(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."
(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.
AN: I'll update the next chapter in a few hours.
(Arthur POV)
The studio buzzed with excitement as I welcomed Fart and Kyle.
Kyle had just flown in yesterday, curious to see how "Lord of the Rings" was performing in the Morningstar Kingdom.
His eyes were wide with disbelief as he blurted out, "It's incredible! Seven million in a day with only two thousand cinemas? And without even securing the major theaters? How in the name of all that's unholy did we pull that off?"
I couldn't help but smirk, glancing at Fart to field this one.
Fart nodded, slipping into explanation mode. "Well, even though we missed out on the major cinemas, the theaters we did secure are no slouches. Most have hundreds of seats, some even pushing two thousand. At two dollars a ticket, six screenings a day..." He paused, letting the math sink in. "We could theoretically hit 12 million or more if we packed every house."
Kyle nodded, still looking dazed. "I get the numbers, but... with all the media backlash? I thought we were toast."
"Didn't I tell you?" I chimed in, unable to resist. "Where there's sugar, there's ants. No matter how many people try to convince the ants it's salt, they'll figure out the truth eventually."
Fart and Kyle exchanged a look that screamed, "Here he goes again with the weird metaphors."
I chuckled, adding, "Besides, people love an underdog, right?"
Kyle snorted, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Yeah, but you're the underdog demons love to hate. Aren't you concerned?"
I just laughed, feeling more confident than ever. The game was far from over, but we'd just scored one hell of a point. Let them hate. As long as they were buying tickets, they could curse my name all they wanted.
Our conversation was interrupted when Lilith poked her head in. "Boss, there's someone here to see you."
"Oh? Who is it?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"Says he's from the Horn Kingdom. Interested in distributing 'Lord of the Rings' there."
The Horn Kingdom. Now that was interesting. A small independent kingdom technically under Morningstar rule, but with its own government and economy. They'd been a thorn in my father's side for years, clinging stubbornly to their autonomy.
"Send him in," I said, straightening up.
A fiend demon in a sharp suit strode in, all business. "Jerry Yan, Righteous Film Studio. Pleasure to meet you, Arthur Morningstar."
I nodded, gesturing to a chair. "Likewise. Please, have a seat." I introduced Fart and Kyle as Jerry settled in.
"I'll cut to the chase," Jerry said. "We want 'Lord of the Rings' distribution rights for the Horn Kingdom."
(Apollonia Morningstar POV)
I pushed my breakfast around my plate, half-listening to Bobby's latest tirade. My dear brother was in rare form today, practically frothing at the mouth about Arthur's latest success.
But I couldn't care less about Bobby's bruised ego. My thoughts were on Arthur, the brother I'd worried about since his exile. I'd expected him to struggle, to fade into obscurity. Instead, he was turning the entertainment world on its head.
I'd just seen "Lord of the Rings," and I couldn't get it out of my mind. The story was captivating, but more than that, I found myself wondering about the world Arthur had created. Did rings of power like that really exist somewhere? And how in the world had my "weak" brother managed to wrangle all those orcs into his film? Not to mention that dragon...
As Bobby continued to rant, I tuned him out completely. Arthur had always been different, always been underestimated. But now? Now he was proving everyone wrong, and I couldn't have been prouder.
(3rd Person POV)
The "Lord of the Rings" first-day box office sent shockwaves through the public and media alike. Seven million dollars was no small feat, leaving those who had bought into the negative press stunned.
Word spread like wildfire through the Morningstar Kingdom. Contrary to the scathing reviews, "Lord of the Rings" wasn't just good - it was great. Viewers raved about the visuals, the story, and the overall quality of the film.
This grassroots praise catapulted the second-day earnings to a staggering 8.1 million dollars. In just 48 hours, "Lord of the Rings" had amassed 15.1 million dollars - a feat many had deemed impossible.
The ripples of this success spread far beyond the Morningstar Kingdom. Major countries like Empirica and Wales found themselves slack-jawed at the numbers. The elven kingdoms, whose entertainment industry stood toe-to-toe with humans, reacted with similar astonishment.
Even the Craft Kingdom, the dwarven realm second only to humans and elves in entertainment (but unrivaled in sculpting and architecture), took notice of the 15.1 million dollar earnings.
Despite the smear campaign by major outlets worldwide, news of the film's financial triumph contradicted their narrative. The global audience, initially dismissive of "Lord of the Rings," now burned with curiosity. What was this film that could defy such odds and capture the hearts of millions?
In the meantime, as "Lord of the Rings" fever swept through the Morningstar Kingdom, speculation began to spread like wildfire. In one high school cafeteria, a group of young demons huddled together, their voices low:
"Hey, guys," Oliver, a young wolf demon, leaned in conspiratorially. "Do you all believe in Teacher Envy? About those rings from 'Lord of the Rings' actually existing somewhere in our world?"
Kong, a monkey demon, and Croko, a scale demon, exchanged skeptical glances.
They remembered their history teacher's passionate ramblings about the film's connections to ancient artifacts.
Kong scratched his fur, scoffing. "Come on, Ollie. Envy was probably just trying to make his boring history lessons more interesting. You know how he gets."
Croko nodded vigorously. "Yeah, I mean, Sauron? A dark lord with a magic ring? That's straight out of a fiction."
But Oliver's eyes gleamed with excitement. "That's what I thought too, but check this out." He reached into his bag, pulling out a worn, leather-bound book. "I found this in the school library."
"What's that supposed to be?" Kong asked, eyeing the book suspiciously.
Oliver grinned, his tail wagging slightly. "This, my friends, is proof. It talks about ancient rings from the past, just as powerful as the ones in 'Lord of the Rings'!"
"Really?" Croko's scales bristled with interest.
"Really," Oliver nodded, his tail swishing excitedly. "It said that in ancient times, there were rings that could hold a ton of stuff inside them. And that's not all - they gave the wearer crazy magical powers and made them super strong!"
Croko and Kong leaned in, their skepticism melting away. They snatched the book, flipping through the pages eagerly. Oliver pointed out the passages, and sure enough, there they were - rings of unimaginable power.
As they pored over the ancient text, Kong suddenly jumped up, his fur standing on end. "Guys, I've got an idea."
"What kind of idea?" Croko asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kong grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "An operation. We'll call it the Lord of the Rings Operation! We'll go on a hunt for these ancient artifacts. Just think - if we find them, we'll be so powerful we won't even need school anymore!"
"I'm in!" Oliver howled, barely containing his excitement.
It wasn't just high school demons getting caught up in the ring frenzy. Adults across the kingdom had started their own treasure hunts, seeking the powerful artifacts depicted in "Lord of the Rings."
Days slipped by, and what had started as a small spark of curiosity was slowly but surely growing into a wildfire. Newspapers began featuring stories of demons convinced that the rings from the film existed somewhere in their world.
In the royal castle, the Royal Information Minister approached the throne, a newspaper clutched in his trembling hand.
Luke Morningstar, King of the demon realm, fixed the minister with a cold stare as he accepted the paper.
"My king," the minister began, his voice quavering, "this 'Lord of the Rings' film is causing unrest in our kingdom. The mastermind behind all of this is none other than the former prince, Arthur. It must be intentional, a form of revenge for his exile."
Luke's eyes scanned the newspaper, his expression hardening. The headlines screamed of a new obsession sweeping the kingdom - demons young and old alike searching for magical rings. But it was the next part that made the king's blood run cold.
The article highlighted a crucial scene from the film where Boromir addressed Arthur's character, Aragorn, as "king." The article writer speculated that this was Arthur's way of announcing his intention to claim the throne in the future.
Luke leaned back, his mind reeling. Could it be possible? His useless son, the one he'd cast aside, now boldly declaring his ambition for the crown? The king's fingers tightened on the newspaper, crumpling its edges.