Entertainment: You're asked to make a graduation project, but you're asked to film Ultrama

Chapter 58 Harvesting the Mysterious Celestial Venerable, Zhao Rui Spits Blood

A few days later, on the Internet…

Just as Gu Nan predicted, the popularity of the first season of Ultraman Tiga did not decrease at all after its conclusion; on the contrary, it experienced exponential growth and spread.

For example, Tiga has started appearing on Douyin, Kuaishou, and even overseas platforms.

More and more people are being drawn to see Ultraman Tiga.

Many people even registered Bilibili accounts specifically to watch Ultraman Tiga.

For several consecutive days, eight out of the top ten trending videos on Bilibili contained the words "Ultraman Tiga".

[I share in Ultraman Tiga's glory!], [Gu Nan: A god-like director], [Analyzing the hidden metaphors in Ultraman Tiga], [Did you really understand Ultraman Tiga?]...

The most popular videos have so many bullet comments that they completely obscure the screen; even high-performance gaming laptops experience lag when watching Ultraman Tiga on web pages with full bullet comments enabled.

Countless viewers were moved to tears in front of their screens, frantically flooding the comments section with messages like, "Believe in the light! I will always believe in the light!"

In stark contrast is another entry on Douban – "Superpower Overlord".

This was originally a "masterpiece" that Qiao Tianzun Company invested heavily in, attempting to counter "Ultraman Tiga".

But now, its rating has dropped to 4.1.

Although several copycat works followed, they didn't make a splash at all, and didn't even get any ratings.

"This is utterly pathetic imitation!"

"It's touted as a big-budget production, but the CG is terrible; it's even worse than some Showa-era works!"

"After watching Ultraman Tiga and then this, I feel like my eyes have been raped."

"You guys really should kneel down and kowtow to Director Gu, and see what a good drama series looks like!"

The overwhelmingly negative public opinion triggered a tsunami in the capital market.

……

At this moment, Gu Nan is leading the team from the Light Chaser Studio on a team-building trip at a five-star hotel in the Maldives…

Everyone was incredibly relaxed and happy...

But at the same moment... a completely opposite scene is unfolding elsewhere...

The headquarters building of Qiaotianzun in the center of Jinghai City.

The usually bustling executive meeting room was now so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The directors of Qi Ao Tian Zun sat in their leather swivel chairs, their faces solemn.

CEO Zhao Rui stood before this group of capitalists like a subservient grandson, not daring to utter a sound...

On the huge projection screen in front of Zhao Rui were financial statements that were making him feel like he was about to have a heart attack.

"Returns...all returns!"

The chairman raised his trembling hand, pointing to the screen, "Of the three thousand distributors nationwide, half are demanding returns of 'Superpower Overlord' merchandise. What's even more ridiculous is that they say... kids these days don't want this plastic waste; they just want the Sparkler!"

The remaining merchants did not choose to return the goods, mainly because they were troubled by the issue of breach of contract penalties.

However, given the overwhelmingly negative sentiment online, almost no businesses are willing to put this brand's products on their shelves.

"And it's not just the surrounding area."

Another director threw a stack of documents at Zhao Rui's face. "These are lawyer's letters from thirty brands. They are demanding IP licensing agreements and claiming 300 million yuan in damages for breach of contract, citing 'low-quality drama series that seriously damages brand image'."

Do you think this is over?

No, it's not over yet...

Zhao Rui looked up at the stock market with a humble air. The curve representing the Mysterious Celestial Venerable looked like a headless venomous snake, plunging straight into the abyss.

"Zhao Rui's stock has hit the daily limit down for three consecutive trading days..."

"Market value evaporated by 5 billion."

"The Securities Regulatory Bureau has sent an inquiry letter, warning us that if we cannot resolve our liquidity issues, we will face the risk of forced delisting."

Zhao Rui felt a wave of dizziness.

Once upon a time, he was the industry leader, able to suppress college students like Gu Nan with a mere flick of his finger.

But now, that young man he once regarded as an ant has shattered a multi-billion dollar business empire with just a graduation project.

Ok……

He too was about to be crushed…

"Money...we need money! Chairman, please give me another chance...as long as there's more cash flow...I'm sure I can..."

Zhao Rui roared hysterically.

"Chairman, it's a matter of cutting your losses... mortgage all the assets you have! You must save the stock price!"

"Give me another chance... I'll make... Gu Nan... pay the price..."

"Are you still daydreaming, Zhao Rui?"

One of the directors smiled and directly revealed a shocking "secret" to Zhao Rui.

"You damn well better go and see who's behind Gu Nan! How dare you mess with him?!"

"No need... Zhao Rui... this has nothing to do with you anymore..."

"You are the price that Celestial Joao paid..."

"The board of directors has begun voting...to remove Zhao Rui from the position of CEO, and the chairman will concurrently serve as the new CEO."

"Nine votes in favor... one abstention... zero votes against..."

"..."

Zhao Rui knew his professional career was over…

Zhao Rui was kicked out of the office…

One director said, "We need cash to buy back our shares, but Chairman, the only asset we have left... is the copyright to those 'Showa Tokusatsu' shows."

……

At the same time

The Maldives has five-star hotels.

The team at Chasing Light Studio.

Gu Nan was leisurely sitting on the terrace, enjoying the warm tropical sea breeze while sipping a cup of Blue Mountain coffee that the waiter had personally ground.

Chen Bo was looking at the surveillance footage on his phone. The once desolate old factory was now filled with interview vehicles, and some "experts" who wanted to ride the wave of popularity even came to discuss the possibility of "ancient civilizations" with him.

.........

"Brother Nan, let's just hide on this island. You really won't see them?"

Su Zhe looked at Chen Bo's phone from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement.

For them, if it weren't for Gu Nan, they would never have had the chance to enjoy such a luxurious life in their lives.

"The sponsors who want to buy the title sponsorship for our second season are already lining up from the Forbidden City to the Bund. The baby formula company that just messaged us is asking for ten million yuan, just for a close-up shot of their product in the show."

"Oh, no rush, let the bullets fly a little longer."

Gu Nan put down his coffee cup.

Just then, a low-key yet ultra-luxurious Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly pulled up in front of the hotel.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a bespoke suit, exuding an aura of composure like a mountain, stepped out.

It was Gu Nan's wealthy father, Gu Zhenhai, who "never understood why his son made tokusatsu films."

"Hey! Dad, what a rare guest! You're not busy with work, you've chased me all the way abroad?"

Gu Nan stood up, deliberately feigning surprise.

Gu Zhenhai pushed the general into the hotel courtyard, his gaze finally landing on Gu Nan's face.

Instead of scolding Gu Nan for his nonsensical words as usual, he revealed a complex yet gratified smile.

He slammed a thick financial audit report on the table, his voice steady and powerful:

"You brat, you've made quite a stir. I was in a meeting in Shanghai yesterday, and those old foxes were all asking me if Gu Nan, the guy who made Ultraman Tiga, is my son."

Gu Nan chuckled: "Huo... I didn't embarrass you, did I?"

"Disgraceful? You're now one of the most awesome new generation directors in the entire Xia Kingdom."

Gu Zhenhai pulled up a chair and sat down.

His tone turned serious, "Father has come to see you this time to discuss serious matters. Celestial Venerable Qi'ao is about to collapse."

Rumor has it that Zhao Rui is about to be fired, and Qi Ao Tian Zun urgently needs a large sum of cash to repurchase shares and delist.

He's searching the world for buyers, wanting to sell his collection of "old-fashioned" copyrights as a package.

Gu Zhenhai looked at his son: "You asked me to keep an eye on that area before, and now the time is right. My financial estimates suggest that Qi Ao currently has a funding gap of at least 10 billion yuan, but those Showa era copyrights he holds, which are outdated waste paper in other people's eyes, should be treasures in your eyes, right?"

Gu Nan's eyes lit up.

"Dad, this is the moment I've been waiting for."

"It's not just me."

Gu Zhenhai pulled out another letter of intent from his pocket. "I've already contacted the higher-ups at Bilibili for you. They're willing to invest, and our Gu Group will set up a joint fund. I'm going to pull off a 'vulture harvest' and tear the last piece of fat off Qi Aotianzun."

Gu Nan asked Chen Bo to take out a locked briefcase, from which he retrieved a yellowed original document.

That was a copy of the original contract that he had obtained from Tsuburaya Productions a few days ago…

"Dad, we can harvest them without even giving them a billion."

Gu Nan spread the document out in front of Gu Zhenhai and pointed to one of the hidden clauses.

"This is a copy of the original contract for the overseas copyright transfer of Tsuburaya Productions."

Gu Nan sneered, "Qiao Tianzun has always claimed that they have the permanent development rights to Showa Ultraman, but they have overlooked a fatal flaw."

Gu Zhenhai adjusted his glasses and looked closely.

"The legal loophole is here—the 'brand protection clause'."

Gu Nan's voice was cold and clear. "The contract clearly stipulates that the copyright holder must conduct effective development that 'aligns with the brand's core values' every three years. If the holder, in order to make money, continuously produces a large number of works that are seriously below industry standards and extensively damage the brand's original image, the original author's legal heirs have the right to initiate arbitration and forcibly reclaim the copyright at half the contract price."

As a business tycoon, Gu Zhenhai instantly grasped the killer move.

"You mean... all those terrible tokusatsu films that Celestial Master Qiao has made over the years aren't protecting copyright, but rather 'damaging assets'?"

"That's right."

Gu Nan's lips curled into a confident smile. "Every terrible movie they make is evidence I can use to take them to court. I'll not only make them return the copyrights, but I'll also make them compensate for the reputational damage they've caused to the 'Ultraman' brand over the years!"

Gu Zhenhai couldn't help but slam his hand on the table and exclaim in admiration, "What a brilliant move to undermine our defenses! You're even more ruthless than me!"

Although I'm on vacation, it doesn't affect my work at all.

Half an hour later, a piece of news that was enough to shock the entire film and television industry was jointly released through the official accounts of "Chasing Light Studio", "Gu Group" and "Inheritors of Light".

[Statement: Legal Notice Regarding "Qiao Tianzun's" Illegal Possession and Abuse of Multiple Tokusatsu Copyrights]

In the announcement, Gu Nan, in his capacity as the "initiator of the special effects cultural heritage restoration project," joined forces with Bilibili and several legal institutions to formally file a lawsuit against Qiao Tianzun in court.

The key evidence points directly to the famous 1976 Transfer Agreement.

"We suspect that the original contract held by Celestial Master Cho has obvious ink time discrepancies at the signature, and that the original author was in a coma in the hospital at the time of the signing of the transfer agreement and was not capable of signing it at all."

"This is not a simple copyright dispute; it's a fraud case spanning forty years!"

The chain of evidence is tightly linked:

The series "Superpower Overlord" produced by Qiao Tianzun was judged to "maliciously damage the value of IP".

There was also a comparison image of the forged signature in Shambot's 1976 contract, which was posted directly on the first page of the announcement.

Gu Nan, representing Mr. Tsuburaya, whose online name is "Successor of Light," demands the return of all Showa-era copyrights, including those for the Ultra Brothers such as the original Ultraman, Seven, Ultraman, and Ace!

This heavy blow landed directly on the forehead of the Celestial Venerable Qi'ao.

Investors who were initially observing the situation were terrified upon seeing the announcement and withdrew their investments en masse.

Inside the office building of the Celestial Master Qi'ao.

Zhao Rui has just finished reading some news...

"No?! How the hell are you the heir to the Gu family?!"

"Why?! How is that possible?!"

"Why are you picking on me, this little karaomi?!"

Zhao Rui, who had already been fired, was packing his things in the office in preparation for leaving when he accidentally saw this announcement. His vision went black, and he spat out a mouthful of blood onto the screen.

"Gu Nan... I f*** you!"

As he continued cursing, his vision suddenly went black...

"Help! Call 120! Someone has fainted here!"

……