Lord of Entertainment

Chapter 165: Filming Resumes in Horn Kingdom

(Arthur POV)

The moment I stepped off the airship onto Horn Airport's tarmac, I took a deep breath. Two weeks away had made me appreciate the demon realm's familiar air.

My contentment contrasted sharply with the Harry Potter cast members' obvious discomfort. Their unease was understandable - for most, this was their first time setting foot in demon territory.

"Demons don't bite," I joked, but Abigail and the other child actors only looked more frightened.

My smile faded into something more reassuring. "You're completely safe here. Demons are just like anyone else." The older actors joined in calming the children, which I appreciated.

I couldn't help wondering what stories circulated in Wales and other human nations to make these kids so terrified. Probably similar to the demon tales from my previous life, except here demons actually existed. The irony was that demons were just another race, neither wholly good nor evil. Those human realm stories were nothing but racist propaganda.

A line of cars waited for us, the head driver waving as he spotted me. I nodded in acknowledgment before sliding into the lead vehicle, the cast following suit in the cars behind.

As we drove toward the studio, I found myself missing Firfel. It had been too long since I'd seen her.

Beside me, Sylwen stared vigilantly through the window, still on edge. I understood her caution - those Skull Organization operatives had shadowed us for weeks in Wales.

Though they'd eventually given up the pursuit, neither of us was ready to lower our guard. In our line of work, paranoia often proved prudent.

***

(3rd Person POV)

The convoy reached Hellfire Studio after a brief drive through the city. Arthur led his Harry Potter cast through the entrance, where staff immediately called out warm greetings.

"Welcome back, boss!"

Arthur acknowledged them with a nod before gesturing to the nervous cast behind him. "Get our guests settled in the city. Make sure they're well taken care of."

The staff's eyes swept over the newcomers. "We'll handle it, boss."

The child actors visibly tensed when a massive behemoth demon stepped forward, his attempts at a friendly smile only making him appear more intimidating.

"I'll be looking after you all," the demon said gently, though his tusked grin had the children shrinking back. Even the adult actors, new to the demon realm, looked uncertain.

Their anxiety proved unnecessary - the demon led them to private suites within the Hellfire building, each room spacious and luxuriously appointed. These would be their homes during Harry Potter's filming schedule.

Meanwhile, Arthur settled into his office, reviewing progress reports on the computer division and operating system development. Hellfire Electronics stood on the brink of approval, preparing to launch their ambitious product line - personal computers, gaming consoles with controllers.

The computer development proceeded smoothly, but the gaming console presented more complex challenges. Even with Arthur's knowledge from reverse-engineering the Dragon Ball world's console design, progress remained slower than hoped.

While the 8-bit console development looked promising, the 16-bit system posed greater technical hurdles. The 32 and 64-bit consoles remained distant goals, their complexity requiring significantly more research and development time.

After reading through the electronics division's progress reports, Arthur received a VHS tape from a staff member, containing the latest Dragon Ball episodes with completed voice work.

He immediately headed to the screening room to review it. Though the sound effects were still missing, the voice acting showed promise, bringing the characters to life in ways that exceeded his expectations.

Arthur settled in to watch the completed Dragon Ball episodes, satisfied that the anime was nearly ready for broadcast.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Using his Ki sense to identify the visitors, he opened the door with a casual wave of magic.

Firfel and Vivienne burst in, their faces lighting up at the sight of him.

"Finally back!" Vivienne exclaimed. "I've been dying for your tea!"

Beside her, Firfel's eyes sparkled with warmth. "Welcome back."

Arthur shook his head with mock exasperation. "Aren't you two supposed to be filming your telenovela?"

"What, we can't take a break?" Vivienne retorted playfully.

Smiling, Arthur prepared their tea before discussing the anime's progress.

"I've been keeping an eye on the animation studio while you were away," Vivienne reported. "Your mass hiring strategy paid off - production speed has increased significantly."

Arthur nodded thoughtfully. He'd need to inspect the studio himself soon.

After the girls left, he finally made his way to his penthouse. The moment he saw his bed, exhaustion caught up with him. He collapsed onto the familiar mattress, letting weeks of tension melt away.

***

The Cursed Chicken's morning screech jolted Arthur awake. To others, the sound was unbearable, but to him, it felt like home.

Going through his morning routine - brushing teeth, showering, dressing - Arthur paused at the mirror with a self-satisfied smirk. "You are such a handsome demon, Arthur."

Meanwhile, in the private suites, the Welsh actors experienced their first demon realm wake-up call. Abigail clutched her pillow in terror until her mother explained the source.

"That's a chicken?" Abigail's voice cracked with disbelief. "It sounds absolutely horrendous!"

Her mother couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's shock.

The other child actors reacted similarly. Rowan Bramble (Ron Weasley) and Fayra Emberhill (Ginny Weasley) huddled together, wide-eyed. Their first morning in the demon realm was proving quite the culture shock.

Venturing outside later, they goggled at the strange sights - exotic plants with peculiar patterns, cats with extra tails, dogs with glowing eyes. At the studio, they met their demon and elven co-stars for the first time.

Lucian Raven, cast as Draco Malfoy, immediately caught their attention. His mischievous grin and demon features had the human children keeping their distance at first. But as the day progressed, they discovered his kindness belied his intimidating appearance.

The day's filming began on demon realm streets, where the Welsh actors mingled with their demon and elven co-stars. The children's faces lit up when they spotted a familiar figure.

"Imkrag!" Their excitement was palpable - they'd admired his portrayal of Gollum in Lord of the Rings, never imagining they'd work alongside him. Now here he stood in an elegant suit and top hat, his success evident in his refined appearance.

"I'll be playing Dobby," Imkrag announced to his starstruck co-stars, clearly enjoying his continued rise in the industry.

After the street scenes wrapped, Arthur led everyone to the VFX Studio. The cast gasped collectively as they entered - where empty space had been moments before, Hogwarts now towered magnificently.

The real surprise came when filming resumed. The Welsh actors hadn't expected the ghosts to do more than operate cameras - yet here they were, taking speaking roles.

Abigail, having devoured the Harry Potter book, took it in stride. "There are supposed to be ghosts at Hogwarts," she explained to her amazed castmates.

The veteran actors exchanged worried glances. Using actual ghosts as actors? They couldn't help wondering how audiences would react to such an unconventional casting choice.

Filming continued amid the magical setting. The actors marveled at Hogwarts' moving staircases and intricate architecture, their performances enhanced by the VFX Studio's incredible illusions.

Several cast members finally understood why the VFX Studios had earned such a formidable reputation in the industry.

As production progressed, Arthur simultaneously expanded his football venture. The Horn Football Association fell under his control, giving him authority over all league tournaments in the demon realm.

His vision was taking shape - with only the Evros Football Association and Anatolia Football Association remaining as acquisition targets. Once secured, he would have complete control over the sport's development across multiple kingdoms.

The prospect energized him. Soon he could implement his planned reforms: new rules, modern playing styles, and innovations that would transform football into something this world had never seen. The path to making the sport truly popular lay clear before him.