Chapter 142: What Are the Means to Restore Reputation?
Plop.
Aeron slumped into the sofa like a limp salted fish, feeling utterly drained.
While he wasn't afraid of death, the current situation was giving him more of a headache than he'd ever imagined.
He'd expected it to be exhausting, but not to this extent.
First thing in the morning, he had to head to Avinoleum with Little Carte and Roccia to figure out how to transform the seminary into a massive venue capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people.
At noon, he ran all over Ragunna with Zani and Phoebe, making sure the place wouldn't be overwhelmed by the massive crowds.
In the afternoon, he seized the precious four or five hours to rehearse the songs for the concert with Ciaccona and choreograph the dances.
In the evening, he reviewed the day's schedule with the head of the household, reflecting on any oversights or mistakes along the way.
And so, Aeron burned out, turning into pale ashes.
Ciaccona's explosive popularity was undoubtedly a good thing, but the pressure that came with it was far greater than anyone had anticipated.
Moreover, as the hype grew and spread, this was no longer just his own affair—it had dragged in all of Ragunna, along with Montelli and Ciaccona.
Thus, in his immense distress, Aeron could only make a difficult decision—to delay the release.
"To all our dear fans, your enthusiasm has far exceeded our expectations. In order to deliver an even more unforgettable concert, we plan to further upgrade our current arrangements and postpone the concert by one week from the originally scheduled date. We sincerely apologize!"
Yes, even though Aeron had just said in the previous two chapters that he couldn't delay, he truly had no other choice now.
And then... as expected, he got roasted.
"Refund now, damn it!"
"Do you have any shame?"
"From solid to trash, I'm giving this a full trash rating."
These were just the comments that could be posted. Others expressed pity for Ciaccona's talent, while even more were mocking Aeron's incompetence, joking that human space exploration was truly saved and even the Pioneer Association would have to bow to these people's "scientific research capabilities."
"Mr. Aeron, don't worry, everyone will find a way."
"Wahhh, Roccia, you're the only one who's good to me!"
And so, in the recording studio, as a casual topic during their break—and also to set a direction for this inevitable future problem—they gathered.
Shorekeeper, Rover, Carlotta, Ciaccona, Aeron's favorite Roccia, and his beloved son-like figure.
"Wait, why am I involved?"
Amidst this group, Brant stood out like a sore thumb.
"Ah, I've been under too much pressure lately, and I might be cursing a lot, so I needed someone to vent on, so I called you over."
"You really aren't even trying to hide it, huh?"
"Dad! I'm begging you, help me out this once!"
"?"
Brant had no choice but to accept Aeron's direct use of that title.
However, someone in the room didn't look too pleased.
"...So, how do you plan to handle it this time?"
Rover sighed helplessly, taking the lead to ask about Aeron's plans.
"I don't know! I never had a contingency plan for this kind of situation from the start!"
From the very beginning, Aeron's philosophy was to take things step by step, preventing himself from being held back by moving too quickly. Even his investments were gradually requested from Carlotta.
Now, however, the situation had completely spiraled beyond his control.
"Alright, alright, panicking won't help. Since problems have arisen, we can only brainstorm solutions together, right?"
Carlotta's voice came from beside him. She naturally sat down next to Aeron, gently tugging at his sleeve, her tone carrying a composure entirely different from his.
"Although there are many dissatisfied voices, most of them are focused on Montelli and the producer behind him, not on Ciaccona herself. That's at least some good news, isn't it?"
"Good news where...?"
"Whether it's you or Montelli, neither of you lacks troubles. No matter what problems arise, as long as we face them together, it'll be fine."
Her words were spoken quite naturally, even with a hint of pride.
"To protect your reputation as my partner and the Second Young Lady's, I'll also work hard to practice!"
Beside them, Ciaccona smiled at Aeron. Thankfully, it seemed the online criticism hadn't affected her too much.
But this was only a matter of time. If possible, Aeron still hoped to find a solution quickly.
"So... what we need to do now is to quell the public anger and restore our image, right?"
Just as the recording studio fell into a brief silence, the Shorekeeper's gentle voice broke through. She maintained her elegant posture, hands folded on her knees, tilting her head slightly.
Though she was only a projection, her expression at this moment was still earnest.
"That's why I'm discussing this with you all... My mind is completely blank now..."
Aeron slumped weakly into the sofa. At this point, he no longer cared about avoiding suspicion with the Rover; his eyes held only a desperate longing for the project's completion.
"Hmm... Actually, the main source of everyone's dissatisfaction is the delay... We could try addressing that."
"But how...?"
In response to the Shorekeeper's words, the most direct solution Aeron could think of was a refund, but he decided to keep that as a last resort.
"In fact... the speed and direction of the public opinion are still within controllable limits. The focus is mainly on 'disappointed expectations' and 'lack of transparency.'"
True to her reputation, the Rover immediately provided an accurate summary of the current situation.
"So, as long as we release more definitive information, it should help."
"What information...? That I haven't absconded with the funds?"
"Of course, it's the message that we're diligently preparing, you dummy."
As she spoke, Carlotta poked Aeron's cheek. After days of intense work, he looked somewhat haggard, but thanks to this, Carlotta had been able to stay by his side every day.
"That's easy to handle. Just film some behind-the-scenes footage or produce a short promotional video to prove he isn't delaying without reason but is genuinely working to improve the quality."
Brant naturally offered a suggestion, and it did sound somewhat feasible.
"This could indeed... showcase Avinoleum, rehearsal clips of Ciaccona, as well as preparations for security, reception, and other aspects. Let everyone see that the delay is to bring a better experience."
"That won't work..."
Just as Carlotta was seriously considering where to start, Aeron was the first to voice an opinion.
"I actually think it's a very constructive suggestion."
"I've thought about it before—letting everyone see our efforts, making them feel that there truly is a group of dedicated people giving their all behind the scenes. But..."
Aeron paused, organizing his thoughts amidst the chaos in his mind.
"...this is too 'official.' It's like those boring behind-the-scenes clips from variety shows—polished and safe, but no one wants to watch them. Ciaccona's strength lies in her sincerity and liveliness. If the promotional video feels like an official press release, it might actually diminish her charm."
"...You're right."
After hearing Aeron's words, Carlotta also furrowed her brow.
Thus, everyone in the room fell into contemplation once again.
"...Partner, I have a plan."
However, at this moment, Ciaccona suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Oh? What's your plan?"
"A beauty trap."
"...What do you mean?"
"How about you dress in women's clothing and apologize?"
"Get lost."