Diantha responded quickly.
[Thank you, Director Edward! Also, I watched your A Wicked Ghost—as terrifying as ever!]
Seeing the message on his phone, Edward smiled and replied with a simple "thank you."
As for why he gave Diantha the role of Irene, he had his reasons. Besides already having discussed the role with her, the main reason was Diantha's exceptional acting skills.
Despite being a Champion, Diantha was a full-fledged actress—her talent was the real deal. Her acting was phenomenal, and since the character Irene played a crucial role, Edward needed someone capable of portraying her as perfectly as possible. That's why he chose Diantha.
After deciding to switch things up and work on a Sherlock Holmes project to give the audience a fresh flavor, Edward dove into the seemingly endless work of adapting the script. There were many versions of "that woman," but Edward felt that the version from the British series Sherlock was particularly challenging. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have Diantha stand in front of Holmes like that.
The problem, however, was that without an adaptation, the original storyline about "that woman" wasn't enough to fill a feature-length film. Even if he fleshed it out as much as he could, it would still fall short of an hour and a half.
So, after thinking it over, the version from Sherlock seemed to be the only one worth referencing—though he'd still need Diantha's permission first.
"No, wait—why would Diantha have to go through with all that when I've got Zoroark? We can just use an illusion template," Edward suddenly realized, visibly relieved. If Diantha had to actually do that scene herself, it would probably be a no-go.
Many actors talk about "sacrificing for the sake of art," but realistically, unless someone is truly dedicated, most can't go that far. And Diantha was still a Champion. Even if she were willing, the League wouldn't allow it.
"So it'll go like this... Holmes resolves Irene's case, saves her from being attacked by a dark organization, helps her fake her death and escape... Then he receives a new case—the Murder on the Orient Express."
That case wouldn't need much adaptation; adding in a few Pokémon elements would be enough. Edward continued jotting down ideas on his tablet.
The Murder on the Orient Express had a solid plot and sufficient length. He didn't need to stretch it, and with some careful polishing, the script could come out even better.
"Oh, right…" Edward suddenly remembered something and sent Zoroark a message before setting his phone aside again. He decided to write while filming, since even the first episode would take some time to shoot. The second episode, Murder on the Orient Express, would require filming on a train, which meant coordinating with the League to reserve one.
So, Edward gave Zoroark a heads-up to begin the preparations.
Once Zoroark posted the matter in the company's chat group, the chat immediately lit up.
Edward was rarely the type to demand overtime—or rather, he never did. But whenever he did, he always paid the full triple-rate overtime mandated by the League. Now that Edward had scheduled a rare weekend shoot, the employees were all abuzz.
As word spread, the company's phones began to ring off the hook.
Everyone knew the kind of ratings Sherlock Holmes had achieved that year. The first season had been a massive success and launched numerous actors into stardom. Holmes' actor, Daniel, had become an overnight sensation and was now one of the hottest stars in the industry.
Now, a flood of celebrities and actors who felt overlooked were sending in invitations, hoping for a chance to meet Edward and land a role. If Daniel could rise to fame through Holmes, why couldn't they?
Even more aggressive than the actors were the sponsors.
Product placements and sponsorship deals for Sherlock Holmes poured in like a flood, especially from high-end fashion brands. Many wanted to sponsor Holmes' entire wardrobe and gear—hoping their brand would become synonymous with intelligence and class.
"I believe we should offer Director Edward the biggest, best, fastest, and most luxurious train in the Galar region to use for filming Sherlock Holmes!" roared the League Chairman of Galar—a rugged man pounding his desk in excitement.
Yes, Sherlock Holmes. Wonderful Holmes.
Galar had always been mocked by the other regions as the "Fish and Chips Region," a place supposedly known for nothing but fried food. But now? Sherlock Holmes had shown up—with record-breaking ratings—and wiped away that reputation in one fell swoop. It even triggered a chain reaction, bringing in waves of tourists eager to experience the region firsthand.
Holmes' residence had become a popular photo spot, with tourists lining up to take pictures. Shops that collaborated with the brand were raking in profits, and people were envious.
The number of tourists in Motostoke had multiplied several times over. The tourism minister now wore a permanent smile, and when he heard that Edward was filming a new Sherlock Holmes story, his face turned bright red with excitement—clearly invigorated. Other ministers couldn't help but roll their eyes at him.
"I have no objections," said the transportation minister. "I'll coordinate with the railway department to clear ample track time and routes for Director Edward. As long as filming continues, that train won't stop!"
The League had already received Ghost Film Pictures' official request to use a train for filming. Naturally, they had to support it—and not just with any train. They needed the best. Plus, they could schedule the train to pass by Galar's scenic spots to promote tourism. After all, Galar's landscapes were truly beautiful.
"Director Edward really is a remarkable filmmaker," said Leon, browsing through the materials while listening to the ministers discuss how to support the film.
Leon had always worked hard for the Galar region, but he hadn't expected Edward to bring such a huge boost so quickly. This new shoot was already overwhelming in scale. Just in terms of locations and sponsors alone, it was already off the charts.
There was even a dispute between villages, each arguing they were the best choice for Edward's filming location. In the end, it took the League Chairman stepping in to declare:
"All decisions are up to Director Edward."
That finally put an end to the argument.
(End of Chapter)