Chapter 105: Noble Demon?

Chapter 105: Noble Demon?

(Arthur POV)

As I exited the office, my crew's eyes widened at the sight of my shredded clothes.

"What happened to you, boss?!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Haha, don't worry about it," I said, trying to sound casual. "Just a small... accident."

Embarrassment bubbled up inside me as I made my way to the male hot tub. I quickly stripped, grabbed a towel, and sunk into the warm water.

For ten minutes, I relaxed, my mind racing with thoughts of my new ability to transform, fly, and who knows what else. Eventually, I stood up and quietly borrowed some clothes hanging nearby.

Just as I finished dressing, a demon exited the hot tub. "Bo-boss! Those are my clothes!"

"Oh, these?" I said nonchalantly. "I'll repay you. For now, I need to borrow them."

"But..."

One look from me was enough. He nodded in understanding.

As I left the hot tub area, I found Klein waiting outside. "Oh right, you had something to report?"

"It's about our talents, boss..." Klein said, his tone uncharacteristically solemn.

Hmm? This didn't sound good.

"Tell me," I said, bracing myself for whatever news was coming.

***

(3rd Person POV)

A few hours before Arthur's transformation, Clint and Benny had decided to celebrate the huge success of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly."

Though Clint and Benny had only been living in Horn City for a few weeks, they'd wasted no time exploring the local nightlife. Among the handful of bars they'd discovered, one stood out: "Hidden Bar."

As Clint and Benny entered the Hidden Bar, the reality of their newfound fame was still sinking in.

"I still can't believe this is happening to me," Clint said, a mix of excitement and disbelief in his voice. "Suddenly becoming so famous... My manager even said Empirican major studios want me in their films."

Benny sighed, a rueful smile on his face. "Me too. I'm just a sixty-year-old man. Never imagined I'd become famous at this age."

Their conversation was interrupted by an excited voice. "Hey, aren't you Blondie and Tuco from that western film?"

Clint chuckled, "Yeah, that's us. But I'm Clint, and he's Benny."

"Wow. Can I have an autograph?"

Everything was happening so fast. Just weeks ago, they could walk into a bar unnoticed. Now, they were surrounded like... well, celebrities. Which, they realized with a start, they actually were now.

As more people approached, asking for autographs, Clint and Benny exchanged a look. This was their new reality, and while exciting, it was also a bit overwhelming.

Clint and Benny had come to Hidden Bar to celebrate, but they couldn't get a moment to themselves. Fans kept approaching, getting too touchy and demanding their attention, making it impossible for the actors to enjoy their evening.

Klein nodded. "We've already got the legal team working on filing charges against him."

"Good," I said, "but it won't be easy. The guy's popular and influential." My eyes narrowed. "But I'll make sure Clint and Benny get justice, one way or another."

"What are you planning, boss?" Klein asked, concern evident in his voice.

I just smiled, offering no answer. My mind was already racing with possibilities, some of which Klein was probably better off not knowing.

As Klein left, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. No one messes with my talent and gets away with it. Caleb Diamond was about to learn that the hard way.

***

(3rd Person POV)

A day after Clint and Benny's beating, Caleb lounged in his penthouse, attempting to soothe his panicked manager.

"Relax, Veret. We've got nothing to worry about," Caleb said, exuding confidence.

Veret's voice cracked with anxiety. "Nothing to worry about?! Those guys you beat up aren't nobodies! They're rising stars! The media will be all over this!"

Caleb chuckled, waving off the concern. "Come on. Dad will handle it. He's got connections with politicians and newspaper bigwigs. We're covered."

Veret visibly relaxed at this assurance.

Seeing his manager calm down, Caleb's smirk widened. He felt invincible, his mind wandering to dangerous territory. 'No one can have Alissa but me,' he thought, then mused, 'Maybe I should pay those two a visit in the hospital, teach them a lasting lesson.'

Just as this cruel thought crossed his mind, the window exploded in a shower of glass.

"What the hell—" Veret's shout was cut short as a tall, imposing demon appeared in the shattered window frame.

Caleb's face contorted with rage. "Who the fuck are you? What do you think you're doing?!"

Instead of answering, the demon unfurled massive bat-like wings. Caleb and Veret's eyes widened in shock and fear.

The atmosphere in the penthouse shifted dramatically. The once-cocky Caleb found himself face-to-face with a being that radiated power and danger.

The unfurled wings left no doubt - this was a 'noble demon.' A higher ranking one at that.

Caleb and Veret stood transfixed, having never seen one in the flesh before. Such demons were exceedingly rare.

With a single flap of his wings, the demon sent a gust of wind that made Caleb and Veret stumble.

Caleb's demeanor changed instantly, his voice dripping with forced politeness. "I apologize for my earlier language. I didn't realize we were in the presence of a noble demon." He gestured at the broken window. "Please, don't worry about that. We can easily replace it."

Veret nodded frantically, like a bobblehead caught in an earthquake. "Absolutely! We're just... curious why a noble demon such as yourself would honor us with a visit?"

Caleb's ego couldn't resist chiming in. "Did you come to see me?" he asked, puffing up with pride. "I know I'm quite popular. My fame reaches far and wide. I can see why even a noble demon such as yourself were so excited to meet me that you didn't think twice about breaking a window to get in."

He continued, oblivious to the growing danger. "Would you like an autograph? I could even perform a song for you-"

His words were cut short as the demon suddenly appeared before him, fist connecting with Caleb's face. The impact sent him flying across the room.

Veret's eyes bulged in shock. "Wha-what?!" he sputtered, his earlier composure shattered.

The noble demon stood silently, his scarlet eyes burning with barely contained rage. It was clear that this was no social call, and Caleb's assumption of admiration couldn't have been further from the truth.