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.
"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. Official source is novel✶fire.net
"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!?"
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..."