Chapter 265: Oh God, This Is Practically a Crime!
London – Late at Night
Although the film reel for Spy Among Spies had arrived by mail earlier that afternoon, it wasn't until just now that Waver managed to carve out enough time to sit down and watch it with his students.
Lately, Waver's schedule had been packed to the brim. His only free time—if one could call it that—was during these awkward, dead-of-night hours.
His students from the El-Melloi classroom didn't seem to mind, though. In fact, they were thrilled. Compared to heading all the way into downtown London to catch a movie, sneaking into the department's screening room to watch a film was far more convenient.
At the very least, once the movie ended, they could just walk back to their dorms. No need to hail a cab in the middle of the night.
Especially considering how the old magi's obsession with secrecy meant that the Clock Tower's designated taxi drop-off was absurdly far from the dormitories.
No ticket lines. No long walks. Just an easy, late-night premiere of the latest blockbuster.
To the students of the Department of Modern Magecraft, this kind of convenience was practically considered a perk of being under their Lord's wing.
After all, wasn't Lord Kayneth technically a media mogul now—at least in name?
But while the students got to enjoy the movie stress-free, Waver himself wasn't nearly as pleased.
Because unlike them, he didn't get to call it a night afterward—he still had to write a review.
And not just any review—it had to be done by him, personally. No delegating to another magus or hiring a freelance critic. This review was going to be published in the Clock Tower's internal newspaper.
"Seriously..."
Slumped over his desk, Waver let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Does the professor really think I'm some kind of omnipotent multitasker?!"
If the art style of reality were just a bit more surreal, Waver's current expression could have easily passed for The Scream by Edvard Munch.
Writing a review wasn't difficult in itself. What frustrated him was the deadline—he had to finish it tonight, at the cost of his already scarce sleep.
Waver clenched his teeth and started jotting down his thoughts about the film.
Driven by the looming threat of sleep deprivation, he managed to enter a state of flow—his writing speed rivaling that of a procrastinating web novel author desperately trying to meet their daily update quota right before midnight.
In just thirty minutes, he had produced a short review:
"It's undeniable—Shinji Matou, known as the best writer of magus-centric stories, has made the Fate series a compelling saga. But this new Spy Among Spies adaptation has exceeded all our expectations."
"From a purely narrative standpoint, Spy Among Spies may not match the intricacy of Fate, but it aligns perfectly with the character of Diarmuid. The synergy between the story and the Servant created a whole greater than the sum of its parts."
"What stands out most in this film is its fast-paced editing and breathtaking action scenes. This technical evolution in action filmmaking has elevated Spy Among Spies from a solid spy thriller to a potential classic in cinematic history."
"What draws viewers in isn't cheap spectacle—it's the way each character's personality and actions are woven so naturally into every shot. It's showmanship, yes—but it serves the story, not distracts from it."
"In the past, we only had a vague idea of what made a spy extraordinary—their agility, heightened perception, and combat prowess. But this time, Spy Among Spies turns those abstract concepts into vivid, on-screen reality. And that might be its greatest contribution."
"I firmly believe this new installment of Spy Among Spies will become the new gold standard for 21st-century spy films."
At this point, Waver paused, his fingers hovering just above the keyboard.
"That should be enough for the 'normal' part of the review. Now for the real message…"
He thought for a moment. Then, with a slight nod, he resumed typing.
"I want to take a moment to highlight the film's producer—Shinji Matou. Not only is he a genius-level magus, but also a top-tier film producer."
"He was the driving force behind this project—not only writing the screenplay but also handpicking Diarmuid and the rest of the cast and crew. And, without question, his choices were spot-on."
"This is a crucial distinction. A good director may helm a successful production, but a great producer has the power to uplift an entire industry."
"From what I've observed over the past few years, Shinji Matou has the sharp insight of a seasoned visionary. He's able to recognize potential in entertainment avenues others have yet to consider."
"That's the mark of an exceptional producer—someone with a unique perspective and broad foresight. One who understands the market, identifies promising projects, and develops them into success stories. When magi are the ones driving those projects, the result will be an era of unprecedented prosperity for our kind."
"I am convinced that, in the future, the entertainment industry will become the most powerful financial engine supporting magi in their pursuit of the mysteries."
Everything he had written earlier—praise for Spy Among Spies, the glowing review of its pacing and action—was just preamble. This last segment? That was the real purpose behind Waver's article.
By showcasing Spy Among Spies as a successful project spearheaded by Shinji—who, while involved, hadn't even exerted his full potential—Waver hoped to make a case to the magus society: that the entertainment industry was worth investing in.
Truth be told, the Department of Modern Magecraft wasn't exactly short on funds right now. But both Waver and Kayneth knew they needed broader support—from more magus families and lineages.
On one hand, they held secrets like the schematics of the Jeweled Sword and long-lost knowledge from the Age of Gods.
On the other, they sought financial capital to fund magecraft research.
Controlling both the mystery and the money, they could subtly steer the world of magi in the direction they desired.
And in Waver's mind, that was the true future of the Department of Modern Magecraft.
"…Though I wonder if I'll live long enough to see it," he muttered.
He sent the review off to the Clock Tower's internal publication office, then yawned deeply and shut down his computer.
Waver didn't know how long it would take for that future to arrive—but he knew one thing: if he wanted to see it, he'd need to survive long enough.
And pulling another all-nighter sure wasn't helping.
If he didn't get some sleep soon, the odds of sudden death were probably going up by the minute.
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While the Clock Tower had yet to stir with discussion about Spy Among Spies, the outside world—specifically, the entertainment industry—was already in full-blown upheaval.
First off, Spy Among Spies's premiere had been a massive hit, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews from audiences.
And then, there was Diarmuid.
To the outside world, he appeared to be a young, up-and-coming actor. But now? He had skyrocketed to global stardom.
Sure, Diarmuid had already gained a decent following after his appearance in Fate/Zero. But without a lead role to anchor his reputation, his status had always been a bit shaky.
Now, though, his fans finally had reason to brag about their No. 1 actor.
In fact, Shinji had underestimated just how charismatic Diarmuid truly was.
Many people working in the media and entertainment world were women—and over 80% of them were already hardcore Diarmuid fans.
The only reason some women in the industry hadn't become fans of Diarmuid was simply because their position wasn't high enough—they hadn't yet had the chance to meet him in person.
But make no mistake: the influence of these female media professionals was formidable.
Even though Spy Among Spies was a movie drenched in the signature tone of Shinji Matou—a quintessential Type-Moon production—it still managed to receive overwhelmingly positive reviews from the press.
And this time, it wasn't the usual backhanded, passive-aggressive praise. It was genuine recognition.
For instance:
The Los Angeles Times hailed Diarmuid's performance and described Spy Among Spies as:
"A film that commands the audience's full attention, showcasing male charisma at its absolute peak."
The Times (UK) remarked:
"The secret to Spy Among Spies's success lies in its perfect casting."
The New York Times declared:
"A groundbreaking film that rekindles the thrill audiences felt when watching the first 007 movie."
Even the critics who typically despised Shinji—and prided themselves on being defenders of "high art"—were now divided. Among them, several prominent female critics gave the film unreserved praise.
Take, for example, the famously shallow yet popular critic known by the pen name Bondie Bonnet—a self-professed "face enthusiast." In her column, she wrote:
"This movie tells us one thing: Diarmuid is too cool to be real! I absolutely adore him. Most of the scenes did a fantastic job highlighting both his resolute spirit and his refined, handsome appearance."
"The only part I didn't like? The final action scenes! All those explosions and chase sequences ended up covering Diarmuid's beautiful face with dust and blood! Dear God, that's practically a crime!"
Of course, not everyone was singing its praises. Some male critics weren't so polite.
Shinji's long-time "old friend," critic Kawachi Ippei, wrote:
"Diarmuid's performance felt like he was walking down a fashion runway from start to finish."
Another critic, Sayun Fukada, commented:
"Diarmuid never really differentiated himself from the character. From start to finish, he was just playing a cooler version of himself."
Ironically, that last comment—meant as a jab—was exactly what Shinji intended all along.
It was a low-empathy way of phrasing it, though. Shinji preferred the high-empathy version from another outlet:
"Diarmuid delivered his strongest performance to date (not that he's had many), and the role of Agent Ethan seemed tailor-made for him."
But what Shinji cared about most wasn't the critics—it was the audience reception.
According to recent survey data, Spy Among Spies scored an "Excellent" rating—A and above.
Box office forecasting agencies were already estimating that the film's North American box office would easily exceed $150 million, with global revenues projected at over $500 million.
Now, don't scoff at that figure. Sure, it didn't match the record-breaking heights of Shinji's Fate series. But in today's movie landscape, only a handful of films globally ever break the $500 million mark in a year.
Seeing that the initial buzz had landed successfully, Shinji didn't hesitate.
He deployed his entire online army to boost Spy Among Spies's momentum. After all, Super 8 no longer needed intense promotion, and his rival film Godzilla had already been kicked off most screens.
He redirected all available resources toward Spy Among Spies, turning its overwhelming word-of-mouth reputation into box office power.
And the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
Audiences who had seen Super 8 a month ago had been sitting through a dry spell. Their hype meters had fully recharged, and they were hungry for a new blockbuster.
Spy Among Spies gave them exactly what they needed.
The result?
A tidal wave of fans flooding theaters, desperate to witness the high-octane, spy-thriller spectacle—bringing Spy Among Spies roaring into massive box office success.
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