The performance of "Lord of the Rings" in just one week here in Empirica was nothing short of... well, to be honest, I'm at a loss for words. Speechless doesn't even begin to cover it.
Every time the box office numbers came in, I felt like I was in a dream. The film had raked in 74 million dollars in Empirica alone. Such figures were once thought impossible in our industry. Even the major Empirican or elven studios wouldn't have dared to hope for such astronomical earnings, no matter how good their films were.
And yet, here we are. A film making that kind of money... and not just any film. Not a human production, not an elven masterpiece, but a demon studio's creation. Or more specifically, the work of Arthur Morningstar - a young demon not even 18 years old, amassing generational wealth that other industry giants could only dream of.
My musings were interrupted as Daniel, my brother, burst into the office unannounced. "William, I've scheduled a meeting with Mr. Morningstar back in the Morningstar Kingdom."
I nodded, my face serious. "Good. Make sure we have all the business proposals we've been working on ready."
Daniel hesitated, his brow furrowing. "I don't mean to be rude, William, but... do you really think this proposal will be profitable at all?"
"I'm sure of it," I replied, a confident smile playing on my lips. "Didn't you see how much we made from 'Lord of the Rings'?"
Daniel shrugged. "Yeah, we made a lot on the film, but our proposal for... amusement parks is a different story." He added, "We could lose a lot of money on this."
I smiled again. I had been working on the amusement park proposal for days, but I knew it was more than just a park. "Trust me. It's going to make us a fortune. After all, these parks are based on 'Lord of the Rings.'"
While the Bryan Brothers were busy hatching their plans, little did they know that Arthur had already beaten them to the punch. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
The locations used to film "Lord of the Rings" in the Green Forest hadn't just been left to gather dust. For weeks, even as the film first hit screens, construction had been underway. The iconic tower from the movie wasn't just a set piece anymore - it was becoming a reality.
Arthur had been funneling the box office earnings from "Lord of the Rings" straight into what he called the "Hellfire Theme Parks" project. Talk about striking while the iron was hot.
So when the Bryan Brothers finally sat down with Arthur at a posh restaurant in Ferland two days later, they were in for quite a shock.
"Amusement parks based on Lord of the Rings?" Arthur mused, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I don't mean to rain on your parade, gentlemen, but Hellfire Studios has been working on that for a while now. Our first park is already under construction in the Green Forest."
William's jaw nearly hit the floor. "You... you're telling us you had this idea before the film even blew up?"
Arthur's smile was enigmatic. "You could say that. In fact, we're in the final stages of construction."
The Bryan Brothers exchanged skeptical glances. Surely, Arthur was bluffing, trying to steal their brilliant idea.
Daniel, ever the pragmatist, decided to call Arthur's bluff. "Would it be possible for us to take a look at this park, Mr. Morningstar?"
"Of course," Arthur replied without missing a beat. "We can head there now. It's just a few hours away by car."
The brothers agreed, still convinced they were about to expose Arthur's lie.
A few hours later, however, they found themselves standing slack-jawed in front of a meticulously constructed Shire. The rolling hills, the round doors of hobbit holes, the Party Tree - it was all there, as if plucked straight from the film and made real.
William turned to Arthur, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "This is... incredible. How did you manage to keep this under wraps?"
Before Arthur could answer, a group of orcs came into view, strolling through the Shire. The moment they spotted Arthur, they rushed towards him with an eagerness that caught the Bryan Brothers off guard.
"Boss!" one of the orcs called out, his gravelly voice tinged with excitement. "We've been cooped up here for ages! When are we gonna hit the big time? You promised people would start seein' us as more than just savages, right?"
The Bryan Brothers watched, slack-jawed, as Arthur addressed the orcs with a calm smile. "Soon, my friends. Very soon. Before you know it, people will be flocking here to meet you. You'll be the stars of the show."
As I watched the orcs' eager faces, a pang of guilt twisted in my gut. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was some kind of villain, trapping innocent creatures in an elaborate zoo.
The truth was, from the very beginning, I'd had bigger plans for these orcs than just casting them in "Lord of the Rings." They were always meant to be the mascots of the Hellfire Theme Park. Living, breathing mascots.
Except they were real. I hoped these orcs would be satisfied entertaining the theme park visitors, welcoming customers with warm smiles on their faces.
I turned to the Bryan Brothers, gesturing towards the gradually rising walls. "What do you think? There's the entrance, and look, the Hellfire Theme Park sign is almost complete."
The Bryan Brothers stood there, speechless and... was that disappointment I saw in their eyes? I could understand their reaction. After all, they'd come here with a proposal for something very similar.
"Hellfire Theme Park?" Daniel finally spoke, his voice a mix of curiosity and surprise. "So you call this a 'Theme Park'?"
I nodded, aware that the term was novel in this world where "Amusement Parks" was still the go-to phrase.
William seemed to gather his thoughts before speaking. "Mr. Morningstar, we are willing to partner with you on this idea."
"Partner?" I echoed, my amusement barely concealed. I was curious about what they thought they could bring to the table.
William, sensing an opportunity, pressed on. "We have extensive reach, Mr. Morningstar. We can market this theme park of yours, and..." He paused, seemingly finding his footing. "We can construct another theme park in Empirica! Bryan Brothers is willing to cover the cost, and you'll still be earning a substantial amount!"
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. The idea of expanding into Empirica was tempting, I had to admit. But I wasn't about to show my hand just yet.
"An interesting proposition, gentlemen," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "But tell me, what makes you think Hellfire Studios needs partners for this venture? We've managed quite well on our own so far."
The challenge in my voice was clear, but so was the hint of interest. I wanted to see how they'd respond, what else they might offer.