Chapter Eighty: Filming "The Darkest Hour" Begins-Chen Qi Unleashed / Chapter Eighty-One: A Film That Ends as Soon as It Begins? Dusk Is Hardly Interested in Cinema

"Then it just so happens that I enjoy the feeling of climbing to the summit."

Naturally, Silver Ash had no reason to refuse such favorable terms. He quickly shook hands with Chen Qi to signify his participation. This time, Oracle beside him also silently expressed approval and warmly shook Chen Qi's hand.

"Then, Director Chen Qi, have you decided what roles you will give the two of us?"

"Ah, the script has been revised enough for filming to officially begin. Your roles have both been decided: the new emperor taking the throne and the old emperor stepping down." Chen Qi clearly stated his view. After all, localizing Darkest Hour for Terra had been quite a massive undertaking.

However, Oracle and Silver Ash's positions were still very clear. They were the two characters with the most screen time in Darkest Hour. Oracle would play the role of "Chamberlain" from the original film, while Silver Ash would play "Churchill." Of course, in this film, they would be Frederick II and Frederick III.

"I'll give both of you your scripts in a moment. Once everyone is familiar with their roles, we'll prepare to shoot the first scene of Darkest Hour."

"Then, happy cooperation."

Silver Ash and Oracle's addition greatly boosted Chen Qi's confidence in filming Darkest Hour. The two of them could perfectly handle their respective roles. With the casting problem solved, half the work of making the film was already settled.

But just then, Chen Qi's phone suddenly rang. Silver Ash and Oracle tactfully chose to leave for the moment. In his room, Chen Qi opened his phone and found a message from Theresia.

Theresia's very first sentence plunged the currently isolated Chen Qi into enormous shock.

"Director Chen Qi, unfortunate news. War has broken out again."

"War? Did Theresis declare war on Victoria's dukes? Or did those dukes start fighting among themselves?"

Chen Qi had not expected this. Although he had known war would inevitably begin when Victoria split apart, he had thought the civil war would only start after he finished Darkest Hour or Braveheart.

His current progress was already incredibly fast for a production crew, yet he still could not make it in time... But Theresia's next message quickly shattered Chen Qi's assumptions.

"No, it isn't a civil war. It is an external enemy." Theresia had temporarily evaded all surveillance and sent Chen Qi the latest news from Victoria.

"According to information I received from my brother and General Manfred, the armies of Ursus, Kazimierz, and Leithania are launching offensives from three different directions against the territories of Victoria's Eight Great Dukes."

"Their stated reason is 'to prevent a coup within Victoria and assist the dukes in suppressing Victoria's complicated situation'... But clearly, that excuse is an invasion with barely any attempt at concealment."

"The situation in Londinium is still relatively stable. My brother does not wish to clash with the armies of other nations, so Londinium is retreating as a whole behind the front lines. But without question, the war will only intensify. Victoria is currently leaderless and scattered, capable only of fighting separately... Its defeat is merely a matter of time."

"...It seems that, in the end, I still cannot change anything."

After receiving Theresia's messages, Chen Qi could not help feeling somewhat dejected. With a bitter smile, he sent her a reply.

"I thought I could change all of this, but it seems I was still too slow."

"No, I think you still have a chance, Director Chen Qi. Or rather, if your original wish to change everything through films was still somewhat naïve, then the current situation may truly become exactly as you said."

Yet Theresia gave Chen Qi her support and encouragement. Of course, she knew what Chen Qi had originally hoped for, and she did not deny it. At first, she too had thought the odds of films stopping a war were very small.

But now that war had begun, Theresia instead felt that this hope had grown even greater.

"War is a wall that those who have never experienced it wish to enter, while those who have experienced it want to escape with all their strength."

"Now that war has begun, the possibility of stopping it may not appear immediately. But, Director Chen Qi, you still have a chance to change all of this—I believe that if it is you, you can definitely do it."

"You used a single television drama to directly split Victoria apart. Now, I also believe your films can change the current situation."

"We Sarkaz will help you, and the Sarkaz on the other side will help you as well. You have the most dependable allies on both sides to promote your work. You do not need to worry that your films and your voice will fail to reach the ears of the people of Victoria, or even the entire continent."

"But first, you need to have faith in yourself, just as you did before. I believe in you."

"If you want everyone to hear your voice, if you want those lofty people in power to hesitate because of your words and actions, then what you must display is sufficient influence."

"As long as no one can stop the influence you bring, once they all fear the effects you create, everyone across Terra will hear your voice. My brother, all the Sarkaz, and I all believe you can do it."

Theresia sent Chen Qi a great many messages in one breath. She did not receive an immediate reply from him, and she understood perfectly why.

The support required to persuade someone to walk toward the summit was immense. She had to make Chen Qi feel that support, as though all he needed to do was follow his own ideas and he would not have to worry about anything else.

Naturally, Theresia had her own considerations as well. The greater the future influence of this Sarkaz friend of hers, the better it would be for the Sarkaz people as his allies.

As for how to completely bind this ally to their ship... Theresia clearly knew how Theresis had spoken to Chen Qi outside Londinium back then.

She had not yet confessed this to her brother because the timing was not right. But when that day came... Theresia felt that the identity of a director capable of influencing all Terra and an ally of the Sarkaz should be enough to leave the kings of the Royal Court with no objections at all, shouldn't it?

Darkest Hour Begins Filming, Chen Qi Lets Loose

That night, Chen Qi was unable to fall asleep for a long time. Theresia's earlier words on the phone kept echoing through his mind.

Chen Qi could tell that Theresia's words carried some ulterior motive... He certainly did not regard the universally acknowledged queen of the Sarkaz as some innocent fool. Her methods differed from Theresis's, but she was still a monarch.

However, Theresia's words truly moved Chen Qi once more, making him begin to think about the road ahead and the future of himself and everyone in the Art Troupe.

He did not ponder for long. Talulah soon entered the room, and with only one glance at Chen Qi, she understood exactly what the deeply troubled man was worried about.

"...Doctor Kal'tsit just sent us a message. The armies of three nations are stirring up war in Victoria."

"Although it is only beginning now, the friction is escalating. In a few days, full-scale war will probably break out."

Talulah naturally sat beside Chen Qi. Seeing his silent expression, she understood his thoughts perfectly and comforted him.

"It's all right, Chen Qi. There are always things we cannot stop... At our current filming pace, we were never going to be able to do anything before the war began."

"But what we are doing now is not meaningless. Rather, at this point, no one else on this land is willing to do anything to stop the war. The fact that you made this decision already makes you an exceptionally good person."

"Don't put more pressure on yourself. Besides, isn't everything we are doing now still for this very purpose?"

Yet Chen Qi did not immediately answer Talulah's comfort. He merely remained silent. Talulah smiled slightly, cupped his face, and softly laughed.

"You... You always think of yourself as too weak. But you aren't weak at all anymore. You have me, Patriot, FrostNova, and even two entire races supporting you. If an ordinary person possessed that much power to command, they would have long since wanted to conquer some mobile cities. Yet you have never entertained such crooked thoughts."

"For that alone, you are countless times better than those kings, nobles, and generals who only know how to bring wounds and death to this land. Chen Qi, what you are doing is something they could never accomplish even with armies of millions."

"Something they cannot accomplish?" Only then did Chen Qi slowly come back to his senses. Talulah nodded, without the slightest favoritism, and spoke word by word in a solemn tone filled with complete admiration.

"Yes, Chen Qi. You are using an unprecedented power to influence everything on this land."

"You may not know this, but because of your film The Godfather, even the Mafia's conduct in Siracusa has improved. And now, because of one of your television dramas, Victoria has directly split into four."

"Which of these achievements could those monarchs accomplish, even with armies? Yet through films and television dramas alone, you have achieved everything they could not."

"You are changing, influencing, and even shaking everything on this land in your own way, Chen Qi. You are accomplishing a great feat that no one has ever achieved before."

"So go do what you want to do without worry. We all believe that the choices you make are right."

As she spoke, Talulah gently pulled Chen Qi's head against her chest. She practically brought out every bit of feminine charm she could muster, soothing his emotions and reinforcing his belief in everything he was doing.

"Show those lofty leaders of this land the shock beyond their imagination that you can unleash. Let them become afraid, terrified—just as Ursus fears the completely nonexistent second season of Yes, Prime Minister in Theresis's hands. Make them fear everything about you, until they no longer dare act rashly."

"...Are you saying I should turn myself into a nuclear bomb?" Chen Qi found it amusing, but Talulah did not understand. She stared blankly at him and asked.

"A nuclear bomb? What is that?"

"Ah... It is a weapon of mass destruction. Just one can inflict devastating damage on an area the size of a mobile city, and for many years afterward, no living thing can survive there."

"That sounds terrifying." Talulah nodded. She had grown accustomed to Chen Qi occasionally blurting out terms she did not understand, though she was gradually beginning to grasp what he meant.

"But if someone held something that terrifying, no one would dare provoke him, right? After all, one such weapon would be enough to inflict wounds no nation could bear."

"Especially if he can choose its target himself." Chen Qi spoke slowly, but his eyes gradually began to shine. He seemed to slowly understand what Theresia had meant when she said, "Let all Terra hear his voice."

Before, Chen Qi had been cautious in managing his relationships with everyone he encountered, not only for himself but also to ensure that the members of the Art Troupe would not be treated as thorns in the side by other factions and nations.

In order to survive, he had transformed the Reunion Movement from a violent organization into an inconspicuous film crew. He had painstakingly led everyone through that transition and made the public accept them in another way, all so that none of them would return to those days of living on the edge of a blade and being hunted down.

But now, it seemed... With what they were doing and the people they were meeting, perhaps only by showing everyone their capabilities could they stop others from treating them as easy targets.

"So, have you figured it out?" Talulah noticed the growing brightness in Chen Qi's eyes and asked with a delighted expression.

"Yeah." Chen Qi nodded and looked at Talulah as he answered.

"So that this never happens again, and so that we will not become lambs awaiting slaughter."

"Tomorrow, we'll begin filming Darkest Hour. As for how we will promote it afterward... I think our Sarkaz friends on both sides should have a way."

While Chen Qi and Talulah were still relieved that their emotions had recovered, Koschei, who had overheard their conversation, sensed a strange feeling of threat.

"My dear daughter... You have unleashed an existence that will make Terra tremble. From now on, he will use words and ink as weapons and armies to alter and influence everything on this land."

In the past, Koschei would never have believed someone could create any major influence simply by making films. But now, with both groups of Sarkaz supporting Chen Qi, along with the talent that already made the upper echelons of every nation regard him as a threat, he was truly beginning to worry.

This man... He could use one drama to accelerate the division of a nation. Then in the future, could the scripts he created bring about even more effects of the same magnitude?

Especially since most people in this world had received limited cultural education to begin with. When so many people opened the doors to a new world for the first time, how great would the upheaval be?

Koschei did not dare imagine it. He could only be thankful that Chen Qi was not an utterly lawless person, nor did he take pleasure in watching people suffer or nations split apart... Otherwise, Terra's current situation would likely be even more incomprehensible.

"...Forget it. These matters have nothing to do with me now."

"I can only hope that His Majesty the Emperor of Ursus and those old nobles are smart enough not to offend the wrong person."

With that thought, Koschei slowly returned to Talulah's consciousness. He could no longer manage anything now. He would simply return peacefully to his daughter's mind and look forward to a future that would at least not lack entertainment.

Early the next morning, the Art Troupe's filming proceeded as usual. That day, every actor rose very early, because the first scene of Darkest Hour was about to begin.

"The first scene is an argument in Parliament. Leithania suffered a tremendous blow in its first clash with Gaul. Victoria could not simply watch Leithania's army be crushed, so it also dispatched troops to support Leithania, only to face Gaul's fierce offensive."

"In the early stages of the war, the situation was extremely unfavorable, which further aggravated Victoria's internal contradictions."

"Victoria's Parliament was clearly deeply dissatisfied with Emperor Frederick II's rule and began seeking a new emperor to succeed him: Frederick III, played by Mr. Silver Ash."

"This is an unjust war... Whether it is Gaul, which deliberately started the war to make Bolívar its vassal state, or Leithania and Victoria, this war is deeply unjust. But at least for the people of Victoria at the time, the war was absolutely just."

"Their conflict with Gaul had accumulated for a long time, and their resentment had finally erupted on this day. They all understood that if Leithania fell, Victoria would be next. Therefore, in the hearts of Victorians, this war was just."

Silver Ash, Oracle, Vina, and Warfarin, who would play Silver Ash's wife in the film, were all listening to Chen Qi's speech. Alda, playing Halifax from the original film—now another candidate for Frederick III in Chen Qi's movie—was listening as well.

Chen Qi had initially opposed casting Warfarin as Silver Ash's wife. After all, the wife in the film was a woman of immense aristocratic bearing, a strong woman who combined gentleness and toughness and could make even "Churchill" obedient as a kitten.

Warfarin... simply seemed too unserious. However, Kal'tsit, who had recommended Warfarin, had a different opinion.

"Don't worry. Warfarin may be unserious, but she is very earnest when she chooses to be. As long as the others do not know her true nature, she will not shatter their impression of her."

"Besides, she has been 'noble' before. And as a Blood Demon, she looks young, but she has experienced far more than you imagine. So having her play older and take the wife's role will be no problem at all."

That was Kal'tsit's assurance. Although Chen Qi suspected Kal'tsit of using her influence to get someone into the cast, there was nothing he could do after she guaranteed it.

"So we start with a parliamentary dispute? Then all I need to do is act like an old man—wise and dejected, right?" Oracle, who was playing the role originally occupied by "Chamberlain," asked while Rob Rata applied his makeup.

"No. Wise is fine, and a little dejection is fine too, but do not overdo it."

At this point, Chen Qi explained the situation of the scene to Oracle so he could understand it better.

"Although the character you play resigns because of pressure from the opposition, you still have the full support of the Conservative faction. So there will certainly be dejection, but your position remains extremely important."

"Mr. Silver Ash, on the other hand, the character you play will become deeply dejected later on. You should prepare yourself. I hope you can portray that feeling of having exhausted every possible means, yet seeming unable to turn things around in the end."

"...I understand that feeling. I will." Silver Ash nodded. He was also being made up to look older. He had already transformed from a handsome young man over six feet tall into a stooped, slightly plump, yet still imposing old man.

"Everyone, attention. Darkest Hour, first act! Prepare to shoot!"

A Film That Opens with an Abdication? Xi Has Little Interest in Films

The first scene of Darkest Hour was set in Kazimierz's parliamentary hall. This scene required a large number of elderly men dressed in suits, so Chen Qi specially invited many local Kazimierz legislators to wear fake Aslan or Feline ears and serve as the Victoria parliamentarians needed for filming.

At the filming location, Chen Qi deliberately chose not to turn on the chamber's lights. Instead, he left only a single beam of light falling from the ceiling, illuminating a slightly crowded table at the center—the place where every character delivering speeches in Parliament would stand throughout the entire film.

"Order! Opposition!"

"Leader of the Opposition! Clement Attlee!"

The Speaker, seated in the darkness beside the long table, repeatedly attempted to restore dignity and order to the unbearably noisy Parliament. But the chamber had already become as clamorous as a marketplace, and the Speaker clearly could no longer control the situation.

"Mr. Speaker! It seems my position has not yet been made clear enough!" The leader of the opposition ignored the Speaker's words. Supported by countless legislators and nobles behind him, he continued to expound his view.

"Then allow me to state my position on whether Frederick II should continue serving as Emperor of Victoria!"

"Step down! Step down!" The countless opposition legislators behind him had clearly already expressed their own views. They waved documents in their hands, papers fluttering down one after another and making the chamber even more chaotic.

"This Majesty has achieved nothing for years and is incompetent!"

"Incompetent!" The opposition leader immediately received a chorus of agreement and continued.

"We believe that the nation now faces the threat of Gaul's invasion, yet we can do nothing but wait for death! It is entirely his fault!"

As the opposition leader gestured, the camera slowly shifted to the other side—to the aged Oracle high above the chamber. His face was dim, neither sad nor joyful. Even though the legislators and nobles behind him continued desperately rebutting the accusations, they could not dispel the gloom in his heart.

Although Oracle's parliamentary experience had only come from Siracusa's Manjuin and the Three Clans Council, and Siracusa's Three Clans Council had nothing like such large-scale political parties or nobles... Usually, it was simply the heads of three families holding talks under the witness of Manjuin, which represented the Saintess and the gods.

Yet even with only that experience, Oracle could clearly see that if such an emperor did not abdicate, what awaited next would not be a confrontation between two parties, but a split.

Stepping down now to cut losses and handing the mess to someone else... was not a bad choice for preserving himself.

Besides, it was not as though there was no chance to return to power. Judging by the current situation, he still had so many supporters behind him and could fully influence the balance of power in Parliament.

"Mr. Speaker, we are at war! At war!"