Chapter 117: Don’t underestimate the ring, Arthur.

Chapter 117: Don't underestimate the ring, Arthur.

(Arthur POV)

The eerie silence unnerved me as I headed to the workstation. What I saw there left me stunned.

My employees were sprawled across their desks, sleeping so deeply they might as well have been in comas.

"...what the heck is happening?" I muttered, my mind racing.

Then it hit me. I glanced at the cat in my arms, still out cold, then at the ring on my finger.

"...fuck..." I slapped my forehead, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world.

I'd been wondering how the ring accumulated a million units of magical mana in my office alone. Turns out, it had drained the entire building dry!

And here I was, thinking using "Abyssal Mode" in my office would be discreet. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Shaking my head, I surveyed the sleeping employees. How the hell was I going to fix this mess?

Deciding to let them sleep it off, I headed to the parking lot, planning to retreat to my penthouse to study the ring further. But as soon as I stepped outside, I froze.

People were passed out on the sidewalks. Vehicles had stopped in their tracks, some even crashed. Drivers slept soundly, even those with minor injuries.

"This..." I looked around, seeing the eerie quiet stretch as far as the eye could see. "This is bad..."

I bolted back to my office, slamming the door behind me and pacing frantically.

"It seems that I've underestimated this ring gravely..." I muttered, staring at the seemingly innocent band of gold.

I couldn't believe it. I'd only used the "Abyssal Mode" for about thirty seconds - not even a full minute! Yet the effects were far more massive than I could have ever imagined.

Examining the ring more closely, I discovered that "Abyssal Mode" had four settings: low, mid, high, and ultra. To my horror, I realized the mode was set to ultra by default!

I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to scream. "Why the hell did the system set the mode to ultra? And make it the default setting?!" I felt like cursing the system to high heaven.

***

(3rd Person POV)

It turned out some of the reporters who witnessed the strange phenomenon in New District were international correspondents. Their presence ensured the news spread globally with ease.

The headlines blazed across newspapers and news crystals, each more sensational than the last:

"MYSTERIOUS MASS SLUMBER: Entire Horn Kingdom District Falls Asleep Mid-Day!"

"MANA DROUGHT: Experts Confirm Hundreds in New District Drained of Magical Energy"

"OMEN OF DOOM? Mass Sleep Incident Sparks Apocalyptic Fears"

These reports captivated audiences far and wide, turning a local incident into a global sensation.

Even though life in the New District had largely returned to normal, the area buzzed with unusual activity. Reporters lingered on street corners, accosting passersby for their accounts of the previous day's events.

"Excuse me, sir! Can you tell us what you experienced during yesterday's mysterious slumber?"

"Ma'am, did you notice anything unusual before falling asleep?"

The streets also saw an increased police presence. Officers patrolled with heightened vigilance, their postures tense and alert. It was no secret that their superiors had reprimanded them harshly for succumbing to the inexplicable sleep, and they were eager to prove their worth.

Adding to the mix were figures from various religious orders, their robes and symbols standing out among the crowd. They moved through the district with purpose, some offering blessings, others seemingly searching for signs of the divine – or the diabolical – in the aftermath of the event.

***

Meanwhile - the demon responsible for the news that became worldwide was welcoming guests with a warm smile.

"Welcome, welcome," Arthur greeted the studio representatives visiting his studio for a private viewing of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Though aware of the chaos he'd caused, he maintained his composure, knowing that panicking would only arouse suspicion.

Eric from Bryan Brothers nodded to Arthur. Sheldon from Science Pictures, Ray from Lava Brothers, and Jerry from Righteous Film Studio were also present, along with other unfamiliar faces from various studios.

Frank Law from Martial Studio, a major player in martial arts films, spoke up. "We're expecting great things from your film, Mr. Morningstar. It is a martial arts film, after all."

Arthur simply smiled as he led them to the private theatre, anticipating his guests' eagerness to see the martial arts film he'd created.

As they settled into their seats, the representatives wondered if Arthur would deliver another masterpiece.

While some were genuinely curious about the martial arts film and interested in distribution rights, others - like Bryan Brothers - were merely attending out of politeness, not particularly interested in martial arts films even if Arthur's work was decent.

Their attendance was more a gesture to maintain connections with Arthur. After all, he might produce a film in the future worthy of their attention, and they'd be willing to acquire licensing rights for it, regardless of the cost.