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Lord of Entertainment C359 Red Coat
🕑 Added 2025-06-21 18:44:23 +0000 UTC(3rd Person POV)
The entire Horn Kingdom was left reeling when the Big Four banks—once the pillars of the nation’s financial system—suddenly announced their public endorsement of the Hellfire Bank, calling it a "trusted" and "revolutionary institution shaping the future of finance."
Industry insiders were stunned.
Experts began murmuring in confusion:
"Why are they praising Hellfire Bank all of a sudden?"
"The Big Four were always cutthroat against any emerging threats... now they’re practically advertising Hellfire to their own clients? What are they plotting?"
Speculation spread like wildfire.
Three days later, each of the Big Four rolled out new debit and credit cards—but that wasn’t the true shocker.
The real earthquake came when Gold of Wales, the most prestigious among them, made a public statement:
“We are officially merging parts of our banking infrastructure with Hellfire Bank. While we do not yet possess the technical capability to operate ATM machines, our clients may now access funds through any Hellfire ATM nationwide. We thank our clients for their understanding as we transition to a better, more modern system.”
The other three followed suit, releasing synchronized statements:
“We are integrating with the Hellfire system—this includes their payment network, accounting platforms, and credit structure. This partnership ensures faster, smarter service for all our customers.”
The announcement sent shockwaves through the financial sector.
Among everyday citizens, opinions were split—especially those loyal to the traditional banks.
"Wait, what!? They’re handing over their system to Hellfire Bank? Does that mean Hellfire can access my savings now!?"
"Unbelievable! What happened to their independence?"
"Why are the Big Four groveling like this? Something feels off."
But like it or not, nothing could be done. The wheels had already turned.
News of this alliance reached the Royal Economic Council within hours. At the head of the council chamber, King Magnus sat in silence, his expression unreadable as his advisors, ministers, and noble economists debated the matter with growing urgency.
One royal advisor, stern and gray-bearded, leaned forward with concern:
"Your Majesty, this threatens the very foundation of our central bank—if the Big Four are now under Hellfire’s technological wing, the Royal Crown Bank will lose its prestige and control."
Ferdinand Fellwing, seated beside the council, added gravely: "I agree. What’s even more concerning is how this came to be. How did Arthur Pendragon manage to tame all four financial giants—almost overnight?"
Another noble chimed in: "We must consider the worst-case scenario: if Hellfire Bank gains full access and control over our kingdom’s banking activity, they can set their own monetary policy—separate from the crown."
"They could destabilize our economy," the Finance Minister added, his voice calm but laced with warning. "The Hellphone and credit system has already woven itself into the public’s daily life. If Arthur chooses to manipulate it… inflation, deflation, even capital lockouts—he could move faster than us."
The room fell into a heavy silence. All eyes turned to King Magnus.
He tapped his fingers on the throne’s armrest, the weight of the nation pressing behind his gaze.
Everyone in the council chamber had fallen silent, tension hanging like a stormcloud. All eyes remained fixed on King Magnus, awaiting his word.
Then, unexpectedly, a calm yet firm voice broke the silence.
"Your Majesty, if I may… I have a suggestion."
Heads turned.
Seated with poise and elegance at the edge of the table was Princess Mary Nightstar, the eldest daughter of the crown.
King Magnus raised a brow, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze.
"Mary..." he said slowly, eyes narrowing with interest. "What is it you wish to propose?"
Mary didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she quietly opened her elegant Pendragon briefcase and retrieved a neat stack of documents.
"I’ve spent the past few weeks preparing this report," she said, her voice composed but steady. "It outlines a strategy that could significantly improve the kingdom’s economy—and most importantly, uplift our people."
A few nobles leaned forward in their seats, intrigued.
King Magnus gestured mildly.
"Continue."
Mary stood and began to present her proposal, gliding through the points with practiced confidence. The council chamber fell quiet again as she explained the document’s contents—detailing the benefits of streamlined financial networks, reduced bureaucratic waste, and modernized infrastructure that could empower the common folk.
But beneath the layers of policy talk, the core of her message began to surface.
"By aligning our currency flow with Hellfire’s system, we can reduce transaction costs, attract foreign investment, and introduce a transparent system that even the Big Four are trusting now."
The expressions of the royal advisors gradually shifted—curiosity faded into unease.
Ferdinand Fellwing exchanged a glance with the Finance Minister, who clenched his jaw.
King Magnus’s brow furrowed deeper.
Mary continued unfazed—until the tension broke.
"Enough!" King Magnus slammed his hand on the armrest, his voice thunderous. "Speak clearly, Mary. What exactly are you proposing?"
The air thickened. Mary paused, lowering her notes slowly before looking her father in the eye.
"Simple," she said. "Make Hellfire Bank the new central bank of the Horn Kingdom."
Gasps erupted.
"Impossible!" one noble shot up from his seat. "That bank is privately owned—by Arthur Pendragon, of all people!"
"This is outrageous!" a royal advisor shouted. "What of our sovereignty? Are we to surrender our monetary policy to an entertainment mogul?"
"Your Highness, this would allow a single man to control the heartbeat of our economy," the finance minister added sharply, his voice almost trembling. "Even the Big Four bowed because they were cornered. Are we now to bend the knee as well?"
King Magnus sat, stone-faced, his jaw tight as coal. He said nothing, only glaring at his daughter.
Mary met his gaze with quiet resolve.
"Father," she said, softer now, "I know it sounds extreme… but we can’t deny the reality. We don’t have the technology to keep up. The Big Four saw it. If we integrate early, we lead. If we hesitate, we fall behind. The other kingdoms will follow soon—whether we do or not."
King Magnus abruptly stood.
"Enough."
His voice echoed with finality.
"This meeting is over." He swept his eyes across the room before resting them on Mary for a long, unreadable moment. "I will reflect on every proposal presented today… in private."
With that, he turned and exited the chamber, his robe trailing behind him like a storm brewing.
---
A few hours later, inside the Chairman’s Office at Hellfire Park—
Mary stood near the desk, arms crossed, her expression calm but firm as she gave her report. “As expected, the Royal Economic Council wasn’t too fond of the idea. The nobles and the Financial Minister, in particular, were... less than thrilled.” She let out a small laugh. “I mean, who wouldn’t be? Turning a private bank into the central bank of the kingdom? That’s not exactly an easy sell.”
Arthur leaned back in his chair with a lazy grin. “It was a ridiculous idea,” he said. “But... not entirely wrong either, don’t you think? My banking system is leagues ahead of theirs. It’s called progress.”
Mary tilted her head and gave him a look. “Sure, it’s progress. But to them, agreeing would mean surrendering control. No king, no noble wants to hand over their grip on the kingdom’s purse strings.”
Arthur raised his teacup for a sip—but just as the rim touched his lips, his eyes flickered. His body tensed.
In a flash, he ducked.
A sharp crack echoed through the room—whoosh!—as a high-velocity round punched through the window and embedded itself deep into the wall behind his seat.
Mary gasped, her eyes going wide. “A bullet?” She instinctively dropped low, heart racing.
Glass shattered behind her—a second shot tore through the air, narrowly missing her shoulder and clearly aimed at Arthur.
A cold sweat broke out on her skin.
‘That was a magic-forged bullet… It pierced through Hellfire Park’s reinforced barrier like it was paper…’
Meanwhile, Arthur didn’t flinch.
Instead, a strange glimmer danced in his eyes—amusement… and curiosity.
‘So someone finally dared to make a move,’ he thought, his senses instantly spreading across the entire kingdom. ‘Let’s see who it is…’
Far beyond the bustling heart of the city—on the rooftop of a distant high-rise nearly four kilometers away from Hellfire Park—
A lone sniper crouched on one knee, draped in a long crimson coat and wearing a fedora hat. The barrel of his magic-forged rifle still smoked.
Even from a distance, Arthur’s golden eyes could zoom in with perfect clarity.
Etched into the sniper’s chest badge were words he could read effortlessly:
«Wales Great Knights — Sniper Knight, Red Coat.»
Arthur narrowed his eyes, and a slow grin curled across his lips.
“Well… this just got interesting.’
Comments
Illuminati
Because they're not an assassin in the traditional sense—they belong to a nation's military force and proudly represent it. Their mission isn't to kill him, only to inflict serious harm—as the next chapter makes clear.
Dawn Whitbeck
Why the hell would an assassin have a badge specifically to identify them as such?
