Episode 10 of Fate/Zero revealed Emiya Kiritsugu's tragic childhood.
Episode 11, on the other hand, told the story of Matou Kariya's pitiful love.
He entered the war to make the woman he loved happy—only to be misunderstood as the one who killed her husband, and in the end, he personally killed the very woman he loved.
In the Xia Nation, just like in Su Yan's previous life, there were plenty of people who took a humble, almost self-sacrificing stance in love. When watching Fate/Zero, they naturally projected themselves onto Kariya—making up a significant portion of his fanbase.
And tonight, seeing Kariya's fate, they were the ones who suffered the most.
["Old sadist… was this really necessary? Even if Kariya isn't a good person, he's not evil either, right? Did he have to end up this miserable?"]
["This episode made me feel awful. If I put myself in Kariya's shoes, I'd lose my mind too."]
["Who even self-inserts as Kariya? That's kind of ridiculous… but yeah, he really is tragic. His Servant is insane, and now he's gone insane too."]
["This episode was way too depressing. Kiritsugu's wife got captured, Kariya killed the woman he loved… everyone has a tragic fate. So why are villains like Gilgamesh and Kirei just chilling?"]
["Out of all the characters Su Yan has played, the only one I truly hate is Gilgamesh. Seriously—can he do even one good thing? He's a king, yet he's narrow-minded, arrogant, and intolerant. Compared to Alexander, his magnanimity is on a completely different level."]
["If you hate the character, that just means the character was written well."]
["I honestly can't tell where the plot is going anymore. When is the Holy Grail even supposed to appear?"]
["It's already Episode 11. Only two weeks left until the finale. You're anxious now, but once it ends, you'll just feel empty—what's the point?"]
["I don't think two episodes are enough to wrap this up. We still have Gilgamesh, the King of Conquerors, Berserker, and Artoria. Can all their conflicts really be resolved?"]
["Maybe there'll be a second season?"]
["Also, the whole setup—Berserker, Saber, Archer, Lancer, Caster, Assassin… doesn't this feel like it's setting up for a game adaptation?"]
["A game adaptation? Turning a TV drama into a game? Would that even work?"]
["Why not? It's rare, but the Xia Nation has done it before. A few popular dramas got game adaptations in recent years. They didn't perform that well, just rode on fan popularity… but fate? If it gets adapted into a game, I think it has huge potential!"]
["Definitely! If they make a game, I'm 100% playing it!"]
["There's no way two episodes can finish this. A second season feels very possible."]
Episode 11 of Fate/Zero served as a major turning point—bringing together prior character development and detonating long-laid plot threads, officially kicking off the final act of the Holy Grail War.
The audience could clearly feel this.
Just by looking at the number of online discussion posts that night, it was obvious.
The previous week had already seen an explosion in activity—but this week, the discussions surged even higher.
The level of hype had even surpassed the peak of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.
Executives across the three major TV stations all had their own thoughts that night.
Su Yan's fans celebrated wildly, while a small group of his detractors could only hope that the final episode would collapse.
After all, the beginning had been so perfect—how could it possibly stick the landing?
With the King of Conquerors portrayed so grandly, how would he exit the stage?
If Artoria really obtained the Holy Grail, would she actually change history?
And Gilgamesh—how could he possibly be defeated?
Could any of the remaining Servants even beat him?
By noon the next day, Episode 11 of Fate/Zero recorded a viewership rating of 6.12%.
A result that shocked the industry—yet also felt completely expected.
After all, ensemble casts naturally attract a wider audience.
Even if some viewers disliked the male lead, they would continue watching for characters like Artoria or the King of Conquerors.
When the ratings were announced, the entire staff of Dimensional Pictures erupted in celebration.
Although it was only to surpass the record set by 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' last year, it was still a genuine new high for the company's productions.
However, after receiving the results, Su Yan himself didn't look particularly excited.
He knew very well that the final two episodes of Fate/zero were the true climax.
Celebrating now was too early. If nothing unexpected happened, the ratings for the final episodes would climb even higher.
"No need to hold a celebration banquet yet. Let's wait until Fate/Zero finishes airing in two weeks."
Su Yan declined Shinozaki Ikumi's suggestion to organize a celebration.
"And… with Fate/Zero about to end, it's time to start promotions for 'Your Name' and 'Kimi ni Todoke'."
"Understood. The plans have already been drafted. As for the promotional budget, it just needs your approval before funds can be released."
Shinozaki Ikumi spoke while organizing her schedule.
"Mm. Also… at the celebration banquet after Fate/Zero concludes, let's distribute project bonuses to everyone involved in the production. Roughly…"
Su Yan paused to think.
"Set aside about 5% to 7% of the profits as bonuses."
"That high?" Shinozaki Ikumi was taken aback.
Even a small percentage like that was no trivial amount. Based on Fate/Zero's current performance, conservative estimates placed profits at over 200–300 million.
Advertising placements and Sakura TV's broadcasting rights had already covered costs. Revenue from streaming platforms, overseas distribution rights, and merchandise was essentially pure profit.
Even 5% meant tens of millions.
With over 200 people involved in the production—and a little over 100 being actual company employees—that averaged around 200,000 per person.
That alone exceeded a full year's salary for many employees.
And this was just the bonus from a single project—Su Yan produced far more than one work per year.
"It's fine," Su Yan said with a smile. "Times have changed. If Dimensional Pictures wants to become the top production company in the Xia Nation, we can't keep salaries at the old levels. Without top-tier treatment, we won't attract top-tier talent."
His success in the Xia Nation wasn't just due to the scripts proven in his previous life.
The entertainment industry wasn't something where a good script alone guaranteed success.
A great script needed a great production team to truly shine.
"Well, you're the boss. If you're willing to be generous, I have no objections," Shinozaki Ikumi replied with a smile.
"Also… regarding Fate/Zero, I'm thinking of turning it into a full series in the future. This is just the beginning. Characters like Gilgamesh and Artoria will continue to appear. So… if possible, the company should consider setting up a game development department."
"A game?" Shinozaki Ikumi was surprised.
"You're interested in that industry?"
"The entertainment and gaming industries have always been interconnected. If Dimensional Pictures wants to grow, diversification is inevitable. Besides, if we can produce strong IPs, why not develop them further?" Su Yan said.
Shinozaki Ikumi thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Neither of us understands the gaming industry right now—but everyone starts from not understanding. Besides, the company has tens of billions sitting in its accounts. We have the confidence to explore new directions."