บท 113: Ruining the enemy's career
(Caleb Diamond POV)
A few injuries weren't gonna stop me from putting on a show! Thanks to my dad's connections and my deep pockets, I healed up in just two days a few weeks back. Now, I'm ready to rock like nothing ever happened.
And man, those tickets flew off the shelves in days! That's star power for you!
Decked out in my favorite suit, makeup on point, I headed backstage, ready to bring the house down.
I was all set to hear the crowd chanting, "Caleb! Caleb!" like always, but...
It was dead quiet.
"Hey, what gives? Why's it so quiet out there?" I asked one of the production guys.
The imp demon looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "Um..."
I shooed him away with a sigh, and he scampered off like his tail was on fire.
"No worries," I told myself. "I'm sure they're just holding their breath, waiting for me to blow their minds!"
***
(3rd Person POV)
The band kicked off, but Caleb was nowhere to be seen. The handful of fans and journalists in the seats squirmed uncomfortably.
June, a demoness and devoted Caleb fan, exchanged confused glances with her friends Bucky, Hill, and Rain.
"What the hell's going on?" Rain whispered. "Why's it so empty?"
Bucky nodded, doing a quick headcount. "Including us, there's maybe only a dozen people here..."
Hill's voice held a hint of doubt. "Didn't the news say Caleb's tickets sold out?"
As they puzzled over the situation, Caleb finally made his grand entrance.
"I'm here, everyone!" He threw his arms wide, ready to embrace the adoring crowd - only to have his excitement evaporate as he took in the sea of empty seats.
The silence was deafening. Caleb's confident grin faltered, replaced by a look of utter disbelief. This wasn't the packed house he'd been expecting. Far from it.
Besides the band playing their music, the theatre was awfully quiet.
Caleb's welcoming arms froze mid-motion, his smile twitching uncontrollably as the awkwardness set in.
"..."
The silence between the few audience members and Caleb was palpable. Even the band felt it, their faces clearly asking, 'Should we really continue this concert?'
"Cough." In the back rows, a feline demon named Johnny - an actor planted by Arthur - let out a cough that echoed through the nearly empty theater. In a normal Caleb concert, it would've been lost in the crowd's noise. Here, it felt loud and insulting.
Johnny shouted, his voice filling the space, "What? Are you not gonna start your concert!?"
Caleb visibly flinched, humiliation written across his face.
"Don't waste my money on tickets! Go and perform!" Johnny yelled at the top of his lungs.
Caleb twitched even more, his composure crumbling.
The audience, including the journalists, didn't approve of Johnny embarrassing Caleb, but they had to admit he had a point. The show had to go on.
Caleb cleared his throat, his voice a mix of anger, humiliation, and awkwardness. "I- I apologize," he stammered, trembling slightly, "I should start the concert now!"
"That's what I'm talking about!" Johnny clapped loudly. "Now start it!"
Veins popped on Caleb's forehead, but he managed to grit out, "Okay."
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife as Caleb prepared to start his performance in front of the sparsest crowd he'd ever faced.
Caleb started his performance, snapping his fingers and tapping his foot on the stage floor. "She... She is my personal succubus sweetheart ~" he sang into the microphone.
Gripping the mic stand, he continued, snapping his fingers again, "She..." He paused for effect, "She can only be my personal— succubus sweetheart maid ~"
Despite the anger and humiliation burning inside him, Caleb pushed on with his performance.
Ten minutes in, the journalists were already drafting articles about Caleb performing to an empty theater, highlighting the lack of attendance.
Suddenly, an unexpected turn of events caught everyone's attention. The feline demon, Johnny, dramatically collapsed in the middle of Caleb's performance.
Caleb stopped singing abruptly as staff rushed to Johnny's aid.
"I... I am gravely injured!" Johnny declared, his voice weak but carrying across the empty theater.
A confused journalist stammered, "Ho-how are you injured? You've just been sitting there!"
Johnny gasped theatrically, "I... My ear drums, my body... have been gravely injured by Caleb's singing! I couldn't take it anymore! Take me to the hospital!"
The journalists' eyes lit up at Johnny's outrageous claim. They furiously scribbled notes, sensing a juicy story in the making.
Strangely enough, Johnny did appear to be seriously hurt. His body was covered in bruises, particularly around his ears.
While the journalists couldn't fathom how Johnny had sustained injuries from merely listening to Caleb's performance, they knew this bizarre turn of events was headline gold.
The already surreal concert had just taken an even more unexpected twist, leaving everyone, especially Caleb, stunned and bewildered.
The concert came to an abrupt halt due to Johnny's injury. Pressure Records, Caleb's label, quickly promised to refund all ticket purchases.
Backstage, Caleb's frustration boiled over. He hurled the mic at the mirror, shattering it. "Damn it!"
Staring at the broken glass, realization dawned on him. "Something's not right..." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "Someone must be behind this shit!"
***
The next day, shocking headlines splashed across the front pages of daily newspapers, captivating readers at newsstands everywhere.
"Horn Superstar Caleb Diamond's Concert: Empty Seats and Injured Fan!"
Similar headlines screamed from other major dailies.
Curious onlookers gathered, murmuring as they read.
An elf turned to his friend, "First Caleb gets assaulted, then he's accused of beating up rising stars, and now this? His name's getting more controversial by the day."
His friend nodded, "Getting injured at a concert? And Caleb performing to an empty house? How's that even possible?"
As confusion spread, a demon who'd attended the concert spoke up, "I was there. The place was really empty!"
"Did someone actually get hurt from Caleb's performance?" someone asked incredulously.
The demon nodded, "Yeah, though I can't explain how Caleb's singing injured him, but he definitely got hurt."
"How's that possible?"
The demon sighed, "I don't know... Maybe Caleb used some magic in his singing that affected that feline demon?"
A curious dwarf chimed in, "Why would Caleb do that?"
The demon elaborated, "Actually, that injured guy had humiliated Caleb when he froze up at the start. He shouted at Caleb to perform, but then got hurt during the show. Maybe Caleb was angry and lashed out magically."
"Caleb can do magic in his performances?" The crowd's unease grew. "That's terrifying."
Word spread like wildfire. The few concert attendees shared their experiences with friends and family, and within hours, thousands were talking about Caleb's supposed ability to use magic in his performances to attack those he disliked.
The rumors gained traction rapidly, further legitimized by newspapers quoting these speculations.
What the public didn't know was that Johnny, the supposedly "injured" feline demon, was actually an actor hired by Arthur and his team. Johnny had used an expensive scroll spell to inflict injuries on himself, all part of a calculated plan to ruin Caleb's career.
While Caleb's team scrambled to investigate the empty concert and Johnny's incident, the damage was already done. Public opinion had shifted, with many now viewing Caleb as a cruel and dangerous individual.
Meanwhile, Arthur received refunds from Pressure Records for the tickets he'd bulk-purchased. Though he didn't recoup all his expenses, Arthur considered the thousands of dollars well spent. To him, it was a small price to pay for potentially derailing Caleb's career.
As the rumors continued to swirl and Caleb's reputation took hit after hit, Arthur sat back, satisfied with the unfolding chaos he had orchestrated. The plan had worked even better than he'd hoped, turning a superstar into a subject of fear and controversy overnight.
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บท 114: Lake of Fire - 69.9 FM
(Arthur POV)
Leo stood before me, updating me on James Blaze's debut.
"James' single is now on sale," Leo reported. "Thanks to our partnership with Righteous Records, distribution is going smoothly, although we haven't seen any sales yet." He paused, then added with a hint of excitement, "But I'm confident James' single will catch people's attention soon. In just a few hours, he'll be performing at Horn Coast FM, one of the major radio studios."
I nodded, considering this information. "James has been training for months now. He should be able to handle a live performance without any issues."
But a thought nagged at me, and I voiced my concern, "Still, keep a close eye on him. That blondie can be too direct sometimes. He might struggle with the radio host interview."
Leo's reassuring smile didn't waver. "Don't worry, I've been running mock interviews with James. I'm confident he'll do just fine."
I nodded again, choosing to trust Leo's judgment.
***
(3rd Person POV)
A few hours later, James found himself waiting in line at the Horn Coast FM studio.
The corridor was filled with up-and-coming artists, all there to perform and promote their songs on the radio. James couldn't help but notice the stares he was getting from his fellow musicians. His style stood out starkly against theirs.
While others were dressed to the nines, James had gone for a casual look. He wore a black t-shirt emblazoned with the word "Nirvana" and featuring a yellow circle that resembled a crude face.
The smiley face wasn't a widely recognized symbol yet, but the other artists seemed to get the gist of it. Paired with simple jeans, James looked like he'd walked in off the street.
"What's your name, fella?" A voice broke through James' thoughts. He turned to see a fiend demon eyeing him curiously. The demon was the picture of elegance, from his expensive-looking suit to his flashy watch and perfectly coiffed hair.
"Me?" James asked, momentarily caught off guard. "I'm James."
"James?" The demon repeated, a hint of disdain creeping into his voice despite his polite words. "Nice to meet you. I'm Tony."
James just nodded in response. He could clearly see that Tony looked down on him. And it wasn't just Tony – all around him, the other artists in their elegant attire were regarding him with similar disdain.
James could hear the snickers around him, feeling the judgemental stares of his fellow musicians. Their disdain was palpable, but James didn't let it bother him.
As the line moved forward, James realized his turn was approaching. Sure enough, within minutes, he was called into the studio. The radio host, a behemoth demon named Dorky, greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome to the studio, James Blaze!" Dorky's voice boomed enthusiastically.
A succubus co-host named Amy chimed in, "You're here with us now on Horn Coast 69.9 FM!"
James felt a wave of nervousness wash over him, but he maintained his rebellious demeanor.
The hosts couldn't help but notice how different James looked compared to the other up-and-coming artists they'd seen.
Amy's curiosity got the better of her. "You look pretty interesting, James Blaze," she said with a smile. "I wonder what kind of song you'll perform for us today?"
Before James could respond, Dorky interjected, "Amy, did you know James is actually from Hellfire Records? It's a new label, but get this - it's owned by the famous exiled prince, Arthur Morningstar!"
"Woah, really?" Amy's interest was clearly piqued.
James nodded, speaking casually, "Yeah, I'm the first music artist of Hellfire Records."
The interview continued, with the hosts peppering James with questions. Internally, James felt annoyed, but he kept his cool, playing along to entertain them.
Finally, Amy wrapped up the interview, "Alright, listeners, we're about to hear James Blaze perform his single titled..."
Amy and Dorky announced in unison, "Lake of Fire!"
As James began to strum his electric guitar, the hosts fell silent, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
Outside the recording booth, the other musicians exchanged skeptical glances.
"Hmph. I doubt that guy will sing any good," one sneered.
Another added dismissively, "He looks like the kind of demon that won't amount to much."
***
In a dilapidated bar, a handful of patrons were drinking and playing cards while tuned into Horn Coast 69.9 FM. Their ears perked up at the mention of the exiled prince owning a record label called "Hellfire Records".
The old monkey demon, shuffling cards, spoke up, "Been hearing about that exiled prince lately, especially in newspapers. Now even on music radio, his name pops up."
An old fiend demon chuckled, exhaling smoke as he said, "I guess that Arthur just loves the attention."
An old hag succubus, also playing cards, joked, "He's lacking attention from his family, so he's seeking it everywhere else."
The demons shared a laugh. "Hehe, you got that right," a scale demon chuckled.
Their banter continued until James Blaze was about to perform. As he strummed the guitar, the old hag hushed the others, "Shh... Let's hear this James play a song..."
They fell silent, but from the first notes, they knew this song was different. The electric guitar melody started messy and unpolished, confusing them.
Before they could fully react, James began to sing, his voice raspy, "Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly, they go down to the lake of fire and fry"
James continued, "Won't see 'em again till the fourth of July"
🎵 🎶
As the melody flowed, the electric guitar play was almost broken, but strangely catchy. James' voice, despite being raspy and unsmooth, captured their attention.
They even paused their gambling to focus on what they were hearing.
"I knew a lady who came from Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth," James sang. "She went to her grave just a little too soon, Flew away howling on the yellow moon"
🎵🎶🎵
Some of them couldn't help but bob their heads. The old hag spoke up, "I knew Duluth. It's a port city in the Gopher state in USE."
"Yeah, yeah. We don't care."
"We're trying to listen to a song, old hag."
The old hag fell silent.
They kept listening until the song ended. Only then did they realize, "What was that?"
"Is that even a song? It sounds so raw and dirty. But I kind of like it."
"Me too."
It wasn't just them. Other listeners across the airwaves found themselves intrigued by James' unique music style.
***
As the last notes of James' song faded, he noticed Dorky and Amy looking stunned.
Then, as if snapping out of a trance, the two hosts burst into excited applause.
"Incredible! That was... Impressive!" Dorky exclaimed, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Amy chimed in, momentarily forgetting her professional demeanor, "Yes! I'm at a loss for words! It's such a weird way to convey music, kind of unpolished, but at the same time, so refreshing! Definitely something new for the ears!"
"Absolutely!" Dorky nodded vigorously. "My ears were getting tired from all that Jazz style music from the other performers—"
Amy nudged Dorky, reminding him they were still on air.
Realizing his slip, Dorky quickly backpedaled, "No hate to the Jazz musicians out there - I very much enjoy it, but James here really performed a style of music that was incredibly refreshing! I'm sure our listeners were thrilled as well!"
Outside the booth, the up-and-coming musicians were gritting their teeth. Their earlier disdain for James had transformed into bitter envy. To think that James had outperformed them so effortlessly...
James exchanged a few words with the hosts before taking his leave. Dorky and Amy seemed reluctant to let him go, clearly wanting him to stay and perform more, but that wasn't how these sessions worked.
As James left, they welcomed another jazz musician who began to perform with his saxophone. Despite the musician's undeniable skill, the hosts couldn't help but feel like they'd heard hundreds of similar performances before. The repetitiveness was stark after James' unique style.
The contrast between James' raw, energetic performance and the polished but familiar jazz only emphasized the impact of James' debut.
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