(3rd Person POV)
Upon seeing Arthur Pendragon—the most talked-about filmmaker of the generation—Ozias and the executives quickly approached with rehearsed smiles.
"Mr. Pendragon, Ms. Firfel," Ozias greeted as he extended his hand. "Welcome. It's an honor."
Arthur shook hands with him calmly. Firfel gave a light nod, her expression neutral but watchful.
"Thank you for the warm welcome," Arthur replied, voice composed.
"It's truly our pleasure," one of the older executives added, almost too eagerly.
From a distance, the captain and sailors watched with thinly veiled contempt.
"Look at them. Falling over themselves for a demon," one sailor muttered bitterly.
"Disgusting," another spat. "We work under these clowns?"
The captain remained silent, though his lips pressed into a hard line. His gaze burned with quiet fury.
'Humans should be the ones above. Not bowing to demons like him. Not ever.'
His fists clenched behind his back.
'Tsk. If I had the strength… I'd burn down more of those Hellfire buildings.'
But what he didn't realize—Arthur had already noticed.
He turned his head slightly, locking eyes with the captain. It was sudden, and the sailors stiffened. The captain's cold glare vanished in an instant as Arthur's gaze pierced through him.
Arthur's golden eyes shimmered faintly under the sunlight, but within them was a quiet, dangerous red glow. He adjusted his collar, then glanced at the group with the calm of someone who already knew the truth.
'So these are the cowards who torched one of our branches?' Arthur thought, eyes unreadable. 'How fitting. Fate really has a twisted sense of humor.'
Though calm on the surface, he was simmering inside.
Still, he said nothing.
Ozias broke the moment. "Shall we board the ship?" he asked with a smile. "The captain and crew will lead the way."
Arthur nodded once. "Lead on."
Ozias turned to the captain and gave a courteous gesture, signaling the group to begin walking. The sailors obeyed, if only because they had no choice.
The boarding stairs had already been prepared.
As they walked towards the ship, Arthur subtly let Firfel move ahead. He leaned slightly toward Paul and murmured under his breath, "Paul, I want you to investigate those men." He gestured briefly toward the captain and his crew ahead.
Paul's step faltered for a second, his brow rising. "Why them?"
Arthur's gaze stayed forward. "I have reason to believe they were involved in the burning of one of the Hellfire branches."
"That?" Paul blinked. "That happened ages ago. I thought the culprits were never found?"
"Exactly," Arthur murmured. "And they were never found because they blended in. But I've got a feeling... it's those bastards."
Paul still looked skeptical, but he shrugged. "Alright. I'll see what I can dig up."
As they neared the ramp, the crowd of distant protesters started shouting louder—one even hurled an object toward Arthur. But it was swiftly blocked by a shimmering barrier from a nearby mage. The black-suited guards stepped in without hesitation, their mere presence enough to send most of the protestors stumbling back.
Once aboard the Grand Whale, Firfel wandered ahead with a glimmer in her eyes. The interior, though aged, retained its once-majestic luxury.
'Wow… even after all these years, it still feels grand. I wonder what it looked like in its golden age,' she mused, running her hand along a polished railing.
She turned to Arthur, who was finishing his talk with Paul, and smiled. "Hey, doesn't this ship look amazing?"
Arthur glanced around the deck with a half-smile. "Yeah. It has charm. Perfect for our film—but it needs work."
He added, without hesitation, "I've already contracted a company to renovate it. We'll make it even better."
His words didn't go unnoticed.
Behind them, Ozias and a few executives exchanged glances. Some sighed. Others looked away, resigned.
Then, unexpectedly, the captain stepped forward, arms crossed. His voice was low, but defiant.
"Renovate? And butcher the ship's original form? Not on my watch, pal. I won't let you tear apart what's left of her legacy."
Tension immediately swept the deck. All eyes turned to Arthur.
Arthur simply smiled, lifting a hand in calm dismissal. "Butcher? Haha, you're misunderstanding." His tone remained easy, but his gaze sharpened. "I said I want to make it better—not butcher it. Maybe get your ears checked, Captain."
Captain Dumby clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides.
Arthur's voice dropped slightly. "Don't show that kind of behavior here, Captain. I own this ship now. I can reshape it however I see fit."
"You... demon bastard…" Dumby muttered through gritted teeth, barely able to contain himself.
"Stop it, Captain Dumby! You're disrespecting your new boss," Ozias barked from the side, trying to maintain order.
But Dumby snapped. He jabbed a finger at Ozias, shouting, "Shut up! You don't get to say anything anymore!" Then, in a sudden motion, he lunged forward, raising his fist at Ozias.
Before the punch could land, the guards moved. They grabbed Dumby mid-swing and pinned him down.
He thrashed, yelling, "Nobody touches this ship! Especially not a demon like you!"
Arthur watched with a cold gaze. "Don't ever step foot on this ship again, Dumby. You've lost the right."
Firfel frowned, her arms crossed. "Such a cruel man… filled with so much hate."
Arthur nodded quietly. As for Paul, he rubbed his chin and muttered to Arthur, "With how that guy acts... I wouldn't be surprised if he sets something on fire."
Ozias stepped forward, looking both ashamed and apologetic. "Mr. Pendragon, I deeply apologize for his behavior."
Arthur waved a hand. "It's not your fault. He's just another man who couldn't adapt to change." He glanced at the remaining sailors—silent, eyes cast low.
'They're quieter, but their thoughts are loud,' Arthur thought. 'They despise me. I can feel it. And I haven't forgotten what they did to the Hellfire branch… These men won't stay.'
---
The next few days passed swiftly. The protests over the Grand Whale's sale gradually died down. Despite the noise in Franklindale, only tens of thousands were actively involved—a number that paled in comparison to the U.S.E.'s hundreds of millions. In the eyes of the government, it barely warranted attention.
Meanwhile, Arthur efficiently dismissed the sailors who openly or secretly despised him. Those who remained neutral were allowed to stay on board.
At the same time, Paul quietly launched an investigation into Captain Dumby and his crew. It didn't take long—one sailor cracked under pressure. The confession confirmed it: they had been responsible for the arson at a Hellfire branch.
Paul raised an eyebrow at the report and thought to himself, 'Coincidence? Or does Arthur just have freakishly sharp instincts?'
Back at Liberty Port, renovation work on the Grand Whale had begun. The blueprint for Arthur's new project—Titanic—had been delivered. The construction team got to work immediately, swarming the deck with tools, equipment, and new materials.
Curious onlookers at the dock often paused to watch the progress. Ozias Storm visited the site daily, observing the changes with a heavy gaze.
Naturally, journalists began swarming Liberty Port. Ever since Arthur took ownership of the Grand Whale, TV networks and media outlets had kept a constant presence. Cameras recorded. Reporters speculated. The world wanted to know—what was the demon filmmaker planning?
One such reporter, a man in his thirties wearing a casual jacket and khaki pants, held a notepad and pen in hand. He was Sam from Liberty News.
Spotting Ozias sitting alone on a public bench, Sam approached him.
"Excuse me, sir. Sam Connelly, Liberty News," he introduced himself.
Ozias barely acknowledged him with a nod, his thoughts elsewhere.
Undeterred, Sam continued, "So, Mr. Pendragon just acquired the Grand Whale. We've noticed trucks unloading construction supplies, workers entering daily... Is it safe to assume he's restoring the ship to open it to the public? Maybe as a cruise attraction or luxury resort?"
Ozias slowly shook his head, voice distant. "No. From what I've heard… Arthur plans to use the ship for his next movie."
Those two words—next movie—sparked a reaction in Sam. His eyes widened.
"For his next movie!?" he repeated, excitement creeping into his voice.
Ozias blinked, snapping out of his trance. Realizing what he'd just revealed, he stiffened. "Forget what I said," he muttered, then stood and walked away.
But the fire had already been lit in Sam's mind. He turned toward the docked Grand Whale, a faint smile playing on his lips.
'Star Wars is still making waves across the world… and Arthur's already working on his next film?' He scribbled in his notebook eagerly. 'And it involves the Grand Whale? I need to write this down—fast.'