Miranda Priestly placed a data report on the desk in front of Hans Landa.
"One billion US dollars."
Her voice was relatively flat.
Hans Landa held a cup of Ceylon tea, his gaze never leaving the holographic screens on the wall, which were divided into countless small sections.
Miranda added.
"Global box office. This only represents theatrical revenue after two weeks of release, excluding subsequent streaming and merchandise rights."
The movie is called " Rurouni Kenshin," and it stars Yasuo.
A screen image meticulously crafted by Vought International, a taciturn swordsman.
Videos from all over the world are scrolling across the office screens.
In Tokyo, a high school student in his school uniform stands in his backyard, mimicking Yasuo's action of cutting down a waterfall in the movie with a bamboo pole.
In Paris, a group of young people who enjoy extreme sports traverse a park trail lined with bamboo, one of whom, a boy leading the group, carries a wooden sword on his back.
In New York, a Wall Street trader in an expensive suit stands atop a skyscraper, facing the wind, holding a metal ruler in his hand, mimicking Yasuo's posture of feeling the wind.
# Yasuo's Latest Movie#
This topic has already generated over 100 million views on social networks worldwide.
Hans Landa put down his teacup, his expression showing some disdain.
"They can't even learn the rhythm of haiku; they can only randomly string together words about wind and leaves."
Miranda didn't respond; instead, she pushed another, even thicker list in front of Hans.
This is the latest endorsement offer.
Nike hopes to launch a collaborative sneaker line called "Swift," based on Yasuo's shoes from the movie.
Coca-Cola plans to release a limited-edition "Wind" flavor, with his haiku printed on the bottle.
Toyota wants to invite him to become the global ambassador for its Ronin series vehicles.
Miranda speaks very quickly.
"This is just a part of it. The total value has already exceeded five hundred million US dollars, and it's increasing every day."
Hans Landa picked up the document, glanced at the brand logo crammed together on the cover, and gave a look of disgust.
He put the $500 million list into the shredder next to him.
Miranda's eye twitched slightly.
"Vulgar."
Hans Landa commented.
" Yasuo isn't selling products, Miranda."
He sells a sense of distance, a feeling of unrequited love.
"Putting his image on a soda can is an insult to art, and an insult to our work."
He pulled out an invitation printed with gold foil from a stack of documents beside him.
It only has a simple double-C logo on it.
Chanel.
"This," he said, waving the invitation in his hand, "Now that's what I call a dialogue."
"They didn't talk about money or products; they only asked one question: Can the smell of wind be designed?"
"It has been announced that Yasuo has declined all commercial endorsements. He will continue his journey of self-cultivation."
"Remember, Miranda. The more unattainable something is, the more frantic they become."
Miranda finally couldn't help but speak up.
"Then how will we make money?"
Hans smiled.
He extended his index finger and gently tapped his temple.
"We earn the right to define."
"When we define what taste is, what loneliness is, and what the highest aesthetic of this era is, will money still be a problem?"
"By printing Yasuo on posters, we earn advertising revenue; by making Yasuo a kind of idol to be imitated, money from all over the world will find a way to flow in."
"A five-hundred-million-dollar endorsement fee, is that a lot? Yes, it is. But this is playing by their rules; we are just a relatively expensive product."
"What I want is for us to become the rules."
"When Chanel designers are struggling with the scent of the wind, they come to me. When Hollywood directors want to make a film about loneliness, they come to me for advice. When billionaires want to demonstrate their unique taste, they buy anything we've defined."
"Now," Hans Landa added, "Now, prepare my private plane for Paris."
"I will personally go and talk to their chief designer about what the wind should smell like."
Paris, Chanel headquarters reception room.
Calvin, Chanel's chief designer, sat on this white throne.
He scrutinized Hans Landa and Miranda Priestly as they entered.
"Mr. Landa," Calvin spoke in French, his tone elegant yet carrying a condescending detachment, "My time is precious. If the Vought International wants to leave its mark on Chanel's hall of fame, it needs a reason that can convince me enough."
He didn't expect the other person to understand, and his gaze had already drifted to the translator beside him.
Hans Landa spoke first, responding with a Paris aristocratic tone even purer than Calvin's.
"Mr. Calvin, isn't the reason right there in your last season's work?"
He also spoke French.
Hans didn't give him time to react, continuing, "In your Silence of Autumn collection, you employed very bold structuralist deconstruction, especially in your treatment of the shoulder line and hem, breaking the inherent elegant framework of Chanel. I greatly admire that."
Calvin's disdain lessened somewhat.
"It seems Mr. Landa did his homework before coming."
"No, that's not homework, it's resonance."
Hans Landa's gaze fell on a piece of minimalist oriental porcelain in the corner of the living room.
"You are using Western tailoring to express an Eastern aesthetic. That fleeting, imperfect beauty is what the Japan call 'mono no aware' (the pathos of things)."
"So, you've come here today just to discuss aesthetics with me?"
Let's talk about a phenomenon.
Hans Landa smiled, yet naturally switched languages.
German.
" Yasuo is neither a hero nor an idol. He is a philosophical phenomenon walking in modern society, a personification of Nietzsche's Superman will."
Calvin was stunned. He could understand German, but he couldn't follow the other person's train of thought at all.
"His loneliness was not a self-pitying lament of being abandoned by society, but a proactive choice of self-transcendence. Every swing of the sword, every step he took on the wind, was an overcoming of his own limits. The wind he pursued was essentially what Nietzsche called the will to power, the highest form of mastering one's own destiny."
Miranda stood to the side, completely unable to understand, but she could see Calvin's expression shift from initial arrogance to surprise, and now to focus and contemplation.
This fashion world tycoon surprisingly displayed a student-like demeanor.
"So, you want to use a philosophical symbol to create a bottle of perfume?"
Calvin also switched to German, his pronunciation was a bit stiff, but his attitude had completely changed.
Hans Landa did not answer directly. He switched languages again, this time to English, which everyone was familiar with, but what he spoke were lines from Shakespeare's poetry.
"The era we live in is filled with endless noise."
"People yearn for tranquility, yet are held hostage by social networks. People crave freedom, yet are swept up by consumerism. Yasuo's Wind Wall isn't a superpower, Mr. Calvin; it's the Wailing Wall that modern people crave most."
"A spiritual sanctuary that shuts out noise, prying eyes, and judgment. People emulate him not to become swordsmen, but to possess that moment of undisturbed right."
He understood, Calvin gave Hans a knowing smile.
Hans Landa understood what this meant.
Therefore, the name of this perfume cannot be "wind" or "sword."
"It should be called the Unfettered Blade."
"Its scent," Hans Landa said softly, "Should be the cool fragrance of the first plum blossom in a snowstorm, mixed with the freshness of a bamboo forest after the rain. Finally, in the base notes, it should have the metallic quality of a blade cutting through the air."
The cold fragrance represents his loneliness.
The bamboo grove represents his state of mind.
Metal represents his uncompromising sharpness.
Calvin closed his eyes, as if he could already smell that scent that only existed in his imagination.
He opened his eyes and shouted towards the door.
" Anna! Come in! Draft the contract! The highest priority cooperation agreement!"
He walked up to Hans Landa and extended his hand.
"Mr. Landa, Chanel will mobilize all resources to promote Unfettered Blade. As for the licensing fee..."
You name the price.
Inside the cabin of a private jet.
Miranda Priestly was still unable to calm the shock in her heart.
She looked at the minister across from her, who was resting with his eyes closed, and finally couldn't help but ask.
"Are we really just going to give up on those brands that offered 500 million?"
" Miranda, we don't even need Yasuo himself to show up, to strike a pose, or say a word."
"His symbol alone is worth a billion."