บท 211: 8-bit project
(Cici Hyena POV)
I sit before this colored screen, my fingers dancing between the "keyboard" and "mouse" as I wade through an endless stream of messages directed at my new employer, the famous Arthur Pendragon.
Two weeks into my role as Arthur's secretary, and reality has thoroughly shattered my initial expectations.
I'd imagined myself wielding enchanted typewriters, organizing schedules with traditional magic, perhaps even catching the eye of the famous demon himself - after all, I'd beaten thousands of other applicants for this position. Instead, I find myself tethered to this increasingly popular device called a "computer."
Those first days were a struggle with the unfamiliar technology, but I've grown oddly comfortable with it. The computer simplifies document management, file organization, and scheduling to an impressive degree. Everything flows seamlessly through this single device.
Yet with that efficiency comes an unexpected burden. Beyond managing Arthur's affairs, I must now field an ever-growing flood of messages directed to him.
What started as a trickle - just a few messages daily - has swollen into hundreds.
Most come from business owners and media journalists who've managed to obtain boss Arthur's "Hellfire Messenger" contact information. Now they're abusing the privilege, with some resorting to constant spamming.
I notice yet another string of repeated messages from a user named "Jacob Star" - his profile prominently displaying the title 'business-owner' beneath his name.
With practiced restraint, I type: "Dear Mr. Star, Please be advised that message spamming violates our communication protocols. As Mr. Arthur Pendragon's executive secretary managing his correspondence, I must inform you that continued spamming will result in account termination. Thank you for your cooperation."
Sending the warning, I return to the endless stream of messages awaiting my attention.
Staring at the screen all day was taking its toll on my eyes. The computer fascinated me, but sitting here for hours left me exhausted. I sipped my coffee, trying to stay alert as I sorted through more messages.
Then something caught my attention - a message from "Morningstar Empire's Economic Minister." Not a personal name like the others, but an official title from one of the most powerful positions in the massive Morningstar Kingdom.
My eyes widened as I read the contents. I immediately jumped from my chair and rushed out of my office. A message this important needed to reach boss Arthur directly.
I hurried to his office, but my knocks went unanswered. "Boss Arthur left for the Hellfire Electronics building," a nearby employee informed me.
I sighed in relief - at least the electronics building was close to Hellfire Studio HQ.
***
(3rd Person POV)
Arthur stood in the game department with Drake and Josh, examining their progress. The team had reached the halfway point on their 8-bit project "Music Legends Quest" - a game Arthur had proposed months ago.
The story followed two protagonists, James and Frederick, who wielded musical powers to defeat enemies across various levels. Their main antagonist, Caleb D., awaited at the journey's end.
The computer monitor displayed a simple menu with just "New Game" as its sole option - save game technology hadn't been developed in this world yet.
Drake pressed the keyboard controls, and two pixelated figures materialized on screen: James and Frederick in their 8-bit glory. Selecting James, the level began with the character wielding a guitar. Each strum sent visible sound waves rippling across the screen, striking enemies in their path.
Arthur nodded, studying the gameplay. "The chiptune cover of Nirvana's Lithium fits perfectly, though we could polish it further."
He couldn't help but be impressed. Drake and Josh had only started leading the game team months ago, learning programming and game development from scratch. Yet the dwarf duo had successfully guided their inexperienced team to create something remarkable.
The team members watched proudly as their creation came to life on screen. Then suddenly, James clipped through a wall during a jump sequence, getting stuck in the level geometry.
"Sorry about that, boss," Drake's face reddened. "We're still working out collision detection bugs."
"Don't worry," Arthur waved it off. "For our first 8-bit game, this is exceptional work. You've mastered the fundamentals - using limited pixels effectively, creating distinctive sprites, and maximizing the graphical potential within 8-bit constraints. The game already has personality."
The team beamed at his praise, their pride in their creation evident despite its unfinished state.
Arthur watched the game team's progress with mixed feelings. While proud of their work, he couldn't help but think how much faster development would be with his clones - if only they weren't so problematic.
The replacement of "chakra" with "magic" had created unexpected complications. Though his clones inherited his appearance, basic skills, and limited memories - even recognizing themselves as "Arthur" - they lacked his complete knowledge. Most critically, they couldn't access his understanding of computers and programming.
This partial inheritance left each clone with their own distinct personality, making them unreliable for complex tasks. His attempts at using them for game development had proved disastrous - their coding was chaotic, and they couldn't maintain consistent project planning.
Instead, he'd restricted their use to simpler creative tasks: manga production, comic illustration, animation work, or serving in the Hellsing Organization. Even these limited roles caused problems.
Every time a clone vanished, their accumulated knowledge and memories forcibly transferred back to him. When dozens or even hundreds of clones disappeared simultaneously, the mental backlash was overwhelming.
These harsh side effects had forced Arthur to scale back his clone usage. He now focused on quality over quantity, developing clones with larger magical reserves that could last longer if they conserved their power. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than the constant headaches from mass clone dispersal.
A knock interrupted the game team's discussion. Faer, a trainee programmer, opened the door to reveal Cici - her feline features perfectly groomed, wearing a tailored black suit that marked her as one of Hellfire's executive staff.
"I'm Cici, Mr. Pendragon's secretary. Is he here?"
Faer's wide mouth closed as he nodded. Cici strode in, immediately spotting Arthur among the developers. She approached and whispered urgently in his ear.
Arthur's expression turned serious. "Apologies, boys. Important matter requires my attention."
Drake, Josh, and the team nodded their understanding as Arthur followed Cici back to Hellfire Studio HQ.
In her office, Arthur settled before her office computer to read the message from Morningstar Kingdom.
"Your Highness, I don't know if you remember me, but we often passed each other in the palace corridors during your time here. I am Perah Gray, Economic Minister of Morningstar Kingdom. I write to inform you that His Majesty, your father, has expressed great pride in your achievements in both film and technologies.
The king, in his mercy, extends his forgiveness and wishes to restore your position as prince upon your return. This represents a unique opportunity - one the benevolent demon king graciously offers.
Regards,
Minister Perah Gray"
Arthur chuckled darkly at the message. Make me a prince again? For what? He could see through their motives clearly. They think reinstating me means claiming everything I've built. Not happening.
"Boss, isn't this wonderful news? They're restoring your title!" Cici couldn't contain her excitement.
Arthur rose from his chair, expression cold. "I thought this was something important - perhaps Morningstar officials offering support for computer expansion. Instead, it's just nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Cici's ears twitched in surprise.
"Exactly. If you see messages like this again, delete them."
"You... don't want to be prince again?" She stared at him, bewildered.
Arthur let out a derisive snort. "Prince? That title means nothing." He turned to leave, his parting words hanging in the air. "In this world, money reigns supreme."
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บท 212: Meeting
(Arthur POV)
Making me a "prince" again? How transparent. Father must see the computer's potential and wants to claim everything I've built by reinstating me.
Even though Apollonia and I remain close, I won't crawl back to the family that discarded me like trash when I had nothing.
Back in my office, I study the Ancient Tree from my chair. Since reaching Level 5, its growth has become staggering. We had to cut a hole through the roof just to accommodate it, using magic barriers to keep out rain - though the constant drain on magical power is becoming problematic.
The building's limitations highlight how far behind this world's architecture is compared to my previous life.
A proper rooftop garden design could have made the Ancient Tree appear natural, rather than this awkward compromise.
This settles it. I pull out paper and begin sketching a building inspired by my past life. The cost might run into dozens of millions, but that's insignificant now.
My revenue streams have expanded far beyond television, films, and VHS tapes. The barcode system alone has generated 521 million dollars across Horn Kingdom and its neighbors in record time. Once it spreads to other nations, annual profits in the billions aren't just possible - they're inevitable.
Computers may be lagging in adoption, but their time will come. Between these technologies, funding isn't a concern.
I put the finishing touches on my design - a scaled-down version of Apple Park from my previous life. Next step: land acquisition and construction. This world's about to see what real architectural innovation looks like.
I gathered my team in the meeting room, spreading the blueprints across the table. "This is Hellfire Park," I announced, detailing the ambitious design. The budget projections drew sharp intakes of breath - the figures stretched into millions.
My executives exchanged uncertain glances. They'd expected discussions about upcoming films or entertainment ventures, not a massive construction project.
"Let me be clear," I fixed them with a stern look. "The budget for Hellfire Park will run into millions. Any corruption will be dealt with severely." Their faces paled at my tone.
"We wouldn't dare, sir," the scaled demon executive assured quickly, scales slightly rattling.
I left them with a satisfied smile. Let them sweat a little - it ensures honest work.
***
(3rd Person POV)
While computers and barcodes remained limited to Horn Kingdom and its neighbors, word of these innovations had spread across Evros, Eden, and the Empirican Continent.
In Apple City, U.S.E., Billy Dark sat before the computer his employee had brought from Horn Kingdom last week. Each day of testing deepened his solemn mood.
The memory of that Electronics Expo years ago haunted him now. He'd dismissed this device so easily then, seeing it as beneath notice. Now, witnessing its true capabilities, that arrogance felt like ashes in his mouth.
This computer threatened everything Dark Electronics had built. Despite their 38.5-billion-dollar empire, military contracts across twenty kingdoms, and pioneering work in magical automation, Billy knew their dominance wasn't guaranteed.
Hellfire's meteoric rise alarmed him. He'd dismissed Arthur as a mere filmmaker, but now that young demon was giving him the worst headache of his career.
Acquiring Hellfire's technology and patents became his priority. Arthur's rejection of Dwalric Corporation's 8-billion-dollar offer showed he wouldn't sell cheap, but Billy was prepared to risk 20 billion. The technology's potential justified such an astronomical price.
He wasn't alone in this thinking. Major corporations worldwide were eyeing Hellfire:
From the Craft Kingdom's capital city, Dwarftech United - worth 45.8 billion - had already begun internal discussions about acquiring Hellfire outright. Their board meetings now focused solely on computers and possible acquisition strategies.
Even Morningstar Kingdom's own corporate giant, Demon Dynamics, valued at 15.8 billion, was plotting a takeover bid. The elven powerhouse Crescent Corporation, commanding 39 billion in assets, had similar ambitions.
The world's largest companies had realized what Billy already knew - whoever controlled this technology would shape the future.
***
In his Hellfire HQ office, Arthur pored over maps of potential land acquisitions across Horn Kingdom. He'd been weighing locations for another "Hellfire Park" - the amusement parks were already proving successful in several Morningstar cities and had expanded into U.S.E. through the Bryan Brothers partnership.
The existing parks generated tens of millions annually, yet the profit margins didn't excite him. Horn Kingdom's smaller size made him hesitate about replicating the venture here.
"My lord, I am now here..." A familiar whisper touched his mind.
Arthur rose immediately, recognizing John's voice. Outside the building, he found the man seated on a public bench.
"John?" Arthur called softly.
John turned, eyes lighting with recognition. "My lor-"
No need for 'lord' in public, Arthur's thought cut in telepathically.
John caught himself, noticing curious onlookers. He smoothly shifted personas. "Mr. Pendragon, I'm such a fan of your work."
"Is that so?" Arthur smiled knowingly. "Let's discuss business in my office."
John nodded, maintaining his "human businessman" facade as they entered the building. His performance was flawless - none would guess his true nature or his ancient connection to Arthur.
Curious eyes followed them through the building as John walked behind Arthur, employees wondering who rated a personal escort from their boss.
The moment Arthur's office door closed, John dropped to his knees, tears welling up. "My lord, what an honor to finally see you!"
Arthur cringed at the display, using magic to lift John to his feet. "Please, I told you to drop the 'lord' business."
John wiped his eyes, nodding sheepishly.
"You've managed the Angel City cult well," Arthur observed, settling behind his desk.
"Not a cult," John corrected with a smile. "We are your followers... Dionysus."
"Have a seat," Arthur gestured. "I've noticed some interesting developments with the followers lately."
John's expression darkened. "Yes, lor- boss. The people you cured of madness are proving... difficult. They refuse to follow my leadership, encouraging others to worship openly instead of maintaining secrecy."
"They believe I'm deceiving them," John sighed heavily. "That I want to monopolize access to you."
Arthur couldn't help but chuckle. Only John knew his true identity beyond just Dionysus, yet these zealous followers were creating their own path - drinking themselves stupid in taverns, disrupting theaters with shouts of "Dionysus." So much for keeping a low profile.
"I speak to them too, but they think that it was just the voice of the servants of Dionysus and believe that worshiping openly to get my attention," Arthur sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.
John shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I am very sorry, boss. I am not competent enough to handle those fools who refuse to listen to reason."
"Not your fault. People will always interpret things differently." Arthur waved it off, though secretly, he appreciated these overzealous followers. Their wild behavior generated substantial divine points.
Their wild imaginations about the "great power" of Dionysus, combined with their stubborn belief that Arthur's voice was merely that of lesser servants, led them to create elaborate myths about his capabilities. Each exaggerated tale, each grandiose assumption about his powers, translated into substantial divine point gains.
The "parties" they threw in taverns and bars across the city, while troublesome for maintaining secrecy, proved unexpectedly lucrative in terms of divine points.
This discovery led Arthur to realize that festivities conducted in his name as Dionysus were particularly potent sources of power.
Most intriguingly, the theatre actors who had taken to worshipping him generated divine points not just through their devotion, but through their performances as well. To his surprise, their ability to entertain audiences produced small amounts of entertainment points - a completely unexpected bonus from this whole endeavor.
After contemplating these developments, Arthur turned his attention back to John. "As I promised you before, I have a project that might interest you as an actor. I remember your dream of becoming a celebrated performer."
John's eyes lit up with almost fanatical devotion. "I will accept any role you deign to give me, boss. Even if it was just an extra role, I would take it gladly and perform it with all my heart!"
"You'll be playing the lead, actually," Arthur chuckled.
John dropped into an even deeper bow. "Then I shall accept any film project you grace me with. If you require me to play a dog, I shall become the most devoted canine actor in theatrical history!"
Arthur watched this display with growing discomfort. This guy has transformed from a devoted follower into an unbearable sycophant, he thought, seriously considering whether the time had come to wipe clean John's memories of his divine identity.
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