socalfunplaces Page 82
Page 82
Although this was true, such a respectful attitude still made Baili Xiao feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"This is too formal. Aren't we friends? It's only natural for friends to help each other out, and besides, I've already benefited from the concert and convention center arrangements... so this isn't necessary..."
Baili Xiao waved his hand helplessly, but Latifa and Isuzu clearly didn't think so.
"It's an honor that Teacher Baili treats us as friends, but this is just basic courtesy. Even if we're friends, we can't abandon it."
Isuzu nodded in agreement with Latifah's statement and turned to walk out of the airport first: "Mr. Hyakuri, please come this way. The amusement park has prepared a series of celebratory events for the release of the animated film 'Your Name'."
...
"The convention center will be the main venue for this screening."
Next to the previously built convention center, a new building connected to it is the latest cinema venue constructed by Dream Group (Mole) Construction Company—its area is no less than that of a large cinema, and all the facilities and equipment inside are the latest models. Most of the credit for this belongs to the Gancheng management team who have done their best to help Gan Hui.
Not enough land? Approved!
Not enough funds? Approved!
Can't get the paperwork done? Approved!
Not only that, but with only a limited number of people aware of it, Gancheng's current urban development direction is already shifting towards the location of Ganhui Amusement Park!
Any project that contributes to the development of Gan Hui Paradise will be given preferential treatment!
Such urban policies have attracted many investors. In a short period of time, large residential areas and commercial streets have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, moving from the original city center to Gan Hui Amusement Park!
They are extremely optimistic about the future of the amusement park—in a few years, or even a decade or so, it will probably develop into a large city that rivals the "holy land of anime and manga"!
Even... a future as prosperous as the capital of Great Britain—such a near-delusional future isn't impossible!
As long as you follow the legendary figure "~ Baili Xiao", all of this seems to become possible!
"This...is truly spectacular. Magic is really useful..." Looking at the cinema, whose building's outline could only be seen at the far end of the field of vision, Baili Xiao couldn't help but exclaim.
In the past, it would probably have taken several years to complete such a world-class cinema.
However, here, Kopoli, who possesses the ability to manipulate the earth, and the Moguto tribe, skilled construction workers (moles), worked together and completed the task in less than a month!
“Yes, in order to build the movie theater before the release, Kopoli repeatedly fell into a state of magical depletion.” Isuzu nodded emphatically—as the top person in charge, she was naturally extremely aware of what had happened: “So, she’s on vacation now, on company funds…(okay)…back.”
Bai Lixiao's lips twitched slightly—before he boarded the plane to Gan City, Eriri seemed to be discussing with others topics like, "Where should we go on vacation next time? How about the Sumerian Empire? Expensive? What's the big deal, it's a government-funded trip!"
Noticing the change in Baili Xiao's expression, Isuzu mistakenly thought he was "shocked by the huge theater." Although she didn't show any pride on her face, it wasn't hard to hear a hint of excitement in her subsequent words.
"Theoretically, it can accommodate nearly two thousand people at the same time. In addition, there are areas for appreciating comics, light novels, anime, etc. in the waiting area, and there are also peripheral figurines for random sale."
"I thought that even the waiting time before watching the movie wouldn't be boring for the audience... With that in mind, I prepared these."
"Teacher, how are you feeling?"
Chapter 0236 The Foreseeable Future! (First Update)
It has to be said that, for just one movie theater, Latifa and Isuzu have already achieved the best possible scenario that Baili Xiao could imagine, but... precisely because of this, the latter felt a strange pressure.
With a slight frown, Baili Xiao pondered for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and voiced the question that had been nagging at him: "I must say, the preparations for the cinemas have been done to the best of our ability. However... what are the cinemas planning to do after the release of 'Your Name'? Will they import films produced by other companies? That would likely create a lot of trouble, such as contracts and negotiations... Ms. Kurosaka is much more knowledgeable about this than I am, but... she also has her own things to handle and probably doesn't have the extra energy to guide you."
As Baili Xiao said, it would be a waste to build a theater comparable in size to a previous concert just for the animated film "Your Name".
If we want to make the most of it, we have to apply to have it included in the same release window as other films—a process so complicated that even with the help of the Amagi management, it wouldn't be enough.
However, it is clear that Isuzu and Latifa 390 had the same concerns that Baili Xiao had.
“Teacher Baili, under your guidance, the works created by the teachers in the studio will definitely be far more than just ‘5 Centimeters Per Second’ and ‘Your Name’.” Latifa took a deep breath, her azure eyes meeting Baili Xiao’s: “In other words, there will definitely be many more animated films shown here in the future.”
"Of course... it's impossible to release one film after another. During the gaps, we still plan to keep the cinema open to all visitors to the amusement park. We will not import other films, such as war films or science fiction films. Instead, we will adhere to Gan Hui's principle of 'anime-themed amusement park' and only show theatrical animated films."
"Moreover, there will be no ticket fee during the off-peak period; the movies will be free to the public! This should attract more people to visit Gancheng, indirectly boosting the development and economy of the surrounding area."
"Although this decision is just a preliminary idea, Isuzu and I both think it's pretty good... The teacher is the third person to know about it. Even though the Amagi management has asked us repeatedly, we haven't told them yet."
At this point, Latifa's voice gradually faded and eventually disappeared—her breasts heaved noticeably faster, clearly indicating that she didn't have much confidence in her proposal.
After all... this was just her and Isuzu's simple and innocent thought—you know, in their hands, the once-famous Amusement Park was almost abandoned, so it's understandable that they had no confidence in themselves.
However... just as the two held their breath and nervously peeked at Baili Xiao, his actions made their hearts suddenly settle down.
"Did you two really come up with this?" Baili Xiao raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled apologetically and clasped her hands together: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to doubt you, it's just... this idea is really brilliant!"
A light that Latifa and the other two couldn't understand flickered in Baili Xiao's pupils; it was a sight that only appeared when one's mind was racing.
"That's fantastic! It might be a little monotonous at first, but over time, with a variety of animated films to choose from, it won't get boring..."
After the release of "Your Name," only "5 Centimeters Per Second" and "Your Name" were shown in theaters on rotation. For those who had already seen them, rewatching them might be worthwhile, but most people wouldn't choose to watch them more than five times...
If it were just these two animated films, then undoubtedly, Latifa and Isuzu's idea (aeej) to "attract more people to Kanho Amusement Park" would not succeed, but...
This was not difficult at all for Baili Xiao!
He has a vast number of animated films in his mind! If it weren't for the limitations of manpower and time, he could have kept theaters running out of time to screen them all in a single day!
"Phew..." Suppressing the thoughts that kept popping into his mind, Baili Xiao's gaze fell once again on the building with its tightly closed doors and the sign "Gan Hui Cinema" not far away. He let out a satisfied sigh: "You guys have prepared quite a task for me!"
“No, no, we don’t mean to…” Latifa, who hadn’t grasped the true meaning of Baili Xiao’s words and mistakenly thought he was “angry,” hurriedly waved her hands to explain, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Baili Xiao.
"Well, I don't mean to blame you. To be precise, your ideas have actually piqued my interest!"
Baili Xiao smiled, and the curve of his lips continued to widen: "Don't worry, I will never let the theater only have two animated films! In the future, even more people will come to visit! And at that time, Gan Hui will become the most famous anime-themed amusement park in the world!"
"Believe me, that future is not far away!"
...
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Kingdom of Great Britain, in the palace of King Arthur, the most powerful Knight of the Round Table known as the "Knight of the Lake," Lancelot stood beside Artoria, reporting to her on the major events that had recently occurred within the kingdom.
A few minutes later.
Artoria looked wearily at Lancelot, a hint of confusion in her emerald-like eyes—as usual, Lancelot would bow and leave after finishing his report, but today he seemed a little different: "Lancelot, what's wrong?"
"My king, there is something I am hesitant to tell you."
"Lancelot, since we fought together, this is the first time I've seen you like this. Didn't you say you wouldn't hide anything from the other side? Speak!"
"Within the kingdom, in a city called Amagi, its management has been confirmed to have been in frequent contact with people from the 'Second Dimension Holy Land' recently..."
Lancelot paused, not continuing, but Artoria clearly understood the warning he was trying to convey.
"you mean..."
"Yes, Your Majesty, its management has likely reached some kind of agreement with the Holy Land of the Second Dimension, and this may harm the interests of the kingdom!"
Chapter 0237 The Feud Between Two Kings! (Two Updates)
Although the Holy Land of Anime is just a large city, it is completely independent in its sovereignty and can be regarded as an existence equivalent to the Kingdom of Great Britain (although there is no comparison in terms of combat power...).
As a person from an external country (city)—Bai Li Xiao—according to Lancelot, this person's social influence and status in the two-dimensional holy land are extraordinary. That is to say, he is equivalent to a great sage or high priest within the kingdom.
It's something that needs to be investigated to find out that someone with such a sensitive identity has some kind of secret agreement with the management of a small city within our own kingdom!
The Kingdom of Great Britain was established by Lancelot and Artoria, and later the Knights of the Round Table, through a long period of time and victories in numerous wars, large and small. No one is allowed to engage in any underhanded dealings in private!
(If there is... then let me once again wield the "Indestructible Lake Light"!)
With this in mind, Lancelot's gaze fell quietly on Artoria, awaiting her judgment.
“Lancelot, things are probably not as you think.” Artoria examined the information about “Bai Li Xiao” in her hand, a smile appearing on her fair and delicate face: “Besides the basic security forces, the two-dimensional paradise has no other armed forces, and since its establishment, the city has always maintained the concept of neutrality and peace, and has never had any conflicts with other countries (cities).
"Bai Lixiao, known as 'Teacher Bai Li' by anime and manga enthusiasts, rose from obscurity to become a widely influential figure in the anime and manga community in just a few months... I think the Amagi management simply saw his potential and wanted to collaborate with him; there's absolutely no need..."
"My king!"
Before Artoria could finish speaking, Lancelot sighed softly and interrupted her: "My King, we cannot take anything that might threaten the safety of the kingdom for granted. If we don't investigate it thoroughly beforehand, it's easy for something like what happened at the beginning of the kingdom's founding to happen again!"
For a moment, Lancelot's words plunged the large room into a long, deathly silence. Only those who had lived through that dark period knew what had happened.
The Sumerian dynasty, ruled by the hero-king Gilgamesh, was a nation that predates and is far more powerful than the Kingdom of Great Britain.
As the ruler of a nation, Gilgamesh held an almost pathological belief that "all the treasures of the world should belong to me!" When he first saw Artoria, he was captivated by her unique aura and uttered the words, "Feel honored, Artoria! You will become my future queen, and together we will rule the entire world!"
In his view, Artoria was a "treasure," and since it was a treasure, it must belong to him!
The two kings engaged in a fierce battle—at least, that's what Lancelot thought!
He couldn't intervene in their battle, and neither could any of the Knights of the Round Table, nor Gilgamesh's forces!
Even from a distance, the shockwaves from the battle between the two kings forced them to adopt a defensive stance—intervene? Don't be ridiculous, that would only hinder them, wouldn't it?
Ultimately, the battle ended inconclusively—the world's mediator, the youkai sage of Gensokyo (mistakenly), Lady Yakumo Yukari, appeared and stopped the fight with the words, "If you continue fighting like this, the entire world will suffer unimaginable disasters. Stop! If anyone is dissatisfied, I can fight them, but... I haven't fought in a long time, so I might not be able to control my strength a bit."
Thus began a state of hostility between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Sumerian Empire, a state that foreshadowed the turmoil that would later occur upon the founding of the kingdom.
In an attempt to curry favor with the hero-king Gilgamesh, several mid-ranking lords within the Sumerian dynasty joined together and traveled to the capital of the Kingdom of Great Britain under the guise of "offering blessings and gifts to the new king" to participate in the kingdom's founding ceremony.
No one noticed their subtle actions. In fact, the people of Great Britain at that time were all immersed in the joy of "We are about to establish a nation!" Even King Arthur, Artoria, and the Knights of the Round Table only warmly welcomed them with the thought, "It seems Gilgamesh wants to make peace..."
0 ····Requesting flowers···· ·········
That's why, among the luggage they were traveling with, there was a drug powerful enough to instantly incapacitate super-dangerous species, and alchemical explosives produced by alchemists that could produce a massive explosion with just a dose the size of a fingernail. All of these remained hidden until the day of the kingdom's founding celebration!
That day should have been a day of national celebration, but instead, the capital was filled with continuous explosions and thick black smoke. If it weren't for the "unchanging property" of the sword sheath "Avalon," the lords' plan would probably have succeeded long ago!
Because of what happened in the past, relations between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Sumerian Dynasty have always been strained, and Lancelot... has gradually evolved into his current paranoid state due to his constant self-blame...
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Artoria sighed inwardly. A striking tuft of hair drooped down from her golden locks, revealing her displeasure: "In that case, Lancelot, I'll leave the investigation to you. Before there's concrete evidence, don't do anything out of line. That person not only holds a high position in the world of anime and manga, but also has considerable influence globally..."
"Huh? Hey hey hey? This looks like so much fun, let me go!"
Before Lancelot could answer, a third voice rang out in the room—two long, white legs stretched upwards from the sofa with their backs to the desk. Following the movement, a figure appeared in front of Artoria and Lancelot with a perfect 180-degree spin in the air.
She has a face that is almost 90% similar to Artoria's, and her grin reveals neat and white teeth.
She held a small creature in her arms—an animal called a "lion." For ordinary people, even a cub would keep their distance from such a creature, but she was not afraid at all. She scratched and clawed at the lion cub's head, making its originally smooth fur into a mess.
Mordred, that's the girl's name. She's also one of the Knights of the Round Table, but her more secret identity is that of a child of King Arthur, Artoria!
Chapter 0238 Mordred, it's up to you! (Third update)
"Mordred, this is a very important matter. If it is not handled properly, it may cause a dispute with the Holy Land of the Second Dimension. Although we are not afraid of them, the Sumerian Dynasty will definitely use this as an excuse to attack Great Britain. Let me handle it."
Lancelot's eyes twitched slightly as he spoke with a straight face, but anyone could hear the anxiety in his words.
Although Mordred is one of the Knights of the Round Table, she has not experienced much and often cannot consider things as comprehensively as an "adult." Moreover, her carefree personality makes her prone to impulsiveness. For ordinary people, let alone drawing a sword against her, even releasing her inner magic (magic release) could cause irreversible consequences.
For all reasons, he would never agree to let Mordred investigate the matter.
"It's alright, it's alright, I'll handle this kind of thing, '407,' trust me!" Mordred wasn't angry at Lancelot's refusal. Instead, he grinned and gave a thumbs up, looking very confident: "There's no war now, and staying in the palace all day is making me rusty. Besides... I can't get involved in state affairs at all. If this continues, I'll go crazy!"