Edward was doomed—or at least, that's how he felt.
The reason for his comment was because, during the recording of the final two episodes of the variety show, he encountered two very unique actors. Their acting skills were excellent—after all, if they weren't, they wouldn't have made it to the final episodes.
But what made Edward say they were unique wasn't their acting—it was their looks.
The two actors were, frankly speaking, rather unattractive.
Edward wasn't someone who prioritized appearance; he always cared more about acting ability and emotional range.
However, compared to the other contestants on stage, these two were noticeably below average in appearance—even worse than what you'd call "ordinary."
That said, their acting was absolutely phenomenal. For a brief moment, Edward felt like he was watching "Tom Hanks" from his past life.
Even the judges expressed deep regret, saying that the only reason these two actors didn't make it further in the competition was because of their looks.
If not for that, they could have easily made it to the final round—and maybe even placed in the top three.
One famous director even commented:
"Although many people will likely question the fairness of the results after the show airs, the truth is, the entertainment industry works this way—good looks are the key to getting in."
Edward thought the statement was blunt and a bit harsh, but undeniably true.
An actor with a perfect appearance will always find it easier to enter showbiz and get access to more opportunities.
Meanwhile, those who lack in looks need to work twice—or even ten times—as hard.
"There's going to be a huge controversy," Edward muttered as he scrolled through the flood of online comments.
He could already tell the buzz around the show was massive. But once those two actors were eliminated and that director's brutally honest quote started spreading, the public discourse would likely explode.
Everyone knew the industry was like this, but having it said so directly would definitely stir up drama.
Still, Edward also understood that this particular director had always been known for his bluntness in the film world.
The filming process itself was going very smoothly. But even with a cast full of top-tier actors, it still took Edward about a week to finish filming this "heavily adapted" version of Murder on the Orient Express.
"I really feel like Sherlock Holmes Season 2 is going to be a huge success!" Leon said enthusiastically.
In the end, he had managed to land a minor cameo in the series.
Throughout filming, he had been following Edward's script, and when Holmes began deducing the identity of the culprit, Leon finally felt the charm of mystery and deduction.
"As long as the director and screenwriter don't lose their minds, it shouldn't flop," Edward replied with a smile.
Back in his past life, many excellent TV dramas had an amazing first season, only to start declining from the second season onward.
Very few shows managed to maintain or increase their quality over time.
Reasons varied: changes in director or screenwriter, producers interfering with "innovative" ideas, or excessive sequel baiting.
But in this world, Edward himself was the director, screenwriter, and producer.
As long as he didn't mess up, the series wouldn't crash and burn.
"So, where are we going next?" Leon asked curiously.
Edward sighed. The question gave him a bit of a headache—he was reminded of the recent heated debates among people in the Galar region.
Orient Express was technically Episode 2.
That meant Episode 1 had to show Holmes solving a case and then receiving a new commission.
So, where would they shoot the first episode?
"How many regions did the League suggest again?" Edward asked Leon, a little puzzled—and also a bit curious. Was Leon not working anymore? How long had he been hanging around the film crew?
"Five. Here's the list."
Leon quickly pulled out a prepared list, and Edward's mouth twitched. Clearly, they had come fully prepared.
Rubbing his temples in resignation, Edward finally picked a location to continue filming Sherlock Holmes Season 2.
Leon, overjoyed, immediately had the League send over a smart, self-driving car—supposedly a new invention from the Galar region.
On the way, Edward checked on the performance of the second episode of the variety show.
The overall ratings were still climbing. Advertisers were in a frenzy, offering higher and higher bids.
Although Edward had spent quite a bit of money to produce the show, he'd already earned it all back—and then some.
He had also made a fortune off the SMS voting system he'd set up.
Even though each vote cost just ten cents, the sheer volume made the revenue skyrocket.
"All things considered, I didn't even spend the full budget. The money just came back to me in a different form," Edward muttered, half laughing, half crying.
He had originally set up the variety show to give struggling actors a bit of a break—maybe a stepping stone.
He never imagined it would blow up like this.
After scanning a mountain of comments on his phone, Edward finally put it down and looked over at Shizuka.
She was staring into space.
"Shizuka, is something bothering you lately?" he asked.
Q, curled up on Edward's head, poked its head out too.
Even Q had noticed something was off with Shizuka—and that said a lot.
"I… I'm just wondering… am I really Shizuka? Or am I Zoroark?" she muttered, lost in thought.
At this moment, only the two of them were in the car.
Edward frowned slightly.
"You're Shizuka. And you're also Zoroark," he said, scratching his head, not quite understanding her dilemma.
According to what Shizuka had told him, she was pushed off a cliff and died.
After death, she had become a Zoroark Pokémon, but retained her identity as Shizuka.
Driven by vengeance, she completed her revenge.
But in doing so, she awakened a feral side of herself—eventually becoming a disaster that rampaged through the Hisui region.
To stop herself from doing further harm, she voluntarily imprisoned herself.
Over the long years, her memories faded, and she fell into a deep sleep.
When she finally awoke again, she remembered some things but had forgotten many more.
Her form had changed, but she was still Shizuka—just Shizuka with memory loss.
Shizuka was Zoroark.
Zoroark was Shizuka.
There was no difference between the two.
After all, Zoroark was simply what Shizuka became after she died.
(End of Chapter)