Chapter 172: Almost hitting a billion

Chapter 172: Almost hitting a billion

(3rd Person POV)

The film captivated its audience as Harry's journey continued. Viewers smiled watching his first friendship form with Hermione on the Hogwarts Express, their anticipation building until Hogwarts finally appeared - its magical architecture drawing gasps of wonder.

The Sorting Hat ceremony introduced the four houses: Gryffindor for humans like Harry, Ravenclaw where Hermione surprisingly joined the elves, Slytherin housing demons like Draco Malfoy, and Hufflepuff with its diverse mix. The magical world mesmerized everyone - the sight of wands amplifying spells so dramatically had audience members wishing they owned such powerful instruments.

Then came the ghosts, and Mark found himself puzzled. Nearly Headless Nick appeared to welcome Harry, Ron, and Hermione to his ghostly party, floating transparent through the great hall. The Bloody Baron, The Fat Friar, and The Grey Lady drifted in the background, passing through walls with eerie realism.

Mark couldn't figure out how Hellfire Studio had achieved these effects. Even the most sophisticated illusion magic couldn't make actors appear truly transparent or pass through solid objects so convincingly.

The thought that they might be actual ghosts crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as impossible. Still, the effects were unlike anything he'd seen in other films.

The audience delighted in the ghosts' humorous interactions, and Mark eventually decided to stop analyzing the technical aspects and simply enjoy the story unfolding before him.

The flying lesson scene had the audience fascinated. A wizard professor in the crowd watched intently, wondering if such broom flight was truly possible.

Harry took flight for the first time, his natural talent was obvious - he moved through the air like he'd been doing it for years.

As the story moved forward, Harry discovered the Mirror of Erised, revealing his deepest desire. His conversation with Albus Dumbledore about the mirror's power left many in the theater feeling sympathy for the young wizard.

The film continued, with Mark and other viewers completely absorbed. Harry and his friends faced off against a Primal Troll - a creature far larger than the trolls that roamed the world today. Despite the odds, they emerged victorious.

Time passed in the story, leading to Harry's first Quidditch match. Gryffindor's victory brought smiles to everyone's faces, including Harry's.

"Makes me wish I could play that," someone whispered in the audience, voicing what many felt, though they knew magical flying brooms weren't exactly common.

The story took a more serious turn when Hagrid revealed the truth about Harry's parents. "Lily and James Potter," he said warmly, "weren't just known for fighting dark forces. They worked hard to bring humans, demons, and elves together when everyone was divided. They believed working together was the only way to keep peace in our world."

His words resonated throughout the theater. The world outside remained deeply divided - humans maintaining their superiority over demons, elves clashing with dwarves over environmental issues, dwarves claiming intellectual supremacy, and demons nursing centuries-old grievances from their fallen empire of four hundred years past.

The audience understood why the Potters' cause had been so important.

The story built toward its climax, drawing stronger reactions from the audience with each scene.

When Quirrell revealed Voldemort's face on the back of his head, children throughout the theater gasped in fear. Even adults recoiled - a dwarf in front involuntarily touched the back of his neck, shuddering.

Though Mark knew Harry would survive, he still found himself tense. Next to him, an elf couldn't contain herself. "Run!" she cried out as Quirrell cornered Harry with a wall of magical flames.

"This is it, you brat. Give me the stone!" Quirrell advanced menacingly.

Horn Kingdom's cost of living was rising, true, but salaries kept pace. The simple equation of one dollar here equaling ten from his previous world no longer held up, as currency values had been gradually shifting anyway.

Wealth itself wasn't Arthur's primary concern - he focused more on accumulating Entertainment Points. Though he recognized his growing fortune would attract unwanted attention from both government officials and criminals, the Horn Kingdom's authorities posed little threat.

Criminals, however, warranted caution. Arthur flexed his fingers absently - it had been a while since he'd had a good fight.

***

(Arthur POV)

Five weeks in, and "Harry Potter" finally hit its ceiling at 800 million dollars.

[Congratulations! Your film has set new records and earned 800 million dollars!]

[Reward: Bracelet of Lifeblood Veins]

[A delicate band of darkened metal interwoven with crimson veins that pulse with a subtle glow. The veins contain an ancient enchanted substance that resonates with the world's mana, creating an elegant interplay of deep crimson and gold that seems to breathe with life.]

"A bracelet?" I examined its functions, finding it could enhance magical spells like my Devourer Ring.

The interesting part was its {Heartbeat Sense} ability, supposedly letting me feel the world's "heartbeat" and detect shifts between secret realms and the surface world.

World's heartbeat? I wondered if it was sensing something like tectonic movements or magnetic field fluctuations - there had to be some scientific explanation behind this mystical description.

It also came with {World Traversal}, allowing one teleport per day through the Lifeblood Veins' power.

"Nice bracelet, but..." I frowned. "For 800 million dollars? Really?" The teleportation seemed particularly underwhelming - I rarely left my office anyway.

Still, I pulled it from storage. The thin band looked decent enough on my wrist, at least.

While admiring the bracelet's design, I felt the ancient amulet in my pocket suddenly vibrate.

Pulling it out, I watched with raised eyebrows as it reacted strongly to my new accessory. The bracelet sent an odd sensation through my wrist - somehow it could detect that the amulet held information about various secret realms.

My curiosity peaked when the amulet began glowing helplessly, as if the bracelet was forcing it to reveal its secrets. It surrendered the location of one realm.

Information flooded my mind through the bracelet: "Glacia Expanse... Anus Gate..."

I processed this new knowledge. Glacia Expanse lay at the world's end, far south of Horn Kingdom - essentially this world's version of Antarctica. And within it stood the Anus Gate, supposedly a portal to the Netherworld.