Chapter 26: Passing Review

"Not really that much before either, Grandpa Robert," Edward said, rubbing his brow.

As one of Devon Corporation's heirs, Edward was accustomed to having people constantly seeking his attention. In the past, some girls had even orchestrated elaborate "coincidental" meetings with him, hoping to spark something, but Edward had ignored them all.

Once, his contact information accidentally leaked, resulting in a flood of calls and texts—some asking for money, some calling him "husband," others calling him "dad." The range of messages was utterly bizarre.

"This time is different. They're all here to invest in your next film," Edward's butler, Grandpa Robert, chuckled. Having worked with the Stone family for so many years, he was treated like family by Edward's father, receiving a generous salary and excellent benefits. In return, he treated the Stone family as his own and gave his utmost dedication to his work.

Seeing Edward, once a cause for concern, now achieving success filled him with pride.

"My next film? Let's wait and see how this one does at the box office first," Edward said calmly.

Agreeing to investments now was one thing, but the results after the box office performance would be another. Currently, these people were drawn to the hype generated by Death Silence's promotional explosion, but their level of investment might not be substantial. Once the reviews and box office numbers came in, investment opportunities would naturally scale up.

Grandpa Robert grinned. Edward's father had suggested advising him to wait before meeting these investors. The ones approaching now were likely just trying to capitalize on the buzz, which could drain the film's momentum. However, Edward had rejected them on his own, a decision that would undoubtedly please his father.

The butler's car soon stopped in front of the League's cultural review office. Edward hurriedly got out, carrying the master copy of his film, and submitted Death Silence for review.

It wasn't long before a middle-aged woman approached.

"Headmistress Edward, I've been eagerly waiting for your visit these past few days," she said warmly. She wasn't exaggerating. News of the Hoenn Region's upcoming horror film Death Silence had spread throughout the League. As the head of this division, she couldn't afford to be out of the loop.

"Hello, I'm here to submit Death Silence for review," Edward replied with a polite smile. He recognized the woman; she had contributed three auction items at a Pokémon charity gala his father had attended.

"Your work already has a dedicated review team," she said, sitting across from Edward. She studied the young director with interest. His debut had generated immense buzz, but could he handle the pressure?

Given Death Silence's current popularity and the Devon Corporation's backing, the review department had expedited the process. As long as the film didn't contain clear violations of League regulations, it could pass today.

Her gaze fell on the drowsing Mimikyu in Edward's arms. The little Pokémon, nestled in his embrace, was clad in its signature Pikachu costume, which swayed slightly as it slept.

"Headmistress Edward, is this Mimikyu the same one featured in your movie?" she asked.

"Yes, this is Q, one of the film's main stars," Edward replied courteously. The woman, intrigued, chatted with him about the film for over forty minutes before finally bringing up another topic.

"Headmistress Edward, do you have plans for your next film?" she asked, her tone carrying an implicit suggestion. Edward immediately understood.

No wonder this official had spent so much time on small talk—she was now revealing her true purpose.

"I have some ideas, but I'll finalize them after Death Silence's release," Edward said, sipping his tea. The room filled with a delicate aroma, prompting Q to snuggle deeper into Edward's arms.

"I'll look forward to your next masterpiece, then," she said with a smile, leaving her business card behind. Edward accepted it graciously, which seemed to please her. She left the meeting room shortly after, and soon, two staff members arrived to inform Edward that Death Silence had passed review and was ready for distribution arrangements.

Edward thanked them, only for the staff to hesitantly ask for his autograph. He obliged, signing with his artistic alias.

After bidding the cheerful staff farewell, Edward got back in the car. Now that the review was complete, the next step was to capitalize on the momentum and convert the film's hype into tangible profits.

But first—

"Grandpa Robert, please take me to Headmistress Alifa's office," Edward said, tapping his fingers on the seat. He needed to discuss revenue-sharing strategies for the film with her.

In the Pokémon League, not everyone was trustworthy. One had to discern who was genuine and who wasn't.

By comparison, Edward found communicating with Pokémon far more straightforward.

The butler immediately changed course, and Edward glanced at the business card in his hand. It bore only a name and phone number:

Alifa

The name of the woman he had just met.

"Add an 'na,' and that would be something," Edward muttered, pocketing the card.

"Are you referring to Ms. Alifa?" Grandpa Robert asked while driving. Edward confirmed.

"Her son owns a company called Meow Meow Entertainment, which specializes in film ticket sales and investments," the butler noted. His tone suggested there was more to it than met the eye. Edward understood the implication: Ms. Alifa likely wanted a piece of his next film's success.

"The adult world is always full of trade-offs," Edward thought, closing his eyes.

These matters were inevitable.