A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

12 – Film Production

The production of the fertilizer factory has begun. Princess Celene sent Leo and others to assist him. Technicians, scientists, magicians, and alchemists flocked and I hired them all.

The fertilizer factory will be built in the Porto Commercial City. It had plenty of flat land to utilize and was a place where all imperial logistics passed through at least once due to its geographical location, making it easy to supply materials for fertilizer production.

“It has to be completed within 3 months. Money is not an issue.”

Even now, peasants from all over the empire were finding new jobs and opportunities. In order to utilize their labor force, the golden plains had to be cleared as quickly as possible. I generously distributed gold coins, and the many peasants who had come to the city of Porto seeking employment became excellent workers.

“We need to build a new reaction furnace. But to create a furnace like this, we need money…”

“I will provide it!!!”

“We need to expand the factory site a little more. We need more money…”

“I will provide it!!”

And once again, money was great. With a huge amount of money pouring in, the construction of the fertilizer factory progressed at a speed faster than bullets for the Merchant’s Guild.

Through the collaboration of the Merchant’s Guild, peasants, scientists of the Matop, alchemists, and magicians, the first fertilizer factory on the continent was being created. According to my plan, it would be completed within three months.

“Carl, send 10 million gold coins to Princess Celene.”

“10 million gold coins? Why so much money?”

“For research. As you can see, from now on, our Merchant’s Guild will owe a tremendous debt to the Matop. Consider it an investment and send it.”

In the past, Carl Hansen might have doubted my words and shown annoyance with a suspicious look.

But now, Carl silently sent a vast amount of gold coins to Princess Celene. Since the opening of overland trade routes and the persuasion incident with Sultan Saladin, everyone in Carl and the Merchant’s Guild absolutely trust my words.

“Understood.”

Carl sent 10 million gold coins to Princess Celene, and I, along with the money, went to see her again.

“What research do you plan to support with this?”

As Princess Celene’s mouth hung wide open at the enormous amount of gold coins, I asked her. After being momentarily overwhelmed by the shocking amount of money, the princess regained her composure and answered me.

“Teleportation technology and refined magic stone processing technology. I planned to focus on these two areas for intensive investment.”

“Excellent. Please do so. And I have one more favor to ask.”

When I mentioned a favor, Princess Celene grimaced, and I quickly explained.

“Fantasy stones. I want to know more about fantasy stones. Does Matop have any technologies related to fantasy stones under development?”

“….Fantasy stones?”

It seemed like an abrupt question. However, I eagerly nodded my head.

“Yes. I want to try some cultural projects related to it.”

I explained about the film industry. As Princess Celene listened to my words, her eyes began to sparkle, thinking it was a unique and innovative business idea.

“…That’s extraordinary. It never crossed my mind as a possibility.”

“There will be many people interested. What about the technology related to fantasy stones? Is it capable of mass production?”

“With high-purity magic stones, it can be easily made. It’s a very simple item in terms of magic. If there are trained magicians or alchemists, they can mass-produce it quickly.”

It seemed like she was a technician. The clever Celene quickly became excited and started thinking of various technological improvements.

“So, you said it would be about filming and exhibiting?”

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“That’s correct.”

“Then we will need separate devices for screening and filming. We can use the image stones for the filming device. Afterwards, we can extract the image stones from the filming device, put them into the screening device, and recreate the scenes captured inside the image stones through the illusion stones.”

“Then it will be perfect!! What level of quality can be achieved through the illusion stones?”

“Just a moment. I haven’t thought about manipulating images in that way before…….. It shouldn’t take long to prepare.”

Celeene looked at me suspiciously, but her slightly excited attitude showed that she found my idea very interesting. She gathered the wizards and alchemists under her command, who were also technicians and showed interest in my idea.

“It’s not that difficult. Just a moment. If we change the magic circuit, it should be possible.”

“We have to record what happens within a certain range when filming…….. What if we do it like this?”

I also chimed in from the side.

“We also need a way to edit the footage after filming.”

“Editing….?!”

“I mean cutting or pasting specific sections of the footage.”

“hahahaha!! That’s a brilliant idea!! Alright! Let’s add that function too!!”

Princess Celeene’s statement about it being a simple technology was true.

Not even an hour later, the wizards and alchemists managed to create a crude filming device using the image stones and a screening device that could play it.

“Shall we test it?”

I took the shabby filming device given to me by the wizards and filmed the surroundings including the laboratory, Princess Celeene, and the wizards for about ten seconds. Then I saved the footage inside the image stone and played it back through the illusion stone.

And I was astounded.

“Unbelievable.”

The image displayed through the illusion stone was so clear that it was indistinguishable from reality. Footage captured with an IMAX camera would not have this level of clarity.

In terms of image technology, magic was undoubtedly superior to science.

“It’s quite fascinating. We usually use the illusion stones for academic purposes. Like recording the growth process of rare monster species, or documenting special magical phenomena.”

“But we never thought of using it as a filming method like this. Just recording reality itself in a meticulous way.”

“And you can make movies with this?”

“It sounds interesting. I would love to see it.”

The wizards and alchemists laughed heartily, and I joined in.

“Princess Celeene.”

“Yes.”

“Can we also take these people with us like Leoric? We will ensure generous salaries and bonuses for them. We will also pay careful royalties to the Matop for the illusion stone technology.”

Princess Celeene looked at me for a moment and then nodded her head, unable to refuse.

“As a ruling princess who has received an incredible sum of 10 million gold, I can’t refuse. Take them with you.”

“Thank you.”

I chuckled as I looked at them, staring blankly in the unexpected situation.

Do these people know the word “illusion”?

If they don’t know, they will soon find out.

“Now!! Let’s go!!! To the great commercial city of Porto!! We will establish a company affiliated with the Merchant Guild. A company that manufactures filming equipment and projection equipment!! Let’s name the filming equipment camera, and the projection equipment holographic projector!!”

I looked at the magicians and alchemists, who were soon to be crushed, with a expression of happiness.

“Let’s work hard, everyone!!!”

Along with the fertilizer factory, a new company building was soon erected in the commercial city of Porto.

The company was engraved with the name Illusion Company.

“You said you were bringing all the actors, singers, and circus troupe with you, right? Bring them all.”

“Yes, understood.”

The commercial city of Porto was worthy of being called the headquarters of the Merchant Guild. The best actors, singers, and circus troupe leaders from all over the country, who Carl Hansen had gathered a few months ago, were all gathered there.

With a perplexed expression, I served them a luxurious meal and snacks to win their favor, and then started discussing the business in earnest.

“We will shoot a movie.”

I had already pre-filmed scenes of people eating meals and snacks with the camera and holographic projector prototypes produced by Illusion Company. As I showed them through the holographic projector, everyone in the room was astonished by the unique spectacle.

“It’s amazing. How was this made?”

“hahahahaha! Look, there’s a scene of me devouring a cake!!”

“Wow!! It’s such a vivid fantasy!!”

Various responses erupted, and after calming them down, I explained the film industry I was about to establish.

The reaction was explosive.

As they were already involved in show business, they immediately recognized the audience mobilization power of movies.

“It’s showing intentional edited plays shot with a camera in front of everyone!!!”

“Oh, this! People will definitely come in large numbers!!”

“It’s interesting! It’s very fascinating!! This will surely be a hit!!”

I laughed as I watched them applaud and cheer.

“Bring the most popular play scripts at the moment.”

The directors of the theater troupes swiftly brought ten scripts in front of me. I discussed with them and began to select scripts that would be successful when made into movies.

“＜Pandorod and the Golden Lighthouse＞. How about this? It’s a famous drama.”

“A five-hour movie is too long. Typically, a movie between one and a half to two hours is appropriate.”

“Now, how about this? It’s a play called ＜Hooray for the Great Hero Nari!!＞ written by a young actor. It’s popular.”

“Oh? What’s the story?”

“It’s a comedy that mocks the noble class who exploit the peasants. It’s very funny, so many people enjoy it.”

“This one looks good.”

After three hours of careful consultation, I was able to leave behind two scripts.

The first one was a comedy called “Hail to the Great Hero!!” which portrayed the story of the former emperor of the Ailam Empire, and the other was a traditional drama called “The Beginning of the Empire.”

“Alright!! These two seem promising. I hope the theater directors can turn them into fitting scripts for the screen. It shouldn’t be just a simple recording of what happens on stage. The movies should be filmed as realistically as possible, and we can also apply editing techniques for dramatic effect. Understand? If you have any questions or need additional technical assistance, you can consult the Illusion Company technicians.”

“Understood!”

The leaders of the theater troupe shouted excitedly, and I turned my attention to the singers this time.

“And you, please compose and sing songs that are suitable for these two plays. The ‘Beginning of the Empire’ should have majestic and heavy songs, while ‘Hail to the Great Hero!!’ should have humorous and lively music. Do you understand?”

The singers nodded their heads.

“And finally, the circus directors. You will be filming a separate movie.”

“What? What is it?”

“You will capture the best circus show you can offer on film. So, get ready.”

Upon hearing my words, the circus directors also cheered and nodded. It seemed like a joyful opportunity for those who represented the common people.

Amidst all this, one of the theater troupe leaders approached me hesitantly and asked a question.

“Um… Lord Landor. How about the wages…?”

Considering that most people here live day by day, this must have been an important issue for them. Judging from their expressions, which were hopeful, it seemed that even if they received only 5 silver coins per person, they would be happy.

However, I didn’t think so simply.

“For the filming of ‘Hail to the Great Hero!!,’ we will provide 100,000 gold coins. And for ‘The Beginning of the Empire,’ we will provide 1 million gold coins. We will also allocate 100,000 gold coins for the filming of the circus. Separately, the theater troupes, singers, and circus performers will receive appearance fees. The lead roles will receive 5,000 gold coins, supporting roles will receive 1,000 gold coins, and extras will receive 1 gold coin per day of filming.”

Everyone’s mouths dropped open at my words. It was indeed a huge investment and a huge amount of money, but compared to the money the merchant guilds earned in a day on the trade route, it was nothing.

“So, do your best. Let’s create a spectacle that has never been seen before. In case the movies do well, we will distribute 60% of the total profits to the theater troupes, singers, and circus. The remaining 40% will go to our Merchant Guild. So, as the movies succeed, the pay can reach a level that can be considered ‘negligible.'”

I slammed the table with a thud!

“Once again, I emphasize, do your best! Each and every one of you here are experts in creating spectacles! Let’s astonish the empire!! The world!!!”

“Wow!!!!”

Applause and whistles filled the main building. I smiled contentedly at the sight.

I gathered the circus, theater troupe, and singers together and formed another giant company. This company, named MacGuffin, stood side by side with Illusion Company.

And so, we began shooting the three monumental works that would amaze the world.