Lord of Entertainment-Chapter 296: Unexpected development

(3rd Person POV)

Joseph arrived at his new home, escorted by Klein. The moment he stepped inside, he paused, taking in the spacious interior. The room's design was sleek and elegant—far beyond anything he'd ever lived in. Through the tall, crystal-clear windows, he could see the city lights glimmering below.

"This place... it's even better than my house back in Morningstar," he murmured to himself. His old home in Ferland City was modest at best—comfortable, but nothing like this.

The city below was breathtaking at night. The soft glow of streetlights, the gentle shimmer of moonlight—together, they painted a view that felt almost dreamlike.

As he explored the apartment, he was surprised to find a personal library with handpicked books and a fully equipped recording studio built into the space. Every room was pristine, spacious, and thoughtfully designed.

"This is too much," he whispered, overwhelmed. "Is this really because Arthur believes in me? Or... does he just pity me?"

He shook his head, brushing the thought away. "No... I can't doubt him now. I've already come this far."

Trying to settle his nerves, he threw himself onto the soft bed. It was more comfortable than anything he'd ever slept on. Sleep came fast.

By the time he woke up, sunlight was already streaming through the windows. He sat up, blinking away the sleep, and slapped his cheeks lightly. "Alright... I have to get used to this life now. Wake up early, shower, eat breakfast, and meet Arthur in the practice studio..."

He headed to the shower and found it as luxurious as everything else—complete with a deep bath and golden fixtures. After finishing up, wrapped in a fresh robe, he wandered into the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast for himself.

After breakfast, Joseph wandered to the wardrobe, curious to see what clothes had been prepared for him. He remembered Klein's words from the day before: "There are new clothes waiting for you in the closet."

Opening the doors, he blinked in surprise. Instead of the formal suits he expected, the closet was filled with stylish jackets, fitted jeans, and vintage-inspired leather coats. There were a few suits—but they were flashy, paired with matching fedora hats in a variety of colors.

His eyes landed on a sleek black suit and a fedora resting beside it.

"I like this," he murmured, smiling faintly as he ran his fingers over the fabric. After a moment of consideration, he settled on a jacket and pants combo that gave off a bold, confident vibe.

He turned toward the mirror, checking his appearance. Satisfied, he headed out to meet Arthur.

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In the Hellfire practice studio, Arthur was already waiting, standing beside the grand mirror-lined wall. He glanced up as Joseph walked in.

"Good. You're here," Arthur said, skipping the pleasantries. "Let's get started."

Joseph gave a short nod and stepped into position.

Arthur wasted no time. The training began with vocal exercises—scales, breath control, tone shaping. Afterward came dancing: rhythm drills, footwork, combining movement with vocal projection. It was intense. Focused.

Two days passed in a blur of sweat, repetition, and correction.

Arthur watched Joseph closely. The boy had potential, no doubt—but there was still something missing. One afternoon, after another grueling session, Arthur crossed his arms and said seriously, "Don't just think about improving your voice or dance moves. That's not the point of all this."

Joseph looked up, panting slightly, eyes heavy from exhaustion.

"I want you to understand the essence of music," Arthur continued. "You have to believe in it—feel it in your soul. Music isn't just performance—it's conviction. When you love the music, when you get believe in it, you become unstoppable. That's how you truly reach people. That's how you move them."

Joseph nodded slowly, wiping sweat from his brow.

Arthur's words sparked something in him—like a light flickering in a dark tunnel—but it was still hard to grasp.

Another two days passed, and the thought continued to weigh on him. 'What does it really mean to believe in music? To have faith in it?'

He was improving—his vocals sharper, his movements tighter—but that deep connection Arthur spoke of still felt distant. Elusive.

Arthur observed him closely. He himself was unsure of how to explain it, but it was part of the guide he had learned about Michael Jackson's training—about how Michael had an unshakeable belief in music, and how that belief was part of what made his performances so powerful, so contagious.

Arthur didn't have all the answers, but he believed Joseph could get there with time.

---

Meanwhile, as Arthur continued coaching Joseph, tensions between the Morningstar and Thorn Kingdoms escalated. Just four days ago, headlines exploded with the news: Morningstar had officially broken off the marriage agreement between Princess Apollonia and the Crown Prince of Thorn.

The fallout was swift.

The Thorn Kingdom, feeling humiliated, retaliated by limiting trade with Morningstar—an economic slap meant to sting. But Morningstar, being far larger and more influential, responded in kind without much concern. After all, Thorn was just a small island nation. If not for its king—rumored to be more powerful than even Demon King Luke—it would've posed no threat at all.

Still, the growing tension began to ripple through the surrounding demon kingdoms.

'Why would King Luke suddenly cancel the agreement?'

'What made him change his mind?'

These questions flooded both the streets and the screens. Whispers of war began circulating. While many civilians from both kingdoms braced for the worst, they remained patriotic—willing to defend their land if war truly broke out.

The battlefield, however, wasn't just physical—it had gone digital.

In the Hellbook forums, users from both kingdoms were locked in verbal warfare:

"Thorn thinks it can take on the glorious Morningstar army? Heh. Dream big!"

"Morningstar is a backward, failing kingdom! Even their best prince ditched them and became a movie director!"

"Morningstar Films are trash. Period."

"I can't stand Bobby's acting. Guy thinks he's the second coming of Evil Lord!"

The internet users from the neighboring Horn Kingdom, on the other hand, were simply amused—watching the chaos unfold like a soap opera.

'Glad I bought a computer early... This drama's worth every coin.'

New buyers, however, weren't so lucky. As computers grew more popular, stocks ran dry. Scalpers swooped in, reselling devices at outrageous prices.

Meanwhile, in other corners of the Anatolia region, the Hellfire Entertainment System—or H.E.S.—continued gaining momentum.

New game releases outside the Hellfire brand began to rise. In Japon, studios like Yamauchi Entertainment, Shinobi Games, and Katana Ltd. started producing titles for the H.E.S., captivating the youth.

Children across Japon clutched controllers, their eyes locked on-screen, fully immersed in the next generation of digital entertainment.

---

A week had passed since Arthur began personally coaching Joseph. Day by day, Joseph improved—but it wasn't until this moment that something truly changed.

Suddenly, in the middle of a vocal run, Joseph's voice cracked with raw emotion—his tone no longer practiced but genuine. A strange ripple of mana surged from his body. Soft at first, like a faint echo, but then it intensified—resonating like waves of unseen melody.

Arthur froze.

His golden eyes widened in shock as he watched Joseph, now subtly glowing, enveloped by a shimmering aura of mana. The very air around him hummed—like a song forming itself through magic.

'What... is this?' Arthur thought, stunned. 'This mana... it has rhythm. It's chaotic, yet oddly catchy... like a melody being born on its own.'

It was as if the magic was singing through Joseph.

Without hesitation, Arthur activated his Divine Eyes, gazing deeper into the mysterious flow surrounding the young performer. His pupils flickered with light as he traced the composition of the mana—and what he saw made him blink in disbelief.

"...Musical Magic," Arthur murmured, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips. "Unbelievable."

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AN: It's my birthday today—happy birthday to me! I'm hoping things continue to get better on my end, and I sincerely wish all of you the best as well. Stay strong and take care!