Chapter 259: Fan-driven Official
Chapter 259: Fan-driven Official
If Leon could hear the roar of the King of Drama, he would probably burst out laughing... And if one had to ask why, it would be due to the concept of dimensional reduction.
There was no other reason. In the age of fast-food, massive amounts of data had been meticulously analyzed, revealing the primary preferences of various audience groups.
Most men preferred underdog stories, relishing in the freedom from rules, the triumph of the weak over the strong, and the pleasure of breaking free from constraints. On the other hand, the core of female-oriented narratives was 'special treatment,' where every character received unique attention, regardless of how they were treated elsewhere.
This summary wasn't absolute, but most ordinary people were indeed susceptible to this approach.
When Leon learned that both plays today were romantic dramas and, after checking the town's demographics, confirmed that seventy percent of the audience was female, the battle for control of the dramatic world had already been decided.
The mature tactics of the fast-food era, though generally low in 'nutritional' value, were undeniably explosive for first-time viewers. These tactics were guaranteed to captivate audiences who had never been exposed to industrial saccharin.
More critically, creating a great play required subtle foreshadowing, intricate plot twists, character monologues revealing inner thoughts, and more. Only after all these elements were meticulously crafted could the climax deliver a thrilling experience to the audience.
However, as the King of Drama directed the male and female leads to the night beach, intending to have them miss the starry sky due to cloud haze, thereby leaving a promise to return and gaze at the stars together, 'Mr. Joseph' had already purchased two hundred and fifty carts of fireworks, ready to spell out Agatha's name in the sky.
What about the subtle foreshadowing? What about the promise to return and watch the stars together?
Come on, be serious.
When Leon's five hundred loyal guards ignited the two hundred and fifty carts of fireworks, filling the sky with explosions that even obscured the moon, how could there be any room for promises? Were they supposed to make a pact to return and inhale gunpowder fumes?
The same principle applied to the masquerade ball, the great artist's artist's residence, Green Shell Mountain Park, and more.
While one side was still cautiously getting to know each other, the other was already holding ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine roses, declaring that she was the last and most beautiful rose, and forcing a face-slap with the help of hundreds of highly-paid professional comedians.
Even if 'Mr. Joseph's' face-slap attempt failed, the King of Drama's plan for increased understanding and gradual heart-to-heart connections was a million percent doomed. Instead, it became a powerful contrast.
On one side, affection was earned through chit-chat, plot progression required chaos, gifts had to be manufactured, and even dates involved detours due to traffic jams. On the other side, everything was meticulously prepared, always one step ahead, with fireworks above and flowers below.
One side was still cautiously feeling things out, too shy to express their fondness; the other side was already whispering sweet nothings, holding property deeds and identification documents, and had imprinted the other person in their eyes. They even planned to be buried together in the same small box a hundred years later... So, if you were in their shoes, whom would you choose?
"If I were Agatha, I'd probably choose Mr. Joseph."
Accompanied by a whisper that made the King of Drama's eyelids twitch, a light pink heart bubble quietly emerged from the dramatic world.
As the three thousand souls that made up the drama began to shift towards 'Mr. Joseph,' the King of Drama's control over the dramatic world reached a dangerous tipping point.
Leon, within the play, neither controlled these souls nor had the energy to restrain or suppress them. The will of the numerous viewers slowly started to manifest, and although these wills had not yet regained complete self-awareness, they began to communicate simple thoughts with a sense of bewilderment.
Soon after the first bubble appeared, more powerful heart bubbles emerged one after another, each vying to express their thoughts:
"Yes, yes, Mr. Joseph is so romantic."
"I'd choose Mr. Joseph too! Even though he's not as handsome as Elijah, it's hard to refuse him."
"What a pity. If only he were more good-looking."
"Yes, yes."
"Nonsense! Who says Mr. Joseph isn't handsome?"
As the audience unconsciously discussed Leon's looks and expressed their minor regrets, an angry red bubble swelled up, popping loudly:
"Do you have any aesthetic sense? Mr. Joseph has a high-class face!"
And with the appearance of the red bubble, more and more bubbles began to swell.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Joseph is very handsome, not in the conventional sense of facial features, but he has a unique charm!"
"Absolutely! Especially those eyes, they're so captivating!"
"Good eye, sister! When Mr. Joseph knelt down with a rose, the fireworks in others' eyes were nothing compared to the way he looked at you. It was so intense!"
"Actually, if you look closely, you'll realize that Mr. Joseph isn't stunning at first glance, but he's the kind of man who grows on you the more you see him."
"Exactly!"
With the lead bubble's enthusiastic endorsement, the other new bubbles started bubbling excitedly.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Joseph is so handsome!"
In the face of the bewildered expression of the King of Drama, the scattered World Will that had been dormant began to slowly gather and eventually reached a consensus: "Mr. Joseph is indeed very handsome."
In the drama world, Leon, who was trying to persuade Agatha to visit her grandmother, also experienced a subtle enhancement in his appearance due to the agreement of the pink bubbles. Although his facial features remained the same, there was something about his eyes that made them more pleasing to look at.
His already impressive eyes seemed to contain a galaxy, as one of the bubbles had claimed, and there was an inexplicable feeling that one could drown in them with just a glance.
Wait... does the drama world have such a feature?!
Watching Agatha in the drama world, who couldn't help but sneak glances at Leon as his attractiveness skyrocketed, the King of Drama outside the play tugged at his hair in agony, feeling like he was losing his mind.
This... this isn't drama! This is not dramatic at all! This chaotic mess is a desecration of a great dramatic work! How... how can so many people enjoy watching this?
As the pink bubbles above the drama world cheered for the first embrace between the male lead and the female lead, and then went into a frenzy of uncontrollable screaming when the female lead mistakenly entered the bathroom and saw Mr. Joseph's wet upper body, the King of Drama felt the world spinning.
No... this can't go on! It's absolutely unacceptable! If this continues... I'll become... I'll become him!
Looking at the words appearing on his white suit and the scenes being altered in large chunks by the World Will, the King of Drama's face turned pale with terror.
When his arm opened like a book, revealing the script of 'The Twelve-Day Tour', and the role description of 'Mr. Joseph' began to uncontrollably blur from 'Male Supporting Actor, Clown 1' towards 'Male Lead, 1', the King of Drama could no longer hold back. He trembled as he grabbed the fine thread controlling the puppet's soul, desperately trying to pull the plot back.
It was impossible to completely remove 'Mr. Joseph' at this point, but... but at least the ending must stay the same! Some of the original elements must be preserved! There must be a wedding, and Agatha must marry Elijah. He could only be the second male lead! Otherwise... otherwise...
"You two are not suitable for each other!"
Under the bewildered gaze of the bubbles, Mr. Joseph's grandmother, who had been kind and gentle, turned solemn upon hearing that her grandson intended to marry a waitress from a tavern. She firmly stated, "Joseph's future wife can only be the daughter of the Duke of Hess, or the princess of the Thrush Kingdom. At the very least, she should be related to the Prime Minister of the Lower House. Marrying you is absolutely out of the question!"
"No, I won't marry anyone but her!"
Facing his grandmother's opposition, Leon, who had the role of a steadfast and possessive male lead, firmly refused, "For so many years, I didn't know what I truly wanted. But after meeting Agatha, my dull life finally gained color. No matter how much you oppose it, I must..."
"Cough... cough..."
"..."
What? Are you going to play this card too?
As Leon watched in bewilderment, his healthy and robust grandmother suddenly turned pale, then took out a white silk handkerchief and began to cough violently.
After a fit of coughing that seemed to shake her to the core, the frail grandmother put away the bloodstained handkerchief without mentioning her condition. Instead, she stubbornly insisted, "In any case, it's not possible! As long as I'm here, it won't happen! In this manor, it's either me or her. You choose!"
"..."
Seriously? You're going to get sick in a second?
The sudden dousing of blood from the vase was quite a shock, causing Leon to scowl and exclaim, "In that case, I'll leave! Since this estate..."
"Cough... Cough..."
"Since this estate cannot accommodate Agatha..."
"Cough... Cough! (Loudly)"
"If this estate can't accommodate Agatha..."
"Cough, cough, cough! (Even louder!)"
"I'm leaving!"
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!!! (A violent, hacking cough!!!) ..."
"..."
"No... No need!"
As the old grandmother coughed up blood, tearing her heart out, and spat blood into her handkerchief, Agatha, standing beside her with tears streaming down her face, suddenly grabbed the necklace Leon had given her, yanked it off, and shoved it into his hand. With a hardened heart, she turned away and said, "Mr. Joseph, I... I have my own pride! If I stay with you, I'll not only ruin your family but also become a captive of your love... You... You're great, but this isn't the life I want! Goodbye! Never again!"
"Wait!"
As Leon prepared to grab her, the King of Drama's influence took hold, and the fragile Agatha, as per the script, sprinted out with the speed of a hundred-meter dash, rushing out of the room.
The grandmother, who had coughed so much that her white handkerchief turned red and seemed on the verge of death, suddenly unleashed a terrifying strength comparable to the Devil Muscle Man. Her frail hand gripped Leon's hand like an iron clamp, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free.
Caught off guard, Leon could only watch as Agatha, in her role as the princess, sped out of the estate with the afterimage of her rapid movement, heading towards the beach in the pouring rain—the very place where she would encounter mysterious bandits and be kidnapped back for a forced marriage.
Wait, is this how it's supposed to go? Where's the drama?
"Waaah, this is so sad!"
With Leon temporarily offline after being ganked, the audience witnessed the plot's rapid development—or rather, its sudden downfall. The once-pink bubbles now turned gray and hazy.
As Leon was confined by his grandmother and Agatha was captured while stargazing on the beach in the rain, the pure-hearted second male lead, Elijah, chose to sacrifice his freedom and return home to marry in order to save the goddess in his heart. This development caused the audience to begin sobbing.
"Waaah! The grandmother is so cruel! Lovers can't be together!"
"It's a choice between love and grandmother; Mr. Joseph has no choice..."
"Yes, yes, but Mr. Elijah is indeed great."
"Mhm, mhm, for someone who loves freedom so much, he's willing to give it up to save Agatha, return home, and accept the arranged marriage, spending the rest of his life as a captive bird, which he hates the most."
"If you think about it this way, Mr. Elijah doesn't seem too bad, right? At least he's not bad-looking, and he's gentle?"
What... What's happening? Is the plot finally taking a turn?
As the bubbles, which had drifted away, started to return, the King of Drama, shaken by his own drastic script changes, trembled with excitement. His pale face, whiter than a white suit, suddenly flushed with excitement.
Yes, yes, yes! That's it! You foolish audience members have finally understood! That damn 'Mr. Joseph' is nothing but a clown! Elijah is the only male lead in this drama...
"Elijah, you homewrecker!!!"
With a loud shout, the red bubble that had previously supported Leon's appearance reappeared, and its owner, filled with anger, roared, "How despicable! Taking advantage of someone's weakness to ruin the relationship between Mr. Joseph and Agatha!"
Following her lead, a large group of Joseph fans also erupted, and the red bubbles with a hint of pink rippled and bubbled up.
"Sisters! You need to be more resolute! Don't forget that Mr. Joseph is the male lead!"
"How can you be so fickle? Are you worthy of Mr. Joseph, who's struggling against his grandmother at home?"
"Elijah only lost his freedom for the latter half of his life, but Mr. Joseph lost love!"
"Waaah, my heart aches for Mr. Joseph!"
"I'll get her back! Go and bring Agatha back!"
No! No!
In the terrified eyes of the King of Drama, a large number of willpower bubbles that had just shifted towards his side suddenly flipped back, starting to cheer for "Mr. Joseph."
As the red bubble roared, three-quarters of the red bubbles rippled and bubbled up, raising their abstract, chubby hands, and waving and shaking their tails in excitement.
"Kidnapping the bride! Kidnapping the bride!! Kidnapping the bride!!! Kidnapping the bride!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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