Otaku Translation: Blackstone Code Chapter 243

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Due to the financial crisis, large companies were more affected than many small companies. Surprise Box had suffered significant losses in its non-entertainment investments, making their cash flow somewhat difficult. To prevent the company from facing issues, finding new investors and cash flow was essential.

Currently, the entertainment industry was in a strange state. Although the federal government had relaxed various policies related to the entertainment industry, investors were more cautious than ever. Many people could easily list reasons why the entertainment industry would be the next growth point for the federal economy, but they were still reluctant to invest.

They were waiting. Until they figured out whether they could make money or continue to lose, they wouldn't easily invest. They had already suffered losses in the stock market, and the lingering pain was still fresh in their minds. Until this pain disappeared, they would temporarily remember these lessons.

The departure of the vice-CEO of Surprise Box coincided with Lynch's "female companion" finishing her conversation with a few other ladies and returning to Lynch's side. According to the etiquette of such occasions, they came together and should leave together. Leaving alone would be considered inappropriate and impolite, even subject to ridicule.

Undoubtedly, the girl didn't want to become the latest joke in the entertainment circle, but Lynch didn't care much. Of course, if he had a choice, he wouldn't want to be a topic of negative conversation.

Standing close together, they had nothing to say, making the young girl feel awkward. She felt that normally in such a situation, they should chat about something naturally, at least like a typical "couple."

After thinking for a while, the girl decided to break the somewhat special and awkward atmosphere. She asked, "Lynch, do you usually watch films?"

If Lynch said he did, as most people would in such a situation, the girl could naturally extend the conversation by discussing the types of films he liked, mentioning actors she knew in those genres, or even sharing some theater jokes. This would help make the interaction feel less awkward and more fluid.

But to her surprise, Lynch shook his head directly. "I don't watch films."

The smile on the girl's face froze for half a second before she covered her awkwardness by adjusting the accessory on the side of her hair. She felt she couldn't continue the conversation with Lynch; he had effectively ended it.

Actually, Lynch knew what the girl was trying to do, but he wasn't interested in her. Having gone through so much in his previous life, relationships between different genders no longer caught his attention. Compared to short-lived, empty pleasures, higher levels of achievement were what a man of his age pursued—money, power, status, and every success.

A successful man should hold the world in his palm, playing with it as he pleases. Only failures lingered in the crude pleasures of the bed. Lynch was a refined man.

The cold reception, bound to bore the girl, finally ended after half an hour. Lynch and the girl left together, as etiquette demanded.

After dropping the girl off at her current residence, the car continued on to take Lynch back to the hotel.

He would leave in three days. In the Baylor Federation, the box office results of the first three days were enough to reflect the total box office under normal circumstances. People had a scientific way of calculating these numbers. Although not precise, it was close enough.

It was not only Lynch, Mr. Fox, and his son were waiting for the box office results of the first film of the New Year, but the entire industry was waiting.

The next morning, after finishing his workout at the hotel gym, Lynch happened to run into Fox Junior on his way back. Fox Junior had an irrepressible smile on his face, and when he saw Lynch, his smile became even harder to control. He laughed out loud in the hallway, which was quite impolite, but at that moment... he didn’t care that much.

"The pre-sale box office number is out, 490,000, 30% more than the distribution company's forecast." Fox Junior was overly excited, but it was understandable. The film's investment wasn't huge, with all costs totaling less than 750,000. Production was a small part; the rest was for promotion and distribution.

Even if it sold poorly, Lynch and the Foxes wouldn't lose much. They had contracts for the female lead's next five adult films, which would sell well. But they obviously hoped for business success, which was about the pursuit of success, not just money.

Soon, Mr. Fox and the female lead joined them for breakfast. In private, Mr. Fox had discussed his interest in the young, vibrant body of the female lead with Lynch. He also talked to Fox Junior, assuring him he wouldn't get a stepmother or lose inheritance. But during their relationship, he hoped Fox Junior would show some respect for the girl to avoid moral issues.

Everyone knew that the Baylor Federation’s society was a corrupt one, yet everyone used morality as a facade to appear virtuous. To avoid being seen as an outsider, one must "fit in."

For the girl? She could even undress for money on screen; why not lie beside a rich old man for money?

Actually, Mr. Fox wasn't that old. He was still in his forties and had taken excellent care of himself, looking younger than his years, which only added to his charm.

During breakfast, everyone was in high spirits. The Foxes’ enthusiasm came from the expected profits, and the actress's excitement came from her imminent rise to stardom. Even as an adult star, her income was about to double.

In the future, she could wear less and make more money, and she might even publish a book. She’d already picked out the title: Putting on Clothes.

"The distribution company's strategy team told me our final box office number might be between four and five million, and we'll get about 1.5 to 1.7 million." Fox Junior, having calmed down, shared the news from the distribution company.

"After deducting expenses, we'll make…” He strained his not-so-numerically-savvy mind to calculate, "approximately around six hundred thousand in profit!"

He didn’t forget to add a comment, "That's an impressive profit. We achieved this in just over three months with a return rate close to one hundred percent. Perhaps we should consider deepening our investment in this industry."

Lynch nodded noncommittally. With his 30% stake, he'd earn about 180,000. This feeling of being able to make money without doing anything was rather good.

Mr. Fox didn't immediately agree but looked at Lynch, preferring to hear a smart person's opinion. Lynch understood Mr. Fox's look and took out a five-buck bill, handing it to the girl. "Go buy me a pack of cigarettes."

The girl just glanced at Mr. Fox, then stood up, swaying her hips, smiled as she took the money from Lynch’s hand, and left. She knew that she was not qualified to hear the next part of the conversation, which suddenly sparked some other thoughts in her mind.

At this moment, the money that was so easily attainable seemed to lose its appeal. The girl, who relied on undressing to earn money, inexplicably found herself suddenly wanting to gain others' respect, even if it was just to be quietly left alone on the side.

From this, it could be seen that for those who lacked control and depth, success may be a more terrifying poison than failure.

After the girl left and with no one else around, Lynch tore at his bread and said, "You can start by acquiring some comic publishers, mainly for their literary and comic copyrights.

"Compared to creating something new, adapting works with a fixed audience and fan base into films will yield more straightforward benefits, at least ensuring we don't lose much.

"But don't invest too much in this area or acquire works that are hard to express with current technology.” Lynch searched for several words before accurately describing his thoughts. "For example, magic knights; we can't yet achieve appropriate visual effects, or we can but need more investment, which we don't need.

"Plain, simple, intuitive, with clear displays of love and hate. Additionally, don't overlook the adult version; it's best if the actors we find are also willing to participate in the adult version of the performance..."

The Foxes tried to remember everything Lynch said, and Lynch also generously offered his help. Successful people never work alone. Those who wanted everything for themselves only lived well in dreams; in reality, they lived rather "exciting" lives.

Moreover, Lynch didn’t care that much about the insignificant profits of the domestic entertainment industry; his focus had long been on international trade and various forms of economic exploitation.

A blockbuster film would never match the profits of plundering a country—never in the past, and never in the future.

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