Chapter 202: Watching LCD TV at the Duke's Mansion!
"The Fate/Zero series we filmed earlier had a very complex storyline, but the depiction of the battle scenes was excellent. Although some parts clearly showed traces of special effects, the performances of the heroic spirits in combat were outstanding. You can tell a lot of effort went into it. I'm really looking forward to seeing what fate awaits Emiya Kiritsugu in the end."
"I personally enjoyed Kara no Kyoukai even more than Fate/Zero. Its exploration of human consciousness was incredibly unique. It portrayed the duels of extraordinary individuals within a peaceful world devoid of supernatural powers, which is a theme I particularly love. The only issue was the once-a-month release schedule—it's too slow! If possible, I hope they can speed up the updates."
"As for the recently released Steins;Gate, I think the mages at the Imperial Mage Academy would absolutely love it. At the very least, Roy mentioned several times how much he enjoyed its detailed depiction of certain elements. It has a futuristic vibe and breaks conventional thinking with an incredibly unique perspective. However, it barely had any combat scenes, so personally, it didn't resonate with me as much."
"…"
As Constantine, the Duke, enthusiastically and passionately rambled on like a die-hard film fan, Durin couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat off his face, feeling utterly dazed.
The surrounding nobles, too, were frozen in place, their faces blank with confusion, staring in disbelief.
After all, who could have imagined that this formidable Duke, whose name struck fear throughout the southern region, was such an ardent movie enthusiast?
This revelation left many nobles who had hoped the Duke would personally step in to suppress the film industry utterly disheartened, their faces filled with disappointment.
However, it did explain why Daphne, the Duke's daughter, was so passionate about the film industry—it seemed to run in the family.
After detailing his love for movies, Constantine quickly regained his usual air of aloofness and spoke in a calm tone:
"Now that the film industry is flourishing across the southern region, what are your thoughts on its future development, Baron Durin?"
"Uh…"
Caught off guard by the sudden shift from the Duke's enthusiastic monologue to this weighty question, Durin was momentarily stunned.
However, as a film director, his professional instincts quickly kicked in, and he began to ponder the deeper meaning behind the Duke's question. After a moment of thought, he slowly replied:
"Currently, the development of the film industry in the southern region has, in a way, reached a bottleneck. No matter how many new cinemas we build in the short term, the total number of viewers won't increase significantly. Therefore, there's only one solution: to fully promote films across the entire empire, and even spread them to faraway places."
"Hmm, an excellent idea," the Duke responded, nodding thoughtfully. "But that will undoubtedly face significant opposition. The other regions of the empire are not as peaceful or open to new ideas as the southern region."
"Even so, it must be done," Durin declared firmly. "If no one tries, nothing will ever change. After all, my goal is to transform this dull world!"
The bold, almost audacious statement left the gathered nobles utterly speechless, many staring at him in astonishment. The sheer ambition in his words was enough to make most ordinary people gape in disbelief.
The Duke of the Southern Region, however, paused for a moment before breaking into hearty laughter.
"Excellent! I knew I wasn't mistaken about you."
With that, he turned abruptly and left the gathering.
The remaining nobles stood frozen in place, a mix of shock and complicated emotions brewing within them.
For years, their families had tried countless ways to leave a strong impression on the Duke, only to meet with little success.
Now, this young upstart Durin had earned such high praise from him, a result that far exceeded anyone's expectations.
Meanwhile, Durin stood rubbing his chin, utterly perplexed by the Duke's intentions.
After all, he had little prior interaction with the man.
The Edward family had always been a minor house in the southern region, so there was no apparent reason for the Duke, as its ruler, to take special notice of him.
Noticing his confusion, Daphne approached him quietly and leaned in to whisper:
"My father has been paying attention to you for quite some time. Ever since you became the youngest Grand Mage, he's mentioned you. After all, our family's motto has always been 'strength above all.' A genius like you emerging in the southern region naturally draws significant attention."
"That's all? Senior Roy is also a very young Grand Mage, isn't he?"
"True," Daphne admitted, "but Senior Roy isn't a native of the southern region. While there may not be any overt divisions among the empire's four regions, it's only natural for people to feel a stronger connection to locals. That's just human nature, no matter where you go."
"Ah… well, I didn't consider that." Durin scratched his head, surprised by the revelation.
Durin couldn't help but show a wry smile upon realizing that the Duke's attention to him stemmed from such a simple reason.
Daphne glanced at him, hesitated for a moment as if wanting to say more, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Winry, though fully aware that the exchange between Durin and Daphne was nothing more than a normal aristocratic conversation, felt her tightly clenched fists betraying her unsettled emotions.
As a maid, she knew it wasn't her place to interfere, but her heart was far from calm.
Regardless, upon learning that the Duke of the Southern Region had been aware of him for years, Durin gradually calmed down.
This recognition meant the Duke knew everything he had done and supported his efforts.
With the Duke's backing, the development of the film industry in the southern region was now free of any obstacles.
The only challenge remaining was how to extend the reach of cinema to other parts of the empire.
Just as Durin instinctively began considering strategies for the film industry's expansion, the large doors of the hall suddenly swung open.
Roy, manipulating his magical powers, floated a massive, jet-black object into the room. Narrow and rectangular, the object was impossible for anyone to identify, leaving everyone—including Durin—utterly baffled.
"???"
The unexpected scene left everyone frozen, staring at the peculiar object, clueless about its purpose.
Before anyone could voice their confusion, Roy pulled off the covering with a dramatic flourish, revealing a large, sleek, and pitch-black screen made of an unusual material.
While the nobles still couldn't comprehend what they were seeing, Durin immediately blurted out in disbelief:
"What the heck? A giant LCD TV? Where did this high-tech marvel come from?"
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