76 – Work, You Suckers
“Green Dragon, sir.”
I visited the Green Dragon that day as well. He was lying on the couch like the sky had fallen, looking desolate.
“I’ve read the Seven Seas story completely. But there’s no next volume.”
“…”
“There’s no next volume!!!”
“It’ll be out next week.”
“Who doesn’t know that! I can’t wait until then! This won’t do. I have to rewatch it.”
The Green Dragon was rereading the comics from volume 1. I approached him discreetly and handed something to him.
“If you’re here to persuade me again, just leave. I’m going to play. The other dragons might be stupid enough to work because you scratch their egos or curiosity, but not me. I’m the dragon who has interacted with the human world the most. I know the human psyche very well……….”
The Green Dragon, who was grumpily mumbling with his nose in the comic, glanced at what I handed him and suddenly froze.
“These are the autographed goods received from Karl Moria, the author of the Green Sea story, along with the character settings and story behind them.”
In short, it was excellent.
And it was an extremely unique and special piece of merchandise in the world.
The Green Dragon swiftly snatched it like lightning and unfolded it like a treasure.
“Oh my. An autograph by the author………”
“Do you like it?”
“Oh, I love it. Can I bring works from other authors as well?”
“Of course. Green Dragon. Do you find the comics enjoyable?”
“Extremely enjoyable. Incredibly! Where did this come from…”
I smoothly, without bothering the fellow, made a subtle remark within the bounds of not touching his annoyance.
“SK Magazine is doing well nowadays. However, they say it’s a bit tough lately.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s the problems that arise from doing too well. There’s so much to do that the CEO, Swanson, is wearing himself out. They say they need people to help.”
“I see?”
A look of admiration sparkled in the eyes of the Green Dragon. I smiled slyly at the fellow.
“Would you like to try handling tasks like comic magazine distribution, sales, settling, etc., as a presence that could help SK Magazine? With your outstanding business skills, you would surely be an asset to SK Magazine.”
“Really?”
There is no happier thing for a fan full of admiration than to be given the opportunity to see the scene firsthand. I nodded my head.
“Swanson seems to be complaining a lot lately. Saying he feels like dying. That being the CEO is too tough. That due to handling miscellaneous tasks, he can’t properly do the original job of an editor. He even suggested demoting the chief editor and having someone else take over the CEO position.”
I dangled the bait.
Just need to reel it in.
“SK Magazine CEO position. Would you like to give it a try?”
“Leave it to me! The comic artists can’t be in trouble! Hey! Haven’t I been living a leisurely life for a long time! I learn fast too! I will make SK Magazine the world’s best comic magazine!”
Caught.
I looked at the Green Dragon with a face that expressed gratitude as much as possible, concealing the wicked smile of the cunning entrepreneur rising within me.
“You are truly excellent! Go work immediately! Oh! Of course, I will make sure you receive a new comic magazine faster than anyone else, thanks to the CEO privilege.”
“Damn, the best!”
And so, the Green Dragon was appointed as the head of the comic magazine. The power of fandom seemed formidable.
The fellow who could handle tasks without sleeping for a moment swiftly managed tasks like distribution, sales, and settling.
Is that all?
“Let’s hold an event. Including coupons in the comic magazine. If you collect a certain amount of coupons, you get a doll modeled after a comic character!”
“Excellent!”
“Killer, right? If we do this, the sales of the comic magazine will skyrocket!”
Indeed, the Green Dragon was amazing in this aspect. He knew exactly where the fans would go wild, and the events he created caused the magazine’s sales to soar.
I transferred a portion of my stake in SK Magazine to the Green Dragon and, along with that, he could receive a substantial amount of gold coins as dividends. And I did not spare advice on where to use that gold.
“How about a hot spring hotel business? Would you like to try it?”
“I’ve told you several times I’m not doing that!…”
“Comic artists and editors. Magazine staff also need some rest.”
“…”
“Soak in a hot spring, have a party in the evening with delicious food and invited singers for music. Build a movie theater inside the hotel to watch the latest movies together.”
“Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
“Is that all? Install a giant television to watch dramas together. And with that giant screen, you can watch soccer matches too. You can even invite soccer fans to watch the games together.”
“…”
“I also brought beer and snacks to enjoy together.”
“…I’m leaving right now to find a hot spring.”
Green Dragon also took charge of the hot spring hotel business.
Is that all?
From Noble mtl dot com
“Wouldn’t it be nice to properly build an amusement park too, Green Dragon?”
“What kind of amusement park now?”
“I’m thinking of setting up these amusement rides.”
Ferris wheel. Gyro drop. Blue Dragon Train. In addition, I showed Green Dragon designs of various amusement rides that I remembered. In the past, it would have been impossible, but now, with the Arcane Engine and high-purity magic stones developed, these rides were entirely feasible.
“It will be a great place to have fun. And we’ll build a huge performance venue in the center here.”
“Mmm.”
“We’ll hold periodic festivals. Music festivals are good, or we could bring a circus troupe from the Portu Commercial District to do a professional parade. Or maybe even hold a fan festival with the comic characters from SK Magazine.”
“Mmm-hmm!”
“What events to have, it’s all up to you, Green Dragon. Since you’re going for it, why not have a blast on a big stage? Oh, and there’s this too.”
“What is it?”
“A water park for summer fun. Giant water slides. Water bombs. Wave pools. Various slides. Playing with water, listening to music at full blast, and having fun.”
“…That sounds so exciting.”
“How about it? Ever thought of trying it out?”
When I subtly pushed him like that, Green Dragon playfully patted me on the back of my head.
“Damn it. Feels like I’m being played by you…”
“If you don’t want to, it’s fine. I can’t force you. But consider that Green Dragon has a grip on these things. Imagine becoming a major player in the entertainment industry. Creating more fun works, more fun activities, more fun products with your own hands.”
“…”
“Comics will eventually get boring. Even soccer will have dull seasons. That’s when you find a breakthrough and create new events yourself! How about that? Still not feeling it?”
In the end, Green Dragon burst into laughter at my words.
“Feels like dealing with a wicked guy. But in the end, you’re making me work.”
Though Green Dragon let out a heavy sigh, he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.
“I’ll make sure our comic artists and editors get to relax by taking them to hotels regularly. In the summer, we’ll go to the water park. In the winter, we’ll go to the amusement park and ski resort, right? Great! I’ll take care of it. Mortal! Let’s create the world’s strongest entertainment industry.”
“I’ll even set up a company that oversees such entertainment businesses. How about Dreamland Company as the name? What do you think?”
“Dreamland. I like it! hahahahaha! This playtime is going to be quite entertaining, it seems!”
Finally.
I succeeded in entrusting Green Dragon with the work. But it wasn’t a bad ending for the person taking on the task or the one delegating it.
That’s how Green Dragon became what I wanted.
I was considering also assigning him to the film industry and broadcasting industry soon.
Since there’s hardly anyone as experienced in entertainment and play as Green Dragon, many entertainment options will likely emerge.
So, who’s left now?
Having targeted the insiders in a very insider-like manner, now it’s time.
It was time to target the outsiders.
“Blue Dragon? This is Rendor.”
I left to meet the hikikomori Blue Dragon holed up in the royal palace.
“I’m in the navy, I have no interest in the sea or anything like thaaat…”
Blue Dragon was in a female polymorph state. With long unkempt hair and comfortably worn clothes, lying sprawled on the bed, emitting an indescribable aura of a loner, making it difficult to approach easily.
“I just want to quietly hang out in the room. If you provide me with TV, cartoons, and novels on time, I can assure you I’ll be content.”
With a leisurely and lazy tone, Blue Dragon, as if about to merge with the floor, lazily opened his eyes and started reading the romance novel that had recently won an award in a posture that seemed like a fairy tale.
The surroundings were filled with SK magazines.
I cautiously approached Blue Dragon.
“The Seven Seas Story. Enjoying it?”
“Yes. It’s quite enjoyable.”
“I see.”
I chuckled at his words.
I knew what the latest episode of The Seven Seas Story was about. I had to know. I had deliberately assigned Carl Moria to draw a specific episode.
It was a heartbreaking story in the latest chapter of The Seven Seas Story, where a young sailor sets out to find the Fairy’s Spring, leaving his young wife behind, only to perish in a storm, a sad legend that tore at the heart.
Thanks to Carl Moria’s devilish talent in drawing comics and Swanson’s excellent editing skills, it was truly a tear-jerking episode.
I smoothly brought up the topic to Blue Dragon.
“Have you watched the recent episode of The Seven Seas Story?”
At my words, Blue Dragon chuckled softly.
“It was amazing. I cried while watching it. Humans do seem to have strong emotions since they are short-lived. Dragons, being inherently strong, cannot create stories with such emotional depth. I don’t usually understand why humans get emotional, but seeing this, I might understand why they do it…”
His slow and calm tone was draining just to listen to. I cut in appropriately.
“Do you know that such tragedies are still happening now?”
“Really? Because humans are weak.”
“With Blue Dragon around, that can be prevented.”
“I dislike bothering…”
“The protagonists in this episode of The Seven Seas Story may have a happy ending. Blue Dragon, imagine how happy and wonderful it would be if the young sailor could eventually reunite with his wife? How great would it be if they could have a happy ending? Blue Dragon, wouldn’t it be so joyful and magnificent?”
“Well, I guess so. I would have liked a happy ending too…”
“Blue Dragon, you can make a happy ending. We are going to pioneer a massive maritime industry in the future. Without Blue Dragon’s help… many more people will die. Just like the protagonist in this episode of The Seven Seas Story.”
Blue Dragon started to look uneasy at my words.
“Uhh…”
“Then you just need to do two things. Don’t be lazy. Just two things.”
“What, what are they?”
Eventually, with a hopeful heart, Blue Dragon asked.
“Please bestow your blessings on the steel ships to be built in the future. If you cast a spell that can ward off storms and tempests, tragedies like The Seven Seas Story won’t happen.”
“I think I can do that. Anything else?”
“Will you provide weather forecasts for the sea? Informing about severe storms, tempests, or incoming waves. If you just give us that information, it will greatly ensure the survival of the ships.”
“But that’s something I have to do every day, right? That’s a bit bothersome…”
“I’ll make sure you see the comic magazines a day early.”
“…?”
“Isn’t soccer fun? And dramas too? In the future, as the Green Dragon, you will embark on various businesses, and each time, we will reserve at least one front-row seat for you. If you wish, we’ll also get you a lifetime VIP pass for the movie theater.”
“Uh, uh…”
“Whenever the latest TV models come out, we’ll upgrade them for free. We’ll provide top-notch sofas and premium wool cushions. All kinds of snacks. You can have as much as you want from our merchant guild.”
Blue Dragon hesitated for a moment at my words, then let out a heavy sigh and nodded.
“Alright. I’ll do two things for you: weather forecasts and blessings. I won’t do anything else.”
My jaw dropped in amazement.
“Of course! Certainly! Blue Dragon, sir!”
“Now, please leave. I’m going to read my novel.”
“Understood! hahahaha!!”
As I exited Blue Dragon’s room, I threw away all sense of dignity and let out a victorious yell.
Finally.
It was the moment of success when I got all 7 of them to work.