Directing in Arknights, Success If Not Banned

To avoid disrupting Texas and the others' performances, Madam Sicily hadn't appeared on set for the past few days. However, she continued to watch everyone's performances from backstage, smiling occasionally with loving eyes, as if watching her own children.

When Chen Qi arrived, Madam Sicily backstage immediately looked over and said:

"Director Chen Qi, the filming was incredibly precise. I think this shoot is simply perfect."

"Whether it's perfect or not depends on the audience's satisfaction, but since Madam Sicily says so, I'm certainly relieved."

Chen Qi had intended to invite Madam Sicily to dinner directly, but seeing her smiling face, he couldn't help but tentatively ask:

"Madam, how... how did you find Texas's performance just now?"

"As an assassin, her performance was a bit green, but as an heir to the family, she was already outstanding." Madam Sicily smiled faintly and gave her final evaluation of Texas, saying, "She will be a very excellent Godfather."

"Madam Sicily is increasingly treating everyone like her own children," Chen Qi couldn't help but tease. Madam Sicily didn't deny it, only saying softly:

"But after this movie ends, they won't be anymore... Consider it a small, unfulfilled wish of this old woman, being compensated in this way."

"You're really getting into character, Madam Sicily," Chen Qi said as he sat down beside her. The time they had spent together had made Chen Qi feel closer to Madam Sicily, shifting from initial awe to a sense of familiarity.

Chen Qi wondered if it was the personality of "Vito Corleone," the Godfather, that had subtly influenced Madam Sicily during her portrayal, or perhaps wearing men's clothing allowed Madam Sicily to do things she wouldn't normally do, making her feel like someone else?

At least, the current Madam Sicily had much less of the commanding presence of a Syracuse leader. After the assassination scenes were filmed, she exuded more humanity, becoming more like a "father."

"But if even you are getting into character, I believe Chastisement, Si Ye, and Texas will feel the same way. You don't have to worry too much about losing them. Perhaps you can directly become their 'Godfather' in reality."

"...I will consider it."

Madam Sicily didn't immediately refuse upon hearing this, but instead nodded gently.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Before Chen Qi could respond, he saw a Sarkaz halo appear at the doorway, followed by a head of beautiful red hair.

"Director Chen Qi, are you in there? Ah! Madam Sicily is here too!"

"...Exusiai, why are you here?"

Chen Qi was also curious why Exusiai had found him. However, Exusiai, who couldn't keep things to herself, immediately stated her purpose after entering the room: "Director Chen Qi, didn't we agree that while we all have scenes, there would also be an intense and thrilling gunfight scene? Why hasn't it started yet!"

"Where are my firearms? Where is my gunfight scene? I want to shoot!"

Exusiai complained to Chen Qi indignantly, clearly resentful of Chen Qi's "unfair treatment" during this time. She was the most excited about acting, so why weren't her requests being met!

"After all, according to the script, apart from pure Syracusans, other species are not allowed to join the family, and Sarkaz are no exception—even if there are, they are mostly family assassins."

Chen Qi looked at Exusiai helplessly and said, "I originally planned to give you the role of the assassin who would assassinate Madam Sicily, allowing you to use firearms to your heart's content, but you refused."

"Of course, because I love this family."

Exusiai really liked the value placed on family and loved ones conveyed in The Godfather. She especially liked the role of "Sonny" played by Si Ye, thinking that although this elder brother had a violent temper, was curious, and easily angered, he was truly a good man who shielded the family from harm.

Especially in a previous scene where Lappland's father, Carlo, domestically abused his wife, and Si Ye, as the brother, grabbed the perpetrator and beat him severely, Exusiai admitted she loved the character and wished she had such a brother.

Lappland was also very happy, especially when Si Ye was truly emotional and broke her father's ribs, Lappland laughed louder than anyone.

"I don't care, but next time there's a gunfight scene, I'm definitely participating!"

"...You said it."

Seeing Exusiai acting shamelessly, Chen Qi really wanted to say that he hadn't given her a chance, but Exusiai herself didn't have the strong acting professionalism of Croissant—although she wasn't an actress to begin with.

However, since Exusiai wanted a gunfight... he did have such a scene in his script.

"Alright. In my movie, there's only one large-scale gunfight. Exusiai, if you can make a cameo appearance in it, I'll definitely let you shoot to your heart's content."

"—But, you must listen to my commands, understand?"

"Really?! Thank you so much!"

Upon hearing that she could finally have the gunfight scene she had long anticipated, Exusiai was overjoyed. Chen Qi smiled in agreement, but inwardly, a hint of mischievousness crept into his smile.

Because in the next scene, Exusiai would definitely get to shoot to her heart's content, but the target of her shooting... she probably wouldn't want to know.

Beside him, on Chen Qi's proposal, the title of the next scene was clearly written: "Sonny's Death."

Chapter Fourteen: Si Ye's Wrap-up, The Grandest Farewell

"Ah... this is so boring. How much longer do I have to wait here to start filming?"

The next day, Exusiai, who had been dragged to the filming location by Chen Qi early in the morning, was now holding a prop firearm personally given to her by Mephisto from the props department, boredly waiting for her long-awaited gunfight scene.

Chen Qi had promised her yesterday that she would participate in the most intense gunfight scene in the entire movie. Exusiai hadn't slept well all night, excitedly anticipating it. This morning, as soon as Chen Qi called her, she rushed over immediately.

But she had been waiting from morning until almost dusk, and the car Mr. Chen Qi mentioned still hadn't arrived!

"Patience, young one."

Beside Exusiai, an elder of the same Sarkaz race as her, wearing a comical eye patch painted with an open eye, seemed to be sleeping but always spoke at just the right moment:

"Didn't Director Chen Qi say it? They still have some scenes to film. I only came strolling over from the church this afternoon."

"But it's really boring, Grandpa Agniell." Exusiai had quickly become familiar with the elderly Sarkaz gentleman next to her. Agniell also took a liking to the lively girl of the same race, so he took off his eye patch and smiled, saying:

"If you're bored, how about a bet with this old man?"

"A bet? Okay, I like it!" Exusiai's interest was piqued upon hearing about entertainment, and she immediately asked, "What kind of bet?"

"How about a bet on firearms, what we Lateran people are best at?" Agniell felt the time was right. Recalling Chen Qi's instructions, he said to Exusiai without any awkwardness:

"Let's both put on blindfolds and shoot randomly. When the car arrives later, we'll bet on who hits that unlucky guy more times. What do you think?"

"Oh? Betting on that? Then you, old man, are going to lose badly!"

As a sniper operator for Penguin Logistics, Exusiai had always been confident in her accuracy. Although she used two submachine guns, which favored suppressing fire over accuracy, well, didn't shooting a lot mean accuracy?

Even though the toy firearm model in her hand was called a "violin typewriter," it was definitely not as handy as her own. But when it came to accuracy, she was still confident she could beat an old man.

"Then it's a deal. We Sarkaz are telepathic, you know. We can feel which shot was ours. No cheating!"

"Whoever hits more gets to treat the other to a high-class pizza today!"

"No problem, as long as it's not the kind with pineapple." Agniell smiled slightly, then immediately noticed a car speeding towards them not far away.

And that was their target.

"Alright, time to put on the blindfolds. Remember, if I don't tell you to take them off, you absolutely cannot."

Not far away, the one driving the car himself was none other than Si Ye, playing the role of Big Brother Sonny. He looked somewhat angry at the moment, due to a previous scene.

In the last scene, Lappland's father, playing Carlo, had once again domestically abused his movie sister, and Si Ye had watched the entire scene unfold.

During this period, playing a family-oriented character had made Si Ye increasingly aware of the importance of family. He felt himself slowly integrating into the role of "Sonny." Within this impulsive, irritable, and lecherous man, he still saw many precious things.

It was like Madam Sicily's words, "A man who doesn't make time to accompany his family isn't a man."

What Si Ye learned from the role of Sonny was that as a big brother in a family, he had to step up and bear all responsibilities when necessary, and… cherish his family members.

And now, Lappland's father's domestic abuse scene had struck a nerve with Si Ye – after all, his sister in the movie was pregnant!

"Rude Syracusan curse, you're dead!"

Si Ye drove towards a toll station according to the script. He had no idea what awaited him ahead. Chen Qi, in order to achieve the best filming effect, had to ensure Si Ye remained ignorant of this final scene of his.

Si Ye didn't know that his next scene was his last, nor did he know what a grand send-off Chen Qi had prepared for him.

Si Ye finally drove up to the toll station. In his haste, he took out two banknotes and handed them to the staff. Seeing a luxurious car ahead not moving forward, he cursed anxiously:

"Damn it, hurry up!"

Si Ye honked his horn. However, the car in front not only didn't move forward but instead backed up and blocked his car.

At this very moment, Si Ye felt something was wrong. As the gate of the security hall suddenly closed, Si Ye suddenly realized something and quickly looked to the side.

And what he saw were several assassins dressed in black, holding firearms – and without exception, they were all Sarkaz!

Si Ye's pupils contracted slightly at this moment. He suddenly realized what the blood bags Chen Qi had him wear before driving were for.

"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!" XN

The Sarkaz from all directions, without exception, opened fire on Si Ye inside the car. Instantly, Si Ye, whose blood bags were hit, became "covered in wounds."

But Si Ye himself was unharmed. He struggled to climb out of the car, so furious that he even had the thought of braving the hail of bullets to go beat up the bastard who abused his sister.

And clearly, Chen Qi had anticipated this. The moment Si Ye opened the car door, Exusiai and Agniell, who were positioned there, simultaneously raised their firearms and aimed at Si Ye.

"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!" XN

Another barrage of gunfire. Even though he wouldn't be injured, Si Ye felt the impact, feeling as if his whole body was falling apart, unable to advance.

But even so, he remained standing, as if fueled by the anger at everything around him, letting out a roar of unwillingness:

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

It was a roar filled with three parts anger and seven parts frustration. He knew that if this were a planned street fight, he could have devised a way to defeat them even with such firepower, but he never expected to fall here, beaten without a chance to fight back.

"Whoosh!"

Finally, with a sound of breaking air, a tranquilizer dart from an unknown source hit Si Ye's neck. Si Ye completely collapsed, powerless, falling into the pool of blood.

Meanwhile, a Sarkaz walked forward, aimed at Si Ye's "corpse," and fired another burst…

"Bang!" Finally, as if in retaliation, he kicked Si Ye, who showed no signs of life. All the extras on set then evacuated the scene as planned.

"Satisfied?" Agniell pulled Exusiai and ran a distance away. After confirming that Exusiai couldn't see the "tragic scene" on set, he asked.

"So satisfying! I love the thrill of submachine gun fire the most!"

Exusiai, still not quite finished, yanked off her blindfold and finally let out a hearty cheer. As a Sarkaz, nothing excited Exusiai more than gunfire and explosions.

Even though she was just a cameo extra, Exusiai was already content. However, she belatedly thought of something and turned to ask, "But Grandpa Agniell, who was the person we shot in the movie?"

"…A bad person, child. Someone who is destined to be bad once they step into the abyss of the mafia."

Agniell paused, not directly answering Exusiai's question, and then cut off their mind link, smiling subtly.

"Alright, let's go eat pizza, child. You were hit 48 times, you win."

"Yay! It's the first time I've hit so many! I'm sure the audience will love me when the movie comes out! I took down a bad guy!"

"Alright, Si Ye is still unconscious. Hurry up and get him into the car. We'll need his 'corpse' later."

Chen Qi immediately used the communication device to instruct everyone in the cultural troupe to load the still-unconscious Si Ye into the car. They had another scene to film later, so Si Ye's current battered appearance couldn't be cleaned up.

"This medicine will let Si Ye sleep soundly all day," FrostNova said, taking Talulah's place beside Chen Qi.

Talulah had been assigned by Chen Qi to specifically film Texas's scenes. Texas was currently acting out her escape from Columbia to seek refuge in the countryside of Syracuse. Talulah and Chen Qi's progress would proceed simultaneously.

Therefore, FrostNova was temporarily taking on the role of assistant director. Upon seeing Si Ye's "tragically dead" appearance in the camera, she couldn't help but frown and instinctively ask:

"Chen Qi, you didn't tell Madam Sicily about this scene, did you?"

"How could I not? Madam Sicily has seen the entire script. How would she not know that Si Ye was definitely going to 'die'?" Chen Qi replied, shaking his head.

"Keeping Si Ye's 'corpse' is just to give Madam Sicily a moment to reminisce. Perhaps when Madam Sicily sees her 'child' in such a tragic state, her expression could win an Oscar..."

"...I have no idea what you're talking about, but you're quite ruthless for the sake of filming."

FrostNova didn't understand what this "Oscar" Chen Qi always mentioned was. In this land, televisions weren't even universally common. Being able to watch a movie in a cinema was definitely a luxury for wealthy families; most people couldn't afford such an experience.

Under these circumstances, there were no formal awards. But FrostNova knew that this "Oscar" was definitely one of Chen Qi's goals, a symbol of reaching the pinnacle.

"I won't deny it. As a director, I can be 'cruel' to all my actors to achieve the best results."

Chen Qi smiled faintly, then gently took FrostNova's hand and said word by word:

"But I am very gentle with all of us who are close to me, FrostNova."

"...You."

Facing the hand Chen Qi held, FrostNova didn't resist the contact. Instead, she showed a smile as warm as a spring breeze and nodded slightly.

She couldn't deny this either. To everyone in the cultural troupe, Chen Qi was the most gentle person.

Chapter Fifteen: Madam Sicily's Superb Acting, The Godfather's Silent Tears

"I'm sorry, Chastisement. You know, as a director, I have to achieve the best filming results, so I didn't give you the entire script."

Chastisement: "...I understand, Director Chen Qi. I will convey this message to Father (Madam Sicily)."