Chapter 119: I''m cautious now

    (Arthur POV)

    My team and I swiftly handled negotiations with international film distributors - days flew by in a blur. Meanwhile, the news about the sudden "Mana Drought" from a few days ago remained the hot topic.

    Of course, being the actual culprit behind that "Mana Drought", I felt a pang of guilt towards my employees and the people of the New District.

    I couldn''t help but overhear my crew discussing it loudly.

    "I really don''t know what happened. One moment, I''m working, then suddenly... I felt my mana sucked dry for some reason and then I fell into a slumber."

    "Me too... I can feel my magic was sucked dry... Remembering it is terrifying!"

    Another chimed in, "Did you guys read the news?"

    A demoness nodded, "Yeah... They''re saying the world is about to experience a ''Mana Crisis''. It''s been a long-term problem, but I never thought much of it. What happened a few days ago changed my perspective. Maybe that so-called ''Mana Crisis'' is more serious than we thought."

    I shook my head and approached them, feigning ignorance. "What are you guys talking about?"

    "Ah, boss!" they turned to me and nodded.

    Lilith explained, "We''re talking about what happened a few days ago, boss. When we strangely fell asleep without any explanation."

    I nodded, putting on a confused expression to avoid suspicion. "Yeah, it was a strange phenomenon. I remember being in my office when my cat and I suddenly succumbed to sleep."

    Klein added, "There''s news that wizard scientists are saying the world is lacking mana to sustain itself - so it forcefully borrowed magical mana from the people of this district."

    Hearing that theory almost made me break character, but I was genuinely amused and curious about the theories people in this world were concocting. They simply had no idea that the ring on my finger was responsible for the incident a few days ago.

    As I listened to their speculations, I couldn''t help but marvel at the imagination of this world''s inhabitants. If only they knew the truth behind the "Mana Drought", but that was a secret I''d have to keep to myself.

    "So the world is sentient enough to forcefully suck magic mana from people?" I voiced my thoughts, playing along with their theories.

    Klein and the others nodded. "That''s what those experts said."

    "If the world is really conscious enough, it''s probably thinking of reducing people on the world so that the mana will be balanced," I mused, curious to see their reactions.

    "Yeah, the experts say that the world will end in about 100 years if it continues to lose mana," another chimed in.

    "End of the world? Heh, that was news a hundred years ago, but we''re still alive," someone snorted skeptically.

    (3rd Person POV)

    While news of the "Magical Mana Drought" gained traction worldwide, stirring worry about the future, media outlets didn''t forget about Arthur''s fourth film, a martial arts epic.

    As soon as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was advertised simultaneously across Horn, Morningstar, Choson, Japon, and other nations, it immediately captured media attention.

    Unlike Arthur''s previous three successful films, this new one would be screened simultaneously in many nations. This wider distribution piqued people''s curiosity about the martial arts film.

    Headlines across various kingdoms read:

    "Arthur Morningstar''s New Martial Arts Epic: A Global Release!"

    "Morningstar''s ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' Set to Premiere Worldwide"

    "Can Arthur''s Martial Arts Film Conquer the Global Box Office?"

    The simultaneous release strategy was a hot topic among film critics and industry insiders. Some praised it as a bold move, while others questioned whether a martial arts film could resonate with such a diverse global audience.

    As the release date approached, anticipation built. Would Arthur Morningstar''s winning streak continue? Or would this foray into martial arts and global distribution prove to be his first misstep? The world waited eagerly to find out.

    People were genuinely curious about Arthur''s martial arts film, especially in Anatolia where such films still held a special place in their hearts.

    News of Arthur''s new film, along with the usual mix of negative press, celebrity gossip, business news, and entertainment industry controversies, seemed to bring a sense of relief to many.

    If it was before, people might have grown tired of such news. But this time was different. They actually preferred hearing about celebrities and entertainment industry drama over the more ominous news about the "Mana Crisis", "The end of the world", or "Prophecies of Renowned Seers from Bharat Kingdom".

    These doomsday headlines were spreading fear across the globe. In contrast, entertainment news offered a welcome distraction, a breath of fresh air in an increasingly anxious world.

    Meanwhile, James Blaze''s first concert was set to take place in about a week, and his fans were buzzing with excitement to see him perform live.

    The concert venue itself was a departure from the norm. Instead of the usual theatre setting favored by other artists, James'' performance was scheduled to take place in Horn Park - a public area where fans would watch the concert standing up.

    This unconventional approach aligned perfectly with James'' fresh, innovative sound. It was new and refreshing, much like his music. However, it also drew criticism from media outlets and some members of the public.

    Headlines reflected this mix of excitement and skepticism:

    "Standing Room Only: Is James Blaze''s Outdoor Concert a Hit or Miss?"

    "Music Critics Question Safety of James Blaze''s Public Park Venue"

    Despite the criticism, many fans saw the unique venue as just another reason to love James Blaze. His willingness to break from tradition only added to his appeal, making the upcoming concert an even more anticipated event.