章 130: Part 2: Bro is speed running

(3rd Person POV)

While arcade machines captivated Hellscape Center's customers, Arthur greeted a diverse group of international studio representatives.

Some were familiar faces - partners who had distributed his films globally, like Bryan Brothers, Lava Brothers, and Western Studio. Others were new acquaintances.

A demon from Bharat Kingdom resembled a genie with legs and feet, looking almost comically like a popo. A half-demon, half-elf from Choson Dynasty sported pointed ears. Demons from South East Anatolia mingled with average-looking humans from Empirica and Evros, alongside elves and dwarves from the Eden region.

Arthur ushered them into a private theater. After the screening, applause erupted.

"Amazing!"

"What an incredible film!"

Arthur smiled, graciously accepting their praise.

***

As days passed, September 15, 1272 arrived. Dragon Ball, released just over a month ago, had taken Horn City by storm. Hundreds of thousands were now engrossed in its pages.

Newspapers and entertainment magazines couldn't ignore the phenomenon:

"New Manhua: Dragon Ball Takes the City by Storm!"

"Is Arthur Morningstar truly a pure demon? Experts believe he might have traces of elf and dwarf blood, explaining his creativity despite his magical weakness. His latest manhua, Dragon Ball, seems to suggest that Arthur may not be a pure demon after all!"

Ridiculous claims proliferated, but they only served to fuel Dragon Ball's popularity.

Meanwhile, Maya Yamato from Japon, owner of Shounen Manga, made a special trip to meet Arthur.

Dragon Ball had amazed Maya ever since her son Ichiro introduced it to her. She hoped to distribute the manga in Japon, but there was a problem - her company was struggling, losing ground to other manga publishers.

Doubting Arthur would take her seriously, Maya was surprised by his respectful welcome and attentive ear to her proposal.

"I can't offer much, but... I'll do my best to publish your manga in many Japon cities!" Maya exclaimed, her voice tinged with desperation and hope.

Arthur smiled. He'd reached out to Japon manga publishers before, but they'd rejected him outright, not even glancing at Dragon Ball. He suspected discrimination due to his Morningstar heritage.

Now, a manga publisher had come to him, eager to bring Dragon Ball to her kingdom. Despite the low offer, Arthur didn't hesitate. "Okay, I'll have my manga published by your company."

"Really!?" Maya's surprise was evident. She'd expected rejection.

Arthur nodded. "Yes. In fact, I'm willing to invest in your company to ensure Dragon Ball's production and increase supply in case it becomes successful there."

Touched, Maya's eyes welled up. She bowed so low it startled Arthur. "Thank you very much!"

Arthur smiled, helping her up. "Hey, no need to bow." He shook his head, amused. "Seriously, you Japonese... Why do you bow so much?"

Maya, overcome with gratitude, bowed even lower. "Thank you!"

"Okay, okay!" Arthur chuckled wryly. "Jeez, let's just go and discuss the procedure."

Maya's emotions intensified as Arthur revealed his willingness to invest substantially in her company for a mere 3 percent share. This generosity moved her to bow repeatedly, though Arthur gently discouraged it this time.

***

While Arthur made inroads into the Japon manga industry through Maya, the arcade machines at Hellscape Center gained popularity among thousands.

In just a few days, the machines attracted significant foot traffic to the mall.

James Blaze's event at Hellscape Center further amplified this trend. Thousands of demons flooded the mall, creating a tight squeeze that threatened to overwhelm the space. Only the diligent efforts of security prevented chaos.

The event cemented Hellscape Center's growing reputation.

Simultaneously, promotion for "Demonfather Part 2" began across Horn City, Morningstar, Thorn, Bharat, Empirica, parts of South Anatolia, Evros, and the Eden region.

Media outlets buzzed with anticipation for the Demonfather sequel.

In a café, demons discussed the upcoming film:

"I can't wait for Demonfather Part 2!"

"Yeah! The first Demonfather was amazing! I wonder if the sequel will be as good?"

An imp demon added hopefully, "I hope it will be good."

"It will be," a monkey demon assured. "Just don't listen to the media. They always like to bully Arthur just because he's a weak royal prince."

"I agree with you, we shouldn't judge Arthur based on the unreliable media these days," a bull demon said, sipping his coffee. "While Arthur may not be as powerful as his brother, he's certainly talented in entertainment."

"True," another demon friend nodded. "Though I wonder how the first prince of the Morningstar Kingdom is faring."

A panda demon chimed in, "Last I heard, he was sent to the prison realm to guard the gate. Supposedly keeps dangerous demons from escaping."

"Haha, come on. You still believe in the prison realm? It's a myth!" one scoffed.

"Then where is the first prince, huh?"

"Probably abroad, studying and living it up."

"But no one's spotted him anywhere. I really think he's in another realm."

"Haha, we haven't been able to travel to other realms for ages. We've even lost portal travel. Only the powerful and influential can use it now."

Many believed the "Prison Realm" was just a myth.

Four hundred years ago, after the demons lost the war, it was said that humans couldn't kill some demons, so they locked the dangerous ones in the "Prison Realm" - known in the western world as "Nether Realm".

Rumor had it that first prince Azazel Morningstar was sent to the Nether Realm to become its warden and oversee the gate.

Whether this was true or not remained a mystery to both demons and humans.

***

Around the world, millions eagerly awaited "Demonfather Part 2".

Whether the media or rival studios liked it or not, Arthur's first work, "Demonfather", had revolutionized the picture industry. Not just as the first colored film, but for its thrilling, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

Even in kingdoms where the first film hadn't been screened, many had seen it through store-bought copies. Now, with the sequel's imminent release, those who'd missed the original rushed to buy it. Distributors lowered prices to boost sales before the sequel's premiere.

In the Bharat Kingdom, neighboring Morningstar, demand for the first film in developed cities quickly outstripped supply. Distributors ramped up production to meet the surge.

Arthur's profits soared, earning him about 3 million dollars in just a week since promotion began.

The hype reached fever pitch as "Demonfather Part 2" premiered in Horn, Morningstar, Thorn, Japon, and Choson Dynasty two weeks after promotions started.

Media outlets, abandoning their smear campaign, now praised the film sight unseen. "Experts believe Demonfather sequel will be a masterpiece like the first!" trumpeted newspaper headlines.

Media moguls hoped inflated expectations might lead to disappointment, tarnishing Arthur's reputation if the film fell short.

The first day's box office of 36 million dollars didn't surprise them. They patiently waited for a plummet.

Instead, the second day saw 42 million, the third a whopping 55 million. Even with a slight dip to 49 million on the fourth day, profits continued to soar.

Unexpectedly, the media found itself praised for its "accurate" predictions.

"Didn't expect the media was right. The Demonfather Part 2 was a masterpiece!" exclaimed a demon leaving the theater with friends.

"True. I can't believe Michael could be so cold. He's terrifying!" His friend nodded.

"Damn that Michael! He's one scary demon. He's the only one I'd never dare offend!" Another added.

"Do you think Arthur really wants to replace his father as king and rule Morningstar like Michael Corleone?" One said, a chill running down his spine.

"Dude, it's just a movie. Besides, there's no way Arthur could overthrow his father!"

"True."

"Demonfather Part 2" stirred a whirlwind of emotions across the world.

In Empirica, Aztec, and Kanata on the Empirica Continent, people began romanticizing mob life.

In Apple City, Empirica, a group of thugs fresh from watching "Demonfather Part 2" donned suits like Michael's. Their leader, Manny, embraced Michael Corleone's persona.

When one thug betrayed Manny, the others watched as their boss held the traitor affectionately, saying, "I know it was you, Buttcake. You broke my heart!"

"I... I'm sorry boss!!!" Buttcake wailed, imagining a Michael-esque fate awaiting him.

At the prestigious Harvard magic high school, a student president declared in a meeting, "My father taught me many things here—he taught me in this room. He taught me—keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

"Umm... President, didn't your father die before you were born?"

Michael's lines permeated various cultures. In Japon, a Yakuza boss told his group, "If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it's that you can kill anybody."

His subordinates exchanged terrified glances.

The film's impact extended far beyond entertainment, influencing behavior and speech across diverse societies.