NOVEL NEXT Chapter 196: Launch
(3rd Person POV)
Arthur immersed himself in "Child's Play" production, watching as his ghost crew mastered their doll vessels with increasing precision.
"Now that you've got the physical control down, we move to acting," Arthur announced to the possessed dolls.
"What?" Diddy's voice emerged from Chucky's mouth. "I thought learning the body control was enough. Nobody mentioned acting."
"You're starring in a film," Arthur reminded them. "Acting is essential."
"Fine," Diddy sighed, his fellow ghosts sharing his reluctance. Moving from camera operation to acting while possessing dolls marked a significant change in their duties.
Unlike their minor roles in "Harry Potter," this project demanded more. Arthur coached them in Chucky's character - finding the balance between menacing and comedic timing.
The next day's rehearsals with Firfel, Vivienne, and George produced unexpected results. Rather than terror, the possessed dolls' performances - complete with creative cursing and exaggerated expressions - provoked constant laughter.
"Are we making a horror film or a comedy?" Vivienne asked between giggles.
Arthur smiled. "Both, actually."
He recalled how the original "Child's Play" had similar effects during production - the cast often struggled to maintain serious faces during Chucky's scenes.
Now history repeated itself as his ghosts chased the actors with plastic knives, their tiny doll bodies making the pursuit more amusing than frightening.
The playful atmosphere didn't concern Arthur. Once edited with the right sound effects and lighting, these same scenes would take on a much darker tone for audiences.
"Keep practicing," Arthur called as he headed out. "I've got other matters to handle."
Leaving the rehearsal room, he drove to Hellfire Electronics' main factory, anticipation building. The 100,000-unit milestone would trigger their computer launch.
Norman met him at the entrance with the news he'd been waiting for: "We've hit target production thanks to our subsidiary factories across Horn Kingdom and our facilities in the Japon Empire and Choson Kingdom."
***
March 15, 1274 marked a pivotal moment as Arthur prepared to unveil Hellfire Electronics' computer line. The Hellfire Network broadcast center buzzed with energy as journalists from every Horn Kingdom network gathered - Horn Channel, Sin TV, and others filled the press room.
As Arthur presented the computer, questions flew. A Hellfire reporter raised his hand first: "This device - does it function as a television?"
"It's not a TV," Arthur explained, noting their visible disappointment. "But it's capable of far more. While it can execute basic spells through coding, that's just a minor feature of its capabilities."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled press as Arthur powered up the machine. The screen illuminated with the Hellfire OS 1 welcome sequence, commanding every journalist's attention.
"This device will revolutionize how we handle daily tasks," Arthur gestured to the computer. "Think about what we currently use - enchanted typewriters, automated spell-scrolls, calculator artifacts, accounting spells, information retrieval spells, crystal data storage. This single machine can replace them all."
The journalists stirred uneasily. Arthur was challenging multiple established industries with one bold claim.
"Instead of maintaining separate products," he patted the computer's casing, "this single device handles everything those products and services do, but more efficiently."
Skepticism showed clearly on the journalists' faces. Through the live Hellfire Network broadcast, viewers at home shared their doubt.
"Allow me to demonstrate." Arthur's fingers moved across the keyboard, bringing up various functions. Text appeared instantly as he typed, numbers calculated faster than low level artifact abacuses, and documents stored themselves in organized folders rather than crystal matrices.
The assembled press leaned forward with growing interest.
"But here's what makes this truly revolutionary for businesses and government offices," Arthur continued. "We've developed a communication network that links multiple computers together. Think about it, an entire company sharing information instantly - no more courier spells or crystal transfers. An employee in one department can access files from another floor immediately. Multiple people can work on the same document simultaneously."
His audience's skepticism began transforming into intrigue as they grasped the implications.
Journalists scribbled furiously in their notepads, analyzing how one device could threaten multiple established industries. The implications for business disruption were staggering.
Company owners and investors watching the live broadcast responded with divided opinions. While some saw revolutionary potential worth investing in, others voiced strong skepticism about the computer's capabilities.
***
Within hours of the launch broadcast, reactions flooded through Horn Kingdom's business community. Critics emerged quickly, led by prominent figures like Vincent Darkweather, the 150-year-old founder of Magic Script, a 1.6 billion dollar magical writing implements company.
"Arthur's youth and inexperience show clearly in this venture," Darkweather declared to business reporters. "Suggesting a clumsy mechanical device could replace refined enchanted typewriters and spell-scrolls demonstrates his naivety. Our magical implements have served businesses for centuries - they're reliable, elegant, and most importantly, proven. This 'computer' is just another toy from an overambitious youngster who doesn't understand our industry's complexity."
Darkweather's harsh criticism wasn't surprising - Magic Script dominated the enchanted writing tools market, and computers posed a direct threat to their business model.
The next day brought more high-profile criticism. Rothgar Grimfire, the 146-year-old founder of Spell Count System, worth 2 billion dollars, dismissed Arthur's innovation during a business interview: "Electronic devices can never match magical precision. Arthur should stick to his filmmaking rather than meddling in industries beyond his grasp."
Grimfire's company dominated the low level artifact calculator and accounting spell market, serving government offices and major corporations across the kingdom.
Helena Shadowmere, 135-year-old CEO of Data Crystal Solutions, joined the criticism. "Our crystal storage systems and information retrieval spells have proven their security over decades. This youngster's electronic replacement claims are baseless." Her 1.8 billion dollar company had spent eighty years building its reputation.
These weren't just companies - they were institutions, their influence woven into the kingdom's fabric through decades of operation. Despite Arthur's meteoric rise through entertainment, challenging such established powers wouldn't be simple.
Public opinion echoed the criticism. In a busy café, conversations buzzed with skepticism.
"Why can't this demon focus on what he's good at? Just give us Lord of the Rings part 2 - we've been waiting forever!" one patron complained to his friends.
"He's all over the place," another added. "Made football popular somehow, got those video game machines in Hellscape Center catching on..."
A third demon snorted into his coffee. "Doing too much. Should focus on what he knows best."
Arthur faced increasing criticism as the computer's price was deemed unaffordable—set at a hefty 249 dollars.
The computer's price tag drew sharp criticism, with many claiming only fools would invest in such an expensive device.
Yet some forward-thinking companies saw beyond the cost. Arcane Processing Solutions, a 1.1 billion-dollar magical data processing firm, ordered computers in bulk after their CEO tested one personally.
Along with the computers, Arthur offered an innovative service - the Hellfire Communication Network. This system allowed connected computers within company buildings to share information instantly. Though revolutionary, only the few businesses embracing computer technology could access this early network.
While most remained skeptical, Arthur had successfully implemented his vision of connected computers, even if initially limited to progressive companies willing to invest in the technology. The foundation for a broader network was laid, though few recognized its potential.
For now, early adopters like Arcane Processing gained a significant advantage - their computers could communicate across floors and departments instantly, a capability their competitors dismissed as unnecessary extravagance.
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