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."
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บท 77: LOTR Box Office Success
(3rd Person POV)
The streets of Ferland City hummed with early morning activity. Demons, elves, and dwarves bustled about, starting their daily routines. On every street corner and shop window, film posters fought for attention, but one dominated the landscape: "Lord of the Rings."
A group of demon workers who knew one another paused in front of the large poster, whispering quietly among themselves.
"Isn't this the film that won all those awards at the elf festival?" stocky demon asked, squinting at the image.
A demon with horns that curled like ram's nodded. "Yeah, it's that exiled prince's second film. Causing quite a stir, from what I hear."
An imp, clutching a newspaper, sneered as he approached his colleagues. "Load of rubbish, if you ask me. Says right here in the Demons Daily that it's a steaming pile of dragon dung." He tapped the paper for emphasis.
One of his coworkers shrugged. "Why don't we get tickets? I'm curious about this award-winning film, rigged or not."
The imp hesitated, then glanced at the screening date on the poster.
"February 22, 1272," he read aloud. After a moment's consideration, he shrugged. "Ah, why not? Can't deny I'm a bit curious myself."
As they moved on, more passersby stopped to gawk at the poster. The buzz around "Lord of the Rings" was impossible to ignore. While some demon newspapers praised it for bringing glory to their entertainment industry, the major outlets were tearing it to shreds.
Yet, despite the negative press – or perhaps because of it – demons couldn't stop talking about the film. They might claim to believe the bad reviews, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity that even the harshest criticism couldn't quash.
Days slipped by, and February 22nd crept closer. The major media outlets patted themselves on the back, convinced their smear campaign against "Lord of the Rings" was working its dark magic. Everywhere you turned, demons were muttering about how awful the film was bound to be.
Titan Pictures, having joined forces with the demon media moguls to boycott "Lord of the Rings," were practically purring with satisfaction. Their poison even spread through the Evros Continent like wildfire.
The headlines grew more outlandish by the day:
"Lord of the Rings: A Testament to Stupidity, Starring Unintelligent Orcs"
"Exclusive: Caedan Aegis Confronts Ex-Prince Arthur, Calls Film 'An Abomination'"
The last one came complete with a photo of Caedan and Arthur from the Moonlight Film Festival - the very moment when Caedan had actually praised the film. But the article twisted the context entirely, claiming Caedan's animated expression was one of disgust rather than admiration. It was a blatant misrepresentation, but people eager for scandal ate it up without question.
As the release date loomed, more and more demons in the Morningstar Kingdom bought into the hype. "Can't wait to see the ex-prince fall on his face," became a common refrain. After the unexpected success of "The Demonfather," many were eager to see Arthur brought low.
Speculation ran rampant, insults flew freely, and then... the moment of truth arrived. February 22, 1272 dawned, bright and full of possibility.
Across the kingdom, 2,100 theaters threw open their doors, ready to screen "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."
It wasn't the wide release Arthur had dreamed of - the major studios had flexed their muscles, strong-arming key cinemas into rejecting the film.
***
At the Ferland Grand Theatre, owned by Rocky himself, was buzzing with activity. A sea of demons stretched around the block, all eager to catch "Lord of the Rings." The sheer number of attendees caught many off guard.
A fiend demon named Jimmy scratched his horns, bewildered. "I thought this film was supposed to be trash. What's with the crowd?"
His demoness girlfriend, Lola, shrugged. "Morbid curiosity, maybe? Everyone wants to see just how bad it is."
"Huh," Jimmy mused. "Guess a lot of folks are itching to watch that exiled prince crash and burn."
Lola snorted. "You said it. Demons will pay good money to see that weakling fall flat on his face."
After what felt like an eternity, they finally settled into their seats. The theater hummed with anticipation as the lights dimmed.
From the moment the film began, expectations were shattered. The scaling resolution alone drew gasps of awe, but it was the world and story that truly captivated the audience.
As the credits rolled, the theater erupted with chatter.
"I can't believe they killed off Boromir just like that," a demon with bat-like wings lamented.
His friend scoffed. "He had it coming. Aragorn's the real deal – now that's a king I could get behind."
"But what about that dragon at the end?" a young demoness chimed in. "I need to know what happens next!"
As they filed out of the theater, the conversation continued to buzz around them. Gone was the anticipation of witnessing a disaster. Instead, demons found themselves dissecting characters, debating plot points, and speculating about sequels.
Jimmy turned to Lola, a look of shock still on his face. "Did we just... enjoy that?"
Lola nodded, equally surprised. "I think we did. Huh. Who would've thought?"
As the first day of screenings came to a close, it was clear that something unexpected had happened.
***
The next morning, Ashen Gray sat in his plush office at Demon Pictures, basking in the glow of yesterday's box office numbers. Their latest film, strategically released to compete with "Lord of the Rings," had pulled in a respectable 600 thousand dollars. Sure, taxes would take a bite, but Ashen wasn't worried.
He allowed himself a smug smile. The major studios' decision to boycott "Lord of the Rings" and block its access to key cinemas seemed to be paying off. His film was enjoying a cushy run in 4,210 theaters across the kingdom.
Just as he was about to pour himself a celebratory glass of whiskey, his secretary burst through the door like she had hellhounds on her tail.
Ashen's brow furrowed. "Whitney, for hell's sake! Have you forgotten how to knock?"
"I'm sorry, sir!" Whitney gasped, bowing quickly. "But you need to see this. Now." She slapped a newspaper on his desk with trembling hands.
Ashen raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "What's got you so worked up?" He picked up the paper, noting the masthead: Primal Times, that annoyingly unbiased media from Horn Kingdom.
His eyes skimmed the headline, then froze. He read it again, certain he must be mistaken. But there it was, in bold black letters: "Lord of the Rings Box Office Smashes Records: 7 Million Dollars in One Day!"
Ashen felt the blood drain from his face. "Seven... seven million?" he stammered, his usual composure shattered.
Whitney nodded grimly.
"But... but that's impossible!" Ashen sputtered, his mind racing. "How could they pull those numbers with only two thousand theaters? It must be a mistake. Or a lie."
Even as the words left his mouth, he knew it was wishful thinking. Primal Times had a sterling reputation for accuracy. They wouldn't risk it on a false story.
Ashen slumped in his chair, the implications hitting him like a ton of bricks. They'd underestimated Arthur Morningstar. Again.
***
(Arthur POV)
I leaned back in my chair, eyes fixed on the computer research spread across my desk. We were close, I could feel it. The first prototype was just within reach.
If we could get our first prototype computer working, maybe we could showcase it at the Electronics Expo in Empirica's Apple City. It was still a few months out - plenty of time to sign up and secure a booth. The possibilities made my head spin.
But as exciting as the future was, the present demanded my attention. I turned to the box office numbers from our film's opening day. When I saw the figure - 7 million dollars - I swear I could hear my team's jaws hit the floor.
"Seven million..." I muttered, a mix of pride and anxiety swirling in my gut. Sure, I was thrilled that the box office was being reported transparently, even on day one. But a part of me couldn't help wishing it wasn't tracked so meticulously. Made it a hell of a lot harder to fudge the numbers come tax time.
I shook my head, pushing away the thought.
Maybe there was a way to... optimize our tax situation. After all, those millionaires and billionaires from my past life had it down to an art form. Surely some of those tricks could work here too.
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