(3rd Person POV)
The opening of Hellfire Airport sent shockwaves through Horn Kingdom's media landscape. Headlines blazed across newspapers and broadcast channels with equal measures of skepticism and fascination. While editorial opinions remained sharply divided, the promise of affordable air travel had captured public imagination—and the unprecedented speed attracted wealthy travelers accustomed to paying premium prices for convenience.
The real validation came hours later when reports flooded in from Japon. The first Hellfire passengers had landed safely in the capital, their journey completed in record time. Enterprising reporters aboard the inaugural flight utilized internet connections to transmit real-time updates back to Horn Kingdom, creating an information feedback loop that amplified the story's impact exponentially.
Within hours, media outlets were broadcasting the undeniable truth with banner headlines: "HELLFIRE AIRPLANE OBLITERATES AIRSHIP TRAVEL—JAPON JOURNEY COMPLETED IN UNPRECEDENTED TIME."
The news ignited a firestorm of public interest. If not for the robust Ancient Tree server infrastructure that Arthur owned—which formed the backbone of his entire internet network—the website would have collapsed under the sudden surge of traffic as citizens rushed to secure tickets for themselves.
The following day brought confirmation of the Persian route's success, further cementing the airline's credibility. What had begun as curiosity transformed into genuine demand as people who'd never imagined affording international travel suddenly saw possibilities opening before them.
By the second day post-launch, Hellfire Airport bustled with constant foot traffic. The terminal's commercial districts thrived as visitors came not just to fly, but to experience Arthur Pendragon's latest innovation firsthand.
Throughout the city, conversations centered on the revolutionary transportation option.
A group of blue-collar workers huddled around a construction site's break table, their lunch forgotten as they discussed the morning's headlines.
"You hear about Arthur's airline?" rumbled Korax, a burly demon whose calloused hands gestured enthusiastically. "Tickets cost less than a fancy dinner! I could actually take my kids to see Japon's cherry blossoms next month."
His work partner, a stocky monkey-demon named Grash, nodded vigorously. "My wife's been dreaming of visiting her sister in Persia for years. Never thought we'd afford the trip." He paused, scratching his head. "Problem is, tickets are only sold through their website thing. Need one of those computer contraptions to access it."
Their more tech-savvy colleague, a fox-demon called Riven, leaned forward conspiratorially. "There's a solution for that. New café called Fire Bucks just opened downtown—they rent computer time by the hour. You can access the website there and use your bank card to purchase tickets directly."
"Fire Bucks?" another worker chimed in. "Heard they're packed lately. Makes sense now." He adjusted his hard hat thoughtfully. "Though I suppose you could always trek to the airport itself and buy tickets in person. Just takes longer."
The pattern was repeating across the kingdom. Fire Bucks locations experienced unprecedented demand as citizens who'd never touched a computer queued for hours, clutching bank cards and destination wish lists. The café chain—originally conceived as a simple internet access point—had inadvertently become the gateway for working-class international travel.
Arthur's integrated business ecosystem was performing exactly as designed, each component reinforcing the others in an elegant cycle of mutual profit.
---
Within two days of Hellfire Airport's opening, both Japon and the Persian Empire witnessed unprecedented tourist influxes. Though the numbers remained modest—Hellfire's operation was still in its infancy—the trend signaled the beginning of something transformative.
Princess Anahita couldn't suppress her satisfaction as she reviewed the tourism reports flooding her desk. Foreign visitors wandered Persian markets with genuine curiosity, their spending already providing noticeable economic stimulus. This surge offered the perfect opportunity to accelerate her tourism development programs—while her brothers remained consumed with their succession scheming, she was actively strengthening the kingdom's foundations.
What struck her as particularly ingenious was the reciprocal nature of Arthur's system. Persian citizens were equally eager to purchase tickets for Horn Kingdom destinations, creating a balanced flow of cultural and economic exchange.
"A perfectly balanced equation," she murmured, setting down the latest statistical summary. A knowing smile graced her features as she gazed toward the distant horizon. "That clever demon orchestrated mutual prosperity from the very beginning. No wonder he's conquered every industry he's touched."
Similar patterns emerged in Japon, where citizens enthusiastically booked flights to explore Horn Kingdom's attractions. Within a single week, Hellfire Airport buzzed with constant international traffic.
What caught observers off-guard was visitor behavior within the terminal itself.
Foreign visitors lingered for hours, treating the airport less like a transportation hub and more like a destination unto itself—a detail that hadn't escaped media attention.
Investigative journalist, Mira, positioned herself strategically near the main concourse, notepad ready as she observed the unusual behavior with professional fascination. International arrivals wandered the commercial corridors with the leisurely pace of weekend shoppers rather than the urgency of travelers eager to reach their destinations.
She approached a well-dressed Japonese businessman examining luxury watches in one of the boutiques. "Excuse me, sir? I'm with Daily Tribune. Why are you spending so much time in the airport rather than heading to the city?"
The man looked up with genuine surprise. "This place is extraordinary! I've been through dozens of airports, but nothing like this." He gestured around them enthusiastically. "Usually airports are just sterile waiting areas. This feels like a proper shopping district."
Mira scribbled quickly as he continued.
"The selection rivals our best districts in Edo, and I'm discovering cuisine I've never tried. It's entertaining while I prepare for my city tour." He paused thoughtfully. "Makes the transition much more pleasant. My colleagues will be amazed that an airport can be this engaging."
As the businessman headed toward a nearby fashion boutique, Mira shook her head in bewildered admiration.
"This airport could very well be the most revolutionary transportation concept ever conceived," she muttered, already composing her headline.
Within a single week, airline competitors could no longer deny the revolutionary nature of Hellfire's approach. The concept of transforming airports into vibrant commercial districts had initially seemed absurd to industry veterans, yet the results spoke louder than skepticism ever could.
When the headlines broke the following day, media outlets—led by Mira's comprehensive coverage—lavished praise on the innovative design. Her scathing editorial proclaimed that traditional airports with their sterile, utilitarian layouts had become relics of a bygone era.
The industry reeled as everything they'd considered standard practice was suddenly labeled "outdated" and "customer-hostile."
---
Meanwhile, news of Hellfire Airlines spread rapidly throughout Horn Kingdom's neighboring realms. Reports of unprecedented travel speeds and the novel mall-airport concept captured international attention with startling efficiency.
At Morningstar Castle, King Luke received yet another briefing about his nephew's latest disruption of established industries. This time, Arthur had revolutionized commercial aviation—and achieved remarkable success in the process.
"Your Highness," Economic Minister Perah ventured carefully, "I strongly recommend granting your youngest son permission to establish routes within our kingdom. This would allow us to observe these aircraft firsthand." He paused strategically before adding, "Perhaps we could negotiate favorable terms, considering Arthur's... family connection."
Luke's expression remained thoughtfully neutral. 'Perah, like the rest of the world, believes Arthur is simply my son rather than my nephew. Even Arthur himself remains unaware of his true parentage.'
He dismissed the suggestion with a casual wave. "Leave me alone with the Queen for now, Minister Perah."
Perah bowed respectfully and withdrew. Across the chamber, Queen Lily continued sipping her tea in contemplative silence.
Lily set her teacup down with deliberate precision. "Your Highness, that boy remains ignorant of his true parentage—he still believes himself your son rather than nephew. Perhaps we should exploit this misconception, even if Arthur refuses to return to the castle."
"I'll consider it," Luke sighed, though he carefully omitted just how formidable his nephew had become. The memory of their last confrontation still haunted him—Arthur's overwhelming magical presence had rendered him powerless without a single aggressive move.
'At least that brat doesn't know I'm only his uncle. If he ever learned the truth, who knows what might happen…'
What Luke didn't realize was that Arthur had already learned everything from High Arbiter Kaiser.
"Honestly, I'm growing impatient with this cautious approach," Lily began, her voice taking on a predatory edge. "Perhaps it's time we simply took everything from your nephew by force—"
Luke turned his back to her. "I told you, Lily. That approach won't succeed." Unpleasant memories surfaced—Arthur facing him without fear, even gaining the upper hand during their confrontation.
"My family acquired a powerful artifact along with a forgotten binding spell," Lily continued, her eyes gleaming with avarice. "We could make that boy our puppet and claim everything he's built. We simply need to lure him into a trap where—" She caught herself before revealing too much.
Luke remained silent. He hadn't informed her that Arthur had not only surpassed his power but had decimated his hidden forces completely. "I've entered into a secret agreement with him. Your plan is impossible."
"He's not your son, my king!" Lily's voice carried sharp frustration. "If our attempts to coax him home fail, then my plan becomes our only viable option."
Luke shook his head wearily. 'This woman refuses to understand. I've signed an unbreakable magical contract with Arthur. The binding is absolute.'
His silence, however, only reinforced Lily's perception of his weakness. She gritted her teeth in determination. 'If you lack the resolve to act, I'll handle matters personally.'
Her gaze drifted toward the window as bitter thoughts consumed her. 'I never anticipated that brat would achieve such magnitude. His influence and wealth now exceed comprehension. Exiling him was our greatest mistake.'
Meanwhile, the subject of their scheming was lightyears away, enjoying the wonders of space travel with Firfel aboard the Divine Ship.
They had spent days exploring their solar system—marveling at the moon's ancient craters, witnessing the swirling storms of gas giants, and discovering the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Only after thoroughly investigating their cosmic neighborhood had they ventured beyond the solar system's boundaries.
It was then that massive silhouettes emerged from the cosmic void—colossal vessels that resembled ancient sailing ships somehow suspended in space. These primitive-looking craft paled in comparison to Arthur's sleek, technologically superior Charon.
"Who are they?" Firfel whispered, moving closer to Arthur's side.
Arthur's expression grew grave as his divine senses detected the unmistakable presence of deities within those archaic vessels. The peaceful exploration had suddenly become something far more significant.