May 3rd, 11 PM.
Episode 18 of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 aired.
After the nuclear explosion, Lelouch collapsed.
Then came a conversation with Rolo via communicator:
"Rolo, can I speak with Nunnally?"
"Ah, that..."
"I can't reach Sayoko."
"Um, brother, I couldn't make it in time. Nunnally... in that light..."
"I didn't ask you that. I just want to speak with Nunnally."
"But, brother, Nunnally is dead. She's dead!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Lelouch roared, his voice shaking with rage, at Rolo on the other end of the communicator.
Rolo froze for a moment.
Lelouch, his face devoid of all hope, pleaded, "Rolo, just for a moment. Let me speak with Nunnally."
The moment his words fell, the ending theme began, and the 18th episode concluded.
Due to deliberate misdirection, nearly all viewers believed Nunnally had died in the nuclear blast, nearly causing a riot that night.
The internet exploded with angry and resentful voices:
"Nunnally's dead? You bastards! Are you kidding me?"
"Rolo's still alive, but Nunnally's the one who dies first? I can't take this."
"First Euphie, then Shirley, then C.C. lost her memory, and now Nunnally's gone too. Are you trying to kill off everyone close to the protagonist one by one?"
"Euphie and Shirley's deaths were tragic, but Nunnally's is even more tragic. Sayoko had already found her and was about to rescue her. It's just too unfair."
"Here's a joke: Code Geass is the ultimate hype anime. So hype it makes my scalp tingle."
"Nunnally was already crippled with paralyzed legs and blindness. That was tragic enough, but now you've gone and killed her off? Fuck!"
"I'm sending razor blades! I'm sending razor blades! Damn it!"
That night, L.S Production's official website was flooded with viewers. Fortunately, Lin Zhiyan had the foresight to post a maintenance announcement a week in advance, restricting the site to read-only mode to prevent the comment section from being overwhelmed.
The company's public email address, however, couldn't display the maintenance notice. In just one night, it was flooded with malicious emails. But since the content of these emails didn't need to be publicly disclosed, the problem was minimal as long as no one deliberately checked them.
Throughout the night, the company's public phone number nearly exploded with calls. Even the next day, people continued to call and curse, until Lin Zhiyan finally had the lines disconnected.
After all, even with the phone lines cut, it wouldn't significantly impact work. For any necessary communication, production assistants could use their mobile phones. The company reimbursed them a monthly phone allowance, so it wouldn't add any extra financial burden.
Ignoring the viewers' fury, the production of the animation's subsequent episodes continued smoothly.
Before the nineteenth episode of the animation even aired, L.S. received a package—a box of razor blades.
The recipient was "Lin Zhiyan."
Along with the blades, there was a letter expressing dissatisfaction with the Code Geass animation.
The anger wasn't just about Nunnally's death, but also the accumulated resentment from the deaths of Euphie and Shirley.
Since the founding of L.S. Production, this was the first time they had received razor blades from a viewer.
Although razor blades carried a slight threat, the staff showed no fear upon learning about the incident. Instead, they were intrigued:
"I've heard that popular shows sometimes receive razor blades from angry fans during the more brutal parts. I didn't think it was actually true."
"First time receiving razor blades, achievement unlocked."
"Why is the recipient the President's name? I wish I'd received one too—then I'd have something cool to brag about at the bar with my friends."
"Keep working hard! When you're capable of leading the production of your own anime, you can have one too."
"Our Code Geass is still really popular, isn't it? Otherwise, no one would bother sending us razor blades."
"Yeah, totally."
As the person directly involved, Lin Zhiyan found the situation somewhat novel, though he wasn't as carefree.
Receiving the razor blade was truly unfortunate. This object represented hatred, and he wanted to avoid attracting such animosity as much as possible. Otherwise, he'd have to be constantly wary even when walking down the street and wouldn't dare participate in fan events.
Fortunately, he hadn't received any razor blades when Euphemia died, nor when Shirley died. This time, Nunnally's "death" was merely a feint; she hadn't truly perished in the nuclear explosion. When the plot twist eventually revealed her survival, the audience's hatred for him would vanish.
Within a few weeks, Lin Zhiyan would once again be the beloved animation director he once was.
He had the razor blade and the accompanying letter expressing dissatisfaction stored in the storage room. After securing them properly, he returned to his office.
After some thought, he logged into the forum using an alt account and posted in the animation section:
"I've noticed many people are upset about Nunnally's death... Yes, Nunnally's death is indeed a devastating blow to Lelouch. But personally, I think it's a good thing.
Why do I say that?
First, while Nunnally claims to love her brother dearly, this is merely superficial. She has no idea that Lelouch is actually Zero. If she knew, she would never forgive him. She might even see him as a demon who would kill Euphemia for his own ambitions."
That's right, she could never understand Lelouch's methods. Even if he told her that everything he did was for her sake, she wouldn't be happy. Her values were such that she could never accept such actions.
Now that Nunnally is dead, it's a devastating blow to Lelouch. But if she were alive and later discovered that Lelouch was Zero, they would likely fall out. A brother and sister turning against each other would be truly tragic.
Moreover, not to mention that Rolo was among those Lelouch sent to find Nunnally. If Rolo found her, he would undoubtedly kill her first. Even if Nunnally were successfully rescued, how could she ever face Lelouch again?
With Nunnally dead, she'll never know that Zero is Lelouch. The idealized image of him in her heart can remain intact. In a way, this isn't such a bad outcome.
Posting this wasn't just about defending himself and reducing the backlash; its primary purpose was to solidify the audience's belief that "Nunnally is dead." When the truth is revealed later, the twist will spark heated discussion.
It's similar to the deceptive marketing of the first season, which promised a "satisfying action series" but turned into a "heartbreaking drama."
Of course, there's no need for the official account to get involved this time. Using alt accounts to stir up the narrative will suffice.
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