Chapter 91: The filming starts again, but... Arthur needs to punish some ghosts

Chapter 91: The filming starts again, but... Arthur needs to punish some ghosts

(Arthur POV)

At last, after what felt like an eternity of searching, I've assembled the main cast for my movie.

Take Benny Cave, the dwarf actor playing Tuco. He's sixty, but you'd never guess it. Dwarves are known for their "old looks," and at sixty, Benny could pass for a teenager. The only giveaway is his intimidating demeanor, a far cry from the naivety of younger dwarves.

Benny's perfect for "the ugly," and not just because of his looks. He spent fifteen years in the Aztec Kingdom over in Empirica. Rubbed shoulders with old-timers who lived through the Wild West era. That firsthand knowledge of the Empirican Old West and Civil War times? It's gold.

Then there's Lei River, our elf playing Angel Eyes. Those kind eyes of his live up to the "Angel" part of his character's name. But he's playing "the bad," and I can already see the audience's surprise when they realize this angel-faced elf is the villain.

***

(3rd Person POV)

As the actors stepped into the VFX Studio, their eyes widened in amazement. The place was a maze of ruins and spell markers.

"So this is the famous VFX Studio where 'Lord of the Rings' was made," Clint muttered, awe in his voice.

Lei chimed in, "I heard this place is worth millions. We're literally walking on a fortune right now."

"Wow," Clint breathed, the other cast members nodding in agreement.

Benny, ever the skeptic, added, "Millions spent just for that 'Lord of the Rings' movie? The ex-prince sure had guts to risk that much cash."

"It paid off though," one of the side actors pointed out. "The film raked in so much, a few million in expenses seems like pocket change now."

Benny sneered, "That's 'cause it got lucky. What if it had flopped? Would've been millions down the drain."

The others fell silent, unable to argue with the dwarf's blunt logic.

As they walked through the corridor and into the main studio area, their jaws dropped. Without the illusions, the place looked surprisingly bare.

They spotted Arthur with the production crew, tending to some horses and unicorns. He nodded as they approached. "You're here. Good." He gestured to a nearby house shimmering with illusion magic. "Head over there. Makeup and wardrobe will get you ready for the scene."

The actors nodded, still taking in their surroundings. In one corner, crew members were pouring sand, prepping the set for the day's shoot.

***

The cast emerged from the house, only to find themselves in what appeared to be a dusty old town. While astonished, they weren't entirely shocked - they'd expected some impressive illusions.

Even old Benny was taken aback. He felt transported back to the towns of Aztec in the Empirican Continent.

During filming, the set would suddenly turn frigid for no apparent reason. Arthur found himself constantly using his {Atmosphere Control} skill to ward off the chill. The cold was messing with the scene's atmosphere, and the shivering actors were struggling to stay in character.

Klein approached Arthur, frustration evident in his voice. "Boss, these ghosts are getting out of hand. How are we supposed to deal with them?"

Arthur rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "We can't exactly call in Solarus priests for a cleansing. Not after 'The Demonfather' ruffled their feathers." He paused, considering their options. "Our best bet is to scare them off somehow. Make them think twice about messing with us."

Klein looked skeptical. "Scare them? Boss, we can't even touch ghosts. How are we supposed to intimidate something we can't harm?"

Arthur sighed, his eyes fixed on a transparent interface only he could see. "I might have a solution..."

[Phantom Touch: A skill that grants the user the extraordinary ability to interact with ghosts and spirits on a physical level. By extending a hand, the user can reach out to ethereal beings, allowing for both communication and manipulation of ghostly energies.]

Arthur winced internally at the price tag: 4 million entertainment points. It was a steep cost, but as he watched another actor shiver from a ghostly cold spot, he knew he had to do something. These spectral shenanigans were threatening to derail the entire production.

"Give me a few hours," he told Klein. "I think I can sort this out."

***

Just hours after acquiring the skill, Arthur put it to use. As the ghosts began their usual pranks, leaving the actors helpless, everyone was stunned to see Arthur reach out and grab a previously invisible specter.

"Aah!" The ghost's shriek echoed through the studio.

The production crew and cast watched in amazement as Arthur pulled the ghost into view, making it visible to all.

They could only assume Arthur was using some powerful spell that not only allowed him to touch ghosts but also made them visible to the naked eye.

But Arthur wasn't done. He began plucking more ghosts from thin air, and to everyone's disbelief, he started tying their ghostly tails together.

"Ahh!"

"He- he touched us!"

"This can't be possible!"

The ghosts' cries of fear and confusion filled the air as they gaped at Arthur in terror.

Arthur pointed at the tangled mass of spirits, his voice stern. "You guys deserve a spanking!"

The entire studio watched in awe as Arthur proceeded to discipline the troublesome spirits. It was a sight none of them ever expected to see - their director, literally taking ghosts to task.

As the spectral wails died down, one of the actors whispered, "Remind me never to get on the boss's bad side."