"Boss, the third episode of Sherlock Holmes is about to air. The executives over at the League Television Network's main station are asking when we'll start broadcasting the next season," Zoroark reported quickly as he looked at Edward.
At this moment, Edward was playing with the small Groudon statue in his hands.
Ever since his finger had been pricked by this statue and a drop of his blood had been absorbed by it, the previously mysterious stone had completely transformed into a miniature figurine of Groudon. Its craftsmanship was incredibly detailed, and the surface had a warm, almost comforting feel—like holding a heat pack in his hand.
However, the reason why the stone had transformed into this form was still unknown.
Even after thorough investigation at the specialized stone research lab founded by his father, no valuable clues were uncovered. The interior of the stone had become unreadable—as if blocked by some mysterious force. Still, since the object posed no threat to Edward, he ended up keeping it with him.
"The next season? We haven't even started filming yet. How are we supposed to air it?" Edward said with some exasperation. He hadn't expected Sherlock Holmes to be so wildly popular in this world. Over the past few weeks, the number of businesses applying for cross-promotions had skyrocketed, with many companies eager to collaborate or co-brand.
Discussion around Sherlock Holmes remained high, and related material had even started to appear in the League's search engine database, using Daniel Clovis's image as the face of the character.
There was no denying it—Daniel, thanks to this film alone, had skyrocketed to become a frontrunner for the Best Actor award. With just a few more strong performances, he'd likely win the title and cement his place as a movie star. It was an overnight rise to stardom.
Edward's talent for discovering and nurturing actors was also gaining widespread attention. As a result, the area around Ghost Film Pictures had practically become a magnet for attractive young men and women—especially those struggling background actors who believed they had the skills but just needed a chance.
Daniel had appeared on several interview shows recently, and his backstory had been dug up by the media.
He had been a top graduate of the League's Film Academy—handsome, classically trained, and full of promise. But due to suppression by industry powers, he had spent years stuck as a background extra, living on the cheapest plain cup noodles and renting a tiny single-room apartment with barely enough space for a bed.
Yet even in such difficult conditions, Daniel never gave up on honing his acting skills. When Director Edward announced his intent to film Sherlock Holmes, Daniel courageously submitted his audition request—and ended up landing the role that catapulted him into fame across the entire League regions.
His "rags to riches" story captivated countless fans, and his popularity only continued to soar, making Ghostlight Pictures the biggest winner of all.
"Boss, I heard that in the Galar region, Motostoke City has already renamed the street we filmed on to 'Baker Street,' centered around 221B. They even said if we decide to keep filming there, we can have full access to the entire city," Zoroark said with a big grin.
"…I assume their tourism revenue went up too?" Edward raised an eyebrow.
Zoroark handed him a report.
Motostoke's tourism revenue had exploded.
Galar, a region traditionally famous for its fish and chips, wasn't exactly lacking in local character, but the dish had become so dominant as a cultural symbol that people often associated Galar with nothing else. As a result, the region's tourism industry had always been underwhelming.
The head of Galar's tourism bureau was reportedly pulling their hair out in frustration.
But then, Sherlock Holmes was filmed—and that single move had revitalized Galar's entire tourism industry. Now, Baker Street in Motostoke City had become a must-visit hotspot for visitors from all over. People came to take photos, check in on social media, and participate in Motostoke's officially hosted Elementary Deduction Game experience, which had turned into a wildly popular attraction.
This success gave the broader League a far more tangible understanding of how a single movie or television show could transform an entire region.
"Well, this is good news for us," Edward said, setting the documents aside.
With Motostoke City as a precedent, any future filming location would likely grant him maximum convenience. Backed by both the local Leagues and city governments, his movies could become even more ambitious in scale.
Speaking of "ambitious" …
Edward suddenly thought of a classic movie: The Lord of the Rings.
As a grand fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings was famous for its massive world-building and unique setting. However, Edward wasn't planning to adapt LOTR into this world—its setting was just a bit too fantastical, a little too disconnected from reality.
"Maybe I can try shooting a monster horror film," Edward thought, and in his mind emerged another classic film—something that blended monsters and jump scares. A perfect candidate for his next movie.
Deep Rising.
A horror-thriller about a cruise ship sabotaged by a greedy captain seeking a massive insurance payout, only for the vessel to fall prey to a massive, terrifying sea creature—an enormous octopus-like monster that devoured everyone aboard. A classic in the monster movie genre.
But for now, Edward had two major concerns on his plate.
One was the upcoming third episode of Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles. He was particularly curious to see whether it could generate Fear Points. If it could, then the resulting Fear Point income might even double—since the viewership of a TV series typically far exceeded that of a movie.
TV shows didn't require ticket purchases, so naturally more people were willing to watch. And Edward hadn't implemented any "early access for premium members" schemes either. While those might make quick money, they shortened the show's lifespan.
In Edward's view, a truly outstanding television series should be released on a proper schedule—giving the story time to ferment, allowing the audience to discuss, debate, and become more invested. That was how you built strong viewer engagement.
The other matter was pre-production for A Wicked Ghost.
This was a film that had to be made. Ever since his previous horror film One Missed Call, Edward hadn't released another true horror movie. He had high hopes for A Wicked Ghost.
After all, it represented pure Eastern horror. Its scare tactics were rooted in cultural elements that made it distinct from other horror films.
"Zoroark, go inform Deck to begin sending out casting invitations," Edward instructed, then paused briefly.
"Oh, and reach out to Miss Diantha—ask if she'd be interested in joining the cast."
Edward had decided to personally check with Diantha.
(End of Chapter)
Deep Rising – a 1998 horror film.