Fans who closely followed Jing Yu's updates lit up with excitement in their chat groups the moment they verified the news wasn't fake.
"What's going on? New project news again?"
"'Fate/Zero' is insane! How is Teacher Jing Yu this prolific?"
"I'm in love. I thought after 'Kaiji' and 'Clannad', he'd take a break this year—those are both long-form series running over two seasons! I never expected him to have the energy to launch a third drama!"
"Don't you think Teacher Jing Yu is an alien? Other screenwriters make the news for getting depression from deadline stress. Jing Yu makes the news because his crew wants a vacation and can't get one!"
"True. Great Zhou has had talented screenwriters and prolific screenwriters—but someone both talented and prolific like Jing Yu? He's one of a kind."
"But the media's stingy. All they revealed was that Jing Yu was holding auditions for a new drama. No plot leaks or anything!"
"I heard it's a high-fantasy series with heavy VFX. A real blockbuster."
"Well, as long as the story's good, VFX is just icing."
"Don't say that—rumor is, the special effects budget alone is 70–80 million. This thing's gotta look epic."
"I hope it's like 'Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal'. The fight scenes in that film, with Jing Yu's action performance and solid effects—just thinking about it gives me chills."
"Same here. His romance dramas are great, but his action work is next-level. The fights in Kenshin were straight-up art. If 'Fate/Zero' reaches that level, I don't care what Qingyun Video charges—I'll pay whatever."
In just a couple of days, 'Fate/Zero' became hotter than even 'Kaiji'. Discussion boards across Great Zhou's drama forums buzzed with speculation about Jing Yu's latest project.
Of course, those so-called "leaks" were part of Jing Yu's deliberate PR strategy—half paid disclosures, half media following the hype. In any case, the buzz did its job, igniting fan curiosity to the max.
Then came Monday: the day of 'Fate/Zero's casting call.
Not only did top-tier actors from Great Zhou's TV industry show up, but also many promising students were still enrolled in film academies. Dozens—maybe over a hundred—all gathered, nervous and expectant.
After two years of disruption brought on by Jing Yu, a new consensus had formed in Great Zhou's entertainment industry:
The fastest way to become famous is to land a role in one of Jing Yu's dramas.
Take Yu Youqing and Xia Yining. They'd only worked on a few local TV shows with Jing Yu early on in Lan Province. But those small collaborations earned them Jing Yu's trust—and in just two years, he catapulted them to the top of the industry's A-list actresses.
Even though they still mostly worked with him, if they ever parted ways, their fees would remain among the highest in the business.
Then there were Wu He and Li He, who played Akira Toya and Hikaru Shindo in 'Hikaru no Go'. They hadn't worked with Jing Yu since, but their fame from that drama still sustained them. Among actors under 20, they have remained the most popular to this day.
And Su Mei, the actress from 'Kimi ni Todoke'? After that show ended, a film company snatched her up as the lead in a low-budget romance movie. It premiered last month and earned 90 million at the box office.
That film only cost 10 million to make. A massive return—practically absurd.
While Jing Yu's main cast usually came from his own circle, many side characters in his dramas had broken out, too.
But now, in 'Fate/Zero', not only were his regular female leads Yu Youqing and Xia Yining not involved—even Jing Yu himself wasn't taking the lead role. He'd relegated himself to a supporting part.
This was Jing Yu's most expensive drama to date, and the protagonist role was wide open. What did that mean?
Of the many auditioning today, nearly half had their sights set on just two characters:
Kiritsugu Emiya And Artoria.
Opportunities like this were once-in-a-decade.
The entire audition hall buzzed with quiet intensity.
Famous actors came surrounded by agents and assistants. Some A-listers even had private rooms arranged by Jing Yu's team. As for the so-called "student newbies," none of them were truly random.
Anyone who managed to get their name into Jing Yu's hands through Cheng Lie's connections—none of them were real "unknowns."
The Great Zhou was full of good-looking, skilled actors. But to land this opportunity, you still needed a helping hand behind the scenes.
Inside the audition hall, staff were setting up cameras and checking equipment for final preparations.
The director of 'Fate/Zero' and the key members of the confirmed production team were all present.
Though Jing Yu's script was only written through the first few episodes, even that had convinced everyone of the show's potential.
In particular, the Blue Star Culture Manual that Jing Yu wrote for the show stood out.
Though many sections were deliberately vague, the handbook covered the background lore for characters like the King of Conquerors, the King of Heroes, and King Arthur. The referenced nations included Macedonia, Ancient Britain, and the Early Dynastic Sumerian Empire.
Other entries included scattered profiles on topics like the Knights of the Round Table and Celtic mythology.
Many of the crew found the historical gaps in the cultural guide fascinating—but even the limited material provided was impressive enough.
It felt almost… like real history.
Most of the judging panel had already read the early episodes and had some understanding of the characters.
Still, their opinions were just for reference. The real authority sat in the center seat—Jing Yu, screenwriter and investor.
In other production crews across Great Zhou, decision-making was usually split between the director, writer, and producer.
But not in Jing Yu's teams.
He was the boss. Period.
Cheng Lie's advice, he'd sometimes take. The director? Just there to execute.
That's the kind of power you wield when you're both the writer and the one funding the show.
The auditions began.