Hannibal, this was a script Edward had been anticipating for a very long time.
However, up until now, he hadn't been able to find the most suitable way to adapt it. For that reason, the project had remained shelved, waiting patiently in the corner for revisions.
Now that he finally had a bit of time on his hands, Edward decided it was time to revisit and resolve that lingering problem.
"Hannibal is filled with many references," Edward murmured thoughtfully, "but in truth, most of them revolve around the act of Hannibal eating people."
He had to admit—Hannibal was one of the most brilliantly crafted characters in cinematic history.
Later depictions of "refined psychopaths" in film and television almost always drew inspiration from him. Whenever people imagined a gentlemanly madman, they inevitably thought of Hannibal Lecter—calm, polite, articulate… and horrifying.
It was because, when Hannibal "cooked," he did it with such grace—preparing his meals elegantly, often pairing them with a glass of red wine as though he were a master chef.
If one were unaware of the true source of his ingredients, it would be easy to mistake Hannibal for a cultured, distinguished man. That was precisely why the character left such a deep and lasting impression.
Hannibal's fame had first spread through The Silence of the Lambs series. In those films, even while imprisoned, Hannibal managed to assist the police in catching other murderers—purely through conversation and deduction. A terrifyingly intelligent criminal, and one who exuded charisma despite his crimes.
But the version of Hannibal in The Silence of the Lambs wasn't the one fans later affectionately called "Uncle Hannibal." That title belonged to the Hannibal of the later television series Hannibal, which reimagined the character in a modern setting.
Even those who hadn't watched the show in full had likely stumbled across short clips online—elegant scenes of Hannibal slicing, plating, and seasoning, accompanied by cheerful background music, making the absurdly dark subject matter strangely amusing.
(TN: No cap, I saw a youtube short about this while scrolling cooking shorts. I thought the food was delicious and all but then reading the comments ehemmmm change my mind right away.)
The plot of the Hannibal TV series itself wasn't particularly complex. Thanks to the viewers' omniscient perspective, they already knew Hannibal was the killer from the very start. The intrigue came from watching how the protagonist, Will Graham, gradually uncovered the evidence and pieced together the truth. Even so, the pacing, tension, and artistry of the show were masterful.
"I remember Hannibal was originally conceived because of Ada," Edward recalled suddenly. That thought pulled up old memories.
Back then, Ada had been one of his more promising directors, but now he was fully in charge of Tom and Jerry under Ghost Films. Edward had watched some of Ada's episodes and admitted—he did quite a decent job. The style was lively and clever.
However, if he were to entrust him with Hannibal, that was another story. Ada simply didn't have the right touch for psychological horror or refined madness.
Still, Edward himself didn't plan to direct Hannibal personally. As much as he admired the material, he simply didn't have the time. After all, Sherlock Holmes Season 3 wasn't even finished yet…
"Wait—hold on!" Edward suddenly slapped his palm. "If that's the case, why not set Hannibal within the same universe as Sherlock Holmes? Once Moriarty's arc is over, Hannibal could take over as the next major antagonist!"
The idea made him grin. He had been worrying for some time about who could possibly challenge Holmes once Moriarty exited the stage. After all, most adaptations struggled with that exact problem.
He didn't want to pull something ridiculous like introducing a super-genius sister out of nowhere. No, that was lazy writing. But Hannibal—that could work perfectly. A psychological duel between two equally brilliant minds… now that was exciting.
"But if that's the case," Edward muttered, rubbing his temples, "how do I make their intellectual battle compelling enough?"
It was a tricky issue, but he wasn't in a rush. For now, Sherlock still had to deal with the Malamar. Only after that arc would it be time for Moriarty's downfall—and then, Hannibal could make his entrance.
By the time they reached that point, Edward could hire a talented writer to handle the intricate cat-and-mouse mind games between the detective and the cannibal.
The thought lifted his mood considerably. He planned to write down the outline later tonight.
As for the protagonist of his Hannibal adaptation, he had already made his choice—Farfetch'd.
After all, the duck Pokémon had its own tragic backstory—nearly hunted to extinction because it was considered delicious. That little detail was even officially recorded in the Pokédex and recognized by the League itself.
That history gave Farfetch'd an inherent thematic resonance with Hannibal's story.
Edward imagined blending this with scenes of Farfetch'd exacting revenge on humanity—perhaps even eating other Pokémon along the way. That would perfectly solidify its "Pokémon Hannibal" persona.
Originally, he had considered setting the show in a world without Pokémon, but in the end, he decided it would be far more interesting—and disturbing—if Farfetch'd went completely mad within the familiar Pokémon world.
"With that," Edward mused aloud, "the company's next TV series is practically decided."
He scratched his head, feeling a bit conflicted. Should he step in to direct this one himself? Hannibal was a work he deeply admired—it would be a shame to leave it entirely to someone else.
Having resolved the television project for now, Edward turned his attention to another matter—the script for Inner Senses.
This was an old Hong Kong horror film that Edward had always found fascinating. It also happened to be the final movie starring Leslie Cheung before his passing. Edward had long considered adapting it, but had set it aside—until now.
The original Inner Senses told the story of Dr. Jim Law, a psychiatrist (played by Leslie Cheung) who tries to help a patient, Cheung Yan, confront her terrifying visions.
Cheung Yan was an aspiring novelist who, after learning that her landlord's wife and child had died tragically in a mudslide, began to see their ghosts everywhere. The film was filled with chilling sequences—jump scares, eerie illusions, and disturbing imagery that made even seasoned horror fans uneasy.
The hallucinations tormented Cheung Yan to the brink of collapse. Her boyfriend, unable to handle the constant fear and paranoia, eventually left her. Desperate, she sought help from Jim Law, a famous psychiatrist known for his rationality and skepticism toward the supernatural.
At first, Jim Law was convinced the girl's experiences were purely psychological—products of prolonged isolation and trauma. He tried everything to help her, and under his guidance, Cheung Yan slowly began to recover. The two even developed a subtle emotional bond along the way.
However, once Cheung Yan entered Jim Law's personal space, she noticed strange behaviors—small details that didn't add up. Her curiosity grew into dread as she uncovered the truth: Jim Law himself suffered from severe schizophrenia.
The trigger came one day when an older couple recognized him on the street and angrily confronted him. Their accusations brought back memories Jim Law had long repressed.
As it turned out, his high school girlfriend had taken her own life because she couldn't accept his decision to end their relationship. The guilt had fractured Jim Law's mind. Every night, at the same time, hallucinations of his deceased lover would torment him relentlessly.
Cheung Yan, having learned the truth from Jim Law's colleagues, decided to help the man who had once saved her. But Jim Law's delusions were too deep. No matter how she tried to reach him, he kept sinking back into his nightmare—his ghostly lover haunting him endlessly.
That sequence had left a deep impression on Edward. The moment Jim Law saw his lover's spirit reappear—he fled in terror, running through crowded streets, yet no matter where he went, she was there.
Even in the midst of bustling crowds, the ghostly woman would emerge—her pale face swaying among the people, slowly approaching him. It was horrifying.
Eventually, Jim Law was driven into an abandoned building. In a climactic scene, the ghost appeared within shards of shattered glass, reaching out to seize him—until finally, she chased him all the way to the rooftop.
At the film's end, the ghost tried to kill him. But Jim Law, standing at the edge, suddenly found peace. He realized that this was the very spot where his girlfriend had once jumped to her death.
He spoke to her ghost one last time, confessing his guilt, his grief, his love, and his apology. This moment, Edward thought, was the heart of the movie—the point of emotional divergence.
The most debated part of Inner Senses was whether the ghost was real, or merely a figment of Jim Law's shattered psyche. The film leaned toward the latter explanation—it was safer for censorship and allowed audiences to interpret it psychologically.
But Edward found the ambiguity fascinating. In the early scene, when Jim Law's girlfriend first hears his explanation, she laughs mockingly—proof that she never believed him and simply wanted him to die with her.
Yet by the end, his sincere words move her. The ghost forgives him. And when she reappears, it's no longer as a vengeful spirit but as Cheung Yan herself—gently taking his hand and leading him away from the rooftop, symbolizing redemption.
It was a beautifully bittersweet ending.
Ironically, while Jim Law's character walked out of his trauma, the actor portraying him never did.
Still, there was no denying that Inner Senses was a masterful horror film. For Edward, a proper horror movie needed only one thing—to truly scare its audience. And this one did that perfectly, jump scares and all.
"This one," he murmured, "we can definitely start filming first. As for Tomie: Unrestricted…"
He hesitated. The grotesque scenes in that project were on another level entirely—disgusting even by his standards.
"Eh? Boss, were you calling me just now?"
A voice suddenly whispered beside his ear. Edward froze. His whole body bristled.
Turning his head sharply, he saw her—Tomie, standing behind him with her hands clasped behind her back, smiling sweetly.
"Tomie? When did you get here?" he asked in surprise. He'd been so absorbed in typing out the Inner Senses outline that he hadn't even noticed her presence.
But he wasn't too shocked. Tomie often followed him around, and he'd given her permission to "walk freely" when she wanted to relax.
"I heard you mention my name," Tomie said cheerfully, her eyes glinting. "So, I came to take a look."
She leaned in toward the computer screen, scanning the script with growing curiosity. Edward didn't quite understand why she was so interested in his writing, but he didn't stop her. Tomie was… strange, by nature.
And in her own twisted way, she did have a talent for understanding the human mind—perhaps even more so than any psychiatrist.
"What do you think of this script?" Edward asked, taking a sip of tea. He reached down to pet Q, who rubbed against his hand lazily before yawning, turning its curious gaze toward Tomie.
Q could sense something odd about her—a strange aura that made it feel almost compatible with its energy. But Tomie was human… wasn't she? Why did she feel so similar to a ghost or a monster? The little creature tilted its head, puzzled.
"I think the female lead doesn't work," Tomie said with a teasing smile. "If it were me, that doctor would never even look at another woman."
Her tone was playful, but her eyes sparkled mischievously as she glanced at Edward.
He twitched his mouth awkwardly. What's that supposed to mean? This woman never stopped with her strange flirtations.
Still, despite Tomie's beauty, Edward felt nothing beyond a detached appreciation. To him, she was just another character—an alluring one, yes, but ultimately still part of his cinematic world.
"Speaking of which," Edward said, changing the subject, "what do you think of the script I wrote for you last time?"
"It's pretty good," Tomie replied, her smile widening. "It fits me perfectly. I don't know how you understand me so well, Boss~."
Edward scratched his head. Understand you? Of course I do. He'd read every single Tomie manga. He was all too familiar with her nature—the eternal, seductive, and undying monster born from Junji Ito's imagination.
"By the way," Edward said suddenly, "have you ever seen the human snail?"
Tomie blinked. "The what?"
He chuckled grimly. "The one where people's heads turn into snail shells—still conscious, still thinking. It's one of the most horrifying ideas I've ever seen."
Tomie made a disgusted face. "Ugh, yes, I've seen it. It's gross. I'd never bring something like that here, and I definitely wouldn't release it."
Edward laughed awkwardly. "A pity. Still, yeah, that one's pretty revolting."
And just as he was about to turn back to his script—
Something moved.
From behind Tomie's back, another head began to crawl out—her own head, emerging grotesquely from her shoulder blades.
The second Tomie smiled sweetly at him. And from that smiling mouth, a slick, writhing slug slid out.
It looked directly at Edward.
And then—
The slug-Tomie winked at him.
(End of Chapter)