ocean-life Chapter 156
Chapter 156
"Oh no, it’s already 5 o’clock!"
“It really is! Hurry, or we’ll miss the beginning!”@@@@
The children playing in the village square checked the time and dashed off as fast as their legs could carry them.
Their destination? The Uren Trading Company branch in town.
“The duel begins now!”
In front of the Uren branch, a small crystal orb had been set up. Connected to a screen, it played the highly anticipated new animation, The King of Cards.
Children, and even adults, gathered to watch, their eyes glued to the screen.
“Hey, mister, you didn’t pay for a ticket, did you?”
“Well, I... uh....”
“If you’re not a Uren membership holder, you’ll have to pay for a ticket.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll pay right now!”
The man, caught by an attendant, quickly fished coins out of his pocket to pay for entry.
“Honestly, how stingy can you get? Uren’s membership costs practically nothing, and members earn loyalty points when they buy things too.”
“Not to mention they let you watch the animation! It’s like they’re giving it away!”
Those gathered to watch The King of Cards shook their heads at the man’s folly.
This new animation was unlike anything audiences had seen before.
“Unlike Frozen Kingdom, this will be a 24-episode series rather than a single film.”
When the King of Cards animation was first announced during the tournament, many had been skeptical.
The ongoing manga already had substantial material, making it hard to condense into a single film, and adapting a still-serialized story raised even more questions.
But Rupert, ever the innovator, had anticipated such concerns and unveiled yet another groundbreaking solution.
“I’ve been collaborating with the Mage Tower on a new technology.”
When Rupert initially developed the projector for Frozen Kingdom, he had felt limited by its scope.
“Films like Frozen Kingdom work well in theaters, but long-running series like The Iron-Blooded Alchemist or The King of Cards need a different format.”
Animations traditionally came in several formats: theatrical releases, TV series, and OVAs.
However, with no infrastructure for TV broadcasts and no practical way to implement it, Rupert had ruled it out entirely.
This left OVAs—Original Video Animations. While uncommon in the Empire, OVAs were a well-established medium in countries like Japan.
They allowed longer stories to be divided into multiple episodes, distributed through DVDs or similar mediums.
Just 1 Silver a Month! Enjoy a Variety of Benefits:Earn points for every purchase at Uren Trading Company (redeemable like cash above a certain amount).Monthly subscription discount of 50 Copper.Watch new animations, including The King of Cards, and other shows quarterly—free for members!
It’s human nature to hesitate over intangible benefits, even if word-of-mouth spreads their value.
But,
“I subscribed just to watch The King of Cards, and it’s been worth every penny!”
“Same here! I even switched entirely to Uren, and the membership points work at the Somerset Goods Store too. It’s fantastic!”
What drove the early success of the membership program was none other than the King of Cards animation.
Even though the newly developed playback crystals for animation were still prohibitively expensive for general purchase, Rupert had devised a workaround: scheduled weekly screenings.
Every week at a set time, Uren branches across the Empire hosted public screenings of The King of Cards. People flocked to these events, signing up for memberships to gain access.
By now, every Friday at 5 p.m., Uren’s outdoor screening areas were packed.
In some areas, demand was so high that multiple screening locations had to be set up. In the capital, the crowds were so overwhelming that Uren had to convert nearby open spaces into dedicated screening venues.
“The popularity is extraordinary. People count down the days until Friday!”
“I understand why nobles might avoid these screenings—it’s absolute chaos with all the kids around.”
Those who preferred quieter, private viewings began purchasing personal playback crystals for home use. Although still expensive, they were affordable enough for many nobles.
“Where have you been today, Rupert?”
“Oh, do you remember Joy, the child who faced Ada in the tournament finals?”
“Ah, the one who put up such a great match against her?”
“Yes. Ada has been keeping in touch with him, and she insisted on visiting his home.”
Unable to refuse his sister’s request, Rupert accompanied Ada on a trip to Joy’s estate, spending the day with her there.
“You don’t seem to be in good spirits for someone who just had a pleasant outing with their sister.”
Esteban noticed Rupert’s somber expression and asked. Rupert sighed deeply before responding.
“Joy seems to have always been frail. He overexerted himself to participate in the last tournament, and now even sitting up in bed is a struggle for him.”
“That’s unfortunate....”
Ada, who had been eager for another intense match with Joy, burst into tears upon seeing his condition, leaving Rupert scrambling to console her.
‘Joy... Ada was heartbroken to see you like that.’
Seeing his sister so upset, Rupert couldn’t shake the thought of finding a way to help Joy, though he wasn’t a healer or a priest capable of using holy magic.
“My big brother can do anything! So don’t worry, Joy—he’ll make you better!”
Rupert recalled Ada’s bold declaration while introducing him to Joy. Her faith in him gave him a renewed sense of determination.
‘I can’t let Ada down. She’s counting on me.’
With that resolve, Rupert began planning a special gift for Joy—one that might bring some light into his life.