Chapter 206: Ghosts hunt

    (3rd Person POV)

    Across Horn Kingdom, viewers chuckled at their televisions as Arthur and Rocky traded playful jabs.

    "I''m just grateful Don Vito is still alive and well enough to be strong-armed into hosting this little program I dreamed up," Arthur quipped, drawing laughs from home audiences.

    "This is actually pretty entertaining," a lone demon mused in his apartment, surprised by how much he was enjoying the late-night format.

    The banter between Arthur and Rocky proved so engaging that viewers nearly forgot why they''d stayed up so late - until Rocky finally steered the conversation to the pressing matter at hand.

    "Alright, enough fooling around," Rocky said, straightening in his chair. "Let''s address why this episode exists - you''re here to prove you actually have ghost workers, aren''t you?"

    Arthur nodded. "Exactly. Child''s Play has been incredibly successful in demon realms, but controversy has followed. Media outlets are claiming we achieved this through illegal means - hiring voodoo mentors, performing forbidden spells on the doll. I want to set the record straight."

    "Those voodoo spells are no small matter," Rocky added gravely. "They''re banned worldwide for good reason. No kingdom would tolerate their use."

    "Which is precisely why we''d never employ them," Arthur replied with a confident smile. "The voodoo magic shown in the film was purely fictional. The doll''s realistic movement came from our ghost employees."

    Rocky leaned forward. "I can actually vouch for these ghost workers. I''ve seen them in action around the studio - working as cameramen, even appearing in Harry Potter."

    "That''s right," Arthur confirmed. "They''ve been vital to Hellfire''s productions for years now. They helped create Harry Potter''s magical effects and have been involved in countless other projects. Yet people still find it hard to believe we employ ghosts."

    Rocky turned to Arthur with a grin. "Why don''t we meet these ghost workers of yours?"

    "Excellent idea," Arthur agreed. "Please welcome Diddy, Puffy, and Daddy!"

    The studio audience clapped on cue, though their applause carried an undercurrent of skepticism. Like most people, they doubted ghosts would willingly work for any company. Their doubt vanished into gasps of amazement as three translucent figures floated onto the set. "They''re real ghosts!" someone exclaimed from the audience.

    Across Horn Kingdom, viewers leaned closer to their screens as the spectral forms materialized beside Arthur and Rocky.

    "Welcome, welcome, you three," Rocky greeted warmly.

    The ghosts seemed almost shy about appearing visible before such a large audience. "Hey, nice to be here," Diddy managed.

    "How does it feel to be our first late-night guests?" Rocky chuckled.

    Daddy glanced around the set uncertainly. "We feel... alright..."

    As Rocky guided the conversation between Arthur and the ghosts, viewers watched in fascination. Finally, he asked the question everyone wanted answered: "So you three controlled Chucky in the film?"

    "Yes, we took turns possessing the doll," Diddy explained.

    The sadhu leading the group raised his hands peacefully. "We simply wish to hire you. No harm will come to you."

    "Indeed," another added. "Hindi Entertainment Studio only wants your services. It''s a simple arrangement."

    Trapped and facing possible banishment, the ghost saw little choice. "Alright," he conceded reluctantly.

    Similar scenes played out worldwide as studios scrambled to build their own spectral workforce, never stopping to consider why Arthur''s ghosts showed such unique loyalty.

    Studios quickly discovered the harsh reality of ghost employment. Their spectral workers needed either weeks or even months of rest to accumulate enough Nether energy for basic tasks, or required someone with the rare ability to touch and directly transfer magical energy to them.

    Finding individuals who could physically interact with ghosts proved nearly impossible. The alternatives were equally challenging - rare artifacts capable of recharging spirits cost fortunes. The studios could try finding exceptional ghosts like Arthur''s crew, those rare spirits with possession abilities who could sustain their energy far longer than ordinary ghosts. However, such entities were exceedingly rare and believed to have vanished entirely in the modern age. Arthur was fortunate to have these remarkable ghosts, capable of possessing objects and more, at his disposal.

    The studios'' initial enthusiasm dampened as they faced these practical challenges. A new question began circulating through the industry: ''How does Arthur manage to feed his ghost workers?'' Most assumed he possessed some ancient artifact, but the mystery only highlighted how unprepared other studios were for spectral employees.

    Now these studios scrambled to find energy solutions for their newly recruited ghosts, or risk losing their supernatural workforce entirely.

    ***

    While the entertainment industry grappled with ghost employment issues, Hellfire Electronics launched its computer expansion beyond Horn Kingdom, targeting the massive Morningstar Kingdom market first.

    Thanks to television, newspapers, and radio coverage, the computer''s reputation for transforming Horn Kingdom''s business landscape had spread far and wide. However, threatened corporations in Morningstar Kingdom mounted aggressive resistance.

    Major retail chains and shopping centers refused to stock computers, bowing to pressure from these powerful companies. Unlike in Horn Kingdom, where Arthur''s influence ran deep, his reach in Morningstar Kingdom remained limited. He could only promote his innovation through media channels.

    Distribution remained restricted to a handful of Morningstar cities, with only brave independent retailers and official Hellfire stores willing to sell the devices. Still, even this limited presence marked the beginning of the computer''s expansion beyond Horn Kingdom''s borders.

    Even Luke Morningstar, the demon king himself, couldn''t ignore the computer''s impact. In a private chamber of the royal palace, Economic Minister Perah presented the device to his monarch.

    "This is the innovation transforming Horn Kingdom''s economy, Your Majesty," Perah explained, gesturing to the computer on the ornate desk.

    Luke studied the machine with measured interest. "Reports claim it''s making government and corporate operations more efficient and cost-effective. Is this true?"

    "Indeed, Your Majesty," Perah confirmed. "The device handles multiple tasks simultaneously. And this," he indicated the black and white pattern, "is the ''barcode'' system. It''s revolutionizing commerce by eliminating human error in transactions."

    "Ah, yes," Luke''s eyes narrowed. "The barcode interests me more than the computer itself. Even Dwalric Corporation offered billions for its rights."

    "Correct, Your Majesty, though the barcode requires computers to function," Perah explained, then hesitated before adding, "Perhaps... your Majesty might consider speaking with the exiled prince? As your youngest son, surely he would provide our empire with these devices without cost..."

    The moment the words left his mouth, the chamber''s atmosphere turned lethal.

    Luke''s eyes grew cold as winter frost, fixing Perah with a stare that made the minister''s soul shrivel. In that terrible silence, Perah realized he''d committed the gravest of errors - mentioning not only Arthur''s exile, but presuming upon a family connection the king had publicly severed.