(3rd Person POV)
Joseph's successful unification of Harlem's three rival gangs marked the beginning of an unprecedented collaboration. The unfinished building that had nearly witnessed bloodshed now buzzed with creative energy as former enemies learned choreography side by side.
Each day brought the same unlikely sight—Iron Wolves, Serpent Collective, and Mob Nation members arriving together, practicing dance moves, and discussing camera angles like seasoned performers rather than street thugs.
The transformation didn't go unnoticed by local residents.
"This is bizarre," muttered a bartender, peering through his establishment's windows at the construction site. "Why are Big Orc, Sharpy, and Bistar hanging out together? Those three have been trying to kill each other for years."
"Look at their crews," his customer pointed out, nursing his drink. "They're acting like old friends instead of blood enemies."
"Something major must've happened to make them bury the hatchet," another patron speculated.
Their curiosity was satisfied when a member of Iron Wolves happened to overhear their conversation while passing by.
"I'm with Iron Wolves, so I'll clear this up," the gang member said, stepping into the bar with casual confidence. "We're all working on a music video for Joseph Jackson. The three crews agreed to a temporary truce for the filming."
The reaction was immediate and explosive.
"Joseph Jackson? The Hellfire artist?"
"You mean the guy from the World Cup performance?"
"That's him," the gang member confirmed with obvious pride.
Word spread through the neighborhood like wildfire. Within hours, everyone knew that the famous pop star had somehow convinced three warring factions to collaborate on his project.
The story reached local media outlets by evening, spawning headlines that walked the line between skepticism and sensationalism:
"MIRACLE IN HARLEM: Has Pop Star Joseph Jackson United Rival Gangs?"
"HELLFIRE'S GOLDEN BOY BROKERS PEACE BETWEEN WARRING CREWS"
"FROM BLOODSHED TO BROTHERHOOD: The Joseph Jackson Effect"
While the story didn't dominate national headlines, it created significant buzz among those familiar with Harlem's underground scene. The idea that someone could bridge such deep-seated rivalries through music alone seemed almost fantastical.
At the Empirican News offices, one reporter stared at his computer in genuine disbelief. This was the same journalist who had subtly warned Joseph about the hip-hop community's territorial nature just days earlier.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, scrolling through confirmed reports. "The kid didn't just connect with local rappers—he actually got the gangs to work together."
He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "I've been covering this beat for months, and I've never seen anything like this."
The unusual activity at the construction site had also drawn law enforcement attention. Police cruisers now made regular passes by the building, though they hadn't intervened directly. The sight of known criminals gathering in large numbers typically warranted immediate action, but the peaceful nature of their activities left officers uncertain how to proceed.
---
Time flew by swiftly. While Joseph's career soared to new heights, Hellfire's business empire continued its relentless expansion. September 1276 brought fresh successes across multiple fronts.
The Harry Potter sequel had released just days earlier to tremendous acclaim. Within its first week, the film had already earned 139 million global dollars—a remarkable achievement that sparked conversations across the entertainment industry.
"Imagine the numbers if Arthur had directed it himself instead of Damien," became a common refrain among industry analysts, though they acknowledged the sequel's undeniable success regardless of who held the director's chair.
More intriguing to the business world was Hellfire's upcoming announcement. The company had scheduled a major conference to unveil their newest venture—Hellfire Airlines—along with public access to their mysterious aircraft that media outlets had dubbed the "Big Bird."
This strange vehicle had captured public imagination ever since Hellfire artists began using it for travel. Unlike traditional airships with their bulky gas chambers, the Big Bird possessed sleek, bird-like wings and moved with unprecedented speed and grace.
Headlines across major publications reflected the growing anticipation:
"Unconfirmed Reports Suggest Big Bird Completes Intercontinental Flights in Record Time"
"AIRSHIP MANUFACTURERS PANIC: Eden Continent's Largest Companies Face Potential Disruption"
"THE NEXT HELLFIRE REVOLUTION: Will Air Travel Join Banking and Communications as Industries Transformed by Arthur Pendragon?"
The speculation was warranted. Hellfire's track record of revolutionary innovations—from ATMs and credit cards to the Hellphone—had consistently disrupted established industries. While these technologies remained concentrated in Horn Kingdom and select partner nations, their global expansion seemed inevitable.
Traditional airship manufacturers throughout the Eden continent watched developments with growing alarm. Companies that had dominated air travel for decades suddenly faced the possibility that their entire business model might become obsolete overnight.
Similarly, established airlines found themselves confronting an uncomfortable reality. If Big Bird truly offered the speed and efficiency that rumors suggested, their conventional airship fleets would be reduced to expensive antiques.
The anxiety was so pronounced that nearly every major player in the aviation industry had dispatched representatives to attend Hellfire's upcoming conference. What had begun as casual curiosity about a eccentric businessman's unusual aircraft had evolved into a potential existential threat to entire sectors of the global economy.
As the conference date approached, one question dominated boardrooms and industry publications alike: Would Arthur Pendragon once again reshape the world through innovation, or would Big Bird prove to be merely an elaborate publicity stunt?
The answer would determine the future of transportation itself.
---
September 21, 1276. Hellfire Airport, originally Arthur's private aviation facility, was preparing to open its doors to the public. The conference hall buzzed with anticipation as reporters and airline industry executives arrived in steady streams, filling every available seat.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd until Arthur—or rather, his clone—stepped onto the stage with practiced confidence.
"Greetings, everyone. Welcome to our conference regarding Hellfire Airlines." His voice carried clearly through the packed auditorium. "I'm pleased to announce that our advanced aircraft—which I prefer to call an 'airplane' rather than airship—will soon be available for public use."
Behind him hung what appeared to be an ordinary green backdrop, though seasoned entertainment reporters recognized it immediately. This was the same revolutionary "green screen" that had created Liberty Port's stunning harbor backdrop during Titanic's departure scenes, seamlessly blending reality with magical projection.
The fabric shimmered and transformed into a crystal-clear display. High-definition footage began playing—the sleek aircraft soaring through clouds, passengers relaxing in spacious cabins, the vehicle landing with grace.
"Arthur! Arthur!" Hands shot up throughout the audience as reporters competed for attention.
Arthur pointed to a journalist from Aviation Weekly. "Is it confirmed that this aircraft is faster than any airship currently available?"
"Absolutely," Arthur replied without hesitation. "Our airplane's speed far exceeds anything imaginable with current technology."
Gasps and excited murmurs swept through the crowd.
"How much faster are we talking?" another reporter pressed.
Arthur's smile remained deliberately enigmatic. "Passengers will discover that for themselves soon enough." He paused for effect. "What I will say is that this aircraft represents the future of air travel. That's precisely why Joseph Jackson has been using it for his World Tour."
The mention of Joseph sparked immediate interest. A reporter from Empire Financial News stood up. "Speaking of passengers, are the rumors true that airplane tickets will cost significantly less than traditional airship travel?"
This was the question every airline representative had been dreading. They leaned forward, awaiting Arthur's response.
"Cheaper?" Arthur chuckled. "It'll be so affordable that ordinary working people can travel by air, depending on the distance."
"Could you provide specific pricing estimates?" the reporter probed.
"For shorter routes—Horn Kingdom to Morningstar Empire or Thorn Kingdom—tickets will range from twenty to forty global dollars."
The pricing announcement sent shockwaves through the audience.
"That's incredibly affordable!" someone gasped.
Airline representatives sat in stunned silence, their minds racing with disbelief.
'Twenty to forty dollars? Our cheapest routes start at two hundred!' one executive thought frantically.
'If this pricing is real, we're looking at complete industry disruption,' another realized with growing dread.
'How can they possibly operate at such margins and still turn a profit?'
But Arthur's next revelation shifted the entire dynamic. "However, Hellfire Airlines will initially operate only between the Persian Empire and Japon Kingdom. We haven't yet completed negotiations with other nations, so these will be our only available routes at launch."
The moment those words left his lips, every airline representative from unserved territories felt their pulse quicken.
'This is our opportunity! We need to secure partnership negotiations with Hellfire immediately!' The same thought struck dozens of executives simultaneously as they began mentally drafting partnership proposals.