I'm Not A Master, I'm A Director (Patreon)

Chapter 48: Zouken Won't Change His Mind

Due to Touko needing to form a team, Shinji didn't bring her back to Japan this time.

However, Shinji didn't waste the two return tickets. The new secretary, Ophelia, happened to fill Touko's vacancy.

Upon returning to Japan, Shinji didn't relax because of FSN's nearly perfect box office results; instead, he became even busier with the preparations for Fate/Zero.

During Shinji's absence from Japan, Zouken specifically compiled a list of magus families that could cooperate.

Among these people were those who simply wanted a share of the profits, those who coveted the Holy Grail War ritual in Fuyuki City, and even those who wanted to send their own daughters to Shinji's bedroom.

Of course, Shinji couldn't possibly accept everyone on the list. He prioritized those who were purely for economic cooperation and those willing to lease or sell their own magical circuits.

Filming Fate/Zero would inevitably require summoning new Heroic Spirits, but given the current state of Fuyuki City's magical circuits, summoning the seven Rider-class Servants was already the limit.

To expand the Heroic Spirit team, the best way was to connect other magical circuits with Fuyuki City's circuits. By importing magical energy into Fuyuki City's circuits, the total magical energy of Fuyuki City's circuits would increase.

This plan was somewhat similar to Chaldea's attempt in FGO to directly connect to the Earth's Grand Magical Circuit to summon more Heroic Spirits. However, Chaldea's method was not only enormously costly but also very inhumane. All the reserve Masters used for experiments were melted into the Earth's magical circuits and fused with Miss Tanaka (Gaia).

Shinji didn't want to become a murderer, so he naturally wouldn't adopt Chaldea's brutal methods.

Fortunately, he wasn't facing a crisis of human order destruction, and there were no specific requirements for the strength of the Heroic Spirits. As long as the summoned individuals could be used, it was enough.

In general, connecting several magical circuits was a very dangerous thing. Accumulating too much magical energy in the circuits could easily lead to a spectacular scene of "flattening Fuyuki City."

Fortunately, Heroic Spirits were like relief valves; with them consuming magical energy, there would only be a shortage of magical energy, and there wouldn't be an excess.

As a qualified capitalist, even when Shinji was busy, he didn't let his subordinates idle.

All the Heroic Spirits were packaged and sent to a drama school for acting training.

Among them, Arturia, the future money tree in Shinji's mind, was arranged to work in a late-night TV drama to hone her acting skills by directly participating in a television drama.

Of course, considering Arturia's immature acting skills, Shinji didn't let her attempt any high-difficulty actions. Instead, he had King Arthur demonstrate her unique skill—eating.

Following the model of the late-night drama "The Lonely Gourmet" from his previous life, Shinji created a show called "The Lonely King Arthur."

Arturia would visit various restaurants in Fuyuki City and introduce the local cuisine to the Japanese public.

Not considering how much she eats, Arturia's elegant yet hearty way of eating is quite adorable and enough to attract a large audience's attention.

Coupled with Arturia's current popularity in Japan, he believes this TV drama, even if it doesn't become a massive hit, will at least not flop.

After all, it's a late-night slot; even if the ratings are poor, they won't be too low.

Shinji's choice of a food-themed drama is not only to train Arturia but also with the idea of indirectly promoting Fuyuki City through the TV show.

With the success of FSN, the increasing number of tourists visiting Fuyuki City for pilgrimages has given some advertisement to the city's restaurants. It's Shinji's way of taking care of his hometown.

While Shinji is busy running around Japan and the Heroic Spirits are diligently honing their acting skills, the elders who stayed in Fuyuki City gathered to discuss the shooting matters of Fate/Zero.

"Well, this thing called the internet is quite convenient. Even if it's halfway around the globe, we can still talk face-to-face. Shinji would probably think this is the future trend, not just idle talk," commented Kayneth on the video call with the screen beside the tea table.

"Alright, Lord El-Melloi. We didn't gather here to evaluate the uses of the internet."

Sitting furthest from the screen, Tohsaka Tokiomi spoke in a steady tone, "This kind of thing, magic can achieve as well."

Kariya sneered directly, "And then you run out of magic power after saying two sentences and turn into a dried-up person? Tokiomi, you're still as old-fashioned as a stone."

Although Kariya had long accepted the failure of his love in the past, he still felt very unhappy about Tokiomi as a person and seized the opportunity to diss him.

Tokiomi disdainfully said, "Kariya Matou, I thought you could distinguish between primary and secondary contradictions."

"What did you say?!"

Kariya instantly got angry.

Kiritsugu hurriedly intervened, "Calm down. Don't forget the reason why we gathered this time."

Shinji had submitted the Fate/Zero proposal for quite some time, and the Masters had already read the plot outline.

The reason they gathered this time was straightforward—to find a way to get Shinji to modify the plot.

There was no way around it; each of them in the Fate/Zero story was worse off than the others.

Tokiomi, who was stabbed in the back by his disciple, was fine, and at least he left happily. Kayneth first became paralyzed, then suffered various betrayals and deceptions, and finally died peacefully. In the script, Kiritsugu also lost everything, and even after the story ended, he was tormented by illness for several years. Kariya was even worse, dying without leaving a corpse.

Although everyone knew that the events in the script were fake, seeing how miserably they died in the story, no one's mood could remain calm.

"Although the tone of Fate/Zero's story is written based on FSN, I believe everyone cannot accept this process," Tokiomi said concisely, "If we're going to die, we should die heroically, not so... pathetic."

At this point, Tokiomi turned his head and glanced at Kotomine Kirei, who was also attending the meeting.

Ever since he read the script, Tokiomi found it challenging to face this friend's son directly. There was a knot in his heart, fearing that the other might suddenly pull out a knife and stab him.

As for Kirei, he didn't notice Tokiomi looking at him. He was quietly staring at the table, thinking about which restaurant to go to for Mapo Tofu after the meeting.

Swish—

The room door opened, and Zouken and Irisviel entered, chatting and laughing.

"Kiritsugu."

Irisviel grabbed her husband's arm excitedly. "Mister Matou just told me that he thinks we can enclose the entire back mountain for reconstruction. In that case, won't our family have film crews filming everywhere? "

Kiritsugu thought for a long time and just smiled simplistically. "As long as you're happy."

Zouken then tapped the floor with his cane, looked around at everyone present with a smile, and slowly sat next to Kirei.

"Everyone is here. Since the Holy Grail War is no longer held, it seems that the representatives of our three families haven't gathered like this. Shinji did well."

The old man said slowly, his words revealing a hint of pride.

Tokiomi's face flashed with a bit of anxiety. He asked tentatively, "Matou-san, have you already seen the project proposal?"

"Of course, I've seen it." Zouken nodded. "I'll be frank with you; I saw it even earlier than what you all saw."

Tokiomi quickly followed up, "Then, do you have any opinions on the script?"

To change the script, the best way was for Zouken Matou to take the lead. All the elders opposed it unanimously.

Tokiomi didn't believe it. With all the elders unanimously opposed, Shinji dared to go against the current and insist on the original plan.

As for whether Zouken would agree or not to change the script, Tokiomi felt that he would. After all, the script portrayed Zouken as evil to the extreme, being treated like this by his own grandson. Tokiomi didn't believe that Zouken would accept it with a smile.

As a result, Zouken actually accepted the script with a smile.

"The script is quite good~ Compared to FSN, this time's shoot has more grand scenes, and the effects will definitely be more spectacular than FSN."

"But the plot..."

"The plot is quite good." Zouken deliberately pretended to be confused. "Compared to FSN, this script is more serious, more like a war of mutual destruction."

"Moreover, since it's my good grandson who made this outstanding script, of course, I fully agree!" Zouken sent out a voice of spoiling his grandson to everyone present.

"Old man, at your age, you can still lift it up?" Kariya sneered loudly.

"Foolish son, what I'm talking about is the cane. What did you think I was talking about?"

"Well... I also said the cane. Isn't it tiring for you to lift both your hand and the cane?"

Smack

Zouken hit Kariya's head with his cane.

"Matou-san... it's just... I think..."

On the other side, Tokiomi's face didn't look good. He quickly made eye contact with Kiritsugu and Kirei, asking them to speak for him.

'Useless guy, a foolish fool who doesn't dare to stand out.'

Kariya rolled his eyes and looked even more disdainful of Tokiomi.

"Dad." Kariya spoke for Tokiomi. "I think... The plot seems a bit too dark. The style is too different from the last movie. Wouldn't it be better to make some changes?"

"What kind of changes?"

Zouken deliberately used a tone of sudden realization, shaking his head and saying, "I see, you're afraid that the fact of you being robbed of love will be known, and you won't be able to lift your head, right?"

Smack

Zouken tapped Kariya's head with his cane.

"Look at your lack of backbone, reflect on yourself properly."

"...,"

'These unreliable guys can't be counted on. I have to do it myself.'

Seeing Tokiomi and Kariya speechless from being retorted, Kiritsugu pressed the cigarette into the ashtray, deciding to speak up himself.

He looked up at Zouken and said, "Head of the Matou family, I think it's better to modify the script. After all, the head of the El-Melloi family is our major financier in the initial stages. Isn't the treatment of him in the movie a bit too much?"

"No, no."

Kayneth, participating in the meeting via video, waved his hand. "Shinji has already consulted with me. I will personally designate the actress for Sola."

Although Kayneth didn't say who it was, judging by his excited expression, he probably already had someone in mind.

Seeing Kayneth's expression, the people present all had darkened faces.

'Tsk! Women, the cause of calamity!'

Tokiomi frowned and tongue-clicked.

'He shouldn't have forgotten that the girl will be seduced by his own Servant, right?'

Kiritsugu felt that he should have a good talk with Kayneth or maybe let him spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, just like in the script.

'Shinji! You really are a professional at fooling people!'

Kariya made a note of his dear nephew's actions in his account book.

'Ah, the tea stalk is standing up. It seems that something good is going to happen later. Looks like Kiritsugu also wants to act with me.'

Irisviel smiled while holding a teacup.