"You're planning to shoot a sci-fi film next?" Joseph, Edward's father, looked slightly surprised after hearing his son's plan. There was a hint of astonishment in his eyes as he looked at Edward.
He knew his youngest son fairly well. In Joseph' mind, Edward had originally started his film company on a whim, but now, it had grown into something quite respectable.
"Yes, a sci-fi horror film. I'm planning to shoot something set in outer space…" Edward briefly explained his concept. The structure and worldbuilding of Alien were already fully formed in his mind—now, it was just a matter of turning it into reality.
Joseph listened with great interest, while Steven also revealed a trace of surprise. He hadn't expected his younger brother to attempt such a film. It was a major departure from Edward's previous works, but it sounded quite intriguing—mysterious alien creatures and all.
"Speaking of outer space, isn't the Mossdeep City Rocket Center currently working on a new launch project?" Steven suddenly recalled something relevant.
"Yes, I spoke with the director of the Mossdeep Rocket Research Institute recently. While their research has made some progress, they're still at least a year or two away from launch trials," Joseph nodded. He had chatted with the director not long ago.
Mossdeep City Rocket Launch Center…? Edward pondered for a moment. He remembered that the Pokémon world was researching rockets, but because of Rayquaza—the legendary Pokémon that ruled the skies—any flying object entering its domain was met with violent hostility and destruction.
This was why space exploration in the Pokémon world remained extremely limited.
"Are you thinking of filming there?" his father asked with a smile.
Edward shook his head. He had looked into the Mossdeep rocket center while researching for Alien, but overall, space technology in this world was still far behind. Rockets were still in the basic stages—nowhere near reaching the moon, and manned spaceflight was still a dream confined to PowerPoint presentations.
For a sci-fi film like Alien, which was far too ahead of its time in this world, filming at Mossdeep's rocket center would be meaningless. Just the idea of long-distance space travel, cryogenic sleep chambers, and advanced starships was leagues beyond current technology. Although the Pokémon world had some unusual and fantastical tech, it still couldn't compare in those specific areas.
"By the way, the Kanto and Johto Leagues sent an invitation to your company recently. They're hoping you'll consider filming in their regions," his father said as he poured Edward a glass of berry juice.
Edward paused for a moment.
"That'll have to wait. I don't think this horror film can be shot there," he replied, waving his hand. He had a pretty good idea what the Kanto and Johto Leagues were thinking—probably trying to cash in on the success of Galar's involvement in Murder on the Orient Express.
However, when it came to the set for Alien…
Edward hesitated for a second.
Actually, maybe it wasn't impossible. After all, although the film would be set in space, he obviously wouldn't be filming in real outer space. The actual production still had to happen somewhere in the Pokémon world.
The spaceship set was going to be a huge undertaking. Edward would need a massive space to build a full-sized spacecraft. But funding wasn't much of an issue—his box office success and the quality of his past films meant he could attract a lot of investment.
And if it really came down to it, Ghost Film Studios could always dip into its own coffers. To Edward, those funds were just numbers on a screen anyway.
But now he had a better idea: let the Kanto and Johto Leagues cover the costs and provide the filming location.
With that, the two leagues would probably have to thank him for the opportunity.
"Would the Kanto and Johto Leagues be willing to fund the construction of a spaceship set for me? A big one?" Edward asked excitedly. If they were willing, then he'd have no problem filming there. After all, the exact location didn't matter—everything would eventually be portrayed as outer space. As long as the ship and its interior were well-designed, the external scenery was irrelevant.
And if they built a large set, it could later be repurposed into a themed amusement park, providing Kanto and Johto with a long-term profit source.
"Huh? I'll… I'll ask for you," his father responded, a little dumbfounded. He'd been wondering how to politely turn down the leagues' request, but to his surprise, his son actually agreed—eagerly, even.
Edward quickly explained what he needed: a huge plot of land, a full-sized spaceship built as fast as possible, and additional props and components. As for the Alien itself, he planned to cast Ditto from the stunt actors' guild—Pokémon known for their ability to transform into any shape, making them perfect for practical effects.
With Zoroark also on hand, Edward realized the most expensive part of this production would be the ship. The CGI-heavy costs from his previous world wouldn't be needed here thanks to the help of Pokémon, keeping the special effects budget surprisingly low.
…
"Edward, I heard Shizuka's back? Wasn't she missing after that explosion?" Steven asked, clearly concerned about something else.
One of the reasons he'd come back today was to ask about Shizuka. That girl had done something remarkable for his little brother—but then disappeared. The League had searched the ruins of Twinlead Town and found no trace of her.
Later, however…
What happened at the ruins wasn't exactly a secret within the League. Some mysterious objects had been discovered there afterward, causing certain League officials to question whether the known history of the world might be flawed.
After all, Shizuka was from modern times.
"Yeah, the situation was… complicated," Edward said, rubbing his brow. He hadn't intended to keep it a secret—it would've been nearly impossible to hide, anyway.
So he gave them a brief rundown of what had happened, including his own theories.
His father listened in silence, holding a slice of meat in his fork for a long time. By the end, even he had a look of disbelief in his eyes.
"…Anyway, in the end, everything Shizuka went through was because of me. If she hadn't jumped in to shield me from that explosion…" Edward's tone grew solemn.
He made his stance very clear—no matter how special Shizuka was, he would protect the girl who had once protected him.
(End of Chapter)