Chapter 715 - Shareholders' eting
"After the premiere of the sample film tomorrow, we'll proceed with the original plan—launch a publicity campaign in the newspapers to steer public opinion and keep those who embrace new things excited about our film."
"This can't rely solely on the Daily Observer. We'll also leverage the newspapers invested in by MP Macht, securing articles from reputable journalists or editorial writers."
"Once the hype builds, the company's operations in Backlund will be on track... My initial idea is to produce a film based on Roselle's novels, tailored for nobles and upper-class audiences. For this, we'll prioritize well-known theater actors, ensuring costus, sets, and props are ticulously authentic—spare no expense."
"At the sa ti, we'll shoot a series of low-budget cody films, targeting mid-to-lower-tier middle-class demographics like governnt clerks, corporate managers, and skilled laborers."
"Most of them crave intellectual stimulation but lack the ans for high-end entertainnt. Yet, taking their families to a movie once a month should be within their budgets."
After all, in his past life, the Arican film industry had flourished during the Great Depression precisely because people could no longer afford luxury pastis.
In the dining room, Ebner outlined his vision for the company's developnt to Hazel and Xio. As for Helene, though a co-founder, she was set to return to Trier, gradually handing Backlund's affairs over to Hazel.
Incidentally, Ebner had just given Hazel the Beyonder characteristic of the "Cryptologist" who had previously attacked Fanny, appointing her as manager of the film company's Backlund branch in exchange.
Considering MP Macht's social connections and political influence among the elite, Ebner felt it was a fair deal.
"But won't developing low-budget films make nobles and business owners dismiss this new form of theater as cheap?" Xio asked after a mont's thought. She knew all too well how the wealthy behaved.
"Both the poor and the rich buy clothes, yet the latter don't scorn their own garnts just because the forr wear them. Our films are the sa—the experiences are incomparable."
After all, one was shot with a "mystic cara" equivalent to a Beyonder item, while the other was purely technological. The forr's audiovisual effects and viewing environnt far surpassed the latter's.
Ebner didn't even plan to dub the low-budget films, leaving them silent—except for screenings at free schools.
"Contrast creates hierarchy..." Xio nodded thoughtfully, grasping his point.
"Actually, this tiered screening plan has another advantage: it shifts the production costs of films for the masses onto the nobles and business owners."
"We can price tickets at luxury theaters at 5 or even 10 pounds, while charging re pennies—or nothing—for small screenings or open-air shows for the working class, just to cover equipnt costs."
"This way, we profit and amplify our influence... And with greater influence, businesses will line up for advertisents or sponsorships."
Listening to Ebner's eloquent pitch, Hazel suddenly realized his earlier claim—that managing the film company would aid her digestion as a "Swindler"—might hold truth.
Is this legally scamming money from the rich? If so, aren't luxury brands just "swindling" people's vanity? The thought struck her as she recalled her fieldwork with Detective Moriarty. Many legitimate businesses weren't so different from fraudsters at their core—only the scale varied. The essence was... "hype"? A term coined by Emperor Roselle, who himself had mastered the art.
Ebner hadn't expected his casual remarks about commonplace tactics from his past life to resonate so deeply with Hazel.
Profit wasn't his primary goal in founding the film company. It was chiefly for his role as a "Mysticism Magister" and to prepare for the ritual to advance to "Prophet."
Therefore, influence was essential—and films needed to reach as many people as possible.
Considering that low-budget film productions would likely require recruiting extras from the East End, factory districts, and bridge areas, as well as renting locations—inevitably involving dealings with gangs—Xio, as a formal mber of MI9, couldn't provide constant oversight. Hazel, coming from a wealthy family, also wasn't suited for handling such matters. After so thought, Ebner turned to Xio and asked, "Is Caspars still locked up in MI9's prison?"
Xio paused for a mont before recalling who he ant. "He should still be there... I had soone 'look after' him. It's only been two or three months... so he's probably fine."
Is this "looking after" in the literal sense? Would the prison guards misunderstand? Ebner silently grumbled but chose to trust Xio. After so consideration, he said, "Release him. Given his connections and network in Backlund, he'd make an excellent production manager for our film sets... I think he'll agree."
After all, Caspars' backers were Maric and Sharon—wasn't this just a matter of the "World" putting in a word?
Once the company matters were settled, Ebner turned to Fanny, who seed distracted, and asked with concern, "Any news from your family?"
Fanny forced a faint smile and nodded. "I just received a telegram from them...
"The Church of the Eternal Sun has intervened to protect Johnsen Fless, promising not to pursue my grandfather's alleged responsibility for privately contacting a witch and causing the Great Smog of Backlund...
"How ridiculous—he was the one who frad my grandfather, yet now he's using the withdrawal of these fabricated charges as leverage.
"Even more absurd... my father accepted it... and so did my uncle..."
Fanny unconsciously bit her lip, shocked by the Fless family's shalessness.
The Sary family had no choice but to accept these outrageous terms. With Mr. Sary "missing," if the Fless family were to publicize their so-called "evidence," combined with their influence, the Sarys would have no way to defend themselves. This would deal another heavy blow to their already weakened family, forcing them to compromise for now.
Ultimately, if they openly clashed with the Fless family, the latter might suffer so losses, but the Sarys—even with the backing of the Church of Steam—couldn't withstand the fallout.
Ebner frowned in confusion. "The Church of Steam gave up too? They lost an archbishop!"
This concerned the Church's dignity—how could they just let it go?
"Apparently, an archbishop from the Church of the Eternal Sun personally escorted Johnsen to the Church of Steam for interrogation. The conclusion was that while he had dealings with that ageless witch, he only ordered her to kill my grandfather—the assassination of Tosk had nothing to do with him.
"So the Church of Steam had no grounds to pursue him further... After all, my grandfather wasn't a mber of their Church..."
Fanny lowered her eyes, her voice filled with resentnt.
The Machinery Hivemind compromised... It seems the Church of Steam's influence in Intis is far weaker than the Eternal Sun's... Ebner mused.
Still, according to the intelligence he'd just reviewed, the Sary family only possessed the potion formulas for the "Savant" pathway up to Sequence 6. If Mr. Sary had no ties to the Church of Steam, how had he advanced to "Astronor"?
Ebner voiced his question.
"Grandfather coincidentally obtained the 'Astronor' characteristic and ritual during his studies in Lenburg, but he didn't know the exact formula...
"Co to think of it, my 'Lawyer' characteristic ca about the sa way."
(End of Chapter)
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