Free Web NovelChapter 236: Chapter 204: Zog’s Variety Show Small Class
"So, you’re saying this Gordo Craig, despite being paralyzed, opened an orphanage specifically for taking in children."
Zog asked as he flipped through Gordo’s file.
"Yes, he’s such a good person," Elsa remarked with a sigh.
"Nobles doing charity aren’t necessarily good people."
It wasn’t that Zog was jumping to conclusions. The combination of "nobleman" and "children" just fit a certain stereotype a little too perfectly.
He couldn’t understand why the wealthy here had such an unusual fascination with the very young.
Normally, Zog didn’t pass judgment on personal preferences.
But this was just sick.
’Not like me. I just like mature dragon ladies.’
"Don’t tell me a certain dragon—who only ever thinks about making money and has never done a single good deed—is projecting, now that he’s seen someone doing charity?" Elsa’s mastery of sarcasm was a direct inheritance from Zog.
She vividly remembered the commercial Zog had filmed over a year ago about the father with a bad memory.
She’d cried for ages under her covers after watching it, and it was only after she’d bought several gift boxes of tea that she realized the commercial was just an ad to sell tea.
’That damned tea-peddling dragon.’
"Don’t you go slandering a good dragon. My factories employ plenty of disabled workers. I give them the opportunity to work and support themselves. It’s a very noble thing to do, you know."
"Who goes around calling themselves noble?"
"Providing job opportunities is far more effective than just giving handouts. It’s a higher form of charity, alright? It’s not like I’m trying to get anything from them."
"Huh? Didn’t you tell me to hire them right up to the limit for the tax deduction?" Elsa immediately shot back.
To uphold its municipal philosophy and demonstrate humanitarian care, Twin Tower City offered a small tax break to businesses that hired disabled people, encouraging their integration into society.
"Then why don’t other businesses hire them? See? That still makes me the noble one," Zog said, full of confidence.
That’s how confident he was. He always looked progressive when contrasted with his peers.
Zog glanced at the time. It was time for his meeting with Gordo to finalize the details for the variety show.
"Let’s go. Time to meet this great philanthropist from the Craig Clan."
In the reception room, Sir Gordo had changed into a more formal outfit. It was traditional nobleman’s attire, likely modified to make it easier for him to put on.
"Hello, Mr. Zog." Gordo tried the same trick again, extending his prosthetic right hand.
Unfortunately for him, Zog saw right through it.
"I’ll let you in on a little secret: a dragon’s vision is different from a human’s. In my eyes, that hand of yours looks all purplish."
Zog said, plopping down onto his personal cushion.
It looked a bit like an oversized cat bed. He’d discovered it on the pet supply production line and found it more comfortable than a sofa. From that day on, a cushion was placed in every room of the corporation’s building where he was likely to spend more than ten minutes.
The secret to how the boss could sometimes get by on only four hours of sleep and remain energetic was his ability to find a suitable spot to nest, take a nap anytime and anywhere, and never be disturbed.
"Oh, all right. I’ll make a note of that. I’ll be sure to improve it for the next dragon I meet." Gordo gave a nonchalant shrug; his shoulder joints hadn’t "frozen" up yet.
A translucent Mage’s Hand dropped the prosthetic onto his lap.
"I am Gordo Craig. A useless man, and the former patriarch of the Quasi-Craig Clan," he introduced himself with a hint of self-deprecation.
"Oh, not bad. You’ve already mastered a key component of variety shows: the sob story. And it’s a sob story with a hint of optimism, which wins over an audience more easily than a blubbering mess of snot and tears."
Zog thought the man before him was a natural for variety shows. It was a shame he only wanted to work behind the scenes.
’A tragic past, but still capable. You couldn’t ask for a better inspirational figure.’
"Is that so? Then I suppose I have this illness to thank. It may have robbed me of my freedom, but it earned me the affection of the masses."
"Tell me about your concept for the show. If it’s a good fit, it has the potential to become the new flagship program for the Magic Video Channel," Zog said, getting down to business.
Gordo’s expression grew serious. Unlike the many proposals that were clearly either whimsical pipe dreams or copycat versions of the popular bladesmithing competition, his plan was far more detailed.
In addition to a written proposal, he had also prepared slides for a presentation.
This wasn’t a digital slideshow, but a presentation using a mechanical slide projector. A light source illuminated images drawn on transparent plates, which were then projected through a series of convex lenses and mirrors.
It was a new invention, created during the production of the *Tom and Jerry* cartoon. The production team often used it in meetings to display storyboards without needing to bother an Illusionist.
"My initial concept was to create a purely performance-based music variety show. Each episode would have a theme, and the musical performances would be based on that theme. It could also serve an educational purpose."
"However, I later drew inspiration from watching the bladesmithing competition. People love competition. No matter the subject, they enjoy watching a group of people vie for supremacy."
"Then, the winners are brought together to compete again until a single champion emerges. I based the structure of my music competition show on that model."
"After that, I also conducted a public survey and found that traditional musical forms don’t really suit the tastes of the average viewer. The most popular minstrels in the taverns aren’t willing to sing long, complex compositions, and people aren’t willing to listen to them."
"To be honest, even though I grew up listening to performances from the best opera troupes and orchestras, and I know how incredible they are, I just can’t get into it."
"The songs you hear in the taverns are all original compositions. So I thought, why not provide a grand stage for them to showcase their work? And that’s how the concept for this show was born."
