บท 139: Rumours of retiring
(3rd Person POV)
The opportunity to join the rising "Hellfire Studio" was too tempting to ignore. Many directors rushed to submit their applications.
Despite many filmmakers' hatred for Arthur Morningstar reshaping the industry, they couldn't deny the massive impact he'd made in such a short time.
Among the applicants was Amon Oblivion - once a famous director in the Morningstar Kingdom, until he faded into irrelevance following Arthur's meteoric rise.
'I will prove to everyone that I can still be a great filmmaker,' Amon thought to himself.
After losing his relevance, people he once called friends began distancing themselves from him.
Even his family, a noble house in Abbadon City, abandoned him without hesitation.
He endured months of hardship, initially blaming Arthur in silence for his situation. But life humbled him and taught him harsh lessons. Gradually, he came to realize that his situation wasn't Arthur's fault at all.
This realization struck hardest when he witnessed Arthur's work firsthand - during his roughest days, he'd spent his precious last two dollars to watch Lord of the Rings. There was no denying it - Arthur Morningstar was a demon that every filmmaker should aspire to become.
Amon found himself growing grateful to Arthur - without this fall from grace, he might have remained surrounded by fake friends and family forever.
A few weeks ago, he returned to filmmaking. His latest film earned enough money to fund his journey to the Horn Kingdom, where he hoped to secure a position as director at "Hellfire Studio".
After a brief wait in line, Amon's turn came. He found himself standing before the panel of interviewers - and there sat Arthur himself.
Amon's emotions tangled as he stood in the same room as the legendary Arthur Morningstar.
"Your name?" Arthur asked.
Lost in thought, Amon didn't respond until Arthur repeated the question.
"Your name?"
"I am Amon Oblivion, your highness," Amon replied.
"Amon Oblivion..." Arthur nodded, then began a series of questions about filmmaking.
Amon answered each question without hesitation.
This caught Arthur and the other interviewers by surprise - including Mochi and several crew members who hoped to become directors themselves.
"Interesting..." Arthur leaned forward, adding, "Most filmmakers applying to my company are beginners without much experience, but you seem to have quite a background in the industry?"
Amon smiled, pride warming his chest at Arthur's observation. "I am indeed an experienced filmmaker. I've directed several critically acclaimed films." He deliberately avoided mentioning his awards, knowing it would seem like boasting - especially in front of Arthur, winner of the Lunar Laurel Award.
"Is that so?" Arthur stroked his chin. "Why join Hellfire Studio if you're already established?"
"Yes, our surveys show experienced directors usually avoid working under Hellfire Studio," Mochi added.
Amon's smile widened as he looked at Arthur. "Well, it's simple." He pointed to Arthur. "I aspire to become a great director like Arthur Morningstar."
Arthur and the others exchanged surprised glances. "You want to become a great director?" Arthur said. "You don't need to join Hellfire Studio for that."
Amon shook his head firmly. "True, but I believe I have much to learn here. If I want to get closer to my dream, I need to be close to you, your highness!" His enthusiasm rang clear in his voice.
Looking at Amon's earnest expression, Arthur chuckled wryly. 'Well, that came out weird... To be close to me? This guy is definitely serious.'
"Well," Arthur said, "if you want to work at my studio that badly, then you're accepted."
Though elated inside, Amon maintained his composure.
Arthur turned to the nearby staff. "Please escort Mr. Oblivion to the directors' dorm."
The staff nodded and led Amon to the 'directors' dorm' - actually a hotel nearby owned by Arthur's recently acquired Dominion Estate company.
***
Within days, Hellfire Studio successfully hired eight promising directors.
Arthur saw potential in all of them, particularly Amon Oblivion.
He assigned each director to specific departments and distributed scripts and projects he wanted them to film.
The projects were carefully selected, matching each director's capabilities.
Amon became the first director to begin work on a Hellfire Studio project.
Arthur assigned him "Enter the Dragon," starring Lee Jun-fan as the lead.
Though Amon would direct, Arthur had already planned the backdrops, character outfits, and style to match the "Enter the Dragon" film from his previous life.
Despite Amon's talent as a director, Arthur couldn't risk leaving the project entirely in his hands.
While Amon held creative control over "Enter the Dragon," he needed to follow Arthur's specific guidelines for the film.
Meanwhile, media outlets had caught wind of Hellfire Studio's director hiring spree, sparking widespread speculation throughout the entertainment industry.
When Hellfire Studio finally announced its eight new directors, headlines exploded across Horn Kingdom's newspapers:
"Is Arthur Retiring from Directing?"
"After Arthur's Step Back - What's Next for Hellfire Studio?"
"Has Arthur Given Up the Director's Chair?"
"Lord of the Rings Fans Concerned About Sequel's Fate"
At news stalls, these headlines sparked heated discussions among readers.
"What a shame. I was looking forward to the Lord of the Rings sequel, and now Arthur's giving up directing?" A demon sighed, lowering his newspaper.
A nearby elf chuckled, "You people never learn. These headlines lack credibility. Arthur wouldn't quit directing so suddenly."
"Right, he's making too much money as a director to give it up," others chimed in.
"I'll only believe it when Arthur announces his retirement himself," another demon declared.
"Besides, he's far too young to retire," someone added.
Though Hellfire Studio had hired new directors, public trust in them remained skeptical.
Like it or not, Arthur's relevance as a director was undeniable. People naturally worried about other directors taking over projects like "Lord of the Rings."
***
A week later, in Arthur's office, Firfel stood by the door, her gaze fixed on him as he leaned back in his chair. "You still haven't returned my amulet..." she said, her voice laced with impatience.
"Still researching it," Arthur replied, adding playfully, "Don't worry, I'm not planning to run away with it."
Firfel furrowed her brows. "You've been saying that for days now..."
Arthur stood and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. Would you like some tea?"
Firfel blushed slightly. "Do you still have that 'Iron Goddess' tea?"
Arthur laughed. "Ha! I knew you weren't really here for the amulet. You came for the expensive tea!"
"Where's the amulet?" Firfel asked, blushing deeper.
Arthur pinched her cheek. "Can't take a joke, can you? Let me get the tea."
Firfel pouted in response.
Arthur smiled, watching her. He and Firfel had been meeting daily to discuss the "ancient amulet." Over time, the artifact had become a bridge between them, fostering their growing connection.
After serving the tea, which had become Firfel's favorite since trying it days ago, she asked, "Hey, will you really quit directing films?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you've read the news?"
Firfel nodded. "I knew there would be a sequel for Lord of the Rings, so I wanted to ask..." She held back mentioning her love for 'Lord of the Rings' and her concern about other directors taking over.
"No, I won't be quitting." Arthur smiled. He still had "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," "Matrix," and other films to make.
"I see..." Firfel nodded, visibly relieved.
"I'm just hiring directors for the smaller projects. The bigger projects, I'll direct those myself," Arthur explained.
"When will you film those bigger projects?" Firfel asked.
"Maybe in a few months. I really can't say for sure," Arthur said, disappointing Firfel.
"I'm currently busy with another venture. If you're curious-" Arthur was about to tell Firfel about his 'anime' venture when the door slammed open.
"Hey, what venture!?"
It was Vivienne.
Arthur looked at her. "I know you've been eavesdropping."
"Ah, just came here..." Vivienne said, embarrassed.
Arthur chuckled. He'd sensed Vivienne eavesdropping for quite some time but hadn't exposed her.
"Well, now that you're here, have some tea," Firfel invited. "Arthur will serve you one." She nudged him, communicating with her eyes.
With Firfel giving him that look, Arthur could only comply. "Alright..."
บท 140: Dubbing anime
(3rd Person POV)
Vivienne noticed the dynamic between Arthur and Firfel. She felt something she couldn't quite understand, but it was clearly... jealousy.
Vivienne sat beside Firfel and chatted with her until Arthur returned with her tea.
"So, what's this venture you're talking about?" Vivienne asked Arthur.
Arthur sighed. He'd initially planned to invite only Firfel to join his "anime venture" - believing she'd make a good voice actor for testing their completed anime clips.
But since Vivienne was here, he might as well invite her too.
"Well, it's about the 'anime studio.' If you're interested, you can come along," Arthur said to Vivienne.
"Anime Studio?" Firfel and Vivienne exchanged confused looks.
Arthur smiled. "Yes, it's animation. Like the cartoons in Empirica."
"Like Mr. Mouse?" Vivienne asked, sharing another glance with Firfel.
"Something like that," Arthur said wryly. "The Anime Studio is still in its preparation stage. Two weeks ago, I hired dozens of artists to work on anime clips - some are already completed."
"Really? Let's see!" Vivienne exclaimed.
Arthur drove them in his car to a small rented building - his humble anime studio.
When they entered, Firfel and Vivienne were surprised to find artists busy at work.
What caught their attention most were the TVs and peculiar typewriters on each desk.
Arthur smiled at their bewildered expressions.
"Hey, aren't those the things you showed us months ago?" Firfel recalled.
Arthur nodded. He was less secretive now - computers were patented, and already revealed at the electronics expo.
Besides, copying "Hellfire OS 1" would prove extremely difficult.
"Those are computers," Arthur explained. "They help the artists create animation."
The "Hellfire OS 1" came equipped with animation programs.
All artists had signed NDAs through contract scrolls, magically preventing them from discussing their work with outsiders.
"Demon lord!"
The manager spotted Arthur mid-conversation. "We weren't expecting you!"
The artists looked up from their work.
"Just checking on everyone's progress," Arthur smiled.
The manager and artists shared knowing chuckles.
"This is Firfel and Vivienne," Arthur introduced. "They're here to see our completed anime clips."
The manager grinned at the two girls. "Wow, demon lord, you have two beautiful girlfriends."
Firfel and Vivienne both blushed at the comment.
Arthur flicked the manager's forehead, making him yelp, "That hurt!"
Steve, the manager, felt the power behind that casual flick. Though it seemed gentle, the pain was surprisingly intense.
"You deserved it," Arthur smiled. "These women are actresses from my agency. Show them proper respect."
"Understood, demon lord!" Steve saluted.
"Now, take us to the private room to view the anime clips," Arthur said.
"Right away, demon lord!" Steve quickly obeyed.
As they followed the manager, Firfel leaned close to Arthur. "Why does he call you 'demon lord'?"
Vivienne, overhearing, perked up with curiosity.
"Well..." Arthur chuckled, unsure how to explain properly.
But he gave them the brief version:
Two weeks ago, while searching for artists, Arthur encountered Steve.
Back then, Steve had been a gang boss, running illegal operations.
His gang employed artists to create counterfeit money. When Arthur started hiring artists with good pay, some of Steve's artists secretly applied.
This caught Steve's attention, leading to a confrontation where Arthur defeated Steve and his gang. Now they worked at Hellfire's anime studio.
As Arthur told the story, Steve nearby blushed with embarrassment. "I really thought demon lord was an easy target back then. Didn't expect him to beat me and my boys like that!"
Firfel and Vivienne stared at Arthur in amazement.
They reached the private room, where Steve used the projector to show their completed animation clips.
The soundless clips of "Dragon Ball" and "Naruto" still impressed Firfel and Vivienne - the colored animations looked far more spectacular than famous cartoons like "Mr. Mouse".
"What do you think? Impressive, huh?" Arthur smiled. The computers had made such animation possible.
"It's incredible..." Firfel nodded in amazement.
"So this is why you're taking a break from directing? You're focused on these animations?" Vivienne asked.
"Yes," Arthur confirmed. "I believe animation has incredible potential."
He continued, "And when televisions start selling throughout the Horn Kingdom, my channel 6.9 'Hellfire' will get high ratings thanks to these anime programs."
Firfel, Vivienne, and even Steve exchanged confused looks.
Arthur realized people in this world weren't familiar with concepts like "TV ratings" and "channel programs."
He patiently explained in simpler terms.
"So you're going through all this effort just to show these animations on television?" Vivienne asked skeptically.
Firfel nodded. "Yeah... Isn't television a risky business decision? The media says TV is just a waste of effort and money. They say many shows in Empirica went bankrupt because running them costs too much, with no profit coming in."
Arthur understood their doubts. It was true - channels in Empirica had closed due to financial losses.
But that was because they hadn't done things right, like securing advertisers and sponsors. Rather than explain the complexities, he simply said, "Don't worry, I won't rely solely on TV. We'll sell copies of the anime episodes too, so we'll still earn money."
After discussing the technical aspects, Arthur led Firfel and Vivienne to the recording studio. "Here, you can voice characters for the anime."
The soundproof studio featured anime clips projected onto a white wall.
"Pick which character you'd like to voice," Arthur gestured at the playing animation.
"I'll voice that blue-haired girl," Firfel pointed at Bulma.
"That's Bulma," Arthur confirmed. "You can read her lines from the script on the stand while matching the character's mouth movements."
Firfel nodded.
Vivienne took her turn next, choosing Sakura from the Naruto test clips.
Firfel went first, attempting a thirty-second scene.
She tried her best, but struggled to synchronize her voice with the character's mouth movements.
Through the recording booth's glass, Arthur observed Firfel's performance.
"Did everything follow the guidelines for lip sync timing and dialogue pacing?" Arthur asked Steve.
"Absolutely, demon lord!" Steve assured him. "I followed your instructions precisely!"
Arthur nodded, then helped guide Firfel through the process. Gradually, she found her rhythm and voiced Bulma more naturally.
"Excellent work!" Arthur praised.
"Thanks," Firfel beamed.
"My turn!" Vivienne rushed into the recording booth.
They watched as Vivienne voiced Sakura. Though she also struggled initially, she seemed to have a natural talent for voice acting, adapting more quickly than Firfel had.
Arthur nodded approvingly, wondering if Vivienne's success came from sharing personality traits with Sakura - both being passionate yet reserved, though he couldn't be certain.
"Let's watch the clips with your voices added," Arthur suggested. He signaled the sound staff with a thumbs up, and they began processing the audio.
Soon they viewed the Dragon Ball and Naruto scenes featuring Firfel and Vivienne's voices.
Watching their performances, Arthur thought, "They have great potential..."
Firfel and Vivienne felt a unique satisfaction watching the anime clips with their voices.
The feeling was similar to watching their movie performances, yet distinctly different.
They turned to Arthur. "When will you complete the animations?" Firfel asked first.
"Why? You seem excited," Arthur chuckled.
Firfel nodded eagerly. "I really want to voice Bulma when the animation is complete! Can I?"
"Of course," Arthur agreed. He'd already planned to cast her as Bulma, but Firfel had beaten him to suggesting it.
"Me too!" Vivienne chimed in. "I had so much fun voicing Sakura!"
"Alright, alright..." Arthur smiled. Though he hadn't originally planned for Vivienne to voice Sakura, he now believed she'd be perfect for the role.
"It'll take a while before several episodes are complete," Arthur cautioned. "Plus, this anime studio isn't registered as a company yet. We're waiting for local government approval before hiring more artists."
Firfel and Vivienne nodded in understanding.
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