Bonus 15 chapters (5 chapters for free) are available at [patreon.com/kurato6180]
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Chapter 194. Three JOJOs Together
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"Eh?"
"Ehhhhh————!!?"
No way!
Things have already gotten this bad, is there even worse news to come?!
Just after logging off from 2CH, an angry Cujoh Jolyne had tossed her full-dive helmet to the side. She was now staring blankly at Pucci, who wore an uneasy expression.
Honestly, when she saw [White Snake] dragging everything towards the idea of resolve...
Cujoh Jolyne already had a feeling things were not going to go well for her.
After all, "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" is all about resolve and the "Golden Spirit."
It's about the courage to face fear and, even after fully understanding that fear, having the strength to keep it under control.
The hymn of humanity is the hymn of courage, and humanity's greatness lies in that courage.
This is the essential, most radiant part of the human soul. It's what makes "Phantom Blood"—even though it's a simple and somewhat clichéd story—so captivating.
It's even the key reason Jonathan and Joseph Joestar always managed to overcome their enemies.
Now, this "Golden Spirit", passed down through the Joestar family for generations, transcends time and has been inherited by Jotaro. Together, they will complete what Jonathan could not.
And for all of us viewers, who couldn't fulfill our regrets back then, they will defeat DIO!
Just like the line in the opening song, "Platinum light cuts through fate."
This "fate" is the destiny between the Joestars and DIO, but it's also the absolute prophecy of [Thoth].
Jotaro and the others, who could even break a god's prophecy using their wisdom, resolve, and Stands, are bound to shatter this century-old curse together!
When [White Snake] revealed this hidden element, even Cujoh Jolyne had to admit it made sense... Of course, it was mostly because she couldn't find a reason to refute [White Snake]'s nonsense!
So much so that she almost believed it — that [Khnum] Oingo and [Thoth] Boingo, who wielded the power of fate, were actually just a test.
Only by overcoming this trial could Jotaro and the others be qualified to face DIO!
In this situation...
It was only natural that Cujoh Jolyne, who had unconsciously been led astray by this analysis, would vent her frustration on Pucci.
Not that she was entirely wrong to do so...
But what did Pucci just say?!
Bad news!?
Cujoh Jolyne's first reaction was disbelief.
Her second reaction was a glimmer of hope as she looked expectantly at Pucci, "Really?"
Oh right, she had forgotten.
It's all [White Snake]'s fault for making her think Pucci was also playing dumb while secretly being a tiger in disguise!
Damn it!
How could Pucci be a tiger?
He's a dragon!
The dragon among dragons, "Hidden Dragon" himself!
Just when Jolyne was about to use this to steady her trembling heart, Pucci matched her mood perfectly, putting on a sorrowful expression and apologetically said, "President Cujoh, you're right. I am still too young."
"?"
Still waiting to hear what bad news Pucci had, Cujoh Jolyne looked at him in confusion.
Had she said that?
No, right?
And wasn't there supposed to be bad news?
Just get to the point!
Seemingly noticing Cujoh Jolyne's impatience, or maybe he was planning to continue all along, Pucci went on, "When you separated me from Director Shinbo back then, you must have thought that only by leaving the guidance of such a senior could I continue to grow."
"When I realized your intention, I felt defiant. I thought you didn't understand and wanted to prove myself by doing something... but it wasn't until I hit a wall and failed miserably that I realized I was the one who didn't understand anything."
With his head lowered, Pucci's tone became more somber, "I'm sorry, President Cujoh. I wasn't able to recover the costs of new technology development with the revenue from "Stardust Crusaders"..."
Though the story of "Stardust Crusaders" hadn't finished airing yet, much like most seasonal anime in Japan—where one season lasts twelve to thirteen episodes, two-cour series last twenty-four to twenty-six episodes, and year-long series last forty-eight to fifty-two episodes—there wasn't a standard for such varied runtimes. It's impossible to expect that year-long series should wait until the entire show finishes airing before selling BD specials to recover costs.
This would not only massively increase the investment pressure on these long-running series...
If a special case like "Kamen Rider" were forced to wait until the entire show aired before selling toys and merchandise, who would buy the earlier, basic versions of the toys? Everyone would only want the final forms!
That would be disastrous!
Especially considering "Kamen Rider" is notorious for getting beaten up in every episode.
If they didn't recoup costs by selling the merchandise of the earlier forms before they get trashed, only diehard collectors would want to buy the figures of a constantly defeated hero.
So, in today's industry, whether it's a one-cour series, a two-cour series, a year-long series, or even multi-hundred episode long-running shows, all of them start selling BD specials right after the first season.
And "Stardust Crusaders", now at the Nine Glory Gods arc, is no exception.
That's what Pucci was talking about.
As a transmigrator, and with Cujoh Jolyne's investment, Pucci had already made plenty of successful films and was rolling in cash.
If that didn't inflate his ego, it would've been an insult to his transmigrator status!
He had set his sights on a certain truck driver, thinking that if the truck driver could recover the costs of new technology with his works, then he could do the same!
Transmigrators are that confident.
Unfortunately, Pucci forgot that the truck driver doesn't always win.
Otherwise, the truck driver wouldn't have bankrupted his own company.
Pucci, who had barely learned to walk but tried to break Usain Bolt's record, naturally failed miserably.
Handing Cujoh Jolyne the latest sales report for "Stardust Crusaders", Pucci said dejectedly, "Forgive me for failing to live up to your trust, President Cujoh. I couldn't use the profits from "Stardust Crusaders" to recover the costs of your investment in new technology..."
"?!"
"!!!"
Right, she had invested in new technology!
It's all [White Snake]'s fault for rambling about the three JOJOs being together, making her forget about that!
Picking up the report, Jolyne still found the sales numbers somewhat exaggerated.
But if it didn't make a profit, it was a loss!
This is...
"Good news!" Jolyne exclaimed excitedly.
"President Cujoh, how did you know there was good news!?"
"Huh?"