My wife is the stand-in.

As for the money? Granny Tang had already made a deal with the various powerful figures that day, using the medicinal bath slots as leverage!

These branch offices and forces were prepared long ago!

He helped Karenina straighten her wrinkled clothes and said softly, "I admire Spielberg's skill and believe his film will be a huge success. His script must be excellent, but as good as it is, the tone needs to be changed to something Chinese. I'll have to trouble Ms. Karenina to help persuade him then."

Karenina laughed angrily: "I'm his assistant, not yours. I have no obligation to serve you!"

"But I'm paying for it. My movie has already grossed 500 million."

Amanosaki stretched out his hand, his five fingers covered in sauce and grease, exuding a depraved stench of money.

Kanna, standing beside him, reluctantly took a piece of rice tofu from the skewer she was holding and asked hesitantly:

"Eat?"

Chapter 158: A Gathering of Heroes

Spielberg is an ambitious man. His works and name are similar to those of the great directors on Earth, but they are by no means the same person.

There is no Oscar, no Cannes, no Venice, and no Berlin Film Festival in this world because the trend of individual heroism has become rampant, and film has become an appendage of heroic culture.

Therefore, the prestige of internationally renowned directors is not as sought-after as it is on Earth.

But Spielberg did not give up. Although he did not have the prestige of the world's Spielberg, he had an exceptionally keen business sense. He had long ago keenly sensed the prospects of online movies and the potential of the Chinese film market.

Only when a film has a market and generates revenue can a director have the confidence to squander investors' money in pursuit of their own art.

They went to great lengths to attract investment, equipment, and actors to China to test the waters.

So when Karenina made those demanding requests, he didn't put on airs but politely refused, but the subsequent plot developments left him bewildered.

With his graying hair, he sat on a wooden crate in the tent, next to a stylish kerosene lamp with a glass of yellowed soot.

He found this item at an antique market in China with the help of a translator. It was something that was commonplace 50 years ago, and he spent a full two thousand dollars to get it.

He knew, of course, that he had been ripped off; the real price of the item was probably ten times less. But he bought it out of interest and for set design purposes, and he felt he hadn't lost out.

However, the reality still surprised him.

“Mr. Berg, the goods here are all sold by weight. This kerosene lamp is mainly made of tin, with very little copper... I estimate it costs only thirty or forty yuan.”

Thinking of what the translator had told him during the day, Spiegelberg, holding a kerosene lamp shaped like a lantern, gave a wry smile: "China, oh China, I really don't understand you."

The buzzing sound, like that of bees, grew louder and louder, and the tent began to shake.

A member of the filming crew suddenly flung open the curtain, bringing in a gust of wind. The man was covered in sweat. "Berg! Several helicopters and military vehicles have suddenly arrived. They say they're here to pick you up!"

"I see."

Pisberg slowly put down the lantern and walked out of the tent, which resembled a Western-style mansion and was decorated with various old objects bearing the marks of time.

Then the scenery suddenly opened up before my eyes, with endless grasslands and a clear blue sky filling my vision with blue and green hues.

Just a step away, he went from a Western-style castle mansion into a vast nomadic territory.

Several transport helicopters with enormous bellies were parked there, and soldiers stood in neat rows with steel guns at their sides, taking control of the entire expedition team.

"Mr. Spiegelberg, is that right?"

A man with tanned brown skin, a strong physique, a rugged demeanor, and youthful vigor stepped forward, his eyes gleaming.

Spiegelberg nodded. "It's me."

"You should know by now, right?"

"Understood." He glanced around at the surroundings. All the people being controlled were terrified, and their gazes toward him had changed. His smile grew increasingly bitter. "Given this situation, what else can I do? Let's go."

He then boarded the plane first, and then he saw the entire team, under the command of the soldiers, file into the transport plane.

“Equipment…” Spiegelberg stared blankly at his collection lying abandoned on the spot, his mouth agape.

The soldier replied in fluent foreign language: "Please don't worry, we have a special unit stationed here, and we will seal off this place overnight until your team returns. Any equipment damage will be compensated with the same items."

Spielberg leaned back in his chair and nervously closed his eyes.

"This is the first time we've officially partnered with China... I guess you could say I'm the first in a certain sense."

Meanwhile, planes and trains from all over the country set off, rushing towards the fleet's destination. Karenina and the heroes on board stared in disbelief at the suddenly bustling river, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

Soon, a speedboat bearing the sign of the Dajiang Water Affairs Bureau arrived. A girl in a bulky life jacket stood gracefully on the gunwale, her bright eyes looking up and down curiously at the large ship filled with chivalrous heroes.

"The places where chivalrous heroes live are pretty much the same as ours."

Who are you looking for?!

Separated by a railing, Kanna tilted her head back, her little horns swaying back and forth, looking extremely happy.

"I'm looking for Miss Lin Shuyu." The girl was only a few years older than Kang Na, around thirteen or fourteen. The two got along very well, exchanging questions and answers.

The same scene was happening on the other side of the boat. Lin Shuyu did not show up herself, but instead asked Amanosaki and the organizing committee member Xia Ke to receive her on her behalf.

"What are all these things?! How come there are so many?!"

Amanosaki carried large and small boxes on his hands and shoulders, placing them on the deck, his whole body covered in sweat.

Connor laughed heartily as she chased after the fisherwoman in front of her. The two played hide-and-seek in the gaps between the deck crates, their laughter filling the air, much to the envy of the children on the other fishing boats.

"They are all film equipment, camera vehicles, tracks, professional cameras, life-saving equipment and mobile communication base stations, as well as professional photography equipment mounted on drones."

Amanosaki pointed to the military drones in the cabin: "Aren't these the right ones?"

Lin Shuyu shook her head: "Military equipment emphasizes stability, resolution is secondary. Computers can filter and help judge targets, but for filming, the clearer the better. Spielberg is a famous director, and he has very high requirements for equipment. It's different from live broadcasting; you have to use big equipment."

"What about those ships?"

"The cargo ships and fishing boats hired by the Dajiang Water Affairs Bureau were used as extras. The items on board were weapons and ammunition, provided by the security forces of the Yanlong Consortium and Jiuxingshan Real Estate. Larger weapons would need to go through the procedures in the capital, but we couldn't wait, so we organized civilian weapons under the guise of a security exercise."

Civilian weapons… Amanosaki was completely stunned. He looked at Taie, who was quickly getting busy, and spread his hands:

What exactly are we supposed to film?

“A movie!” Lin Shuyu shrugged, speaking matter-of-factly. “Didn’t you draw the storyboards?”

“But I didn’t need to prepare so many ships and weapons!” Amanosaki exclaimed in frustration. “Today I’m filming the scene where Kanna fights the fish monster, and tomorrow I’ll reshoot the daily scenes with a new character!”

"Oh, this."

Lin Shuyu leaned on the railing and said, "Everyone felt that your script wasn't exciting enough, so we decided to add some extra plot elements."

"What the hell! When the contract was signed, it didn't say that the investors had the right to change the script!"

"Yes, that's right."

Lin Shuyu nodded, then picked up Kanna, who was playing, from the gap in the box. "But Kanna also thinks it's not fun anymore. She wants to add something extra. Are you going to refuse?"

Seeing Amanosaki's puzzled look, Kanna excitedly raised her hands: "I want to eat the Queen Fish! I've already eaten everything else!"

Looking at the spirited Kanna, Amanosaki sighed helplessly: "Alright, even if we want to film the scene of hunting the Queen Fish, where are we going to find one? We're still in the waters of Dongting Province, and we won't be able to reach the next province until tomorrow at the earliest."

"It's nothing." Lin Shuyu gave a meaningful smile. "Who do you think was the first to say your script was bland?"

The rotor blades of the military transport helicopter kicked up water mist, and amidst the powerful roar of its engine, a huge helicopter landed steadily on a tugboat, pressing the entire vessel to the dangerous waterline.

A white man with gray hair, supported by soldiers, disembarked from the plane, his face pale, but his tired eyes held an undisguised excitement.

"Hey! Karenina! I watched the video, it was amazing! Where's the dragon! Take me to see it! Now!"

Karenina put down the rice tofu, quickly wiped her mouth, and went to greet them with a charming and alluring manner.

Helicopters lowered ropes, scattering soldiers like seeds.

Lin Shuyu patted Amanosaki on the shoulder and said earnestly, "The officials of various provinces all say that your script is very good. The only shortcoming is that it is too small-minded. It makes it seem like China has no money or people, and it does not show our spirit."

"Didn't you draw the character designs for 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'? Let's build it on that scale. We don't have tanks, but we can build these ships however we want. The shipyards under the Dajiang Water Affairs Bureau have already promised to replace any damaged ships. These fishermen and cargo owners are all counting on you to exchange their old ships for new ones!"

Looking at the chaotic scene, Amanosaki muttered to himself:

"I've never fought such a rich battle in my eight lifetimes!"

Chapter 159: Filming is allowed!

Karenina brought Spiegelberg to Amanosaki, and the old man, upon seeing Amanosaki, couldn't help but burst into a foreign language:

"Sir, I heard that the dragon in the video is your special ability, and that it can only last for one day, and will turn into something else by midnight tonight at the latest. Is that true?"

Amanosaki waited two seconds before Karenina put the earphone in Berg's ear, and the translator quickly translated before nodding, "Yes."

"Then we need to hurry up. Karenina said you have storyboards. Where are they? Take them out!"

At this point, Berger adopted the air of a great director, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Karenina was terrified by the rude tone. She looked at the boats coming and going on the river and the various weapons propelling them, as well as the Wudang heroes in white robes riding bamboo poles. Fearing that she and Berg would be killed by Amanosaki in a fit of rage at any moment, she quickly stepped forward and inserted her ample breasts into the conversation between the two men.

But before she could speak, Amanosaki had already taken out the manuscript and handed it over.

He himself could be considered an artist, and had once taken on urgent requests from clients. He knew all too well how much pressure creators faced in such situations, and putting himself in their shoes, Amanosaki had no complaints whatsoever.

The manuscript pages rustled as Berger rapidly flipped through the storyboard manuscript in about ten minutes.

"The plot and cinematography are very smooth."

Berg frowned, half sighing and half feeling troubled, and said, "It's like you've already seen the finished film and then copied it."

"Nonsense," Amanosaki thought to himself, "I copied the dragon scenes from 'He's a Dragon' and 'A Song of Ice and Fire' from my manuscript, and the story outline is from 'Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.' They're all ready-made, so isn't it incredibly smooth?"

"But with such great resources, you're just planning to make such an ordinary movie?"

Spiegel's brow furrowed even more, clearly showing his displeasure:

"You have the support of a state apparatus, and you have a giant dragon that can move freely and perform, with immediate results. I wonder how much extravagance and time and money you can save on waiting for the finished film. The result is a story about a crew member retrieving a giant egg, hatching a dragon, and then raising the dragon together with the crew?"

Are you trying to explore the harmonious coexistence of humans and animals and promote environmental protection?

Amanosaki's face twitched.

“No, of course not.” He explained somewhat awkwardly, “Initially, I thought we would make the film ourselves, with another lady and me as the director and screenwriter. Since we are both novices, we planned to make a simple and heartwarming film first to test the waters.”

"That's why you need me and my team."

Spielberg, chin held high, his aged face radiating pride: "Throw away your script, your resources deserve a better story."

"But the battle scene only lasts for less than a day. Even if I try my best to extend it, I can only maintain it until dawn on the second day."

Amanosaki glanced at the data below his field of vision, assessed the amount of magic gems he possessed, and made the biggest concession possible.