Lord of Entertainment

Chapter 181: Always winning

(3rd Person POV)

Hellfire Network's cartoons sent shockwaves through both Empirica and Anatolia. Even the staunchest Empirican critics had to acknowledge that these cartoons outshone Mr. Mouse's offerings. Children couldn't get enough, while adults finally grasped the clear distinction between cartoons and anime.

In a cramped college dorm room, the warm glow of a TV illuminated posters of bands and movies covering the walls. Empty pizza boxes and energy drink cans littered the coffee table as three students sprawled across worn furniture, their attention fixed on the screen.

"You guys catch Hellfire's cartoons?" Dutch asked, leaning back in his squeaky desk chair. "Got to admit, they're actually hilarious. Nothing dull about them."

His dormmates nodded from their spots on the threadbare couch. "Way better than Mr. Mouse's stuff," one agreed, reaching for his soda.

"The cartoons are great, but Naruto and Dragon Ball is better," the other added, eyes still glued to the screen.

Dutch spun in his chair thoughtfully. "Yeah, now I get why they use different terms. Anime's got all these complex storylines and character development. Cartoons are just pure entertainment."

"Exactly!" His friend gestured with a half-eaten slice of pizza. "Comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. They're completely different styles."

"Let's be real," the third student chuckled, "Walter Mouse is just salty because anime's stealing his thunder."

This sentiment echoed across Empirica. While a few die-hards still accused Arthur of cultural theft, public opinion had shifted dramatically in his favor.

The fallout hit Mouse Entertainment hard. Their stock price tumbled several points as investors reacted to Walter's self-destructive crusade. Behind closed boardroom doors, directors whispered about replacement, their patience with the founder's jealousy-driven vendetta wearing thin.

Facing potential replacement, Walter desperately tried placating his board of directors, making grand promises about competing with Hellfire's cartoons.

Then Hellfire dropped another bombshell - the announcement of two new dedicated channels. "Cartoon Network" would launch within weeks, promising round-the-clock cartoon entertainment. Its sister channel, "Anime Network," would follow months later.

The mere announcement sent tremors through the entertainment industry. Mr. Mouse's monopoly on animation was about to face its first real challenger - a entire network dedicated to cartoons.

The only silver lining for competing networks was that these channels would require subscription to the new "cable service," a joint venture between Hellfire and Waves Corporation.

Still, the news devastated Mr. Mouse's stock prices. Investors could already envision viewers flocking to a dedicated cartoon channel, and the board finally lost patience. Walter Mouse was voted out of his own company.

Headlines blazed across media outlets: "Mouse Entertainment Ousts Founder: Walter Mouse Loses Control of His Legacy"

"Walter Mouse holds Arthur Pendragon responsible for all his troubles. He filed a lawsuit against Hellfire Inc. in court, but his case was swiftly rejected, leaving him with no legal recourse."

The public watched this drama unfold with a mix of fascination and pity, many seeing it as a cautionary tale of pride before the fall.

***

Arthur leaned back in his office chair, satisfaction warming his chest as he read about Walter's removal. His revenge had played out perfectly - perhaps even better than he'd planned.

The cable requirement for Cartoon Network hadn't been his first choice, but the system mission demanded it. Still, he'd achieved his primary goal. Whether viewers accessed it through cable or free broadcast, he'd thoroughly defeated his opponent.

"Sometimes the best revenge," he mused, setting down the newspaper, "is simply being better at the game."

With Walter Mouse dealt with, Arthur turned his attention back to Hellfire Studio's development.

Bruce Lee's films had ignited a martial arts fever across Horn Kingdom and its neighbors. The Anatolian audience couldn't get enough, and Lee's confidence had grown accordingly. Months ago, he'd approached Arthur with an ambitious request - to direct his own film.

Arthur agreed, seeing it as a chance to test Lee's growth. Even if the film flopped, the risk was minimal, especially with veteran director Amon Oblivion mentoring the project.

Now, as September arrived, gossip columns buzzed with skepticism about Lee's directorial debut. Even Arthur's involvement in the script hadn't quieted the doubters, though the trailer had certainly caught people's attention.

On September 12, 1273, crowds packed the Horn Kingdom Theatre for "Game of Death's" premiere. The red carpet buzzed with excitement as cameras flashed and fans pressed against the barriers.

Arthur arrived in his signature black suit, drawing appreciative murmurs from the crowd. Firfel and Vivienne flanked him, their presence adding to the glamour. Old Rocky waved to his devoted followers, while other Hellfire talents worked the carpet with practiced charm.

The evening reached fever pitch when Bruce Lee appeared with his costars, his confident stride showing no hint of directorial nerves.

Later, settled into the plush VIP seats between Firfel and Vivienne, Arthur observed the pre-show excitement rippling through the theatre.

"Taking quite a risk here, aren't you?" Vivienne whispered, adjusting her silk shawl. "Letting a popular actor jump into directing. Is Lee your new favorite or something?"

Arthur chuckled softly. "I just see directing potential in him." He stretched comfortably in his seat. "Though I'm as curious as everyone else about how this first attempt turned out."

"Wait," Firfel turned sharply, her eyes wide. "You haven't seen it in your private theatre yet?"

Arthur just nodded, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

The theatre lights dimmed gradually, hushing the excited murmurs of the crowd. Only the soft rustle of clothing and occasional cough broke the darkness until the projector whirred to life, casting its bright beam through the darkness. The screen illuminated, and the film began.

Arthur watched intently, keeping his hopes measured yet optimistic. His previous life's memories of Bruce Lee's masterpieces colored his expectations. While this world's Lee differed from the one he remembered, both shared that raw, magnetic screen presence.

As the film progressed, Arthur found himself relaxing. Lee had indeed delivered. The audience leaned forward in their seats, completely drawn in. When Lee appeared in his yellow jumpsuit with nunchaku at his side, gracefully weaving through enemies, gasps of appreciation rippled through the crowd.

During one particularly intense fight scene, Arthur noticed something that made him smile. Among the stuntmen being thrown around, a young demon crashed dramatically into a wall - his features unmistakably those of Jackie Chan.

Arthur couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "Some things never change," he whispered to himself, shaking his head at how even in this world, Jackie served as Bruce's stuntman.

***

"Game of Death" silenced its critics with impressive box office numbers, reaching 49 million dollars in its first week. While the martial arts focus and Bruce Lee's directorial debut limited its appeal in Empirica and Evros, the film still pulled respectable millions from those regions.

By the time it reached its ceiling of 139 million dollars, Horn Kingdom's attention had already shifted to the upcoming election. Screenings gradually reduced as political fever gripped the nation.

Arthur, now a Horn citizen, made a show of heading to the polls alongside his popular actors, who had been encouraging voter participation on Hellfire Network. At the voting booth, he carefully marked his ballot for RUP, maintaining his public facade. He couldn't risk RUP's intelligence network discovering his true allegiance, even as he secretly hoped for EPA's victory.

Initial estimates suggested a modest turnout - perhaps two to three million voters from Horn's eleven million population. Most citizens typically remained too occupied with work and daily life to participate.

But election day brought surprises. Five million voters turned out, and when the results came in, EPA's landslide victory stunned the kingdom's elite. Media outlets scrambled to explain how their favored RUP, backed by royals and nobles alike, had fallen to the underdog party.

No one celebrated more quietly than Arthur. EPA's victory meant smoother sailing for his upcoming projects - particularly the internet technology he'd retrieved from the DB. His hundreds of clones had been working tirelessly on reverse engineering it, and with EPA in power, implementation would face fewer obstacles.

As he watched EPA's victory celebration on TV, Arthur allowed himself a small smile. Sometimes the best victories were the ones nobody knew you'd orchestrated.