Want to read extra chapters?
Just go to (patreon.com/kurato6180) and read an extra 5 chapters for FREE!
---
Chapter 25. I am The Traitor?!
---
A beautiful day begins with lazing in bed.
When Jolyne Cujoh woke up, it was already noon the next day.
She couldn't help it.
Just like how a little kid can't sleep the night before a school trip because of excitement.
Though she felt a bit embarrassed to admit it.
After completing all the loss-making preparations and, due to a sudden inspiration, premiering "Phantom Blood" early to exploit a system bug and attempt an early settlement,
Once the system confirmed its effectiveness, Jolyne had been so excited about the system rebate that she couldn't sleep last night.
Unlike pocket money or red envelopes received from parents or relatives, this was money she earned herself!
The fruits of her own labor naturally tasted better than charity!
It felt wonderful, truly wonderful.
But this pleasant feeling from waking up lazily only lasted until Jolyne arrived at Green Dolphin Studio and clocked in for work...
…
"Impossible..."
Jolyne stared blankly at the comments section of "Phantom Blood," watching the viewer count and comment numbers continuously rise.
She pinched her inner thigh hard, trying to wake herself from this "dream" and escape reality.
But no matter what she did,
Even after maintaining this action for over an hour,
She couldn't wake up from this "dream"...
"Apparently, the manga method of pinching yourself to see if you're dreaming and to wake up doesn't work at all."
Jolyne murmured emotionlessly, "Otherwise, why am I still dreaming after so long..."
"Dreaming?... This is not a dream, Jolyne."
Noriaki Kakyoin's sister Ryoko, who brought over some freshly brewed tea and organized documents, smiled and congratulated her, "Our work is genuinely starting to gain popularity!"
Indeed, this was the fact Jolyne couldn't accept.
It was also a fact she gradually realized was true upon seeing everyone at Green Dolphin Studio smiling broadly.
"Although there is still a significant gap compared to the hottest works, as our first production, 'Phantom Blood' has undoubtedly made a name for itself!"
Ryoko continued, "And look at this data, Jolyne!"
She opened a file with graphs, "The growth curve of 'Phantom Blood' is rising every day!"
"This means that the word-of-mouth of 'Phantom Blood' is spreading, bringing in new viewers daily!"
I already knew that...
Though she hadn't investigated as thoroughly as Ryoko and made a specific chart,
By simply looking at the comments section under "Phantom Blood" and turning off the comment block,
The overwhelming number of comments that almost filled the entire screen was clearly telling Jolyne this.
So, what's going on here?!
Wasn't this supposed to be a flop?
No celebrity endorsements, no renowned directors, no promotional tactics, and the major part of "Phantom Blood" has a plot where the protagonist suffers...
Any one of these factors would typically impact a work's performance.
Let alone all of them together.
It's like turning on a light in the bathroom—seeking death!
But...
Looking at the data provided by Ryoko, Jolyne started to think about why things turned out this way.
Where did it go wrong?
"This is all thanks to your strategy, Jolyne!" Ryoko excitedly grabbed Jolyne's hands.
This also interrupted Jolyne's thoughts of listing the crimes of everyone at Green Dolphin Studio, from Ryoko to Akiyuki Shinbo.
"..."
Wait a minute!
Is this my fault!?
Ryoko said, "If it weren't for your suggestion to use an advance screening to increase exposure for our work,"
"And leveraging the market filled with mostly bad films to highlight our own... 'Phantom Blood' might not have gained fame so quickly."
Yes, it's simple logic.
Just like how it's hard to choose the best between "Kamen Rider Kuuga" and "Ultraman Tiga."
But if you put "Kamen Rider Kuuga" alongside "Kamen Rider Zero-One"... there's no such dilemma!
Anyone can easily pick the best work.
This is similar to the Chu-Han Contention, where despite later scholars praising Xiang Yu's bravery and the invincibility of the warriors from Jiang Dong, it didn't change the fact that Liu Bang unified the country in three years.
Because in comparison to Xiang Yu's city massacres, Liu Bang's three laws and merit-based appointments made people vote for him with their feet.
Similarly, those who didn't know about "Phantom Blood" were drawn to it once they saw it among other pre-released poor-quality films.
This audience, whether they liked "Phantom Blood" initially or not, voted for it with their feet!
In other words...
I am the traitor?!!