The shot involving the ghost appearing in the photo was actually quite easy to handle. They could simply film the scenes first and then select a few appropriate photographs. By layering them and having the protagonist flip through them one by one, it would naturally give the effect of the ghost gradually moving closer in each photo.
This filming technique had another advantage—it created suspense. The audience would be filled with curiosity: what happened to the ghost in the photo? Did it come out? Vanish? Or was it all just an illusion? Just when the protagonist sighs in relief and turns around... bam—the ghost from the photo is right there.
To enhance the scare factor, Edward had a special trick in mind. He planned to lower the volume throughout the scene, making the audience instinctively lean in and listen carefully. Then, when the ghost face suddenly appears, the sound would spike sharply—delivering a strong jump scare.
This kind of scare tactic is fairly common in the horror industry, especially in space-themed horror. Since there's no sound transmission in space, scenes often appear in complete silence. The audience can see characters' actions but hear nothing. This naturally causes viewers to focus their attention more intensely. Then, a sudden loud noise can jolt them to the core.
The benefit of this method is that it's simple and effective—almost anyone would get scared. The downside is that it's a bit cliché. If used too often, audiences might stop reacting or even feel annoyed. But since Edward's project was just a short film, not a full-length movie, using this trick once was perfectly fine.
After finalizing the concept, Edward returned to the company and quickly shot the short film with the production team. Once filming was done, he handed it over to the post-production department for editing. With that, the horror short film project was complete.
"Now then..." Edward looked at his schedule. "The script issues can be sorted out slowly, and I don't have any variety show appearances coming up in the short term…"
He had nothing particularly urgent on his plate anymore.
Next, he planned to meet with Gengar to discuss security matters. After that, he could head to the Sinnoh with Cynthia to explore the ancient ruins. He wasn't particularly excited about the ruins themselves, but with nothing else going on, a trip sounded like a decent way to relax and unwind.
However, since it was already getting late, Edward decided to put off the meeting with Gengar until the next day.
That evening at home, Fortune seemed restless—even while reading, it couldn't fully concentrate. Edward wasn't surprised. After all, this exam was important, and the night before the results came out was bound to be nerve-wracking.
He had the old butler prepare a steaming mug of Miltank milk for Fortune to help it relax.
The next morning, as soon as Edward got up, he saw Fortune already reading. It kept glancing at the book, then at his phone. Edward couldn't help but smile wryly. This little one probably hadn't slept at all last night.
Beside it, Q was curled up reading a comic book. It hadn't slept either, staying up to keep Fortune company. Or perhaps, more accurately, neither of them needed to sleep—being Ghost-type Pokémon.
Edward had originally wanted to stay up with them, but in the end, he changed his mind. The Hoenn League University always released scores at exactly ten in the morning. Staying up all night wouldn't change anything.
So, he opted for a proper night's sleep. He wasn't a Ghost-type, after all—he couldn't handle the toll of sleepless nights.
"Hmm... 9:20. Still forty minutes until the results come out." Edward yawned, glanced at the anxious Fortune, and helplessly picked him up.
"Come on, Fortune, Q, time to wash up."
In Edward's house, morning routines were never skipped. By the time they were done washing up, the results would almost be out.
Sure enough, his timing was spot-on. When he finished freshening up, it was exactly ten o'clock. Seeing how nervous Fortune looked, Edward helped him open the Hoenn University's official website and input his exam number.
[Exam Results: You have been admitted.]
Edward let out a sigh of relief, and Fortune instantly calmed down.
Even though he had known Fortune worked extremely hard and had a high chance of passing, actually seeing the words "admitted" still made Edward genuinely happy.
He himself had never attended a Pokémon university. From junior high onward, he was privately tutored by elite instructors, personally guided by his father, who taught him business management.
That said, Edward had earned a regular university degree before. So Pokémon university didn't hold that much meaning for him. He'd already learned everything he needed to.
"Fortune, are you planning to commute from home or live on campus?" Edward asked. He hadn't thought to bring this up earlier.
Fortune didn't hesitate. He picked up the tablet Edward had given him and tapped a reply.
[Commute. Skip grades.]
Edward nodded. He understood.
He wasn't surprised by Fortune's desire to skip grades. After all, as a Ghost-type Pokémon, he didn't need to sleep. While some Ghost-types retained the habit of sleeping, it was purely a preference and had no real physiological need.
Given how driven Fortune was, Edward figured that even if he didn't break the record for the fastest graduation in six months, he wouldn't take much longer than that.
Looking at him, Edward felt very satisfied. Once Fortune graduated with solid knowledge, he could start introducing him to some of the company's operations. With his help, things at Devon Corporation would run even more smoothly—and Edward himself could finally get some rest.
He already had a competent secretary in Zoroark, after all.
After breakfast, Edward had the old butler drive him to the entrance of Petalburg Woods. The moment he stepped into the forest, everything around him suddenly went dark. From his shadow, Gengar emerged.
"Edward, you brat! You haven't visited me in forever, and now you show up without bringing me a gift?" Gengar sniffed around him with visible displeasure.
"I did bring something," Edward replied, opening his hand to reveal two cubes of Fear candies.
Gengar's eyes lit up instantly. He eagerly grabbed the candies, tossed them into his mouth, and chewed with great satisfaction.
"Alright, spill it. You didn't come all this way just to give me sweets," Gengar said contentedly, letting out a breath and looking at Edward with interest.
Edward rubbed his hands together and started explaining his proposal.
(End of Chapter)