(3rd Person POV) Newest update provided by NoveIＦire.net
By the end of February, Arthur and the Hellfire team finally returned to the Horn Kingdom after weeks of filming abroad.
As the airship touched down at the familiar port, Firfel gazed out at the sprawling city skyline, her expression softening. She exhaled gently, a warm smile tugging at her lips.
"It’s good to be back," she murmured.
"Yeah," Vivienne agreed, a flicker of relief crossing her face. "Feels like it’s been forever."
Once they landed, the team was greeted by the airship director and his staff. Arthur stepped forward as the man approached.
"Mr. Pendragon," the director greeted with a respectful nod.
Arthur smiled, warm but sharp. "So... has the company finally reviewed the proposal I submitted a few months ago?"
The director hesitated for a moment, then gestured toward his office. "Come with me. Let’s talk privately."
Arthur gave the girls a brief glance and a nod before following him.
While Arthur disappeared into business talk, Firfel, Vivienne, and Apollonia stayed behind, walking along the sunlit platform.
"Firfy," she said, "I know your boyfriend has a few tricks up his sleeve. You told me about those clones—how one of them had its own personality and ended up disrespecting us. And now he just brings the Titanic back from the ocean like it’s nothing?"
Her voice dropped, a touch of intrigue in her tone. "There’s definitely something he’s still hiding from you."
Firfel gave a small, thoughtful hum, her expression calm but curious. "Maybe. I’ll ask him when the time feels right. But even if he can’t tell me... I trust him. I mean, bringing the Titanic back from the ocean floor? That’s not something you can explain over dinner."
Vivienne rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please. You’re going to be his wife someday—you deserve to know."
They shared a brief laugh, but Firfel soon noticed Apollonia walking quietly beside them, her mood noticeably dimmed.
"Hey," Firfel said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What’s wrong?"
Apollonia hesitated, eyes downcast. "It’s nothing... I just think it’s about time I return to the castle."
Firfel and Vivienne exchanged a look.
She didn’t need to say it. They both knew—going back to the castle meant returning to long, boring days filled with studies, etiquette, and isolation.
Firfel gave her a warm smile. "You’re always welcome at Hellfire, Apollonia. Anytime you want."
"Exactly," Vivienne added, grinning. "And you know your brother—he can’t sit still for long. Give it a few days, maybe a week, and he’ll be cooking up another movie or entertainment project. It’s just who he is."
She nudged Apollonia lightly. "By then, you’ll have the perfect excuse to come back. Just tell the Morningstar King you’re helping with the next production."
Apollonia looked up at them, a small smile forming. "You’re right."
Arthur was guided through the polished corridors of the airship port by Director Jose Ricco, a half-human, half-demon with a professional air and crimson-lined uniform. They reached a sleek office at the end of the hallway, where the scent of old wood and citrus polish lingered in the air.
Inside, another figure was already waiting.
A blonde man stood near the window, dressed in crisp aristocratic attire. His hazel eyes were sharp, his posture refined, and everything about him—from the golden cufflinks to the polished boots—practically screamed: noble blood.
He turned with a warm, rehearsed smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Arthur Pendragon. I’m Edmund S. Jones," he said smoothly. "CEO of Horn Air Travel."
Arthur returned the smile without missing a beat. "Pleasure’s mine, Mr. Jones."
"Please," Edmund chuckled in that soft, refined way only nobles seem to master, "just call me Edmund."
"Edmund," Arthur nodded.
"Have a seat," Edmund offered, settling into the director’s chair like he owned the place—because, in a way, he did.
"Jose, fetch us some tea, would you?"
"Right away, sir," Jose replied, giving Arthur a slight bow before exiting the room.
Arthur took the offered seat, legs crossed casually. His gaze swept the office, but his mind was elsewhere. ’Edmund Jones... of the Jones family from the Wales Kingdom. Old money. Powerful connections.’ A smirk flickered on Arthur’s face. ’Wales doesn’t just control the land and sea... they’ve extended their grip to the skies as well. No wonder Princess Mary was so desperate to sign the devil’s contract I offered her—Wales hates losing leverage.’
Before the thought could settle, Edmund spoke, breaking the silence.
His thoughts were interrupted as Edmund leaned forward, folding his hands.
"I’ve reviewed your proposal," he said evenly. "You’re offering to acquire this port—one of my company’s flagship airship terminals in the Horn Kingdom—for twenty million global dollars?"
Arthur didn’t flinch. He smiled coolly. "That’s correct."
Edmund gave Arthur a curious look, brow slightly raised. "Twenty million is quite the offer... but what exactly do you intend to do with this airport? Is it going to be the set of your next film, perhaps? Or are you planning to keep it running as an airship terminal?"
Arthur leaned back slightly, fingers tapping the armrest. "Maybe a movie set. Or maybe... I’ll leave it as is."
Edmund nodded, though his expression was skeptical—until Arthur added casually, "Or... maybe I plan to start my own aviation industry."
Edmund blinked. Then smirked.
"Aviation industry?" he repeated, lips curling. "Now that’s a good joke, Mr. Pendragon."
At that moment, Jose reentered with a silver tray and carefully placed down the tea set, but Edmund barely noticed.
"Don’t get me wrong," Edmund continued, still amused, "I admire your films. Immensely successful, no doubt. But diving into uncharted waters—especially skies you’ve never flown—isn’t exactly what I’d call a sound business strategy."
Arthur simply smiled, unfazed.
’If you only knew I could summon a vehicle ten times faster than your best airship—a machine from another world. If only you knew...’
But he said none of that aloud.
"I know," Arthur replied lightly, "It does sound funny." He picked up the teacup, took a sip—and almost coughed. The taste was sharp, dry, and unfamiliar.
’Gods, what is this? Certainly not the tea I’m used to.’
Setting the cup down with careful grace, he turned back to Edmund. "So, what’s your answer? Are you willing to sell?"
Edmund chuckled. "Twenty million for this port is barely a dent in your wallet. We both know you could earn that in a few days from one of your films."
Arthur’s tone shifted ever so slightly. "And we both know there’s a difference between revenue and income. What the box office makes isn’t what lands in my account. Taxes, percentages, distribution cuts... the net is never as clean."
"Heh, fair point," Edmund admitted. "Still, it’s a sizable sum for someone like me. Surely you’re not so stingy. Why not bump the offer to fifty million?"
Arthur didn’t even flinch. ’Fifty? That’s more than double.’
He leaned forward, keeping his voice cool. "Thirty million."
"Forty," Edmund countered immediately.
Jose, standing by the door, blinked as the two men volleyed numbers back and forth like a casual game. The words millions were tossed around as if they were pocket change.
’These guys are insane,’ he thought. ’Fucking rich.’
Eventually, after a brief pause, Edmund gave a soft laugh and extended a hand.
"Thirty-five million. Final offer."
Arthur shook it with a calm smile. "Deal."
He didn’t care much about the price. What mattered was owning the port.
He had plans far bigger than Edmund could imagine.
After finalizing the deal, Arthur made his way back to Firfel and the others. There, he found Apollonia standing quietly by the port, her bag already packed—ready to return to Morningstar Castle.
Noticing her downcast expression, Arthur stepped closer.
"Apollonia," he said gently, "you could stay here a few more days if you want. Take a break. Rest."
Apollonia hesitated. "Father wouldn’t approve..."
Arthur shrugged, his voice calm but confident. "Just trust me. You can stay with me for a while. He won’t be able to do anything about it."
She looked up at him, surprised. ’Why does it feel like Arthur isn’t afraid of Father anymore?’ she thought. ’He’s... different.’
"Are you sure?" she asked.
Arthur nodded. "Absolutely. Your big brother’s not going to let anything happen to you."
After a moment of hesitation, Apollonia finally nodded.
Firfel lit up instantly. "This is wonderful, Lonia! You can stay with us!"
Vivienne beamed. "Come on, I’ll show you my place. I’ve been dying to redecorate it with an actual guest in mind."
Apollonia managed a smile, and before long, the three of them were already chatting away, completely forgetting about Arthur.
Even when they climbed into the car and continued their playful chatter on the drive home, Arthur found himself excluded from the conversation.
He simply leaned back in his seat, watching them with a quiet smile. ’As long as Apollonia’s smiling... that’s enough for now.’
After dropping them off at their shared residence, Arthur’s car peeled off in another direction—toward Princess Mary’s estate.
Upon his arrival, the butler wasted no time informing the princess. Arthur was promptly escorted in, and without any formalities, he dove straight into the topic.
Since his departure for filming, the Hellfire Computers and Internet systems had been successfully integrated into the Horn Kingdom Stock Exchange.
As expected, the impact had been enormous.
Real-time data updates, streamlined transaction processing, and secure communication across long distances—none of the other stock exchanges in surrounding kingdoms had access to such tools. The HKSE was now pulling ahead, and the markets knew it.
Arthur’s thoughts began to drift as Princess Mary—the CEO of the Horn Kingdom Stock Exchange—detailed the recent progress with enthusiasm and precision.
’The timing couldn’t be better,’ he mused. ’The infrastructure is in place, the system is stable... Maybe it’s finally time to go public with the banking project. Introduce credit and debit cards. Shift the economy forward.’
A faint smile played on his lips as possibilities unfolded in his mind—transactions without coins, purchases with a swipe, a new financial order under his name.