250 !!!!
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"What do you think?" I asked Elias as I swiped up on my phone. The videos flickered by, one after another a cat leaping straight into a cardboard box, a grainy clip of some kid lip-syncing a pop song into a hairbrush, a skateboarder eating pavement in front of a crowd that immediately roared with laughter. All taken from YouTube but shown vertically. Just placeholders for now, but enough to show how it worked.
Elias squinted at the screen, unimpressed. "So it's like a worse version of YouTube."
I shook my head, frowning. "What? No. Not at all."
From the back seat, Cal leaned forward, peering over Elias's shoulder. "I agree. Why would anyone want to watch videos vertically? Half the picture's cropped off."
I gestured at the screen as another clip rolled by. "When it launches, people will make vertical videos. I'm 100 percent sure. Most people won't care."
Cal leaned back, smirking. "Still feels dumb."
"You guys don't get it," I said, swiping again. A dog barked at a Roomba, chasing it in circles. "Trust me in a couple of years, this thing is going to make me billions."
Cal laughed outright. "Whatever you say, Daniel."
Elias gave me a sideways glance. "Well, you are the man with the Midas touch, Daniel. Maybe I'll invest some of my money in it."
"Go ahead," I said with a grin. "Trust me. You won't regret it."
From what I was told, the app could hit beta by June, with a soft launch around the same time and a full rollout by next October. Perfect timing. Vine was on its last legs; TikTok could take its place.
The plan was simple: attract influencers by actually paying them something Vine never did. On top of that, I had my eyes on Musical.ly. It was cheap, tangled in lawsuits over music rights, and ripe for acquisition. Once folded into TikTok, its functionality and, more importantly, its music integration would make the app more attractive to new users and bring back former Musical.ly users. Partnering directly with record labels would keep TikTok out of the same traps Musical.ly had fallen into. And given my position in Hollywood, I could make it happen.
Of course, I'd need the infrastructure to sustain it. Cloud services, servers, distribution the whole ecosystem. Right now I could rely on the giants of the industry, but I wanted to get into cloud as well. Even a small slice would take millions to start, but if things went the way they had in my old life, TikTok would grow into a monster one that could make me one of the richest men alive within a decade.
Maybe even number one, with all the other investments I have.
It got me thinking about what I'd do with that much money. It was daunting, like entering a whole new world,one which would paint new targets on my back.
I had cursed the world with brain rot in exchange for unimaginable wealth.
I almost laughed out loud.
I guess I'm becoming an evil billionaire.
"So I guess we can start by April, then?" I asked Cal and Elias, forcing my attention back to the present.
Cal nodded. "Yes, that would be best. Since the set for Winterfell won't be done by then, we can shoot all the Wall and Beyond-the-Wall sections first. King's Landing and Essos later."
Elias leaned forward, more decisive. "No better to start with the Wall, then Essos second, and then King's Landing for the battle scenes, and finally Winterfell. Malta's giving us trouble with permits. We'll need extra time there."
I nodded. My Game of Thrones needed far more work than the adaptation I remembered from my old life. I had changed much in the books—the lore, the culture, even the feel of entire regions. Every kingdom, every city had its own style of clothing and armor, and it all had to feel lived-in, coherent, and distinct.
Elias and Cal had raised concerns about this as well, just like they did with the language issue. They'd suggested sticking to simpler designs, something that wouldn't delay production. I was okay with having a common language for the show, but I stood my ground on everything else.
I had to remind them that this wasn't a small-time project. This was a 200-million-dollar production. They were in the big leagues now, and they had to think big. They needed to get out of the TV-show mindset and enter the Daniel Adler mindset which was doing everything the way I wanted it to be.
We kept discussing more, mostly the sequences in Pentos. I had kept Martin's worldbuilding of Pentos as something closer to the Italian free cities Florence, Genoa, Milan vibrant, mercantile, and decadent. Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh shared that same Mediterranean feel, while Braavos was Venice on steroids: secretive, wealthy, with all the soft power. Volantis, on the other hand, I had made similar to Constantinople living in the shadow of an empire that had once ruled the world.
Slaver's Bay was based on Mesopotamian and Egyptian kingdoms from the Bronze Age. All these would appear in the show, with the Free Cities mostly in the Young Griff plotline in the later seasons.
The car slowed.
We'd reached the studio.
I opened the door, and the chill hit me instantly. The air in Northern Ireland was sharp, biting, and it made my breath fog at once. Here in Belfast, most of the North would be shot. Beyond the Wall was reserved for Iceland, but everything else would be here in the studio and the surrounding areas.
I pulled my coat tighter as I walked out into the lot of Titanic Studios.
"Whoa…" I breathed as my eyes fell on the outdoor sets.
Spread across the yard, carpenters, stonemasons, and crews worked in sync. I could see scaffolding rising against the sky as they built the massive sets that would bring Winterfell to life.
A trench outlined what would become the moat, dug deep and ringed with timber supports. The stonework of the great double walls was half-finished, a skeletal reference that would later be extended with CGI into towering battlements. Even unfinished, the scale was imposing.
Beyond that set lay the vast courtyard, and farther still, the Great Keep, the armory more and more sets being built.
"Looks like everything's on schedule," Elias said, grinning at my awed expression.
"Let's check it out," I replied, my excitement hard to hide.
We walked deeper into the maze of construction. Cal led us to the godswood set. My breath caught at the sight of the massive weirwood tree in the center. After seeing it, I even wanted one for the garden of the house I was building though I doubted Margot would allow a large white tree with red leaves out there.
"I can't wait to see it when it's all done," I said, thinking of Winterfell in its glory in the first episode—once the CGI was added to showcase its massive scale. With everything we'd built here, it would look glorious.
We finally stepped inside to see the interiors of Winterfell. And they did not disappoint.
The Great Hall stretched wide, its high rafters lined with banners bearing the direwolf. Long wooden tables ran beneath iron chandeliers. It truly looked like a castle a family that had ruled for eight thousand years would inhabit.
These sets would be in use for the next decade Winterfell appears in every season so this was a long-term investment.
Other than this, what I was excited to see next was the Iron Throne, which was being built and would be done in three months, from what I'd been told.
"I'm impressed. This looks incredible."
Cal and Elias exchanged a look and pointed out a few additions they'd made that actually improved things.
"Alright," I said, rubbing my hands together. "Next stop: Malta or Morocco. What do you think?"
Malta would hold most of King's Landing. Morocco and parts of Spain would bring the Season one plot of Essos to life.
"We should go to Morocco first," Cal said. "By then, our issues in Malta should be resolved."
Elias nodded in agreement.
"Morocco it is," I said.
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We left Titanic Studios and headed into Belfast after looking around more and asking for a few adjustments to fix issues I'd spotted.
The cast was gathering here for the table read—every important character in the show. It would also be the first time I met some of them in person.
As soon as the car pulled up outside the building, I saw a line of fans gathered around it. I sighed. A few articles had come out yesterday about me being in the city.
I stepped out and stopped to sign a few autographs, most of them for teenage girls. A lot of Percy Jackson fans. They only wanted to know when the second series of Percy Jackson books was coming. I'd promised it a year ago and said it would be finished this year, but I hadn't written a single word.
There were a few A Song of Ice and Fire fans and some DC fans, but most were Percy Jackson readers, all clamoring for the next book and asking which month it would release. I felt kind of bad about it.
As I walked inside, I pulled out my phone and continued the text conversation I was having with Paul and Raj in a group chat where all the PR discussions took place.
About a week ago, Joe Rogan himself had slid into my DMs, asking if I'd be interested in coming on his podcast. The guys were pushing for it especially with John Wick 2 releasing next month. Rogan wasn't yet the mainstream juggernaut he would become, but he was still the biggest podcaster around. I thought it sounded fun. I'd always listened to his podcast when he had his crazier guests, the ones with the wild conspiracies and more.
I typed back in the group chat: I'll agree to it. Maybe in two weeks. You pick a date after checking with Graves.
Raj replied instantly: Got it. I'll contact his people and set it up.
I was about to pocket my phone when it rang.
It was Dave.
I answered. "What's up?"
"Dave says it's official he's out."
"Oh, fuck," I muttered, stopping just before I stepped into the elevator.
What Dave was talking about was Peter Mensah the actor set to play the main villain in the Justice League movie. Just a week ago, everything was fine. Contracts were nearly signed, schedules set, and he was ready to shoot his part in the Green Lanterns movie. That film would've set up everything for the big event that was Justice League.
The character he would have played was Malefic or Ma'alefa'ak, to be precise he was J'onn J'onzz's evil brother, a very dangerous villain. Scott and I had agreed he'd be the leader of the invasion. The lore needed tweaking, sure, but it worked in the end.
"Yeah, he's not going to do it," Dave said, his tone edged with annoyance and a bit of anger. "Health concerns, that's how he put it."
I rubbed my forehead. "Alright. Then we go to our backups."
"I've already been looking," Dave said. "Someone even recommended a guy I think would be better."
"Who?"
"Chukwudi Iwuji. Mostly a theatre guy, but I've seen some of his work, and one of my friends vouches for him… he's a great actor, Danny."
"I know who that is," I said immediately.
There was a pause. "You do?" Dave sounded surprised.
"Yeah. And listen—no. Not for this."
"Danny, come on. He's impressive. You should—"
"I know he's a great actor," I cut him off. "But I've got plans for him in another movie. I was thinking of him for Brainiac either him or Ralph Fiennes."
There was another pause on Dave's end; his voice softened. "...Oh. Okay. Yeah. That could work. Brainiac he could definitely play Brainiac."
"Maybe we could have Sterling play both the Manhunter and Malefic," Dave suggested.
I thought about it. Sterling K. Brown was just cast as the Martian Manhunter, and in the comics Malefic was his twin brother…
"I don't know, Dave. I do have someone in mind, though."
"Who do you have in mind?" he asked.
"Lance Reddick. I already know him he was in John Wick. He'd be perfect."
"Fuck, this is a tough choice," Dave said.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Well, we need to make it quick. Green Lantern can't wrap without him."
"I'll have both of them come in," Dave replied. "We'll decide after you come back."
"Fine. Monday, then," I said, cutting off the call with a sigh.
This was what happened when you took too long to lock down your main villain.
Lesson learned.
I couldn't afford mistakes like this in the upcoming DC movies. I needed to sit down with everyone and plan out the important stuff this year. I liked the way we did things till now but it was causing issues like this.
I stepped into the elevator and rode it up to a large room where the Game of Thrones cast had already gathered.
Across the room I spotted Elias and Cal deep in conversation with Sean Bean. Emilia Clarke sat with Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams, chatting with the younger actresses.
"Sean, good to see you again," I said as I walked over.
"Ah, Mr. Adler," he replied warmly in his Yorkshire accent. We shook hands firmly.
I nodded to Elias and Cal. "Everyone here?"
"Yes," Cal confirmed.
"Then I guess we can start."
Sean smirked slightly and gestured toward the table. "Aye, let's."
I moved through the crowd of actors, shaking hands and exchanging greetings Jennifer Ehle, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Ray Stevenson.
The ones I knew best were Emilia and Nikolaj. Emilia because I'd been so involved in her casting, and Nikolaj because he was already Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman.
"When will you release the next one?" Sophie Turner asked when I went to greet her, apparently she was a big Percy Jackson fan.
I laughed nervously. "Soon."
"How soon?" she pressed.
I hesitated, then admitted, "I'm going to be honest, Sophie I haven't even started it yet."
She gasped. "But… you said it would be this year!"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Please, don't tell anyone."
Sophie giggled, covering her mouth. "I won't," she promised.
After a quick chat with Emilia and then Nikolaj, mostly about his upcoming role in Justice League we all sat down at the long tables in the center of the room. The chatter died down. Cal caught my eye, giving me the look that meant: time to start.
I drew a breath, looked at the faces around me, and said, "Okay. Game of Thrones, season one, episode one. Let's do this."
It begins.
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You can read up to chapter 260
p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)