CHAPTER 427: 0425 COMPETITION EDGE

Anna proposed the idea of joining this business, and Severa didn’t immediately refuse. She was considering whether allowing Anna to bring in investment would bring some benefits.

The answer was obviously that there would be benefits.

First of all, the Akiner clan has noble lineage and heritage. Not to discuss whether Count Akiner was truly exiled to the Federation, or whether he fell overboard due to various reasons at sea, or simply got murdered and replaced by the murderer.

Overall, everyone in the Federation now believes that the Akiner family is one of the few noble families with traceable history.

People ridicule the backwardness and ignorance of feudal society on one hand, yet long to become nobility on the other. It isn’t contradictory, and Anna joining this plan could enhance the brand’s image as a true "noble lady!"

Secondly, the influence of the Star Dream Butterfly Conglomerate in the East is formidable. In terms of commercial promotion, even if Mr. Pato wouldn’t go all out like Mr. Wardrick to promote a brand associated with his daughter, just hitching a ride would save a lot of effort and time.

Lastly, Anna is currently the student council president of the Saint Harmony Alliance Schools and is also a beautiful girl. She perfectly fits the "female lead" in the plan discussed by Lynch and Severa—a living princess.

Her image is rich, she doesn’t have to spend immense effort to construct an identity from scratch. Just by standing there, people can associate her with a life of prestige and luxury.

Severa scrutinized Anna, although she personally disliked the girl, being born into a different family had instilled in her an almost instinctive way of thinking.

Personal emotions and likes and dislikes wouldn’t interfere with her judgment in business matters. What she considers now are the advantages and benefits of Anna joining them, not whether she likes her.

After over ten seconds, Severa nodded, "Sure..."

A collaboration, a piece of business was settled in a few words. That’s why people rack their brains to squeeze into this place—it’s full of endless opportunities!

Lynch and Anna each invested two hundred thousand for fifteen percent shares, the rest was filled in by Severa.

But the shareholders definitely wouldn’t be just these three. When someone like Severa starts a company, above all, her parents would surely join in on the shares as a friendly gesture.

For instance, spending a million to buy five percent shares, apart from the buy-in money, others are considered as capital increase. This not only boosts Severa’s company’s value rapidly but also allows her parents to underreport at the year’s tax.

People like this won’t be too few, and with subsequent dilution, Lynch having around ten percent in hand would already be great, and that’s assuming he continues to increase his holdings.

The three young people were full of energy, perhaps having found a better direction. Severa didn’t find Anna’s face so annoying looking anymore, and they even raised a toast for it.

Subsequently, they began discussing the forthcoming things.

Anna proposed a very constructive idea, "Maybe we can publish novels serially to kindle a lasting buzz, then proceed with casting and film preparation. By next year’s spring fashion release, the movie should be ready, and we can unveil our product at the spring release."

This was a brilliant idea, Lynch and Severa both looked at Anna a couple more times, somewhat surprised.

Now is the peak period for serialized culture. Due to the current economic downturn, many families are cutting various expenses, including reading costs.

A vast amount of publishing goods are stagnant, the last year to the first half of this year may have been the hardest for those authors; those without savings queued for relief food.

Under such circumstances, serialization emerged.

The emergence of serialized content is an unwilling compromise of culture towards commercialization. Indeed, in recent years, the Federation has had serial stories, but those stories weren’t appealing and lacked readership.

The truly competent ones were into publishing, only those lacking publisher invitations and status in the publishing market considered publishing short column stories or mid-length stories in newspapers or magazines.

Only recently, to survive, some well-known authors began attempting to blend their noble art with commerce, drawing a base salary from newspaper and magazine houses while enjoying the advertisement earnings.

Publishers have a well-established method, like television stations checking ratings to accurately discover their publications’ most popular sections, the contributors of which earn more ad earnings.

Some authors quickly found their footing in serialized literature after just a few issues, indeed, they coined terms like "serialized literature" or "periodical literature" to distinguish from "traditional literature."

People need not spend much to read a plethora of stories, boosting newspaper and magazine sales, though it also spurred subtle issues.

The educational attainment of serial literature readers noticeably declined, making plots writers considered fitting become rife with criticism.

What followed was reduced ad revenue, forcing them to alter strategies, yet in the traditional literature realm, those untroubled by survival loud condemnation of serial literature authors, calling them literature traitors.

But undeniably, serialized literature became trendy, with a broader audience and lesser reading demands.

As long as stories meet people’s psychological nourishment demands, a string of hits will readily surface.

If their novel could coordinate script adaptation and filming preparation through serialization, it’s sure to capture public attention.

Seeing both seemed to affirm and agree with her idea, Anna discreetly glanced at Severa and continued, "I have another proposal, for me to play the lead female role in this movie..."

This proposal made Severa unresponsive for a while; her first words weren’t asking her salary or whether she could act but expressing skepticism on her new idea.

"Mr. Pato wouldn’t allow such a thing!"

If Anna were someone abandoned with a future only to share bonuses but without decision-making power, wasting away, let alone acting in films, changing grooms nightly wouldn’t provoke criticism, merely reminders to care for her body.

But she isn’t that, in the Akiner clan she possesses certain status, Mr. Pato certainly wouldn’t permit her to flaunt in society through acting in films in such a vulgar way.

While stars may be glamorous and influential, in the eyes of high society, they’re not remarkable and even not deemed "clean."

Facing Severa’s certain opinion, Anna just smiled looking at Lynch, "As long as Lynch plays the male lead, I’ll convince my father..."

...

A sudden quietness broke when Mr. Pato returned, finding his daughter somewhat smug, Severa frowning as if pondering, alongside Lynch who appeared entertained, he instinctively grew curious.

He didn’t immediately inquire what transpired between them, only asking as they left the event sitting in the car, "This time seemed like you had the upper hand?"

He knew of the "struggle" between Anna and Severa, and didn’t mind the comparison people made about his daughter with others.

Having several children, he could only choose one true heir; selecting and nurturing a suitable heir was his ongoing challenge.

If Anna could gain advantage in the rivalry with Severa, it would signify growth and add leverage for possibly becoming the true heir.

Previously, it was Severa who often held an advantage, with Mr. Wardrick’s irrational support directly affecting the outcomes, but this time, things seemed to have shifted.

Anna smugly lifted her chin, glancing at groups of untidy vagrants sitting in alley corners with eyes full of envy and jealousy, she turned to Mr. Pato.

"I found Severa’s weakness...", Anna smiled with grace, veiled within was pride. She turned her gaze from her father, Mr. Pato, back to the window.

Through the transparent car window faintly mirrored a beautiful girl, her fair neck striking, akin to a swan leisurely resting in the waters, elegant and noble.

Not far behind, inside the car was another father-daughter pair.

"Your mood seems sour, dear, did someone bother you?" Mr. Wardrick inspected his daughter’s tense face, also curious.

Reaching his position, few could "bother" him or his daughter. Those acquainted wouldn’t do so, and strangers couldn’t, thus the question aimed to alleviate the solemn atmosphere.

After a while, Severa softly spoke, "What if...I’m just saying, what if I act in a movie? Would you agree?"

"Of course!" Mr. Wardrick replied swiftly, seemingly without consideration, "Why not, dear? That is your right; need me to acquire a film production company for you?"

"In that case, you’d have fun. Remember, I’ve said, joy is the utmost importance!"

If he knew Severa’s reason for wanting a film role, he wouldn’t be so cheerful.