As the pervading influence of Ace Attorney continued, the plundering creator just happen to be observing and ruminating from the overall tabulate he could get from his subordinate's data.
Everything wasn't as specific as pointing out every comic reader's name and opinion on the Ace Attorney release, however, Alexander could still get the general idea on some things.
Anyways, market research stuff was just sales projections and market perception stuff. Although Ace Attorney was a money-making product in its basics, its hidden agenda is what intrigues him more.
Since he had already gotten the market reports and survey analysis from Miss Marker's team, it made sense that Alexander's next attention was much more on what Mr. Legalities had to say.
With Old Sullivan and the legal team being present, Alexander simply asked to get to the point. "So... any updates on the legal battles we would be facing? The enemies have initiated media silence and had not responded much to the Ace Attorney #5 taunting. I was wondering what it could mean for the legal front? Are we already in the clear and have they all just given up?"
"Unfortunately, the legal proceedings might still happen little boss. It can be noted that the legal representatives of Creed suing camp is still processing away." Mr. Legalities speculated. "For whatever reason, the previous media buzz they've been decorating is nowhere to be seen. I could only assume that they are now going for a quieter pursuit but still inching towards their goal to battle us in court proceedings."
Alexander knit his brows as he heard that. Although this situation was to be expected, he still clung to the possibility that the Creed attackers would drop all charges together.
At least, Ace Attorney made them shut up from their media clamorings, so there were fewer annoyances to deal with.
"Do you have any idea why they are going silent now, Mr. Legalities?" It was Sullivan's turn to ask. "Is there some legal default that penalizes super case publicizers?"
"There is nothing of that sort for our kind of trial, Mr. Creed." Mr. Legalities answered. "However, I could still look into it and find out why the enemies' strategy shifted like so."
"Hmm." Sullivan simply left the task to the man. In any case, him and Alex already had some guesses on what the media silence could be for and what brought it out.
There was some contemplative silence among the trio for a while but it was broken by Mr. Legalities as he vowed. "Mr. Creed. Little boss. You can count on me!"
The Creed grandfather-grandson duo was perplexed by this sudden vow. The usually professional Mr. Legalities voice was now steeled with conviction and there was a kind of passionate fervor in his eyes.
It was weird and out of place from their conversations but the Creed duo didn't want to damper the man's spirit, so Sullivan could only appease. "We believe in you, Mr. Legalities."
To their surprise, Mr. Legalities was so touched by those words that his eyes turned teary. "I won't disappoint you."
With that, the Creed legal team leader was embarrassed by his teary showing and excused himself from the meeting.
In Mr. Legalities' heart, his conviction still echoed. Little boss is poor Aleksei and he doesn't want Mr. Creed to be put in the same comic-heavy fate as old Mr. Kreid. There is no doubt that the duo needs a Phoenix Wright right now and I will fulfill that to reflect the honor of being the Ace Attorney's inspiration.
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With the weird Mr. Legalities excusing himself, Alexander could only turn to his grandpa and ask. "What was that about? That entire conviction and vow were weird... especially for someone like Mr. Legalities."
"I heard that Ace Attorney is causing quite a stir in the legal industry and Mr. Legalities may have been caught up in all of it." Old Sullivan assumed once again. "After all, he could very well be your inspiration for the Phoenix Wright and he might want to live up to that heavy burden.
He wasn't the Phoenix Wright inspiration though. Alexander knew the truth but it was best to give Mr. Legalities some white lie to encourage the man to work harder.
Of course, Alexander didn't forget about his grandfather's parallelism and mirroring again. "Grandpa, here you go again with inter-connecting my stories and life? Just don't read further into my stories into the future."
Old Sullivan's response was a face that says 'like I'll believe you'. There was no doubt that the old Creed would grandson life parallels at whatever opportunity he could find.
Alexander saw no point in persuading the old man and just wanted to head on to serious-er discourse. "Mr. Legalities and your weirdness aside, what do you think about the enemies' media silence tactic, grandpa? Do you think that they found out about my age and identity now?"
"Most probably." Sullivan echoed that conjecture. Your entire truth must have been quite a shock but it also garnered you an immunity of sorts. Publicizing their attacks to be towards a wee-little ten-year-old just comes with many risks."
"That immunity would run out when they'll be smart enough to find appropriate solutions though and you'll be up on a chopping block." Sullivan warned but also had expectations. "I'm quite looking forward to that."
"Shouldn't you be concerned?" Alexander was starting to get worried. His grandfather's pattern of weirdness seems much prevalent today.
"What dangerous thing could they do to an exposed genius ten-year-old with numerous Creed fans?" Old Creed had a different viewpoint on things as always. "By then, that would be a good thing as people will know your shocking feats, and I as your grandfather would have unbeatable bragging rights. Haha! My enemies and peers would be envious even in their sleep!"
Alexander didn't even bother with the old man's penchant to improve humble bragging techniques now. The best method to deal with this scenario was to change the topic and continue to his next agenda. "Do you have contacts with the newspaper industry, grandpa?"
Old Sullivan's humble-bragging stupor was broken as he was much intrigued by the new question. "I do. Do remember that this CREED building of ours had been part of newsprints and publications. Why do you ask though?"
"Well, there is still a final layer to the Legalities protocol that I have to implement." Alexander answered. "I originally added this detail to pave its way as a future project. However, the media silence of our enemies made me realize a lot of things. It was just better to use it now than later."
Even Old Sullivan felt speechless at this final layer reveal. "Isn't Ace Attorney amazing enough? Why do your words make it sound like it can still be better than it already is?"
"Grandpa, haven't you realized that throughout the lawsuit incident, we were too passive and lacking on the media propaganda side of things?" Alexander voiced out his observations.
"True." Old Sullivan acknowledge that weakness of theirs as Creed Comics' weak footing on publicity and propaganda was easy to note.
They did have their means but they needed to improve. Media propaganda battles would be in high priority for Creed Entertainment's future, after all.
Still, Old Creed was surprised that his grandson's Legalities protocol had something that could help out with that problem. "What's this solution of yours then? Since you asked for my connections in the newspaper, does it involve a new comic book like a Newspaper protocol of yours?"
"Something along those lines but mind you, it's just a stopgap solution to help us out. Keep in mind that it's not a comic book like the other protocols though but a comic strip." Alexander explained. "I believe I've already given it an introductory headstart by being Aleksei Kreid's story."
Not a comic book. Comic strip. Aleksei Kreid's story. These three notable lines intersect at a certain point and Old Sullivan felt a chill when he realized the implications of it.
For everyone else, something like a titled 'comic strip' was like a placeholder foil to drive an intriguing story like Ace Attorney. Even Old Sullivan had to admit that he didn't think any further on it.
However, it would seem that for someone meticulous like his grandson, it can be expanded into so much more.
To think that even a comic book detail like that could still be weaponized to their benefit!
Old Creed could only turn to his grandson. "I have no words... other than these, of course."
"It's just an easter egg. Why do you have to be semi-speechless?" Alexander tilted his head in confusion... however... it also dawned on him that this was still April 1985.
The cool 'easter eggs' still haven't been popularized by the MCU and he may have just perplexed his elderly grandfather some more by relating 'Calvin and Hobbes' to the Easter egg-finding holiday that's coming up!