Chapter 743 — The Intangible
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
Gaoyang placed great hopes on this young man who had created the magic-film drama before him.
Film would receive direct patronage from the Cecil royal house; the team he needed, the funding he needed, the equipment he needed, the venues he needed—all would be provided.
Gaoyang had never minded that someone had hit upon an idea before him, this transmigrator, and he minded even less that someone might realize those ideas in his place, for he had long known that a person's energy and talent are both limited, and that he could not, by his own strength alone, construct every facet required for the whole of society to function—all of it, in the end, had to be accomplished by the "people" who made up that society.
And after his conversation with Mei Heng Pernia—after the other had obliquely hinted at the critical information concerning "society's spontaneous development" and "the hidden peril of the mechanical god's descent"—he had grown all the more firm in this conviction: to devote his energy to advancing society's development, to let the masses build their own lives, rather than have him, this transmigrator, conjure things out of thin air.
Of course, as a man of experience, during the early, still-immature days of certain new things, he would still do some correcting and reminding—and that was all he ought to do.
"Your Majesty, I... I am deeply grateful," Film's delight and excitement were easy to imagine once he understood how formidable the support would be. "I will not fail your expectations—I will make the finest magic-film drama and present it to you!"
"Do not make things to present to me," Gaoyang shook his head. "That was not your original purpose in creating magic-film drama. Your dramas are for the ordinary people to watch, for those who cannot enter a theater. Write the stories you love, the stories the masses love—if the Empire's citizens love them, then consider that your gift to me."
Perhaps no noble and no sovereign had ever said such a thing—at least not in Film's understanding. The young man from Barron looked profoundly moved. Gaoyang continued: "Moreover, such a new thing ought to be spread. As the patent holder of magic-film drama, you should not merely be one who writes scripts and shoots them; I hope you will spread your creation far and wide. This will be greatly beneficial to the development of the magic-film drama, and you yourself can profit from licensing the patent."
"I..." Film calmed down from his excitement, showing a somewhat uneasy expression. "Thank you for your trust, but... I do not know how to go about it. I have never touched anything of this sort."
"Your Majesty, if you permit, I would be glad to help Film," Fendir suddenly spoke up. "Though I know nothing of performing or scripts, I do know how to deal with people."
Gaoyang smiled. "If Master Film has no objection."
Film turned his head somewhat in surprise to look at his "noble friend." After a brief moment of astonishment, bewilderment, nervousness, and thought, he finally revealed a trace of a smile: "If it is possible... of course, I would be most glad... honored."
"Just say glad—honored is too much. I am rather honored myself to take part in such an exciting enterprise," Fendir laughed heartily, and that laughter directly dispelled the tension Film had accumulated. Then the young noble from the Northern Frontier turned to Ilaven. "Hey, aren't you joining in?"
"Me?" Ilaven was a little surprised. "Why call on me?"
"You have a family-inherited head for business," Fendir spread his hands. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed the connection between magic-film drama and commerce."
"...My father hopes I can learn something in the Southern Frontier about arcane technology and social order," Ilaven said with some hesitation, and stealthily, swiftly glanced at Gaoyang before quickly withdrawing his gaze. "Your Majesty knows I am here to learn—and so are you."