Chapter 51: Cat’s already out of the bag

Chapter 51: Cat's already out of the bag

(Arthur POV)

The Eastern Province is a breath of fresh air compared to the other places I've been in the Morningstar Kingdom. Here in the Green Forest, it's like someone plucked Hobbiton straight out of my imagination and planted it right here in our realm. The rolling hills, the lush greenery - it's perfect for bringing the Shire to life.

I've sunk a small fortune into this place already. Fifty thousand dollars to a company in Grass City to build our Hobbit houses. Most are just facades - all exterior, no interior - but Bilbo's place is the real deal, inside and out. It's got to be perfect; after all, it's where our story begins.

Getting the permits was a whole adventure in itself. Had to schmooze the lord of Grass City, convince him that letting a bunch of demons play make-believe in his forest was a good idea. But money talks, and a hundred thousand dollars later, we're the proud owners of 100,000 square meters of prime Hobbiton real estate.

A thousand dollars per square meter. It's enough to make even a demon's wallet weep. But I couldn't care less about the cost. This isn't just an expense; it's an investment.

Sure, I could've just rented the land, but where's the vision in that? If "Lord of the Rings" takes off like I think it will, this place could become a goldmine. Just look at what happened with "The Demonfather" locations - tourists flocking in, eager to walk in Michael Corleone's footsteps.

Imagine what they'll do for a chance to step into the Shire.

***

It's been five days since we started building Hobbiton in the Green Forest. I've been busy overseeing filming locations across the kingdom.

I've decided on the Shadow Plains in the dark province bordering Ashen Plains for Mordor. It fits the bill perfectly.

Gloomstone Forest is pulling double duty. The shallow parts match Fangorn, while the deeper sections work well for Mirkwood.

I've struck a deal with the trolls to help with some scenes later. Their tree manipulation skills will be useful.

As for the primal orcs in the deep forest, that's been trickier. They seem to hate us demons especially. I've heard their chiefs and elders can speak common tongue, but I haven't made contact yet. I'll need to get stronger before I try reasoning with them.

From what I've gathered, these orcs aren't as unreasonable as I first thought. They don't attack people randomly, instead hunting forest wildlife like goblins, boars, and monkeys for food.

It's interesting - even the animals here can use magic. That makes hunting challenging for the orcs.

There's still a lot to figure out, but we're making progress. One step at a time.

An hour later, the construction crew chief calls me over. "Mr. Morningstar, Bilbo's house is ready."

He returns, a camera balanced precariously between his shoulders. I wince. "Careful with that," I warn.

"I know, I know," he grumbles, gently setting it down.

But he's not done. George keeps shuttling back and forth, bringing out camera after camera, along with stands and what looks like enough equipment to film three movies simultaneously.

I can't help but chuckle. "You really outdid yourself, huh?"

George beams with pride. "I even have backup lenses in case anything breaks," he says, patting a nearby case. "And get this - using your blueprint for increasing the aspect ratio, I've managed to push these cameras to a 2.40:1 ratio. The lenses are crafted with a precise curvature that allows for a wider field of view without distortion."

George holds up a roll of film, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I've also successfully applied that idea from your blueprint. Like in the computer, I've put a memory in the camera, though it couldn't compare to our computer."

"You were able to do it?" I ask, genuinely surprised. I knew George was good, but this is beyond my expectations.

He nods enthusiastically. "Yes. This 'memory' can help correct color and other issues as we're filming. It's not perfect - we'll still need to edit afterwards - but it gives us a much better starting point."

I can't help but smile, patting him on the shoulder. "Good work, George."

With the tech update out of the way, I shift gears. "What's the news around here while I've been gone?" I ask, leaning against the workbench. Staying informed is crucial - you never know when a bit of news might come in handy.

George snaps out of his tech-talk trance, blinking as if remembering where he is. "Oh right, news. Actually..." He rummages through the clutter on his desk, fishing out a newspaper. "You might want to see this."

I take the paper, and there I am, staring back at myself as Michael Corleone. The headline screams: "Exiled Prince Arthur's Hellfire Studios Embarks on Biggest Film Project in World History. Millions Already Spent. Can Lightning Strike Twice After 'The Demonfather'?"

I can't help but smirk. "Well, they're not wrong about the 'biggest' part. But they're a bit late to the party, aren't they?"

George nods, then hands me another paper. "There's more."

This one's from closer to home: "Lord Antree of Grass City Reveals: Exiled Prince Purchases 100,000 sqm in Green Forest for Mystery Film Project."

"Huh," I mutter, shaking my head. "Looks like Lord Antree couldn't keep our little deal to himself. Can't say I'm surprised."

I skim through the articles, my mind already racing with potential implications. The cat's out of the bag now, for better or worse.