Chapter 5607 The Motivation of an Artist

Chapter 5607 The Motivation of an Artist

Ves was not willing to budge from his initial demand.

20 percent ownership was his bottom line. If not for the fact that he feared he might scare off the Rubarthans entirely if he demanded a higher figure, he would have asked for 40 percent instead!

The downside of setting such a high demand in the beginning was that the pressure to relent and settle for a lower figure was too great.

It was customary for both sides to make painful concessions in order to meet each other halfway.

Ves did not want to do that. He had no intention of weakening his position until he only gained a fraction of what he sought.

How could he do that?

He could pull out the Novastella statue or present the Supremo Project again, but he had the feeling that it probably wouldn't work.

His previous call with Micky Tarukan could easily be recorded and played back to every relevant party. Ves would not introduce anything new if he simply repeated his earlier actions.

He needed to approach this negotiation from a different angle.

How could he persuade the Impresario Prince to give Ves a much greater share of a large and profitable mech company than normal?

Ves took another look around the workshop.

The 5733rd Prince was born far too late.

Due to having at least 5732 older siblings, Prince Casevir was so far behind in the race that his chances of ascending to the throne were too slim.

This was true in both the old galaxy and the new frontier.

The competition may be a lot less intense in the Red Ocean, but all of the older princes that managed to get caught in this side of the greater beyonder gate were not incompetent.

Whether it was the Smokestack Prince who quietly managed to gain widespread influence across entire economic sectors or the Inferno Spear Prince who possessed the greatest martial strength among the princes, each of them possessed strong advantages that gave them a much more solid foundation in the battle for the throne.

As for Prince Casevir, his principality was not a big deal. His low position in the imperial hierarchy also made him rather unattractive to many Rubarthan players who wanted to gain the patronage of a prince.

However, he was not one of the many thousands of useless princes who gave up on any pretense of doing anything useful in their lives.

The Impresario Prince gained his name by investing a lot of resources and effort into building a media empire. His soft power had grown to a considerable height after he became in charge of many different media and entertainment companies.

He also subsidized a lot of artists, causing these cultural influencers to always say a good word about their generous patron.

All of this enabled the Impresario Prince to gain a benevolent reputation within Rubarthan society.

He was not a prince that Rubarthans would think of when they thought about the most likely candidates to inherit the throne, but he was definitely a prince who had made them laugh and cry through the many works he sponsored.

Even though drama broadcasts and art exhibitions could not win him any battles, the prince's dedication to his art betrayed a certain element of ambition.

While there was a chance that this entire setup was a giant performance staged by a prince that was also passionate about acting and stage plays, Ves did not think that he was meeting a false version of the Impresario Prince.

If the man truly wanted to improve his art to the point where he could make a masterwork from his own hands, then Ves might be able to teach him a few tricks.

"Both of us share something in common." Ves claimed. "You are known as a supporter of the arts. I happen to be a supporter of artists myself. I am sure you have already conducted a thorough investigation of me. Have you heard of the Creation Association?"

The well-dressed prince nodded. "I have studied the information. It is... interesting. It is gaining an increasing amount of traction within the second-class arts and crafts community. It is clear that you are providing added value to the many artists and craftsmen who are struggling to find a way forward." "Have you ever gained an interest in making use of its services?"

"I did consider this possibility." The prince replied. "I rejected it because I have found another way to develop my art. Can you see the progress that I have made through my most recent works?"

Ves nodded. "I can see that you are gradually becoming more proficient at imparting your works with greater meaning."

Prince Casevir became a little more intense. "What is the purpose of art? Why do people dedicate their lifetimes to practicing music, painting expansive vistas or creating sculptures that represent great figures whose names shall resound in history?"

"Is it because they want to record their lives and history so that the later generations can gain an understanding of our current struggles?"

"That can serve as a possible motivation for some artists, but that is not my purpose. I see little reason to leave behind a record for our distant descendants when I still have many years left to shape my own life. No. I seek to improve my art in order to achieve greatness, just as you. Is it not fulfilling to become known as a great artist and be appreciated for it? Is it not a dream to be able to gain so much weight in your community that everyone will respect your words and deeds? My art seeks to impress the masses and make them acknowledge my greatness as a maker and a visionary!"

That... was a rather egoistic motivation to become an artist. That did not make it any less valid.

Plenty of artists throughout human history had gone on to make historical masterpieces that still received a lot of appreciation to this day due to ego trips.

All an artist needed in order to succeed was ability and fame.

Prince Casevir definitely enjoyed a massive advantage in the latter solely due to his high birth. It was his ability that he was struggling to improve.

To be honest, for him to reach this level after a century of life was rather mediocre to put it nicely.

There were many more artists from much more humbler backgrounds who had already gone on to make unforgettable masterworks in half the time!

It was abundantly clear to Ves that the prince did not really possess an inherent talent in the arts. It did not help that he invested his time in way too many different forms of art.

Such a man could benefit from having more expert guidance.

"I see. Trying to achieve greatness in any craft is a noble goal, but if I am being honest, your current results are not too stellar." Ves cautiously said.

"I do not deny that my works are far from reaching your standard." The prince honestly admitted. "I am working to remedy my shortcomings. With the help of ancient wisdom, I have finally managed to make visible progress in my own art. What you see in my atelier is only the beginning. Once I become increasingly more adept at channeling and shaping E energy into my works, my future pieces may one day be able to command the attention of their viewers in a similar fashion to the glows of your living mechs!"

Ves just gained a key piece of information.

"Are you interested in learning the secrets to imparting your works with glows, Your Highness?"

The prince shook his head. "Glows are a defining characteristic to your own works. I would merely be imitating you rather than engage in an act of original creation if I copy your methods."

"Do not be so quick to refuse. Even if you do not intend to learn my methods, you can still use it as inspiration to develop your own toolbox as an artist.

The Creation Association is quite experienced in doing this. It has helped many craftsmen find their own way."Emerging from n0v@lbin☆, this material harbors clandestine details.