บท 75: Agency?
(Arthur POV)
Seeing Rocky, I couldn't help but think about the other cast of "The Demonfather" - Johnny Devilkin, Charles Flirt, Vivienne Westwood, Richard, and the rest. Word on the street was that they were all riding high on the film's success, their schedules packed with new projects.
Oddly enough, Rocky was the only one I hadn't heard much about since the film blew up. I'd just assumed he was cashing in like the others, enjoying his newfound fame and fortune.
As I poured Rocky a cup of the popular Morningstar Tea, curiosity got the better of me. "So, old timer, how's life been treating you since 'The Demonfather' hit it big?"
Rocky let out a long-suffering sigh, taking a sip of his tea. "Terrible, if I'm being honest."
I blinked, caught off guard. Looking at his fancy new threads, I couldn't help but be skeptical. "Terrible? You're dressed like you own half the city. What gives?"
He shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "Looks can be deceiving, kid. Had to hire someone to run the theater - can't even show my face there without causing a riot. Been cooped up at home most days, dodging fans like they're debt collectors."
I winced, starting to get the picture. "That bad, huh?"
"You have no idea," Rocky continued, warming to his tale of woe. "Went to my cousin's birthday celebration a few weeks back. By the end of it, my hand was cramping from all the autographs, and my face felt like it might crack from all the smiling for pictures. Exhausting doesn't even begin to cover it."
I felt a pang of guilt. I'd been so caught up in my own whirlwind, I hadn't stopped to think about how Rocky's life might have changed.
"Sounds rough," I offered lamely, not sure what else to say.
Rocky nodded, a hint of his old self peeking through. "Only recently, now that the 'Demonfather' hype has died down a bit, have I been able to poke my head out without being mobbed. It's a relief, let me tell you."
I nodded, trying to piece things together. "Huh. I figured you'd be drowning in acting projects by now."
Rocky let out a dry chuckle. "Hard to get project when you're not signed with an agency, kid."
I nearly choked on my tea. "Wait, what? You haven't signed with anyone yet?"
"Nope," Rocky shrugged. Then, with a sly grin, "Why? You offering?"
"Me? Nah, I don't... I mean, I don't have an agency," I stammered, not wanting to overstep.
Rocky leaned back, eyeing me thoughtfully. "You know, Your Highness, with your studio on the rise, ever consider starting your own agency?"
The question caught me off guard. "My own agency?" I muttered, the wheels in my head starting to turn.
"Yeah," Rocky nodded. "Look, I've had offers, but I don't trust 'em. But you? If you started something, I'd sign in a heartbeat."
I stroked my chin, the idea taking root. "You know, that's not half bad. Could bring Firfel, Imkrag, Kurt, Vivienne, the whole gang under one roof."
Rocky's eyes lit up. "So, you're gonna do it?"
I chuckled, the possibilities unfolding. "Why not? It'd be good for the studio. Plus, I wouldn't have to shell out a fortune every time I want to cast Firfel or the others."
"Well, well," Rocky grinned, "looks like someone's learned to play the game. I suggest it 'cause I want representation, but you were more interested in saving money."
"Hey, someone's got to watch the bottom line," I shot back with a grin. "Especially with the kingdom's new 'films tax' taking a bite out of my profits."
Rocky nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah, read about that. Tough break, kid."
***
No sooner had I decided to start an agency than I was knee-deep in legal jargon. I'd hired a legal team from the well-known demon law firm, to get "Hellfire Agency" off the ground. Their job? Navigate the bureaucratic nightmare of obtaining a license from the Morningstar Kingdom's local government.
This wasn't going to be like starting Hellfire Studios, where my princely status had greased the wheels. Now, as an exiled prince, I was just another schmuck with a dream - albeit one with a famous last name.
To speed things up, I decided to pay a visit to my dear sister, Lucy Morningstar. Sure, she was just the "Minister of Economic Development and Tourism," but she was still a princess with government connections. Time to cash in on some family favors.
I strolled into the imposing Chamber of Infernal Commerce, watching the government drones do a double-take. You'd think they'd never seen an exiled prince before.
"I'm here to see Lucy Morningstar," I announced to the receptionist, trying to sound important.
She barely looked up from her hellphone. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but-"
"Then you can wait," she cut me off, reaching for the telephone. "I'll call her office."
I slumped into a chair in the lobby, watching as she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. After what felt like an eternity of bureaucratic purgatory, she called out, "Mr. Arthur?"
I perked up. "Yes?"
"The princess will see you now. Follow me."
As we trudged down the hallway, I couldn't help but gawk at the propaganda plastered on the walls. "Morningstar - the Hope of all Demons," one poster proclaimed. Another assured, "We Care for all Demons. We don't judge you for how evil you are." My personal favorite? "Let's support our king's plan of reunification!" Yeah, because that's going so well.
It was surreal, my first time in this bastion of bureaucracy. I'd spent my whole life avoiding places like this. We finally reached a red door, and the receptionist gave it a perfunctory knock.
"Enter," Lucy's voice rang out, crisp and authoritative.
The receptionist gestured at the golden doorknob, clearly done with playing tour guide. I took the hint and let myself in.
Lucy's office was... well, "opulent" doesn't quite cover it. It looked like a dragon's hoard had mated with a luxury hotel suite. 'So this is where the people's tax money goes,' I thought, trying not to roll my eyes.
"What brings you here?" Lucy asked, barely looking up from her desk. Her name tag, all fancy demon calligraphy on gold, probably cost more than most demons make in a month.
I plopped down in the chair across from her, abandoning any pretense of formality. "Just here to ask for a few favors, sis."
That got her attention. "Favors?" she echoed, eyebrow raised.
I laid it out for her - my plans for the agency, the red tape I was facing, the whole nine yards.
"You want to start your own talent agency?" Lucy's surprise was almost comical. "Why in the nine hells would you want to deal with all that oversight and regulation?"
I paused, mulling it over. She had a point. This wasn't like starting Hellfire Stories, a book publishing company - this was a whole new level of bureaucratic nightmare. But I'd come too far to back down now.
"Look," I said, leaning forward, "having my own stable of actors just makes sense. It'll streamline everything for my future projects." It sounded weak even to my own ears, but it was the best I could come up with on the spot.
Lucy's skeptical look told me she wasn't buying it, but hey, at least I was trying. Now came the real challenge - convincing my by-the-book sister to bend those rules just a little bit for her black sheep brother.
บท 76: Hellfire Agency
(Arthur POV)
Lucy's interrogation felt like it lasted for half an hour. I kept circling back to one point: "Come on, I've paid a fortune in taxes from 'The Demonfather.' You can't throw me this one bone?"
She sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and something else. Pity, maybe? "I can't just bend the rules for you, Arthur. You're a civilian now, remember?"
Her words hit like a bucket of ice water. I was about to slink out when she dropped another bombshell: "By the way, I've been hearing rumors. Did you really bribe the MFF to sweep the awards?"
I froze, then turned to face her. Looking her dead in the eye, I said, "Bribed? The MFF? Come on, Lucy. Everyone knows they're as incorruptible as they come. It's not possible, and you know it."
She nodded, but her eyes were sharp. "I hope you're telling the truth. Bribing an event like the MFF... that's not just frowned upon. It's asking for a world of trouble."
"Don't worry about it," I said, trying to keep my voice light as I made my exit. But inside, I was seething.
***
Days crawled by, and I was no closer to solving my agency problem. With "Lord of the Rings" set to release in two weeks, I knew the value of actors like Firfel, Shafel, and Rupert would skyrocket. I needed to act fast.
Just when I was about to throw in the towel, an unlikely savior appeared: Anubis Flameworth, a local mob boss with a surprising soft spot for cinema. He offered to help navigate the legal hurdles, no questions asked.
I was skeptical at first - getting in bed with the mob wasn't exactly on my to-do list. But Anubis worked miracles. In just two days, he had "Hellfire Agency" up and running, all above board. Well, as above board as anything involving the mob can be.
With the legal stuff sorted, I snagged a cheap building in the district nobody wanted and set up shop. My newly hired team hit the ground running, negotiating with the agencies holding Firfel, Vivienne, and the others.
Meanwhile, I wasted no time signing Imkrag, Kurt, and Rocky. Imkrag and Kurt were priority - with "Lord of the Rings" still unreleased here, they were flying under the radar. For now.
The ink was barely dry on the contracts when I saw Imkrag and Kurt's jaws drop. You'd think I'd offered them the keys to the kingdom instead of a measly thirty grand upfront.
"This... this is for real?" Imkrag stammered, his eyes wide as saucers.
I couldn't help but smirk. "Welcome to Hellfire Agency, boys."
Their pens couldn't move fast enough. In the blink of an eye, I had two new talents under my belt. It was a start, but I knew the real challenge lay ahead.
Later that day, I found myself in my new office at Hellfire Agency. The place was still a work in progress, but I was determined to give it a different vibe from my Hellfire Studio setup. New venture, new me, right?
I'd hung up some self-drawn posters of "The Demonfather," "Lord of the Rings," and even "Dragon Ball" back at the studio. But here? This place was getting the VIP treatment.
My fingers traced the cool metal of the Lunar Laurel as I placed it on my desk, right next to the Celestial Crown. Not too shabby for an exiled prince, if I do say so myself. The rest of the Moonlight Film Festival awards found their homes on the shelves, a testament to how far I'd come.
I was lost in thought, adjusting a crooked frame, when Klein burst through the door like he had hellhounds on his tail.
"What's up?" I asked, not bothering to turn around.
Klein's voice was strained. "Boss, we've hit a snag. The agencies holding Firfel, Vivienne, Shafel, and the others? They're not budging."
I nodded, unsurprised. This was exactly why I'd been in such a rush to get Hellfire Agency off the ground, even stooping to asking my greedy sister for help. With "Lord of the Rings" set to hit theaters in two weeks, I knew the value of those actors would skyrocket. Especially Firfel as Arwen, Shafel as Galadriel, and Rupert as Boromir. We needed to move fast.
I leaned back in my chair, eyeing Klein. "Look, this isn't unexpected. Here's what we'll do: ask them to name their price. If it's steep, we'll negotiate. Find their bottom line."
Klein nodded, a determined glint in his eye. "Got it, boss. I'll get on it right away."
As he hurried out, I turned to the window, my mind a whirlwind of possibilities and potential pitfalls. The clock was ticking. In just two weeks, "Lord of the Rings" would hit screens across the Morningstar Kingdom. I needed to move fast, especially when it came to Firfel, Shafel, and Rupert. Their stock was about to soar, and I wanted them under the Hellfire Agency banner before that happened.
***
The next few days were a blur of negotiations and number-crunching. My team worked around the clock, juggling offers and counteroffers. It was like trying to herd cats – if the cats were shrewd agents guarding their golden geese.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of back-and-forth, we made a breakthrough. The agencies' resolve crumbled when I put serious money on the table: two hundred thousand for Firfel, fifty thousand for Shafel, and eighty thousand for Rupert. It was a hefty sum, but I knew it would pay off in the long run.
As I signed the final contract, bringing these talented actors under the Hellfire Agency umbrella, I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. We'd done it. The core of my "Lord of the Rings" cast was now part of my growing empire.
Of course, there was still work to be done. Charles Flirt, Johnny Devilkin, and Vivienne Westwood were still out there, free agents waiting to be scooped up. But I wasn't in a rush. They'd come around eventually.
***
Two days later, I welcomed Firfel to my office. As she stepped in, her eyes widened with surprise.
"Wait, it was your agency that bought out my contract?" she asked, a mix of disbelief and amusement in her voice.
I couldn't help but grin. "Yep. Hellfire Agency is officially open for business. And let's just say, acquiring your talents wasn't exactly cheap."
A slow smile spread across Firfel's face. "So you're the mysterious new agency everyone at my old place was buzzing about." She paused, her expression softening. "You know, I was a bit worried at first. Didn't know if I was being handed off to some shady outfit."
I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. "Shady? Well, you're not entirely wrong. Now that you're under my agency, I'll be saving a fortune on casting fees for my future projects. You work for me now, remember?"
Firfel rolled her eyes, but I could see the amusement dancing in them. "You're terrible, you know that?"
"So I've been told," I replied with a wink. "But admit it, you wouldn't have it any other way."
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง
NewComer714
NewComer714
New Offer:
Top 10: Bonus One Chapter.
Top 5: Bonus One Chapter.
***
Top 6: Two Chapter Per Day.
(Bonus chapters may not be delivered quickly (because I may be sleeping at the time we reach the ranking). That's why I uploaded this additional chapter (since it was originally one chapter per day) to compensate for any delays.)
(Advance Chapters: Patreon.com/NewComer714.)
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
200+ การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
139 หินพลัง 
ความคิดเห็นย่อย