The Red Dragon Lord is OP, but Insists on a Pop Culture Invasion!

Chapter 247: Chapter 209: Entertainment Drives Technological Breakthroughs (Part 2)

"Y-You mean... just for fun?" Professor Booker said in disbelief.

"Er, knowing Zog, he’s probably in it for the money. But yes, the end result certainly makes it look like it’s all for fun."

Soron continued, saying something that would further upend Professor Booker’s worldview. "Do you know about the great inscription discovery incident from before?"

He was referring to Xiaomo’s project. The rate of discovering new inscriptions had slowed down by now.

"I do."

"In the beginning, that project was also intended to create Magic Vision game consoles."

"Huh?"

"There’s even a project now that nearly all the Round Table Elders of the Mage Guild are involved in. If it succeeds, it could potentially integrate the magic of every single School. And the reason it was started? To integrate all the networking equipment."

"So, what you’re saying is...?" Professor Booker was a bit dazed. He felt that these revelations were completely different from what he had imagined.

"These things may look like entertainment, but no one knows what other, more valuable things will be born from the process of creating better entertainment. Play is an instinct for all intelligent species. Aside from a crisis of survival, nothing is a stronger motivator. By restricting our students, we’re actually causing them to fall out of touch."

Professor Booker didn’t want to admit it, but he was genuinely convinced by Soron.

’The idea that mere entertainment could generate so much added value was far beyond his original worldview.’

’This wasn’t simple entertainment, but entertainment built upon a foundation of high-level magical technology and a great deal of innovation.’

"Take care. I suggest you look into some of these interesting new gadgets yourself. Who knows, you might even create something new," Soron said, waving goodbye to the dazed Professor Booker.

As he walked away from the principal’s office, his steps were unsteady. He even bumped into the wall twice, as if his entire worldview was being reshaped.

"Since when did you become so eloquent?" the principal, who had also been at the door seeing Professor Booker off, asked curiously.

"You have to understand, when you’ve known a shameless rascal for long enough, you’re bound to be influenced. In his words, ’he who gets close to vermilion is stained red, and he who gets close to ink is stained black.’"

"’He who gets close to vermilion is stained red, and he who gets close to ink is stained black?’ An interesting metaphor."

"Alright, alright, stop standing around like an idiot," Soron said, hurrying back into the room to continue studying the Agumon. "Hurry up and figure out how this thing was made. Didn’t you take Golem Studies as an elective back in the day?"

"Even someone who majored in Golem Studies wouldn’t be able to figure it out!" the principal retorted, rolling his eyes. "Don’t you see Professor Furin every day now? Just ask her, wouldn’t that solve it?"

"How can I just ask her directly? Asking directly would be admitting I don’t know how! It’s just a mere Low Tier Golem. I’m Soron, for crying out loud!"

"But you don’t know how in the first place..."

——————————

While Digital Monster was sweeping the major cities into a frenzy of catching Digital Eggs, the "arch-culprit" behind it all, Zog, was visiting the project team for Feilin’s Best Songs in Shudian.

They weren’t using the studio left over from the previous blade forging competition; they had built a new one from scratch.

The second season of the blade forging competition was starting soon, so the original studio was still needed.

After Simon’s landslide victory in the first season, whether or not to have him return for season two was a problem.

He was now incredibly popular with the audience. His craftsmanship was in a league of its own, he was strikingly handsome, and he even had fan clubs on the online forums.

He had even seen people on the forums trying to buy the "authentic," sweat-soaked towels and gloves Simon had used during the competition.

It was a real eye-opener for Zog.

The crucial part was that someone was actually providing the items, which meant there was a problem within the show’s logistics team.

’Since he’s so popular, it would be a waste to have him in only one season. Popularity like that should be milked for all it’s worth.’

’But if Simon competed again in season two, the final championship would likely lose all suspense.’

’For everyone who likes him, there’s someone who hates him. Only his fans would be happy to see him win a consecutive title.’

’The viewers who disliked him—the ones who thought he wasn’t a proper blacksmith, just a show-off, and that the results were rigged—might abandon the show entirely.’

’It would be better to add a ’Popular Contestant Challenge,’ let all the popular contestants compete in an exhibition match, and then gradually transition Simon into a hosting role.’

’That might work out well. The only problem is that the kid doesn’t like to talk.’

’But he could set those problems aside for now. The second season of the blade forging competition had a guaranteed baseline rating even without Simon. The key right now was Feilin’s Best Songs.’

It was the flagship show for the new Magic Vision channel, an enduring music variety competition format that also carried a heavy advertising load.

If done well, it could become a timeless classic in the memories of countless viewers. In the future, anyone who tried to produce a similar show would find their work measured against this one.

If done poorly, it might be a long, long time before another show of this type could be launched in Feilin. It would become a curse on the entire genre.

"Mr. Zog, you’ve arrived," Sir Gordo said, greeting him outside the studio.

"Well now, there’s no need for you to come all the way out to greet me. If you trip and fall, you might try to pin the blame on me."

"You’re joking, sir."

Zog followed Gordo into the studio.

The scale of this studio was far larger than the one for the blade forging competition. At maximum capacity, it could hold over a thousand spectators, meaning it could also be used for galas and other events in the future.

"Allow me to give you a tour. The entire studio was built by the best construction team from Twin Tower City, under the direction of your Zor consultant team."

To achieve better acoustics, Zog had also poached a group of Zor architects from the Dark Nether Realm who specialized in concert hall construction.

Concert halls were quite a common sight in the Zor City States. It couldn’t be helped; all Elves had a taste for them.

And the amazing thing was, without a clear grasp of acoustic principles and without using any Sound Magic, this group of Zor could build magnificent concert halls relying solely on experience.

A professionally trained singer could stand on the stage and, without using any Amplification Spells or equipment, project their voice to every single member of the audience using nothing but their own vocal cords.

Besides the skill of the singer, the design of the enclosed space played a significant role.

"Furthermore, the entire sound system, the show’s sound recording system, and the post-production system are all the latest achievements of the research team. I guarantee the quality will far surpass any previous show."

Zog had listened to a demo. To be honest, the quality was so good it was almost overkill. The current problem was that Mary’s Magic Vision Devices couldn’t even reproduce sound of this quality.

’Still, this was a good thing. It meant they could sell live, lossless, and prestige edition audio tracks on the music platform.’

"These are the mentor chairs you specifically requested," Gordo said, pointing to four large chairs opposite the stage.

They looked like four red eggs, each with a button in front of it.

Zog excitedly sat down in one to try it out. He slapped the button with his small claw, and the chair spun around to face the stage.

’So this is what it feels like.’

"Oh, right. Play the sound effect that’s going to be added in post-production when the chair turns."

This sound effect wouldn’t be played during the actual recording; otherwise, it would surely startle the performing contestant and make their voice crack.

Gordo signaled to the executive director.

"THUMP!"

A muffled, heavy sound echoed through the studio.

Gotta admit, the acoustics in here were truly excellent. The Zor team really knew their stuff.

"Nope, this sound effect won’t do. It’s not... it’s not... how do I put it... it doesn’t have enough of a ’wow’ factor. Make another one," Zog said.

"Er, by ’wow’ factor, you mean..."

"You know, that feeling of... PIANG! TSK! PWANG! Anyway, just make a few more for me to listen to. I’ll pick the one that fits."

Zog imitated several rather abstract sound effects.

"So, have the mentors been chosen?"

"Yes. They are Mr. Xiaode, the lead singer of the Underground Orphans Band; Lady Gerda, who played the queen in *Frozen*; the Vice President of the Sutton Royal Music Academy; and the Head of the Holy Church Opera Troupe."

"And what about the personas we’ve designed for them?"

How each mentor was supposed to act had to be carefully designed.

"Xiaode is in charge of livening up the atmosphere, Lady Gerda will mainly provide positive feedback, the Head will provide negative feedback, and the Vice President will be the one primarily responsible for criticizing the contestants."

"The Vice President is okay with that?" Playing that part was not a great gig; he’d likely be flamed by the audience after the show aired.

"He has no objections. They’re all screening the audition songs right now."

"Oh? I’ll go have a listen, too."

Before he even reached the room where the mentors were, Zog could already hear the sound of arguing from behind the door.

"Impossible! There’s no way a song like this can pass! It’s an insult to music!"