"Have any of you been here before? How do we go about reaching the city?" Adam asked.
"None of us has. However, when I spoke to Eir previously, she informed me that the easiest way for us to reach the capital city is to take the hovertrain. After that, a car should be waiting to take us from the station to the hotel," Lorelie replied.
Alright, let's go," Adam said as the group began to disembark Spector.
"You really do need to sort out a new agency or at least get yourself a manager," Rowena replied as they headed for the docking bays elevator that would take them back to the surface level.
"It makes a change having to arrange all this myself; however, you're probably right."
"Is there something wrong with Lorelie doing it?" Tephe asked curiously.
"It's not that there is anything wrong with it; it's just that it adds so much extra work for Lorelie when she already has to plan and chronograph each of her shows," Rowena began to explain as they entered the elevator.
"An entertainment company and a manager's role is not only to help promote the artist, but also to negotiate performance locations, transport and accommodation, as well as many other things.
Lorelie was ok in the Oasis Galaxy because her home is there, and we could just stay there. Also, Queen Marilla, who is a former artist herself, helped in arranging the performance location, dates and time. Now that Lorelie has truly started her tour, these things will have to be arranged by her, though, of course, I will help where I can, and I'm sure the ruling party of each galaxy will also be happy to help, but it will still need Lorelie to communicate with them personally."
Tephe was about to reply when the elevator door opened, revealing the main level of the spaceport where many individuals moved about conducting their business, until suddenly.
"KKKYYYYYYAAAAAAAA, ITS DIVE LORELIE AND DIVE ROWENA," a woman screamed in excitement as she noticed them exit the elevator.
"What?"
"Oh my god, it really is."
"Oh wow, they're finally here."
Soon, many individuals rushed towards the group before asking Lorelie and Rowena for pictures, autographs and questions.
This naturally went on for quite a while until Lorelie raised her hand for silence before smiling at everyone and saying, "Thank you all very much for the support, but we do need to be on our way."
After that, the crowd partied and let the group progress towards the spaceport's hoverrail station while the crowd followed behind them.
A few children who happened to be in the space port even ran up and walked hand in hand with the two divas for a short way before they were called back by their parents.
"Not sure I will ever get used to that," Adam commented with a smile.
"Oh? You're getting rather famous yourself now, so I don't doubt that people will start approaching you like that in the future." Rowena remarked.
"Haha, I doubt I will ever be as popular as you two."
"Perhaps, perhaps not, only time will tell," Rowena replied as they arrived at the station to find that there was a hovertrain waiting, which they quickly boarded before finding an empty compartment that they took for themselves.
"So, from what you were saying before, you mean that if Lorelie has to do everything herself, she will quickly get overwhelmed?" Tephe asked after they all settled down and the hovertrain started to move.
"Exactly," Rowena replied with a nod.
"Why don't you join the entertainment company Rowena is part of?" Adam asked Lorelie before he turned to Rowena and asked, "What was it called again?"
"Dynamic Entertainment it's a Dwarfinian company that was started by an old friend of mine who passed away several years ago," Rowena replied as she waved at some children who kept appearing outside the compartment and waving at them through the window before continuing.
"I have already spoken to Lorelie about this after she informed me that Dynamic contacted her about signing with them, but I don't suggest she signs with them.
Ever since my friend passed away and her children took over, the company's direction has changed, and they have become far more aggressive. They are becoming more like Drotas Entertainment in their approach, and I don't like it."
"Does that mean you're thinking of leaving Dynamic Entertainment, then, grandmother?" Stacey asked.
"I have been quietly considering it, though I'm still in contract with them for another three years, so I need to consider the best way to go about it."
"Is your early termination fee that big?" Adam asked.
"Well, I am a diva," Rowena replied with her signature wink before she continued.
"My previous contract expired, and I resigned with my friend shortly after I became a diva. It never occurred to me that she would pass away so suddenly."
"Do you suspect foul play was involved?" Adam asked.
"The coroner's report into her cause of death didn't indicate anything suspicious, but her death was very sudden, I mean, she seemed in perfect health when I spoke to her a couple of days before her death."
"Can't the two of you create your own entertainment company?" Adam asked.
"Unfortunately, that's not allowed," Lorelie replied before explaining. "Active artists, especially divas, are monitored closely by the universal entertainment authority when it comes to their business dealings, especially so when it comes to business dealings in the entertainment industry."
"Universal Entertainment Authority?" Adam asked.
"It's a subsidiary of the universal senate that monitors and regulates the entertainment industry, everything from artists' well-being to company competition.
Active artists are not allowed to create entertainment companies; this is especially true for divas.
It is feared that if one or more popular divas create an entertainment company, almost every single artist will want to sign with them, putting the other entertainment companies out of business."
"Ah, I see, they're scared that one all-powerful company that can monopolise the market can then dictate pricing and charge whatever they want, instead of keeping pricing competitive to compete with other companies," Adam said in understanding.
"That is indeed one of the reasons," Lorelie said with a smile.
"Then, should you leave Dynamic Entertainment, who would you sign with?" Adam asked Rowena as he looked at her.
"I'm honestly not sure, that's one of the reasons I haven't decided on doing anything yet.
No one particular entertainment company stands out from any other right now. I did consider Royal Entertainment for a short while after Lorelie mentioned to me that she was close to signing with them; however, after what happened, I no longer have any interest in them."
"Not to mention, we have no idea what will happen to Royal Entertainment now that its owner, Prince Francis Terrana, was assassinated," Lorelie added.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it slowly collapses and all the artists signed to it become freelancers," Rowena stated.
"Why?" Tephe asked.
"The imperial family only has three surviving members now, and because of this, they will have to prioritise what is most important.
I highly doubt an entertainment company is high on their list of priorities."
"Won't another company attempt a buyout then?" Stacey asked.
"That's possible and actually quite likely in the future. Though it won't go for much since the majority of artists signed to Royal Entertainment are Terrans that are not very popular." Rowena replied.
"Oh, right, I remember being told previously that because of the Terrans' bad rep in the universe, most non-Terran artists didn't even consider signing with Royal Entertainment," Adam stated.
"That's correct, and why previously Malgath made such a fuss about the news of Lorelie possibly signing with them."
"Why not have Adam or someone else make an entertainment company that you can both then join?" Tephe suddenly suggested.
"Huh!" Adam replied as he looked at Tephe in confusion.
"That's not a bad idea, actually," Rowena said thoughtfully.
"I agree, if I become part of Adam's entertainment company, I can get the best possible deal and never have to worry about changing companies again," Lorelie said as she shot Adam a smirk.
"That's a good point, as his lover's grandmother, I'm sure he will also do me the best possible contract, right? Rowena asked as she shot Adam her signature smirk.
"You two can't be serious?" Adam asked with disbelief.
"Why not? I think it's a great idea." Lorelie replied.
"First off, what do I know about running a business? Need I remind you that back on Earth, I was a poor orphan?
Second, I wouldn't even know how to go about setting up a company in the known universe.
Oh, and third, wouldn't the Universal Entertainment Authority have concerns about you signing with a company belonging to your boyfriend and granddaughter's boyfriend?"
"You can learn to run a company, or a better idea would be to hire someone else to run it for you while you just oversee it." Rowena began answering.