(3rd Person POV)
Inside her villa, Princess Mary had just finished watching the live broadcast of the "Hellphone" demonstration. She leaned back on her velvet-cushioned sofa, eyes still fixed on the screen as the broadcast faded to black.
"I thought I'd seen everything from Arthur…" she murmured, stunned. "But to think he still had something up his sleeve — a Hellphone... A tiny device with so many functions packed in such a compact form. Truly incredible."
She shook her head in disbelief. The demonstration had completely upended everything she thought she knew about long-distance communication technology.
Until now, the most common form of long-range communication had been the wired telephone — accessible and affordable to the average household. But telephones had their flaws: vulnerable to wiretapping, prone to signal interference, and worst of all, incapable of connecting across different kingdoms due to border restrictions and network incompatibility.
Another method was through Communication Scrolls, sold by the Wizard Tower. Each scroll required over 12 hours to craft by a certified wizard and contained intricate runes powered by a precise infusion of mana. They were expensive, single-use, and difficult to mass-produce — making them exclusive to nobles, spies, and the military elite.
For a while, scrolls were almost pushed into obsolescence with the arrival of Arthur's computer and the introduction of Hellfire Messenger. This software allowed users to exchange messages via the so-called "internet" — a web connecting computers across kingdoms. But even then, it was limited to text-based messaging and required access to a terminal.
The Wizard Tower managed to survive that disruption by enhancing their scrolls — reducing costs and upgrading them to support limited two-way "call messages." This kept them relevant, especially among spies and intelligence circles who didn't trust Hellfire's system, knowing that all data traffic through the network was ultimately under Arthur's oversight.
But now, with the Hellphone…
Mary narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as she looked at her wine glass, her reflection distorted in its surface.
"This changes everything," she muttered. "If this device really becomes mainstream… Will the Communication Scrolls survive this time?"
Her question hung in the air, unanswered. Even she knew the answer already.
---
After the live demonstration of the Hellphone, a massive wave of people poured into Hellscape stores across the Horn Kingdom.
Although the kingdom was small compared to others, it had two key cities: the spacious and economically driven Horn City, and the densely packed, vibrant, and neatly organized Dragon Walled City. But today, no matter which city one stood in, the excitement was impossible to miss.
On the sidewalks, pedestrians could be seen hurrying with purpose, some even breaking into a jog — all heading in the same direction. Streets near Hellscape branches grew increasingly congested, and at the main Hellscape Mall in Horn City, the parking lots were already filled to capacity.
Foot traffic spiked sharply. Inside the mall, the second floor — home to the Hellfire Store, under the appliances category — was swarming with eager customers. People moved shoulder to shoulder, the air buzzing with conversation and anticipation.
Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"I heard it's just 450 HKD," someone whispered. "That's barely half a month's salary. I don't care — I'm buying it. It's worth every coin."
"The Hellphone…" another said cautiously, "It almost sounds too good to be real."
"I'd think so too — if it were anyone else," came a reply. "But it's Arthur Pendragon we're talking about. That guy doesn't make empty promises."
Their footsteps echoed over polished tiles, their voices rising with every passing second.
While commoners flocked to Hellscape in droves, the nobles were no less eager.
Among them was a visiting noblewoman from Wales — the vibrant, blue-haired Lady Angelica, currently vacationing in the Horn Kingdom. She strolled with a confident gait, accompanied by several Horn nobles. Among the group, keeping slightly to the rear, was Anna Fellwing, daughter of Ferdinand Fellwing.
Angelica laughed lightly, waving her hand as she flaunted a gleaming gold-tier credit card. "Hoho~ I could buy you all Hellphones without batting an eyelash. Especially with my darling fiancé's card — heir to the Darkspire family, you know."
Anna smiled politely, but her eyes flickered with restrained envy.
One of the Horn noblewomen chuckled, "No need for that, Lady Angelica. We have cards of our own — also gold. We're more than capable of purchasing a Hellphone ourselves."
"Indeed," another chimed in. "It's a bargain, really. I could buy dozens without it even showing up on my expense sheet."
"We nobles aren't exactly strapped for coin," added Pam Ebonclaw, daughter of the influential Ebonclaw House. She cast a sideways glance at Anna and smiled sweetly. "Isn't that right, Anna?"
The conversation paused, all eyes shifting toward Anna.
Pam tilted her head with mock innocence, "Do reassure Lady Angelica, would you? That Horn Kingdom nobles have no need to borrow another's wealth. After all, don't we have money to spare?"
Anna's hands clenched slightly at her sides, but she kept her voice calm and her smile intact. "O-of course. I agree completely."
The noblewomen exchanged knowing glances and giggled behind dainty fans, their laughter soft, elegant — and cruel.
Anna felt her cheeks burn. She knew what this was. Pam wasn't subtle. Everyone was aware that the Fellwing family had yet to pay off their credit card debts to Hellfire Bank. It wasn't about poverty — it was about pride. Her father, as always, refused to part with a single coin unless forced.
After walking for several more minutes, the group of noblewomen finally arrived at the expansive Hellfire Electronics Store. But what greeted them made a few wrinkle their noses in visible disgust.
The store, typically known for its clean, orderly atmosphere, was now bursting with people.
They weren't browsing for the newest flat-screen enchantment TVs near the front, nor admiring the sleek Hellfire Entertainment System consoles beside them, or checking out the computers manned by demon tech assistants.
No — today, the crowd had a singular obsession: Hellphone.
Everywhere they looked, people from all walks of life flooded the aisles. Some clung to excitement. Others wore the face of desperation.
"Hey, hey!" a sweaty man shouted at a confused TV clerk, "Where's the Hellphone section?!"
"We're not here for your plasma or whatever magic screen — point us to the phones!"
Similar scenes played out in the gaming and computer zones, where startled staff struggled to redirect the crowd. Eventually, after a few chaotic minutes, things began to calm. A floor manager raised his voice and guided the customers:
"Please — those inquiring about Hellphone, head to the dedicated booth area near the south wing. One line only, please!"
The noblewomen, standing by the side and observing, exchanged looks.
"So this is what the lower class looks like when chasing crumbs," one whispered under her breath.
"They're practically foaming at the mouth," another added, amused.
At the Hellphone booth — which had remained mostly quiet before — several staff members, now stationed behind the counters, began assisting the wave of customers.
A young man approached the front eagerly. "Excuse me! I heard there's limited stock. I'd like to buy one right now!"
"Of course," the staff nodded. "Just to clarify — today's sales are early access only. Available exclusively to customers paying by credit card."
That dampened the mood.
"What?" a wolf demon shoved his way forward, holding a handful of crumpled bills. "I've got 450 HKD right here! Take it and hand over my phone!"
The female staff member — a Japonese fox demon— bowed apologetically. "I'm terribly sorry, sir, but we cannot accept cash at this time."
The wolf demon growled. "Why the hell not? Isn't that illegal? Stores are required to accept cash under Horn Kingdom law!"
The fox demon remained polite. "Normally yes, sir — but the full public release of the Hellphone is scheduled two weeks from now. What you're seeing today is a limited early-access launch, available only to Hellfire credit card holders. Under current regulations, early access events are not legally required to accept all forms of payment. That's why we don't have a full Hellphone display section or cashier lane set up yet."
"That's absurd!" the wolf demon snarled.
"I truly apologize, sir," she said again, bowing deeper.
Around them, murmurs of both frustration and reluctant understanding began to ripple through the crowd.
Angelica smirked at Anna and whispered loud enough to hear: "Imagine getting excited and then realizing you need credit to even touch it. Poor things."
Anna didn't respond, but her eyes lingered on the crowd — and especially on the sleek black Hellphone displayed behind the counter, guarded like a treasure.
The wolf demon clearly wasn't ready to accept the situation. He wore a wrinkled suit that hung awkwardly on him — clearly expensive, but worn like a thug's uniform. The way he walked and raised his voice told everyone what kind of person he was.
"I don't care what you say!" he barked, slamming his cash onto the counter. "You're giving me that Hellphone, whether you like it or not!"
He reached out, fingers aiming for the collar of the fox demon woman—
Grab.
In one fluid motion, the seemingly docile fox woman caught his wrist mid-air. Her gentle smile vanished. Her amber eyes sharpened into something cold and dangerous.
"If you can't be reasoned with," she said calmly, "then I suppose I'll have to educate you myself."
"Wh—what the—?" the wolf demon stammered, startled. He tried pulling his arm back, but her grip didn't budge. His expression shifted from arrogance to confusion.
"Let go, you damn—!"
He swung with his other fist — but she snatched that mid-air too. Her fingers clamped down. Hard.
"GRAAAGHH!" he groaned, face twisting in pain. Gasps echoed around the store.
'W-What the hell is she made of?!' the wolf demon thought, his legs wobbling.
Then—
Thud!
A swift knee slammed between his legs. His jaw dropped, eyes rolled upward—
"AAAGHHHHH—!"
And he collapsed like a sack of bricks.
Everyone watched in stunned silence as the fox woman casually brushed invisible dust from her sleeves, then turned back toward the crowd with a serene expression.
"Let this be a reminder," she said sweetly, "to conduct yourselves with civility. Violence will not be tolerated."
The calm in her voice only made the moment more terrifying.
The once-rowdy crowd now stood stiff, polite, and suddenly very obedient.
From a short distance away, Anna stared at the fox woman with a curious, narrowed gaze. 'Have I seen her somewhere before...?' she wondered silently.