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Chapter 49. The Difference Between R Cards and SSR Cards
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What just happened?
No idea!
Gintoki Sakata originally thought Pucci had gone to great lengths to summon him just to settle scores.
Before he could even prepare to surrender, he heard an entirely unexpected response...
His mind went blank.
An actor?
A protagonist?
Me!?
"Well, well, I didn't expect you to figure it out so quickly!"
Fear?
Doesn't exist!
His legs stopped shaking, his waist felt fine, and he was eating the Supreme Strawberry Ice Cream Parfait with more vigor. Gintoki Sakata, now completely different from before, wore an expression of helplessness, "As expected of the famed director Pucci, you've recognized my astounding acting skills so quickly!"
Yes, though he didn't know what was going on.
But money, oh, money!
Compared to taking freelance gigs online, being a small-time critic wasn't just unstable but also carried the constant fear of being discovered.
More importantly, doing this kind of special work didn't always guarantee a good reward.
Becoming an actor, not to mention anything else, was clearly a job that could make much more money!
Recalling the scandals among actor celebrities he had seen by chance, and the tax amounts they paid in a year, which were enough to make an ordinary person work non-stop for five thousand years to earn, Gintoki Sakata decided to make an ancestral-defying decision—
I'll become the King of Actors!
So...
"Director Pucci, can you stop staring at me like that?"
Taking the previous incidents as if they never happened… No, treating them as part of his impromptu acting, Gintoki Sakata said righteously, "Though I know I'm handsome and my acting is superb, I'm a man of principles. Even if you stare at me like a hungry python at its dinner, I won't easily give in!"
Yes, more money!
"That peculiar metaphor... I see, you've watched 'Phantom Blood' too."
Pucci, retracting his gaze, affirmed, "No wonder you recognized me before I introduced myself."
After all, such metaphors featuring animals.
And metaphors that normal people wouldn't come up with.
Only someone like Araki-sensei, a lover of animals, could imagine that.
Of course, the main reason was a similar metaphor, with the same animal protagonist, had just appeared in "Phantom Blood" not long ago.
"As someone who has aspired to be an actor since childhood, I naturally work twice as hard to achieve my dreams!"
Gintoki Sakata, with the look of a dream chaser, replied, "Whether it's the recently popular 'Phantom Blood' or its creators… I've never stopped learning, so how could I not pay attention to the major events in the industry?!"
Judging by his current appearance.
No one would guess.
This aspiring actor's dream was decided just seconds ago.
And the reason he was so well-informed about Pucci and "Phantom Blood" was entirely due to his need to focus on them for a previous freelance job.
After all, even as a critic or troll.
He needed material and substance.
Otherwise, if he was just mindlessly criticizing, not only would others not buy it, but even the client paying him wouldn't accept such meaningless drivel.
No, wait!
What's the difference between Shiroyasha the troll and Gintoki Sakata?
How strange, why do I keep thinking about this completely unfamiliar role?
Without the convenience of "Whitesnake's" ability.
Nor able to extract and view others' thoughts at will.
Pucci had no way of knowing what was going on in Gintoki Sakata's mind.
Otherwise, he might have grabbed Gintoki's hands and insisted on joining his team.
This voice!
This natural perm!
This personality!
It's a waste not to have him in our film!
Whether it's for filming "Gintama" or "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency"!
Now, not a novice who knew nothing.
But having completed one work and preparing to finish it, Pucci.
He no longer believed that finding a chosen actor from this parallel world would make them invincible.
Although "Phantom Blood" quickly gained popularity.
Mainly due to the brilliant performances of chosen actors that attracted viewers, keeping them hooked on the story.
It didn't mean they didn't face any issues during filming.
Being a chosen actor didn't change the fact that they were newcomers without much experience.
Nor did it magically give them experience in full-dive filming.
In short, in the field of filming, it's not just about whether the actors are chosen; their actual personalities matter too.
At least Pucci no longer wanted to worry about "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" suddenly turning into "The Adventures of Artoria" during filming.
That's why, even though he had already recruited Kyon among the chosen actors.
He still went out of his way to privately message the familiar-looking "Shiroyasha" account on 2CH to arrange a meeting.
Though both voiced by Tomokazu Sugita.
There's still a difference between Tomokazu Sugita and Tomokazu Sugita.
Just like in the gacha game "FGO," the same character in different forms can range from a three-star R card to a five-star SSR card.
Thus.
With Pucci's eyes gleaming, preparing to thoroughly interview Gintoki Sakata to see if he fits the protagonist role in "Battle Tendency."
For the audience following "Phantom Blood."
They were also experiencing a crucial phase.
The new episode following Zeppeli's death.
In this latest episode, JoJo, inheriting Zeppeli's will, was set to thwart DIO's ambitions and schemes.
Episode 8 of "Phantom Blood!"
Finally began airing!
Everything, just as JoJo spoke while stepping up the stairs and forcefully opening DIO's door—
"—I have returned from hell! DIO!!"