“This mongrel from another world doesn't even have the qualifications to look directly at this king. If he hadn't descended into Celestial Screen, this king's Noble Phantasm would have already executed him.”

Golden ripples emanated from Gilgamesh, and a shining golden armor gradually appeared on his body.

“A man shining with golden light... could it be that he has seen this king before?”

—

“But as your Servant, I will carry out your will.”

“Wait! Director, I can also betray! I also want more screen time! Dir—”

Scott was about to pledge allegiance, but Grady ruthlessly interrupted him. He clapped his hands and laughed, “Excellent! Suddenly, we have two protagonists that are hard to find in the world. I'm going to give you more screen time! I'll make you invincible monsters, tearing everyone to shreds! Accept the shining spotlight, Mr. Gold Dust, and enter the highlight plot I've prepared just for you!”

Red smoke continuously spread from the center of the venue. Soon, a familiar figure appeared before everyone.

Gold Dust had already used the power of the Cornerstone to transform, instantly summoning countless chips to crash down. Seeing his Master in danger, Saber stepped forward, and a dense, rain-like collision sound erupted. She wielded her Holy Sword like the wind, and not a single one could breach her defense.

At the same time, her gaze locked onto the rapidly moving Archer in the smoke. She quickly approached with her sword, and with a “clash” accompanied by dazzling sparks, their blades clashed dozens of times in an instant, a truly dazzling display.

However, this confrontation did not last long. Archer used the recoil force to float backward, skillfully landing beside Gold Dust.

“You should have seen the enemy's position clearly now, Archer?”

“Mm.” Archer pulled out a spiral arrow, drew his bow, and aimed at a distant spot.

“Now! End the battle!”

The bowstring vibrated, and the arrow left the string, turning into a subtle but astonishingly fast streak of light. As the red mist in the center of the field gradually dispersed, the surrounding barrier also collapsed, revealing the sign of Clock Studios Theme Park.

Grady clutched his chest in pain; that arrow had clearly injured him severely, leaving him unable to maintain the Noble Phantasm barrier.

—

Attack on Titan.

“What?! They... they were pretending?!”

In the Shiganshina District under the night sky, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, having just finished training, sat side by side on the training ground's grassy slope, looking up at the Holy Grail War in Celestial Screen. When they saw Archer and Gold Dust team up to put on a “turn against each other” show, Eren was so excited he almost jumped up.

“I was completely fooled by them! That Gold Dust even used the 【Cornerstone】! Was it all just acting?”

“It's normal to be fooled, Eren.” Armin, sitting with his arms around his knees, comforted him, “Even Miss Star and Boothill were fooled. But then again, if they couldn't even fool themselves, Grady definitely wouldn't have fallen for it.”

He paused, then couldn't help but exclaim, “But that Archer is what surprised me the most. Gold Dust didn't conspire with him at all beforehand. Just through a glance and a few ambiguous words, he understood all of Gold Dust's intentions in an instant and cooperated flawlessly... This insight and tacit agreement are simply astonishing.”

Recalling it now, Gold Dust wasn't entirely without hints. That line, “One must eventually change positions to see the full scope of the gamble,” had already hinted at his true intentions, but only Archer understood his meaning.

It must be said, this Master and Servant really have excellent compatibility.

—

“Why is it that in horror movies, actors always can't see where the monsters come from? As long as the movie continues, new monsters will definitely jump into the shot. Because the real monsters are born outside the set, that is—the director's lens.”

Gold Dust slowly walked up to the heavily injured Grady, looking down at him, “Your Presence Concealment is merely ‘the characters in the movie cannot perceive the filmmaker outside the lens.’”

“And monsters are the soul of horror films, the focus of the lens. Their gaze is always directly at the exposed camera position. That's why Scott, who plays the monster, could see you.”

Grady shook his head painfully, “I lost, and I admit defeat wholeheartedly.”

“The devil is hidden outside the lens, letting the real monsters pass through the screen and into the cinema. This was my most proud offline marketing campaign. I never thought that hundreds of years later, someone would still see through my trick. How did you do it, my friend?”

“Didn't I say? Mr. Grady, I'm your fan.”

“No, you were so critical of him before...”

“A bad movie director who died hundreds of years ago, noticed by a big shot from the Strategic Investment Department? Thank you for your comfort, but you're clearly not very good at lying.”

“Be more confident in yourself, Mr. Director. After accidentally watching your first movie, out of curiosity, I once delved into the historical data of Grady Films. ‘Signing a life-and-death waiver with the audience before entering the cinema,’ ‘letting real Memory Zone Memes enter the cinema during a horror film set’... These interactive and marketing methods completely surpassed their era!”

“To keenly perceive market demand and achieve the best results with limited costs, if I had met you back then, I would have definitely reserved a position for you in the marketing department.”

—

Sword Art Online.

“Perhaps Mr. Grady was just born in the wrong era.”

Asuna sighed softly, leaning her head on Kirito's shoulder, her soft chestnut hair fanning out. “If he had been born in today's Penacony, perhaps, as Gold Dust said, he could have become an outstanding marketing professional for the Interastral Peace Corporation.”

“No, if that were the case, I think it would be an insult to Grady's talent.” Kirito put his arm around Asuna, his gaze still fixed on Celestial Screen, and shook his head, “The reason Penacony is what it is today is precisely because people like Grady existed, allowing the film and entertainment industry to reach such heights. He was an indispensable part of that era.”

“Moreover, as someone who existed during the prison era, I believe that cruel era also shaped him... Looking at it now, I don't think he would necessarily achieve such brilliant accomplishments today.”

Asuna nodded thoughtfully, “Now that you mention it... it does seem to make some sense. But Grady always thought he was just a useless bad movie director.”

“That's because he only focused on movies. His true talent—and the talent recognized by everyone—was actually outside of movies.” Kirito sighed softly, “The movies he valued as life were not appreciated, while the marketing methods he didn't value were regarded as treasures by later generations... This is also his tragedy.”

—

“Heh, to be recognized in such a place, I'm unwilling.”

“You could have been incredibly wealthy, yet you invested all your money into movies, pursuing the art in your heart. Just for that, I'm willing to admit that you are a respectable director.” Robin shook her head, “But your actions are absolutely unforgivable.”

“Big star, what you just said is exactly what the Watchmaker said back then. But I accept it, I just don't have the talent to make true art. Once a person dies, they seem to be open to everything.”

“In that case, can you tell us Old Oti's plan?” Gold Dust said calmly, “If he really wanted to achieve his wish, he could have easily hired a few Masters to participate, rigging the results like a variety show. But instead, he deliberately brought together a group of uncontrollable, dangerous individuals to fight a Holy Grail War that was impossible to fight.”

Grady truthfully said, “Before coming, Mr. Otti gave me a backup plan: when I lose, I honestly admit defeat to everyone and sincerely invite everyone to be guests at the Grand Theater.”

“He and the Holy Grail will be waiting for you there. From his mouth, you will get the answers to all your questions.”