บท 194: Possessed Doll
(Arthur POV)
I had just finished sketching the "Chucky" doll from multiple angles, nodding with satisfaction at the designs, when a loud crash shattered my concentration.
Looking up, I found my ghostly employees frozen in guilt beside broken objects scattered across the floor. The shards of my favorite coffee cup lay in pieces.
"We're getting punished again, aren't we?" Diddy mumbled anxiously.
Their faces showed genuine fear of punishment, but I just sighed and waved them off. "Clean this mess up and go."
"Y-yes, right away!" Puffy stammered, the ghosts scrambling to tidy their chaos.
Leaving them to their cleanup, I headed to the parking lot and drove to one of our Hellfire Merchandise stores. The shop specialized in toys crafted by master dwarf toymaker Eloso, whose reputation in the kingdom's toy industry was legendary.
His workshop produced action figures from all our properties - cowboys from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," characters from "Lord of the Rings," and the perpetually sold-out Harry Potter wands.
The store's back area hummed with activity - the whir of machinery mixing with the chatter of craftsmen. Employees brightened as they recognized me, offering warm greetings as I made my way to Eloso's workshop.
The old dwarf's office was a wonderland of toys and dolls. Prototypes lined every shelf, while half-finished projects cluttered his massive workbench.
Mechanical toys ticked and whirred, and the air carried the sweet scent of wood shavings and paint.
At 108 years old, Eloso's beard had gone snow-white, but his eyes still sparkled with creative energy as he turned from his work.
"What brings you here?" he asked gruffly, barely looking up from the delicate gears he was adjusting. His casual tone might have offended some, but I understood - age and mastery had earned him the right to such familiarity.
"Old Eloso, I need you to personally craft a doll design," I said.
His bushy eyebrows shot up with interest. "You want me to make something personally?" He set down his tools and turned fully toward me. "Now that's got this old dwarf curious. Let's see it."
I handed him the sketches of Chucky. His weathered fingers traced the design as he muttered specifications under his breath.
"Hmm, appears to be a normal human child..." He studied the details. "Ginger hair, bright blue eyes, striped shirt and overalls, freckled cheeks-" His voice trailed off abruptly.
I smiled, knowing he'd reached the unusual specifications.
"You want to include artificial organs, blood vessels, and muscle tissue in this doll?" Eloso's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Not artificial," I corrected. "I want real organic components."
He stared at me as if I'd lost my mind. "Are you creating a doll or trying to build an actual child?"
A soft laugh escaped me. "Just a doll, I assure you."
"Then why waste time with internal organs? It makes no sense." Eloso shook his head.
"Can you make it or not?" I sighed. "I have my reasons."
The old dwarf studied me intently, concern evident in his ancient eyes. Finally, he relented. "Fine, I'll do it. Truth be told, I'm curious about crafting something this realistic."
"Remember," I pointed to the specifications, "the exterior should still be plastic, with synthetic hair. The materials are clearly listed."
"I can read," he grumbled, already examining the technical details with professional interest.
"One more thing," I added. "The doll needs a speaker and basic magic core compartment for power."
Eloso nodded without looking up from the sketches. "Voice functionality? Standard enough."
In this world, talking dolls were common enough. Given Eloso's expertise with magical toy mechanics, I knew he'd handle the technical aspects perfectly.
"Let me know when it's finished," I said, turning to leave.
"Give me a few weeks," he replied, already making notes on the design.
I paused. "That quick?"
The old dwarf snorted, tugging at his silver beard. "Don't insult me, kid. I've built far more complex pieces in half the time."
"Fair enough. I'll leave you to it."
***
(3rd Person POV)
January 28, 1274 marked the Welsh Premier League finals, with football having captured the kingdom's imagination. The ancient stadium's 80,000 seats filled to 80% capacity - unprecedented for a new sport in Wales.
Before kickoff, Queen took center stage. Their appearance sparked confused murmurs among some spectators.
"Who's this demon band, Queen? I only know Nirvana..." one Welsh fan asked.
His neighbor turned in disbelief. "Don't you own a television? Queen's brilliant - their songs are everywhere!"
At midfield, Frederick surveyed the massive crowd, his pulse quickening with excitement. Performing in Wales had once been just a dream. Though this was only a pre-match show, it marked Queen's first step beyond demon territories.
Frederick's performance of unreleased material electrified the crowd. As he finished what should have been their final song, the stadium erupted with demands for more.
In his office, Arthur watched the crowd's reaction on TV, stroking his chin thoughtfully. 'Looking good. Queen's ready to expand beyond demon territories.'
The football match began with Genesis joining star player Rhys in Wales Dragon FC's starting lineup. Their chemistry on the field proved decisive as Wales Dragon FC claimed victory.
During the celebration, Queen returned to the pitch. The opening notes of their unreleased "We Are the Champions" filled the stadium. Frederick's voice soared as Wales Dragon FC players swayed with their fans, trophy held high, completely caught up in the moment.
"Queen's new album will definitely find an audience in Wales," Arthur mused, watching the scene unfold.
***
By late March, the Chucky doll arrived. Eloso personally delivered it to Arthur's office.
"Remarkable craftsmanship," Arthur said, examining the doll. "I'm surprised you finished it so quickly."
Eloso huffed proudly. "When I promise a few weeks, I deliver in a few weeks. Simple as that."
"Did you implement the voice function?" Arthur asked.
The old dwarf reached for the doll's back, pressing a hidden switch. The doll's head turned with mechanical precision, its blue eyes glinting as a child voice emerged from its speaker: "Hi, I'm Chucky. Wanna play?"
"Perfect," Arthur murmured approvingly.
Eloso stroked his beard, explaining how he'd used pig organs to create realistic internal structures. "Now will you tell me why this doll needed actual organs?"
Arthur regarded him quietly. "You know about my ghost employees?"
"What about them?" Eloso's brow furrowed.
With a subtle gesture, Arthur summoned Diddy into the office.
"Need something?" the ghost asked casually, floating between them.
"Possess the doll," Arthur instructed.
Diddy glanced at the Chucky doll, shrugging. "Easy enough." His spectral form melted into the toy.
Eloso jumped back as the doll came to life, its eyes gaining an eerily organic gleam. Chucky's movements were unnaturally smooth as it began to walk.
"Your ghosts can possess objects now?" Eloso watched in fascination. "Still doesn't explain the organs though."
Arthur's lips curved. "I wanted to see if Diddy could experience physical sensation again. If not, the organs would serve aesthetic purposes when damaged."
"Hold on," Chucky's voice carried Diddy's growing excitement. "There are actual organs in here? I can feel them!"
The doll's arms spread wide, eyebrows rising in wonder. "This... this feels like possessing a real child, not just a toy!" The doll's chest rose and fell as Diddy experimented with breathing.
Arthur watched with mounting enthusiasm. The combination of ghost possession and living components had created something far more visceral than he'd anticipated - perfect for his horror film ambitions.
---
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บท 195: Threat
(3rd Person POV)
"Careful with those movements, ghost," Eloso cautioned as Chucky bounced around. "The mechanisms are delicate, despite their durability."
"Sorry about that," Diddy settled the doll into stillness.
Arthur stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Diddy, since you feel like you're inhabiting a child's body, can you sense pain?"
The doll's hands patted its plastic exterior. "No, just the metallic shell."
Eloso shook his head. "Not surprising. While I engineered working organs, breathing passages, and enough sensory feedback for basic physical awareness, I didn't include pain receptors. The artificial brain is purely decorative."
Understanding dawned on Arthur and Diddy's faces.
"I could install pain receptors if you're interested," Eloso offered, his craftsman's pride evident. "Wouldn't be too difficult."
"That would be interesting," Diddy mused from within Chucky. "Been years since I felt anything."
"That won't be necessary," Arthur cut in. He turned to Diddy's disappointed expression. "Trust me, you don't want that."
Diddy slumped. "If you say so..."
"Though if you're that eager to feel something, I could always arrange another punishment session," Arthur suggested with a slight smirk.
The doll went rigid before Diddy's form shot out of it. "No thanks!" The ghost vanished, clearly remembering previous disciplinary encounters.
Arthur turned back to Eloso. "About durability - can we make it stronger?"
"It's already quite sturdy," Eloso replied, "but seeing how that ghost handled it, we should reinforce it. Premium materials would help - enchanted ironwood from the Lunar Kingdom, metamorphic crystal from the Craft Kingdom. Not cheap, though."
"Cost isn't an issue."
Eloso nodded approvingly. "Good. With those materials, we can create something nearly indestructible."
After seeing Eloso out, Arthur visited the Hellfire Electronics factories. The computer production lines hummed efficiently, approaching their 100,000-unit milestone. Once they hit that target, he'd launch the full TV network rollout.
***
By late February, Arthur gathered George, Firfel, and Vivienne in the Hellfire Studio testing room. They watched as Eloso arranged several dolls with methodical precision.
"Never pegged you for a doll collector, Arthur," George smirked. "Want to have a tea party with your toys, princess?"
Firfel and Vivienne's giggles echoed through the room.
"These aren't for playing," Arthur replied calmly.
"Then what are they for?" Vivienne leaned forward, intrigued.
Arthur's mysterious smile said everything and nothing. "Watch."
The trio exchanged curious glances -knowing Arthur never called them together without purpose.
Suddenly, the dolls began to move independently. Firfel gasped, "They're alive!" Her eyes darted to Eloso. "I didn't know you could manage puppet animation magic!"
While George and Vivienne nodded appreciatively, Eloso chuckled. "Can't take credit for this performance."
Their confusion deepened until Arthur explained, "Meet our ghostly puppeteers - Diddy, Puffy, and Daddy."
"The ghosts are controlling them?" Vivienne's eyes widened.
Arthur and Eloso confirmed with matching nods.
They watched in fascination as the dolls moved with uncanny fluidity - eyes blinking, limbs gesturing with lifelike precision far beyond what manual ghost manipulation could achieve.
When Arthur revealed that the ghosts were actually possessing the dolls rather than controlling them externally, their amazement deepened.
"What's the endgame here?" George scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Giving your ghost crew new bodies?"
Firfel and Vivienne leaned in, equally curious.
"They're training for my next film project," Arthur explained.
"Film?" Firfel's pointed ears twitched with interest.
"What kind?" Vivienne pressed.
"Horror," Arthur stated simply.
George snorted skeptically. "Horror? That's box office poison."
"Only in demon realms," Firfel noted. "Perhaps he's targeting other kingdoms?"
Vivienne nodded. "Makes sense - why waste resources releasing a horror film in demon territories?"
"Actually, I'm releasing it everywhere, including demon realms," Arthur corrected.
"You can't be serious," George stared at his friend.
Arthur met their dubious looks. "I want all three of you involved. I'll send you the scripts - see what you think."
"Well," Vivienne's eyes sparkled with excitement, "even if horror seems risky, the great exiled one hasn't steered us wrong yet!"
Arthur chuckled warmly. "Trust me on this."
George's skepticism melted into anticipation - Arthur rarely included him in films.
Meanwhile, Firfel studied the possessed dolls intently. Though horror wasn't her preferred genre, her curiosity matched Vivienne's enthusiasm.
***
As days passed, the ghosts mastered increasingly sophisticated doll control. The new models' enhanced features allowed for nuanced facial expressions and fluid mouth movements - capabilities far beyond the original prototype. Eloso and his apprentices had outdone themselves with these advanced designs.
March brought striking evidence of entertainment industry evolution. In just two years since Arthur introduced VFX Studios, dozens of major production houses had developed their own facilities, ranging from modest setups to stadium-sized complexes.
The VFX boom created unexpected winners among established industrial giants. Mechanical Wonders Corp, an 8.5-billion-dollar dwarven automation company, now drew 15% of revenue from their VFX division, specializing in mechanical illusion systems and studio automation.
Steelworks Industries, valued at 6.2 billion, leveraged their construction expertise into studio frameworks and control systems, with VFX work generating 10% of their earnings.
The elven corporation Runelight Enterprises, worth 5.8 billion, found a lucrative niche providing illusion rune systems for VFX facilities.
These billion-dollar industrialists had previously ignored entertainment, but Hellfire Studio's 800-million-dollar earnings in mere weeks changed their calculations. Even if other studios earned less, the profit potential was clear.
Major human players joined the rush. U.S.E banking giant Arcanix Solutions, controlling 90% of international banking and worth 32.4 billion, began investing heavily in major studios.
While many studios remained private, some went public. Titan Pictures' IPO four months ago proved transformative, with steadily climbing stocks pushing its value to 2.1 billion dollars.
Titan Pictures' valuation surpassed Hellfire Studio's estimated 1.5 billion dollars. Though Arthur's company's true worth remained difficult to calculate, its value grew daily as it expanded across television, film, manga, and animation.
Major publications took notice. Craft Kingdom's premier business magazine, Forge & Finance, named Arthur "The World's Fastest Rising Businessman."
Sylvan Secrets, the elven realm's taste-making journal, declared him "The Demon Transforming Entertainment."
Even the human world's influential "The Times" recognized him as "Today's Most Rapidly Growing Power Player."
Arthur's own Forbes Magazine regularly covered his achievements, fueling his growing public admiration.
This mounting influence particularly disturbed the Shadow Court - Horn Kingdom's secret governing body established by its founding monarch.
In a windowless chamber deep beneath the palace, ornate chairs ringed a circular table of polished obsidian. Enchanted candles cast dancing shadows across the hooded figures of assembled nobles, their faces concealed in magical darkness. Only King Magnus Nightstar sat unveiled, his presence commanding attention.
Before him gathered the three noble families who had helped forge the Shadow Court: the Darkspires, known for their military might; the Ebonclaws, masters of commerce; and the Fellwings, keepers of ancient magic. These founding houses had guided Horn Kingdom's destiny from the shadows for generations.
"Your Majesty," the Fellwing patriarch's voice carried through the chamber's shadows, "the new EPA government appears to have ties to the exiled prince Arthur."
"How so? Hasn't Pendragon openly supported our Royalist Unit Party?" Darkspire's family head probe.
Ferdinand Fellwing leaned forward. "Police Commissioner Raff Diamond was suddenly replaced by an unknown demon - one who's been spotted with Arthur at multiple public events."
Magnus listened without comment, his expression carefully neutral.
"The Diamond family has shown unwavering loyalty to both the Shadow Court and House Nightstar," Ferdinand's tone grew urgent. "Your Majesty, I implore you to reinstate Raff to his position."
The king stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The EPA holds public favor. Interfering with Parliament's commissioner appointment would be unwise. Besides," his lips curved slightly, "antagonizing Arthur while he's driving kingdom growth could prove... counterproductive."
Disappointment rippled through the noble heads. "Are we to simply watch as Arthur's influence grows?" Darkspire pressed. "His connections to Japon's royal family are concerning enough."
Magnus's smile held quiet confidence. "Arthur's rising power requires careful handling. We'll watch and wait - when the right moment presents itself, then we'll address the exiled prince's... ambitions."
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