" What rumors about the blessed screen...Heaven's Gate? Ahh, please... How grand can the lies get for such a ridiculous shitty screen? " Max muttered and
"Hey buddy, what's there to be happy about with that so-called 'Blessed Screen'? Lisa hasn't made a single movie since hers debuted on it, and it's likely Max and Roxson won't make any more movies either," Max thought as he pieced together the meaning behind Jameson's words.
"Ahh, this idiot doesn't understand the significance of the Blessed Screen even after I explained it in detail," Jameson muttered in frustration before saying, "Forget it. You'll understand its importance when your movie makes it onto that Elite List—though honestly, I doubt that'll happen. But who knows."
"Wow, what an inspiring speech," Max thought sarcastically, clearly irritated.
"Anyways, see you tomorrow night. Bye." With that, Jameson ended the call.
Max noted some of Jameson's comments in his mind and then glanced suspiciously at Dolly, who was sipping juice through a straw like a mosquito feeding on nectar.
"What ?.... do you want?" Dolly asked, sensing Max's gaze.
"Even one drop of your juice wouldn't wet my hair," Max thought, staring at the tiny 5cm glass she held.
"I need to ask you something," Max said seriously.
"It's my juice time," Dolly replied with a sarcastic tone.
"This damn doll… I swear I'll rip you apart," Max imagined, envisioning various ways to punish her. But he couldn't say anything outright—if he insulted her, the system would punish him in bizarre ways.
After finishing her juice, Dolly looked at Max and said, "Ask," as she settled back into her imaginary throne.
"What is this Blessed Screen that people are so obsessed with?" Max asked his first question.
"Not qualified. Next," Dolly replied dismissively, as if her time was too precious to waste.
"This damn doll... I'll shred you to pieces," Max thought, clearly annoyed by her quick refusal.
Swallowing his anger, he asked his second question, "Why don't people who make it to the Blessed Screen create films again?"
"That's the ultimate goal for people here. Once they achieve it, they start living their lives," Dolly answered flatly.
"What kind of nonsense is that? Don't they realize their followers eagerly wait for their next movie? And after reaching their so-called goal, they just stop? Do they not care that their fame exists because of those followers?" Max erupted, frustrated by Dolly's response.
As a movie lover himself, Max knew the agony of waiting for a favorite director or actor's next release. He could imagine the heartbreak if someone told him his favorite stars would never make another film. The thought alone felt like a gut punch.
"That's their choice—to make movies or not. You don't need to stick your nose where it doesn't belong," Dolly warned angrily.
Max went silent, like a drenched cat, after hearing Dolly's sharp tone.
"What is Heaven's Gate?" Max asked, attempting his third question.
"Not qualified," Dolly replied instantly.
"When will I ever be qualified, then?" Max asked, suppressing his frustration.
"Once you make it to the Blessed Screen."
"Ah, here we go again—back to the Blessed Screen," Max muttered, feeling increasingly irritated by the constant emphasis on it.
"Excuse me," a voice interrupted as a man opened the studio door. Behind him, a group of people entered the studio.
It wasn't just any group—it was the Dylan Warriors, who had come to KS Entertainment for a job opportunity.
"Hello, Mr. Max. We're here regarding the crew positions. I also sent you an email about it yesterday," Dylan said respectfully, explaining the purpose of their visit.
"Mr. Dylan, welcome," Max said, standing up from his chair and shaking Dylan's hand.
Max had already read their full profiles the previous night, which had been sent to him by the Workers' Guild.
The Dylan Warriors group was formed five years ago while Max was in a coma, and its leader, Dylan, had worked hard to establish its reputation.
Dylan is a dedicated and hardworking individual, serious about his craft. Coming from a lower-class, struggling family, Dylan aimed to make a name for himself. He earned a D-grade certificate from the Crew Guild and formed his group, Dylan Warriors. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to ensure the happiness and prosperity of his team.
Dylan follows a unique profit-sharing system: he takes only 20% of the group's earnings as the leader and distributes the remaining 80% among his members. This is considered remarkable, as most group leaders typically keep 40% to 60% for themselves. Dylan's fairness and selflessness have gained him immense respect from his team.
"Did you receive our group's resume?" Dylan asked as he sat down on the chair.
"Yes, I did. I must say, I'm impressed by your profile," Max said, offering a compliment.
"Great! First impression—50% of the job is done," Dylan thought to himself, feeling satisfied.
"Ahem, it feels good to know you're impressed with my profile," Dylan said with pride.
"Alright, let's start the interview," Max said, turning serious. Although Dylan's profile had impressed him, Max believed hiring someone based solely on documents wasn't enough. He needed loyal members who would treat the studio as their own.
"Yes, sir, that's why we're here," Dylan replied, matching Max's tone of seriousness.
"So tell me, what made you want to join my newly opened studio, run by an E-rated director?" Max asked directly, skipping any small talk.
Dylan was slightly taken aback by the blunt question, but he quickly composed himself. Recognizing this as a rare opportunity, he answered firmly:
"The essence of my group's ultimate goal lies in this studio, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to achieve it."
Max found Dylan's response dramatic, almost like a scene from a movie, but the seriousness in his expression couldn't be ignored.
"Alright then, what do you think of this studio?" Max asked his next question.
"A home," Dylan answered confidently.
"Oh, really? And what do you plan to do with this 'home'?" Max asked, intrigued.
"I want to make this home bigger and stronger, so no storm can ever bring it down," Dylan replied with unwavering seriousness.
Max was stunned again, feeling increasingly intrigued by Dylan's conviction.
"I liked your answers. From now on, you're officially a part of this house," Max said with a smile, looking at Dylan.
"That easy?" Dylan couldn't believe it.
"Yes, your group is hired," Max confirmed. At KS Entertainment, only the leader's interview determines the fate of the entire group. If the leader gets the job, the members are automatically hired.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much for giving this opportunity to Dylan Warriors. I promise to give it my all from this moment on," Dylan said emotionally, his joy overflowing.
"This studio needed members like you, Dylan," Max said warmly, his expression reflecting genuine happiness.
"I'll go share this great news with my team, sir!" Dylan said, his excitement evident as he left Max's office to meet his group, who were waiting in a large room.
As soon as Dylan was out of sight, Max's eyes turned to the blue screen glowing in front of him. The screen had been open since the start of the interview, displaying Dylan's performance stats using Max's skill.
| Name: Dylan
| Specialty: Stage Creation (Locked)
| Loyalty : 100
| Rate: 90% - Qualified for Job
Max had already decided to hire Dylan after seeing the performance rate. However, he wanted to know more about Dylan's character, so he asked those questions. Hearing Dylan's answers left Max feeling satisfied.
"This guy is perfect for my studio," Max thought, content with his decision.