Chapter 363 - Promotion
"Welcome to today's news programme, I'm Puk … Yesterday, according to our reporter, there was news about the official confirmation about the complete overhaul of the education system in the four advanced magic academies of Norland …"
Puk's characteristically baritone voice crossed millions of miles, echoing through the royal parliament of Farucci.
Klund III and his ministers looked up at the image that was displayed in mid-air.
"Is this the man who played Léon in 'Léon, the Demon'? Is this a new film?"
Klund III stared at the image for a moment and immediately recognised the man in the image holding his script and reading out its contents in a comforting, baritone voice. It was none other than Léon, the somewhat taciturn demon hitman in Léon, the Demon.
"Your Majesty, this is not a film, but a type of television programme called the news." Joshua corrected him.
"News? A television programme? I've heard about that!" Klund III became slightly agitated when he heard Joshua mention the word news. "The Voice of Norland! Joshua, one can listen to this 'news' programme simply by clicking on the Voice of Norland icon, right?"
The king's sudden excitement took Joshua and the ministers by surprise.
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Voice of Norland has been broadcasting daytime news from the beginning." Joshua was quick to give an explanation.
"And you also know that there is a story-telling programme on the Voice of Norland every evening? I remember the voice of the storyteller was that of a young girl!"
The kind rose to his feet. If it had not been for the dozens of steps separating Joshua from Klund III, he suspected that the king would have run right up to him and grabbed his shoulders to shake the answers out of him.
The evening storytelling programme was of course narrated by the frost elf Tylene.
Joshua had taken some of the more well-known fairy tales or dramas from Earth, recompiled them, and given them to Tylene so that she could narrate them. The most famous of these stories in Norland was Aladdin and the Lamp.
There was even a brief adventure fever in Norland after the audience heard about the story of Aladdin and the Lamp.
Mercenaries and mages alike wanted to travel to the desert to find the genie who could grant three wishes. The mage forum had also been bombarded with reactions.
Looking at the king's excitement, Joshua wondered if he had taken a liking to Tylene.
It was quite possible, as Tylene's voice was very soothing even among elves. It was no exaggeration to say that the frost elf could make any male fall in love with her at first hearing just by whispering words in their ears with a soft breath.
"I wonder what Your Majesty's purpose is in asking about this matter?"
Joshua had not yet officially made himself known to the public as the owner of the Voice of Norland, but anyone with some reasoning ability could have guessed it. There was just no confirmation.
"The Merchant of Venice!" Klund III suddenly said. "I remember it was a week ago! I accidentally clicked the icon called the Voice of Norland and suddenly heard the girl telling this story, the story of the Merchant of Venice! But because she didn't have enough time, she only got halfway through the story before the programme ended."
Upon hearing this, Joshua noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the surrounding ministers, who seemed to have lost their composure again.
"And then, master Morgan took his World Tree leaf back because he had to go away! I missed out on the rest of the Merchant of Venice story after having listened to only half of it ..."
"It must feel maddening to have only listened to half of the story you like," Joshua said. "But don't worry, Your Majesty, I will ask the girl to re-tell the Merchant of Venice today."
"Ask? I guess that you are also the founder of the Voice of Norland?"
Klund III instantly recovered from his somewhat frantic expression that had just made his ministers cover their eyes. He sat back down on his throne, once again silently observing the young demon.
"One of the founders, I'd say." Joshua shrugged, not denying Klund III's statement. "Your Majesty, don't you think it is time to return to the subject of 'television'?"
"Of course. I can somewhat understand what you mean by 'television', having listened to 'the Merchant of Venice' on the Voice of Norland. It was a pity that I could only listen to the sound but not see the performance. When I closed my eyes, my mind could make up for the lack of any visual imagery with countless wonderful images. But when I opened my eyes again, there was only my room in front of me. It seems that this 'television' can make up for my regret."
This king's understanding was amazing, although this was also because he had been exposed to the magic network. Meanwhile, the group of ministers below who did not even know what the magic network was were left completely baffled.
"Your Majesty! Forgive my ignorance..."
General Rockmont had been working for Klund III for so many years, so he could tell that this somewhat neurotic king was about to accede to this demon's demands in his pleased mood. But the general had no idea what this demon was even talking about!
"I implore you to enlighten your subjects, who are doubtful and confused as we cannot understand the function of this magical device on display called television."
"General Rockmont is right, Your Majesty. As far as I can see, the person currently on the screen is simply uttering lines without any emotion," Another minister also said, stepping forward.
"Let's see..." Klund III quickly thought of a suitable explanation to describe the 'television'. "Secretary Simed, General Rockmont, you could understand a television as having a theatre for yourself, one that hires a troupe of actors that perform just for you."
After Klund III had finished, his eyes fell on Joshua, as if inquiring Joshua if his interpretation was correct.
Joshua, however, could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
He had heard of private theatres, where the great nobles of Farucci would sometimes reserve a whole troupe of actors to perform just for them, other nobles, or the noble and their relatives.
The more famous the theatre troupe, the more expensive this was. Besides, not all of them would agree.
"Sadly, gentlemen, a television show is not something as expensive and privatised as a private theatre. Television is born for anyone, including the general public."
Joshua took the magic crystal device from Zenarth's hands. The television was a little heavy, requiring him to hold it with both of his hands.
As he did so, the image in mid-air disappeared instantly. When Joshua injected magic again, the image reappeared before his eyes.
"I'll sum up the TV in a straightforward way. Once you have an originium crystal, no matter where you are in the world, whether you are lying in your bed at home or exploring the forest, you can watch content by injecting magic into it. The only downside is that some of the shows are unlikely to be your favourite, but you do need a little surprise every now and then, no?"
