perspective, there is no doubt that maintaining the current mortality rate is the best course of action!"

The Bloodborne Archon's words easily turned the lives of a hundred thousand people into a fiscal problem. Yet, this dark humor almost made Indra and Dagda laugh out loud again—they didn't immediately notice the subtle sinister undertones in his words because they weren't Infected.

Vina, however, didn't smile at all. Instead, she felt a creeping chill, though she wasn't sure why... She could only continue watching.

Following closely, Theresis on the television continued, not to be outdone, "Originium tools kill a hundred thousand people every year, and what do we get?"

"Forty billion in tax revenue," the Bloodborne Archon answered without hesitation, his voice firm. This time, his tone was more resolute than ever before.

"Twenty-five thousand jobs related to the Originium industry, a booming export sector, and so on..."

Later, seemingly unable to win the argument with the Prime Minister, the Bloodborne Archon finally revealed his own viewpoint in response to the Prime Minister's question.

"Humphrey, we're discussing the lives and deaths of a hundred thousand people annually."

"Yes, but Originium taxes account for a third of public health funding!" the Bloodborne Archon continued matter-of-factly.

"We've saved so many lives because these Infected have willingly sacrificed themselves to save their non-Infected compatriots!"

"The Infected are benefactors to our nation!"

Suddenly, the Bloodborne Archon's rhetoric elevated the Infected to an incredibly noble status. His logic was nearly flawless, and whether one was Infected or not, listeners instinctively felt it was praise, not criticism.

The Bloodborne Archon's deeply approving expression caused Indra and Dagda to burst into laughter. But slowly, as their infectious laughter subsided, their chuckles gradually softened, grew quieter... until they finally disappeared completely.

At this moment, the three women, led by Vina, seemed to have realized something... Even with the contagious canned laughter, the three women, who had spent a long time in Londinium's slums and encountered many Infected, could now discern the sinister undertones behind the dialogue.

What kind of blow would such a television drama deliver to Victoria's image?

How would the Infected view Victoria? Even though Victoria's control over the Infected remained strict, she had never uttered such words.

Now, with such words spreading, even if non-Infected people dismissed it as a joke, what would those working in the Originium industry, who could become Infected at any moment, think?

At that moment, Vina felt an inexplicable chill creep up her spine... She finally understood the horror of this television drama—it revealed the truth through humor and wit...

That Victoria had never cared about the Infected at all.