Inside the Hotel Debord.
Lumine was "surrounded left and right," introducing Fontaine's delicacies to Yoimiya and Kamisato Ayaka.
This was one of the good things about Paimon.
At the dining table, she usually didn't speak.
Unlike the cheerful atmosphere on this side.
Xavier was still hesitating about how to bring it up to the two lead actresses.
About how he had been screwed over by an investor on a contract…
"Speaking of the purpose of this trip, Mr. Xavier, how far along is the preparation for your film?"
Ayato didn't eat much and brought up business at the table.
Xavier honestly confessed.
The team members were basically all assembled.
Lighting technicians, prop masters, costume designers…
The script rights had also been purchased from the novelist.
"Oh! It's called The Two Musketeers, right! I read the script you sent on the way here. It's a pretty good story!"
Xavier explained that he had originally wanted to film The Case Files of Furholm, but the mysterious author sold the rights through bidding.
In the end, it was bought by an old Fontaine noble.
The other party claimed they would not easily start production until they found suitable lead actors.
[The Three Musketeers, The Case Files of Furholm, you really went there.]
[Just pay homage and be done with it.]
[Still, the 'money' wasn't in place, Xavier.]
[Furholm, so obvious. My Furina really is a big smart one.]
Although he didn't get Furholm, The Two Musketeers was also an excellent work.
"Originally, once Mr. Kamisato and Miss Ayaka arrived in Fontaine, filming could start immediately, but… now there's a problem."
Xavier honestly confessed.
The biggest investor was preparing to run away.
He no longer had the means to pay the two lead actresses their salaries.
Although Fontaine's legal system was well-developed, even if he won the lawsuit, it would still take two or three months.
By then the film festival would have long ended…
"Mr. Xavier, if Ayaka and I are willing to perform for you free of charge, would that solve the problem you're facing right now?"
Xavier was flattered. "What? H-how can that be? You came all the way here, and performing for free… No, no, no, that's absolutely unacceptable."
[Genshin Guo Fan, huh?]
[It really is.]
[The Yashiro Commission isn't short on money anyway.]
Kamisato Ayaka stepped forward and said.
Actually, this was what they had planned when they accepted the invitation.
After Inazuma lifted the Sakoku Decree, they urgently needed to strengthen cultural exchange with other nations.
And this was precisely the work of the Yashiro Commission.
They hoped this film could make a good start.
Xavier still wanted to decline, but was ultimately convinced by Ayato's persuasion.
Chiori also joined in the name of brand sponsorship, charging no fees.
With the two biggest expenses of lead actor salaries and costumes removed.
Xavier's funding was almost sufficient.
Lumine and Yoimiya also joined in.
Since they weren't short on money, they could contribute a little.
Paimon thought being the clapperboard operator looked interesting. She had always wanted to hold the slate and shout "Cut!" while controlling the whole set.
As for the cinematographer, of course it would be Lumine.
She had filmed a samurai movie with Xavier back in Inazuma, and Xavier approved of her composition.
As for Yoimiya, she didn't have much experience making films, but she could run errands for the director.
Now only one last problem remained.
Who should be the director?
Xavier had originally planned to direct it himself.
But after starting overall planning, he realized that just the producer work alone would keep him busy to the point of exhaustion.
However, almost all of Fontaine's well-known directors were currently going all out for the film festival.
Everyone was preparing their own films.
After all, there was big sponsorship this time.
Various awards, various bonuses, and the chance to show their faces in front of tourists from all over the world.
Who wouldn't want to show off a little?
There really wasn't any suitable person available.
Paimon remembered what happened earlier at the theater.
In The Daughter of the Waters, aside from the script, she had basically coordinated and followed up on everything.
"From the looks of it, she should be very suitable as a director. And right now she's idle at home."
[500-year-old artist's value.]
[After performing as Hydro Archon for five hundred years, she should enjoy life. Why does she still have to come out and work?]
[Furina idle at home.]
[Cultural Paimon has even started using idioms.]
"F-Furina?!"
If the Kamisato siblings' willingness to perform for free brought Xavier gratitude.
Then inviting Furina to be the director brought him 'awe and fear.'
After all, Xavier was a Fontaine native. When he was young, Furina was the lofty Hydro Archon and Fontaine's brightest superstar.
Even though she had stepped down now, those halos wouldn't disappear overnight.
"…W-would that lady really be willing to humble herself and come?"
Chiori said that she had been present at the performance of The Daughter of the Waters.
Furina personally took the stage, and both her performance and the script arrangement were perfect.
"Don't be scared off by her former identity. She's the best candidate we can think of. How will we know if we don't try?"
Xavier encouraged himself. For the sake of his film, he was going all out.
"Lady Furina once really liked a clockwork ring. I wonder if I should prepare some exquisite clockwork mechanisms…"
Xavier decided to bring a gift.
Yoimiya shrugged. "Huh? When visiting someone, wouldn't it be enough to bring some snacks? Like Thousand Spirits Mousse or something."
[Beautiful girl's intuition?]
[Beautiful girls really understand beautiful girls best.]
[No wonder she's the director's assistant. She's got it down.]
"Wouldn't that be too cheap?"
Yoimiya explained that she had heard from Idyia on the patrol ship that it was Furina who ordered the Thousand Spirits Festival custom changed to asking for little cakes.
"I think she must really, really like desserts. That's why she did it."
[I need a friend like Yoimiya too. So attentive.]
[Yoimiya II, one of the top story quests.]
The matter was decided just like that.
Kamisato Ayato took his sister and Yoimiya to find a place to rest.
Lumine, Chiori, and Xavier went to prepare gifts for meeting Furina tomorrow.
Along the way, Xavier was still somewhat conflicted.
After all, just a few small cakes to invite that person…
It somehow felt unworthy of her status.
Lumine however said that at times like this, sincerity was the most important.
Even as she said that, she wasn't entirely sure herself…
The next day.
"We're almost there. Furina lives in that apartment up ahead."
Paimon pointed at the house down the steps and said.
The group went down the stairs.
They saw a young man watering flowers.
"Mu Yang?!" Lumine's face lit up with joy at first. Great, he was back.
Then she thought about it carefully. This wasn't right?
Wasn't this Furina's apartment?
???