T/N: Leave your brain here. I removed as much as possible :)
...
Anaxagoras was much quieter today.
His keen eyes swept over the densely packed crowd on the street through the window, and he let out a sneer.
But even he wasn't sure whether that sneer was meant for others, or for himself.
"Tch, what a spectacle." Anaxagoras muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Castorice sat obediently on the sofa in the corner, trying as much as possible to smooth out her already-neat clothes.
She hugged a soft, fluffy pillow to her chest, using it to relieve the pressure in her heart.
Right now, she felt both happy and terrified. More than once, Castorice asked herself in her heart whether this kind of happiness really belonged to her.
Would she mess everything up again and drag everyone down with her? But whenever that thought surfaced, Xia Wen's words would immediately come to mind.
And her tense heart would calm down at once.
As for Phainon, a simple and honest young man, he was watching everyone's reactions in the room while repeatedly tidying his clothes in front of the mirror.
To be honest, Phainon was a little lacking in confidence. Ever since he learned what kind of occasion he would be facing next, he couldn't help feeling that his clothes just didn't look right anywhere.
"Does this outfit really look better than my own yellow-and-purple one?" Phainon lowered his voice and asked Mydeimos.
At a time like this, only colors that made him feel comfortable could give him confidence.
Hearing that, Mydeimos slapped a hand over his forehead and said helplessly, "Stop obsessing over that weird color scheme of yours."
"What's so weird about it anyway…" Phainon muttered.
"Alright, stop thinking about it. Look at me. Don't I look sharp?" Mydeimos shook his head, straightened his clothes, puffed out his chest, and said to Phainon.
"Yeah, very sharp, very spirited!" Phainon gave a thumbs-up.
On the other side.
Hyacine and Tribbie sat beside Aglaea, whispering to each other.
"Teacher Tribbie, pinch me quickly."
"Ever since this morning, I've felt like I'm living in a dream."
"It's too unreal!" Hyacine cupped her cheeks, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
But deep down, she also knew. Their story was really about to begin!
And just as everyone was anxiously waiting in the room. The door was suddenly pushed open.
"Ta-da!" Furina made her dazzling entrance!
The moment she stepped inside. All the extremely tense people of Okhema turned to look at her.
Faced with those gazes, Furina froze for a moment, then revealed a bright, slightly smug smile.
"Oh my."
"Just look at you all."
Furina laughed lightly. "Why is everyone so nervous?"
"Relax a bit. It's just an ordinary press conference."
"Oh right, do you still remember that bad guy, Cinnati?"
To ease her companions' nerves, Furina gave a mischievous smile and suddenly mentioned Cinnati.
"Cinnati?" Aglaea frowned and asked, "What, has he started making moves again?"
"No, no, no, he wouldn't dare right now."
"Just take out your phones and you'll see."
After Furina said that, everyone took out their phones.
Because today's occasion was so important to them, almost no one had touched their phones since morning.
But the moment they turned them on, the first thing they saw was shocking.
Those all-powerful media outlets had actually spent just one morning digging up almost Okhema Theater's entire past.
Besides Okhema Theater's experiences. All the media had also keenly uncovered the most eye-catching news.
The suppression of Okhema Theater by the Art Committee represented by Cinnati, and all of their dirty methods.
In the reports, Cinnati and the Art Committee were instantly turned into the shame of Greece, a rigid, bureaucratic institution.
Seeing this, Aglaea didn't know whether she should feel happy or sad.
Before, when Okhema Theater was nothing more than a minor character, when the one suppressing Okhema Theater was Cinnati from the Art Committee.
These media outlets with enormous influence chose collective silence.
The town residents' petitions, the scattered accusations online, were, in their eyes, not worth reporting.
They might even offend the local bosses. Back then, Okhema Theater was undoubtedly a "small character" that could be ignored and sacrificed.
And now, simply because of the involvement of Mihoyo, a entertainment giant, Okhema Theater seemed to instantly transform into a local hero worthy of extensive coverage.
So, in the news, Okhema Theater became a perfect subject, one that could be used to attack the bureaucratic system and rigid structures.
Aglaea understood as well. The reason these media were now digging up dirt and stirring emotions was not because of so-called justice.
It was because Mihoyo came with massive traffic. The suffering Okhema Theater endured was still insignificant in their eyes, nothing more than decoration.
And beneath these news articles were furious local residents.
Many felt that the Art Committee was using its power wrongly!
"These parasites from the Art Committee!"
"Look at Okhema Theater now. They were discovered by Mihoyo and are about to join the Mihoyo!"
"All of this is thanks to the 'efforts' of people like Cinnati from the Art Committee. They're completely ruining art!"
"Before the media exposed them, who knows how much hope they strangled with the same methods!"
"Damn it! These people! They deserve to die!"
"Put them before a firing squad!"
Angry viewers hurled abuse beneath the Art Committee news.
Then they turned around and showered Okhema Theater's news with frenzied praise and adoration.
As if overnight, everyone had become Okhema Theater's most loyal fans.
This couldn't help but remind Aglaea of her conversation with Xia Wen last night.
"Whoever wins gets to write the story."
Today, Aglaea gained an even deeper understanding of that sentence.
All at once, she stopped feeling nervous.
She put down her phone. And looked at the others. Whether it was the honest Phainon, or the innocent Hyacine.
They had all felt this extremely realistic experience.
Anaxagoras let out a sneer, sparing no venom for this harsh reality. "Only when you're strong enough, or standing beside someone strong, will your voice be heard, and your suffering have value. What a joke."
Just as Anaxagoras finished speaking, an ill-timed voice sounded weakly.
It was Hyacine. She simply raised her hand and asked timidly, "Th-then, Teacher Anaxagoras, does that mean we're… living off someone?"
"Yeah, this counts as living off others."
Anaxagoras complained, "I used to think I was the kind of man who would never become someone like that, until I actually experienced it. Now even my bones have gone soft. But as for this meal, my evaluation is: it's delicious, I love eating it."
Anaxagoras was completely honest about his feelings. The others also revealed smiles, some shy, some embarrassed.
But how should one put it… So this is what it feels like to cling to a big thigh?
It feels amazing!
...
Meanwhile. Inside Cinnati's office.
The place was filled to the brim with crafted ornaments.
A group of subordinates stood rigidly in place, silent, enduring Cinnati's storm of fury.
The elegance and composure this art committee member usually displayed were now nowhere to be seen, only rage remained.
Cinnati's eyes were bloodshot, veins standing out, and his meticulously combed hair was now a messy heap clinging to his head.
He slammed his fist onto the desk.
"Useless trash, all of you are nothing but garbage!"
"What the hell are those media outlets doing?!"
"Who allowed them to report on this?!"
"And you, why didn't you clean up all of Okhema Theater's mess properly? Why did you leave behind so many handles for others to grab?!"
Cinnati roared madly at his subordinates. The subordinates were speechless inside.
Wasn't it you who said you wanted to squeeze Okhema Theater, to show them strength? How did it suddenly become 'leaving evidence' now?
Heads lowered, they cursed silently in their hearts, but none dared to speak.
After venting for a while, Cinnati turned back to the computer screen, staring at the flood of comments calling him a parasite of the arts committee.
He was shaking with anger. The carefully crafted image he had built among young people was completely shattered.
His plans to advance further within the Art Committee were utterly ruined.
This was something he had never anticipated before. Not only had he failed to swallow Okhema Theater, he had even ended up losing more than he gained.
But what frightened him the most wasn't this.
It was MiHoYo's sudden intervention, and what it represented behind the scenes.
This entertainment giant was not something he could contend with. Once MiHoYo quietly acquired Okhema Theater, this outcome was inevitable.
And he had already checked. MiHoYo's acquisition of the Okhema Theater theater was a real acquisition.
Not only were personnel integrated into MiHoYo, they even bought a new theater locally in Thessaloniki. The old one had also been transferred to MiHoYo.
The procedures and approvals should have passed through Cinnati's hands.
Yet from beginning to end, he had not seen a single document related to the transfer of Okhema Theater, despite repeatedly reminding his subordinates about it.
Someone had bypassed him and completed the entire process! In an instant, countless names flashed through Cinnati's mind.
He understood. Just like how he had chosen to stand with Heldo, the Hollywood tycoon, others with completely opposing stances, people who had long wished for his downfall, had also already chosen their side.
...
Thessaloniki City. Press conference.
Inside the largest hall of the hotel. Journalists from all over the world had already set up their cameras and equipment.
They were just waiting for the main figures to appear.
"Okhema Theater… my God, I still can't believe it's just a small theater."
"I heard about One I Was In Arcadia. Even without footage, people say it's extremely novel and popular."
"But no matter what, we haven't seen a spectacle like this in many years."
"Those fans are completely insane, trying everything they can to break in."
"After all, MiHoYo's boss will be attending, along with others."
"For celebrities who care so much about their public image, overseas fans rarely get to see them. No wonder the fans are going crazy."
"Wait, they're coming!"
When the backstage doors were pushed open. A group of people appeared, dressed to perfection.
The sound of camera shutters erupted like gunfire.
The first to enter view was a man in a suit, with a slicked-back hairstyle.
Xia Wen! MiHoYo's boss.
He was exactly as described online.
Handsome. Sharp. Energetic. A relaxed, confident smile hung on his lips at all times.
His eyes casually swept across the entire venue. Behind him were a gray-haired lady, a pink-haired lady, and a black-haired male.
The Astral Express crew?!
This was the first time that the three from Honkai: Star Rail were appearing outside the screen!
In an instant, the reporters nearly lost control. Because they looked exactly the same as in the show!
Their movements, expressions, they barely even wore makeup!
It was as if the three characters had torn open the dimensional wall and stepped right in front of them!
"Holy shit!"
"They're really here!"
"Shoot! Shoot!"
As the reporters went wild. From the streets outside came shrieks like a zombie outbreak.
Those were fans who had received news from inside the venue.
In their frenzy, they were slamming against the security lines, trying to force their way in for a glimpse of their idols.
And behind the three, the people of Okhema Theater finally made their grand appearance!
First was Aglaea.
She wore a golden velvet gown, tall and elegant. Her brows carried calmness and composure. Her steps were steady and unhurried.
Tribbie and Hyacine followed closely behind. Hyacine wore a pink knee-length dress, lively and playful. Tribbie wore a deep red and amber long dress.
After them came Mydeimos and Phainon. Their refined outfits highlighted their upright figures and outstanding presence.
Anaxagoras followed behind the two. This unconventional professor was also dressed impeccably.
At the very back of the group, Castorice appeared, wearing a soft lavender gradient gown adorned with delicate crystal fragments.
She was the shyest among them all. Her head was slightly lowered, evoking tenderness and pity.
When the people of Okhema Theater finally stood before the reporters, the journalists' mouths fell open.
So much style! They looked far better than any photos they had collected before!
Every single person among the troupe was a stunning!
Pick anyone at random, and they had the potential to become a major star.
Because the Okhema Theater group was simply too outstanding. Even in such a grand setting, they didn't look out of place at all.
To the point that the reporters couldn't help but feel utterly confused.
With a lineup like this, how on earth did Okhema Theater end up in such a miserable state before?