Lord of Entertainment-Chapter 295: Recreating an icon?

(3rd Person POV)

The airship touched down at Horn Airport, and Arthur gazed out at the familiar sight—people bustling through the terminal, the rhythmic echo of footsteps on tiled floors, the mingling scents of perfume, roasted coffee, and freshly inked newspapers.

Despite being widely recognized, Arthur and Firfel hoped to leave quietly. But naturally, a few sharp-eyed bystanders caught sight of them. It started with a few gasps and hushed whispers, but in moments, a ripple spread across the crowd.

"Is that Firfel?!"

"No way—that's Arthur Pendragon!"

What began as a small group quickly turned into a flood of eager fans. The airport erupted into chaos.

Joseph watched it unfold with wide eyes. Even though he already knew how famous they were, witnessing it in person left him stunned. 'Even Leonardo... he never commanded this kind of attention.'

Fortunately, airport security and nearby officers quickly took control, forming a line to hold back the crowd. It took several tense minutes, but order was restored, and the trio finally slipped into a sleek black car waiting outside.

"Phew... that was insane," Joseph exhaled, collapsing into his seat with a sigh of relief.

Firfel leaned back beside him, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. Then she glanced at Arthur, who was adjusting the rearview mirror and preparing to drive. "You know... after that chaos, your idea of building a private airport doesn't sound so absurd anymore."

Arthur chuckled softly. He'd proposed it long ago, but Firfel had laughed at him then. Now, her change of tone made him smile inwardly. 'Skipping stealth spells or extra guards this time may have been the perfect little demonstration...'

Joseph leaned forward from the back seat, his curiosity finally spilling out. "Do you two deal with that kind of attention all the time?"

Arthur glanced at him through the rearview mirror, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Not always. Most days, I cast a little 'spell' so we can blend in like anyone else. But when I skip it... well, you saw the result."

"My films did push us to a different level," he added casually.

Firfel rolled her eyes with a teasing smile. "so full of himself."

But she didn't deny it.

Arthur waved off the compliment-turned-critique and shifted gears. "Anyway, enough about us." He peeked at Joseph through the mirror again. "What about you? Now that you've seen it firsthand—how do you think you'd handle that kind of fame?"

Joseph blinked, caught off guard. "I... I'm not really sure. Honestly, it's incredible, but also kind of terrifying. If I were in your shoes... I think I'd be a nervous wreck."

Firfel chuckled, glancing back at him. "You say that now. But when it's your name people are shouting in the streets, you might not feel nervous at all. You might even enjoy it."

Joseph tilted his head, thoughtful. "Yeah... maybe. I guess you never really know until you're standing in the spotlight."

Arthur smiled faintly to himself as he continued driving. Then, without turning around, he said, "I've prepared a place for you to stay. Horn Kingdom isn't too different from Morningstar—it's still part of the demon realm. You'll adjust quickly."

Joseph nodded, but was caught off guard when Arthur spoke again.

"You'll also be visiting Hellfire Park soon. I'll personally coach you in singing and dancing."

Joseph blinked. "Wait, coach me in singing and dancing? What do you mean?" His brows furrowed in confusion. "I thought you brought me into your agency to act... maybe even cast me in one of your films?"

Arthur let out a soft laugh, eyes on the road. "An actor? No, Joseph. I don't think acting is the right path for you."

That landed like a slap.

Joseph frowned, clearly offended. Even Firfel looked surprised at the blunt statement.

"Then why take me in at all?" Joseph asked, feeling slightly insulted.

Arthur tapped his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, still calm. "Didn't I say? I took you in to coach you—singing, dancing."

Joseph stared, taken aback. His throat felt dry. "Wait... you're trying to turn me into a music artist?" He paused, trying to process it. 'If not acting... then what else could he want from me? Just like James or Frederick...?'

"Exactly," Arthur said, nodding with a small smile. "From this moment on, I'll be your personal manager. Not just a coach." He glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Exciting, right?"

Joseph swallowed hard. "But... why not acting? Am I really that bad?"

He barely registered the part about Arthur becoming his personal manager—something no one had ever received before. Firfel raised a brow, clearly surprised too. 'He's seriously going this far?'

Arthur met Joseph's gaze in the mirror, his voice steady. "It's not that you're bad. I just think your talent was wasted at Lucy Talent Agency. Watching you in that last theater performance... the control, the tone—you have a voice meant to be heard, not buried in the background."

Joseph blinked, the sting of rejection slowly replaced by a flicker of hope.

"Trust me," Arthur added. "You've got something rare. I'm just giving it the right stage."

Joseph fell silent. Inwardly, he felt both flattered and uncertain. 'Becoming a music performer...?' His mind drifted to the legends he'd heard—'James and Frederick... both shot to global stardom in just a few years, and rumor had it that Arthur personally coached them.' Their bands had topped charts, won awards, and shaped trends. It was almost unreal.

His thoughts raced for a few seconds before he finally spoke, "I guess... being a music artist doesn't sound so bad after all."

Arthur grinned. "That's the spirit."

What Joseph didn't know was that Arthur had another reason for investing so much in him. Not long ago, he had purchased a special module from his Entertainment System: [How to Train Your Own Iconic MJ]—a comprehensive archive not just of biography, but of training blueprints, vocal technique, stage presence, choreography secrets, even psychological insights—everything that built the legend of Michael Jackson.

Arthur's fingers tapped rhythmically on the wheel, a spark of excitement in his golden eyes. 'Whatever Joseph becomes now... will depend on me. And I'm confident I can shape him into something unforgettable.'

'Training someone to stand on par with the greatest performer of my past life won't be easy. But with this system, my experience, and his effort—it's not impossible.'

As the car slowed and finally came to a stop, Arthur looked ahead at the massive, futuristic building in front of them—the Hellfire Park.

Joseph stepped out and stared in awe.

The towering, circular structure stretched across the land like a giant stage for titans. Its metallic sheen gleamed under the moonlight, and its architecture was unlike anything else in the city.

'I've seen pictures of this place before... magazines called it a modern architectural wonder. Critics mocked it for being 'too ambitious'... but now that I'm standing in front of it, it's beyond anything I imagined.'

Arthur noticed Joseph's wide-eyed expression and smirked. "Welcome to Hellfire Park, Joseph."

Firfel crossed her arms and smiled. "Looks like he's too stunned to speak."

Snapping out of his daze, Joseph glanced around, taking in the glass-walled halls, the staff bustling about, the intricate architecture glowing with soft magical lights. Then he turned back to Arthur. "This place... it's way bigger than it looked in the pictures. And... more incredible in person."

Arthur grinned. "Told you. From now on, you'll be living in one of the residential wings here. Don't worry—it's spacious and as comfy as any five-star hotel."

"I'm not complaining," Joseph raised both hands. "I'm part of Hellfire Agency now. I'll go with whatever my boss says."

Arthur chuckled. "Good answer."

As they walked through the polished hallway, a group of staff members approached and bowed slightly. "Welcome back, boss."

Arthur gave them a quick nod, then turned to one of them. "Klein. Take Joseph to his new quarters, will you?"

Klein gave a casual nod. "Of course." He glanced at Joseph with mild curiosity. 'So this is the new recruit the boss mentioned over the Hellphone...'

After Joseph was led away, Firfel glanced at Arthur sideways. "I'm still surprised. You, becoming someone's personal manager? Especially a newcomer? Are you sure he's really worth that much effort?"

Arthur rubbed the bridge of his nose, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. I see something in him. His potential's big—it just needs the right push."

Firfel looked toward the hallway Joseph had disappeared into. She remembered his last stage performance... Honestly, nothing stood out to her. But she didn't press.

Then she looked around. "Wait... wasn't Master Yoda supposed to travel with us? I haven't seen him since we left Morningstar—"

"I am here." A calm voice interrupted.

They turned to see Yoda casually standing a few feet behind them.

"With you, I have been... unnoticed, as always. Hm. The eyes see not what the mind overlooks."

Firfel blinked, looking embarrassed. "Ah... well, you do have a habit of popping in and out."

Arthur just smiled, completely unsurprised. "As expected of Master Yoda."