Lord of Entertainment

Chapter 166: First Live Broadcast!

His "Football Reforms" program caught the football community off guard. As HFA chairman, he began systematically retraining players in modern techniques and implementing new rules. Referees underwent intensive education on the updated regulations that would govern the upcoming Horn Premiere.

These radical changes captured attention throughout the kingdom. Football enthusiasts watched with a mixture of curiosity and concern as their sport transformed before their eyes.

Media coverage turned critical. Headlines questioned Arthur\'s choices, with fans expressing disappointment over his focus on a new fantasy film instead of a Lord of the Rings sequel, while "wasting" resources on an unprofitable sport.

Arthur ignored the bad press, focusing instead on his film production. During his free time, he worked on developing football\'s future popularity, while also eyeing other interesting sports.

Basketball in Empirica existed as merely a simple ball-shooting game - Arthur knew he could vastly improve it.

If he made enough significant changes to this world\'s sports, perhaps he could develop an influential event like the Olympics where all nations would participate.

The idea of developing this world\'s sports wasn\'t solely about accumulating system entertainment points. Arthur believed these entertaining sports could somehow foster peace.

After all, this world faced tensions similar to his previous life - powerful mages and knights in various nations stood ready to wage war against their neighbors.

Perhaps sports could serve as a perfect distraction.

Indeed, the films from Hellfire and other major studios, along with TV developments and Hellfire Got Talent\'s growing popularity, had already helped ease tensions across the world.

If Arthur could establish an Olympics where every nation participated, competing for gold medals and prize rewards, perhaps these nations would redirect their focus from warfare to sports development.

Meanwhile, Firfel and Vivienne couldn\'t quite understand Arthur\'s sudden interest in football.

After watching a few matches of people simply kicking balls around, they lost interest and turned their attention back to the "Harry Potter" production.

The VFX Studio\'s recreation of Hogwarts captivated them. Moving paintings, shifting staircases - the technical achievements were remarkable. The advanced VFX technology had outdone itself.

Watching the rough cuts of various scenes, they sensed this film\'s potential to match Lord of the Rings in scope and impact. They eagerly anticipated the final product.

As weeks passed, filming wrapped on "Harry Potter." The editing process moved swiftly thanks to their newly completed computers with editing programs. The VHS reader technology integrated into the computers allowed direct tape access, streamlining post-production significantly.

***

(Genesis POV)

For weeks now, I\'ve trained with Wales Dragon FC. The sessions never grow dull, despite my initial ulterior motive of convincing Arthur to become my martial arts instructor.

Something unexpected happened - I fell in love with football.

Though I\'ve improved considerably, I still can\'t match Rhys\'s natural talent. Yet I find myself caring less about that gap and more about the game itself.

My newfound passion has consequences. I\'ve neglected both my Whitlock Network dueling program and my studies at the Royal Academy. My parents confronted me, demanding I quit football - they\'d abandoned any interest in Arthur training me.

They just wanted me focused on my studies, but I refused without hesitation. My defiance enraged them.

"Your studies are more important. Abandon that stupid game and focus on what matters!" Father\'s face reddened with anger.

Mother stood beside him, her glare equally intense.

"Football isn\'t stupid, Father," I countered, standing my ground. "I\'ve grown to love this game. While I understand studies are important, football means just as much to me now."

Father\'s fist crashed down, splitting his desk in half. "You don\'t understand what you\'re saying!"

But my mind was made up. I turned and left his study, my resolve unwavering.

"Don\'t come back until you abandon that game!" His words echoed through the halls as I walked away.

I sighed heavily, conflicting emotions churning inside me.

I understood my family\'s opposition to football. Most viewed it as a profitless endeavor, a relic of past glory with no future. The game garnered little respect in today\'s society.

But I believed differently now.

Through conversations with Rhys, Aidan, and other players, I\'d learned of Arthur\'s vision to revolutionize the sport. The team believed in his plans wholeheartedly, and I shared their faith. Arthur would restore football to its rightful place.

***

In Horn Kingdom, Arthur had spent weeks training his newly acquired football clubs. Among them, "Darkflame FC" showed exceptional promise, absorbing his new techniques faster than the others.

Recognizing their potential, Arthur made them his flagship team, rebranding them as "Hellfire FC."

While Arthur\'s clubs embraced his innovations, other football clubs throughout Horn Kingdom continued training under traditional methods. Many club owners dismissed Arthur\'s reforms, stubbornly clinging to original rules and playing styles.

They remained blind to the coming revolution. And when it arrived, they would find themselves woefully unprepared.

A week later, on April 20, 1272, Arthur launched a nationwide TV program called "Horn Football Premiere League." His announcement echoed across the kingdom: "I\'m proud to announce that April 27 will mark the debut of new football. Witness the first match between Hellfire FC and Horns FC, featuring revolutionary play styles, rules, and special events! Don\'t miss the pre-game performances by Nirvana\'s James and Queen\'s Frederick!"

The announcement sparked diverse reactions among viewers. Many expressed disappointment, having expected news about Hellfire Got Talent\'s second season instead. "What\'s this football league supposed to be?" they wondered dismissively.

***

On April 27, 1273, media predictions proved completely wrong - the Horn Football Premiere League\'s opening match sold out. Thirty thousand people had purchased tickets at four dollars each!

The media grudgingly acknowledged the turnout, though they credited the attendance not to football but to Arthur\'s clever inclusion of popular bands.

James Blaze of Nirvana, known across nations as "The Grunge Star," "The True Demon," and "Devil Spokesperson," commanded a massive following. His band\'s music had spread like wildfire through Empirica.

Alongside him, Frederick\'s band Queen was rapidly ascending to similar heights. His unique style and extraordinary songs drew frequent comparisons to Nirvana, sparking heated debates between rival fan clubs.

Throughout the stadium, excited chatter focused entirely on the upcoming performances:

"When is Nirvana taking the stage?"

"I hope they play my favorite song!"

"These four-dollar tickets are a steal - Queen\'s concerts usually cost seven dollars!"

"Right? Getting this close to Nirvana normally costs nine dollars!"

Their animated conversations made one thing clear - the actual football match was the last thing on their minds.

The moment arrived for Nirvana to take the stage.

Floating cameras swept across the stadium, capturing every angle. While the audience assumed wizards controlled them through magic, the truth remained hidden - invisible ghosts carried these cameras, a secret Arthur kept carefully guarded.

"You guys came so early today!" James called out through the microphone. The crowd\'s response was deafening, their cheers making the stadium vibrate with energy.

Thankfully, Arthur\'s recent renovations had reinforced the structure to handle such enthusiasm.

James performed while floating cameras circled the stadium, capturing both band and audience. Local reporters watched impressed, but the real shock came to those watching at home and in TV network offices - the football league was broadcasting live!

Arthur had achieved what seemed impossible: live transmission across multiple kingdoms and nations.

Viewers stared in amazement at their screens, the Hellfire Channel logo prominently displaying "LIVE" with a red dot.

Rival networks scrambled to understand how Arthur managed such powerful signal distribution. They remained unaware of his secret weapon - the "Ancient Tree" that made such broadcasts possible.

Back at the stadium, James finished his set with an announcement: "Stay in your seats for the match, everyone! We\'ll perform again at halftime, along with Queen. Plus, we\'ve got a special ending performance after the game!"

The Nirvana fans who\'d been ready to leave quickly settled back into their seats, cheering at the promise of more music.