Over the next few days, Northstar Games underwent a quiet but decisive internal shift.
The seventh floor was officially restructured.
All personnel selected for the 2077 development project were transferred there, while the remaining employees were relocated to the sixth floor. The sixth floor was more spacious, and although its equipment and environment couldn't compare to the seventh floor, it was more than sufficient for daily development work.
From that moment on, the seventh floor became Northstar's core battlefield.
At the same time, team leaders began actively recruiting talent—some openly, some discreetly.
After all, Ethan Reed had made it clear: each selected team leader could bring three members into the 2077 project.
Naturally, everyone wanted the best.
---
2077 Project Structure
Daniel was officially appointed as the Project Director for 2077.
Ethan did not take direct command—not because he lacked confidence, but because his plate was already overflowing.
He still needed to:
Oversee the new project led by Alex Shaw
Participate deeply in Edgewalker, which Mooncrest Studio was currently producing
Coordinate multiple revenue-generating pipelines for Northstar
Compared to those, 2077 was a marathon, not a sprint.
Even Ethan himself had no clear answer for when it would be finished.
Just a single character model—high-detail, next-gen quality—could require months of refinement.
However, there was good news.
With help from Daniel's university mentor and the technical team that had returned from overseas, the engine issue had been resolved.
Northstar Games now possessed its own proprietary engine.
It was still rough.
Still basic.
But it existed.
And that alone marked a fundamental leap.
---
July Arrives – Ethan's First Business Trip
Time flowed quietly into July.
For the first time since founding Northstar, Ethan Reed left the company on a formal business trip, heading to the bustling metropolis of Modu.
This trip had one purpose:
Casting for the live-action adaptation of Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen.
Ethan attended as the original scriptwriter and lead planner.
The chief producer of the project, Martin Chase, personally welcomed him. Under Martin's guidance, Ethan was given a full tour of StarForge Entertainment.
And the contrast was brutal.
If Northstar was a rising star—
Then StarForge was a galaxy.
A towering black-glass skyscraper.
Thousands—nearly tens of thousands—of employees.
Hundreds of artists.
Producers everywhere.
An entire ecosystem built around entertainment.
This was what a true industry titan looked like.
And this was just the Modu headquarters.
As one of the four major entertainment conglomerates, StarForge's reach extended far beyond this single building.
---
Unexpected Respect
Upon hearing of Ethan's arrival, StarForge's music department specifically requested a meeting.
The leader of Group Three, Scarlett Voss, personally came to see him.
She looked Ethan up and down for a moment, then commented lightly:
"Quite… delicate."
In most situations, that word would have been meaningless.
For a man, delicate usually meant clean-cut but unremarkable.
But coming from someone like Scarlett—who had seen countless idols, stars, and models—this was actually a high compliment.
It meant Ethan wasn't stunning, but pleasant, balanced, and quietly attractive.
More importantly, his talent halo amplified everything.
No wonder Scarlett held him in such high regard.
---
Casting Begins
Unlike what Ethan had expected, StarForge treated him with genuine respect.
He had assumed his role would be symbolic at best.
After all, the copyright had already been acquired. StarForge could technically ignore his opinions entirely.
But reality proved him wrong.
Martin Chase repeatedly addressed him as "Teacher Ethan."
That alone made Ethan uncomfortable.
Martin was nearly fifty—old enough to be his father.
Yet his tone carried no condescension, only professionalism.
Those who climbed to the top of the entertainment industry didn't do so by chance. Their vision and judgment far exceeded that of ordinary people.
---
Key Casting Decisions
Rachel Quinn's role was finalized first.
She was portrayed by a nineteen-year-old acting academy student named Flora Young—short, lively, mischievous, and brimming with energy.
The moment she stepped into the room, her temperament matched the character perfectly.
Ethan approved immediately.
And strangely enough… she reminded him of someone.
His boss.
Vivian Frost.
There had always been a running joke among fans that Rachel Quinn was modeled after Northstar's mascot boss.
Ethan even briefly wondered if Martin Chase had seen Vivian's cosplay streams.
---
The Most Difficult Role
Casting Lily Morgan was far harder.
Her design was never meant to resemble an ordinary human beauty.
She required:
Unparalleled purity
Beauty that inspired reverence, not desire
Minimal accessories
No heavy makeup
Presence over ornamentation
In short—an almost inhuman standard.
After countless eliminations, Ethan and Martin finally settled on a twenty-two-year-old film academy student, standing 1.77 meters tall, with extraordinary eyes.
Her face alone wasn't the most striking in the industry.
But her eyes?
They pulled people in instantly.
That was enough.
She became Lily Morgan.
---
Final Roles
Logan Fairchild
Jace Kellan
Both roles were assigned to male actors whose appearances and temperaments aligned closely with their characters.
Martin laughed after reviewing the final list.
"Teacher Ethan, our tastes are exactly the same."
"But innocence isn't easy to act. Let's observe carefully."
Ethan nodded.
---
A Long Day Ends
Casting ran from 2 p.m. to past 6 p.m.
Four hours.
More than a dozen performers.
It was Ethan's first time experiencing what it meant to be on the receiving end of the entertainment industry.
Beautiful people everywhere.
And yes—
It was absolutely a feast for the eyes.
---
Public Announcements
That evening, under StarForge's arrangements, Ethan checked into a luxury hotel.
Soon after, StarForge Entertainment posted on its Official Blog:
> StarForge Entertainment
Thank you, Teacher Ethan Reed @Northstar Ethan Reed, for traveling such a long distance to assist with casting.
The casting for Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen was a complete success.
Filming officially begins next.
Please look forward to it!
Thirty minutes later, Ethan Reed posted:
> Ethan Reed (Northstar Games)
Thank you @StarForge Entertainment for the invitation.
As the lead planner of Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen, I am very satisfied with the casting.
I believe StarForge will perfectly bring this world to life.
Please continue to support Neon Blade and StarForge.
Then—
Northstar Games' official account joined in.
> Northstar Games
🎬 Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen has officially begun filming!
Fans of the game—don't forget to follow!
The actress playing Rachel Quinn is incredibly cute!
Voice acting uses the original game cast—guaranteed satisfaction!
Also—Edgewalker, funded by Northstar and animated by Mooncrest Studio, is already in production!
Ethan smiled.
That last post was definitely Vivian Frost's work.
Piggybacking traffic like a pro.
---
Edgewalker Progress
And it wasn't exaggeration.
Edgewalker was progressing smoothly.
With outsourced support and crystal-clear scripts, production efficiency was high.
For Mooncrest Studio, this phase was primarily:
Clean linework
Coloring
Character animation
Within three weeks, Episodes 1 and 2 were completed.
Episodes 3 and 4 were already underway.
If everything continued smoothly—
Edgewalker would premiere around mid-August.
Ethan leaned back, staring at the city lights outside his hotel window.
He wondered—
How much would this anime earn for Northstar Games?
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