Want more chapters?
There are over 20 Chapters available on my Patreon at [patreon.com/kurato6180].
And you can read an Extra 5 Chapters if you join for FREE!
---
Chapter 95. Stardust Crusaders
---
Having decided to step out from under the protection of the great Shinbo Akiyuki, Pucci, who chose to rely on his own abilities to prove whether he has what it takes to become a director in the industry and independently lead and direct a project, made his first move after making this decision.
And that first move, of course, was to return to the "Battle Tendency" crew and continue working with Shinbo Akiyuki and the others to complete the filming!
...Because, well, Green Dolphin Studio is short on staff.
Even though Jolyne Cujoh had assured him that she would find a way to solve this problem quickly—whether it was finding crew members or actors—she seemed incredibly confident. However, Pucci still preferred that there be some familiar faces in this new crew rather than a completely unfamiliar team.
For instance...
"Uh, Pucci, are you sure you didn't mix up the files by mistake?"
The next day, as Jolyne Cujoh looked at the familiar name and the familiar headshot on the file Pucci handed her, she recalled how the success of "Phantom Blood" was entirely due to this person. Surprisingly, instead of showing any signs of hatred or animosity, she just made a face resembling that of a certain blue-haired goddess of wisdom (? v ?), glanced at the file in her hand, and then looked at Pucci, who confidently handed it over.
"Pucci, are you sure you didn't mix up the actors' files with the crew members' files?"
"Otherwise, why is DIO listed among the people you want to recruit into your new crew?!"
That's right, the person in this file was none other than DIO!
With his golden hair and a face that, after the airing of "Phantom Blood," was plastered all over in various expressive memes, there was no way anyone could mistake him for someone else.
But DIO is an actor, isn't he?
In fact, thanks to his excellent guest roles in several recently aired shows, DIO, who became famous through "Phantom Blood," is now increasingly recognized and sought after in the industry. Does he even have any time available?
"Scheduling isn't a problem," Pucci explained. "After finishing the filming of 'Phantom Blood,' I had a discussion with DIO. That's why he has only been taking on guest roles or parts with one or two episodes recently, to keep his schedule open so that he can join us in filming the third part of 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.'"
"So even though the filming schedule for Part 3 is a bit earlier than we initially estimated, when I contacted DIO yesterday, he said it wouldn't be an issue."
And that's the advantage of being a time traveler: foreknowledge.
Naturally, when Pucci knew that he was going to film "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" and had already secured a contract with DIO, he didn't just sign him up for "Phantom Blood."
As the main antagonist and soul of six parts of "JoJo," Pucci had already offered DIO a full-package deal for the entire "JoJo" series!
"So, with all this preparation, why would DIO be a crew member?" Jolyne Cujoh asked again.
Of course, it's not that she thought Pucci's idea was bad. On the contrary, it was incredibly bold!
Indeed, it was the right choice to release Pucci from the clutches of industry veteran Shinbo Akiyuki! Just look at Pucci's choice!
First, DIO!
Jolyne Cujoh admitted that she initially failed to recognize DIO's talent as an actor. But now, was Pucci selecting DIO to be an actor again? No, he was bringing DIO into his new crew to work as a staff member!
This move, seemingly unrelated to acting, or rather, not in the same lane at all, could DIO even manage it?
No, he couldn't! He didn't have the capability for that!
Trying hard to suppress her urge to laugh, Jolyne Cujoh kept a straight face, which seemed rather stern to others, and said, "Give me a reason."
After that, she flipped through the files Pucci handed her, which included the biologist Kars, Yoshikage Kira, who wanted a normal office job, and Diavolo, who dreamed of becoming a gangster superstar...
Just a quick glance at these files revealed so many talents that Jolyne Cujoh felt certain they were onto something big this time!
Especially when she noticed that Kars, this seemingly unremarkable biologist, had his value nearly equal to DIO's because of his role in "Battle Tendency." This revelation opened up a whole new perspective for her, making her feel as though she had unlocked a new level of wisdom!
Indeed, while the system's limitations prevent offering newcomers high salaries, she could exploit a loophole by offering these seasoned professionals salaries from other fields to do entry-level work on the crew!
This method could effectively reduce expenses while ensuring that the high-cost production would inevitably lose money—a clever little trick for securing losses.
Jolyne Cujoh could only say that no one would ever think of such an outlandish idea unless they had completely lost their mind!
So, no matter what outrageous reason Pucci might come up with next, Jolyne Cujoh was determined to agree and let these people join the crew!
"President Cujoh, Napoleon once said, 'A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good emperor.' Likewise, an actor who doesn't want to be a director isn't a good crew member," Pucci stated. "And I believe that with his ambition, combined with DIO's talent, he would definitely do a better job than a regular crew member!"
Hmm, how should she put it? This reasoning didn't sound entirely absurd, and it even seemed to make some sense.
If Jolyne Cujoh didn't know that DIO had studied law before, she might have been swayed by it.
But that's precisely what made it perfect.
Watching Pucci earnestly and diligently at work, though his good intentions would ultimately backfire, Jolyne Cujoh, in high spirits, didn't even bother to review the script for Part 3 and approved all of Pucci's requests right away.
And finally, she packed up Jotaro Kujo and the others, who had come all the way from America to visit her, and handed them over to Pucci.
-- "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders"!