Chapter 258 - Announcement
(3rd Person POV)
The reporters gathered in Hellfire Park's courtyard stood in awe, their gazes fixed on the two mighty creatures before them.
One was white-gold, its shimmering scales reflecting the light like polished metal. The other was a crimson dragon, its deep red hue resembling the embers of a roaring fire. Compared to these majestic beings, even the wyverns commonly seen in royal and noble households seemed unimpressive.
Some reporters hesitated, their instincts warning them of danger, while others—unable to resist—began snapping secret photos. Fear and excitement clashed in their expressions as they inched closer to the dragons.
After all, history painted dragons as destructive forces. Ancient records told of entire villages and cities being burned to the ground under their wrath.
Yet, these two stood calmly beside Arthur, allowing themselves to be the center of attention.
For Red and Yellow, this was pleasing. They had originally planned to leave after fulfilling their part in Arthur's film, but once they heard that Arthur would be presenting his actors in a public announcement, they chose to stay.
A reporter finally gathered enough courage to stammer out a question.
"C-Can you explain how you managed to convince dragons to be part of your movie?"
Another quickly followed. "And... not just that—how were you able to acquire two dragons—"
The second reporter never got to finish his sentence.
The moment the word "acquired" was spoken, both dragons visibly tensed.
Red let out a sharp exhale, the force of his breath creating a gust strong enough to send everyone's clothes and hair flying wildly.
Yellow, his piercing eyes narrowing, fixed the reporter with a glare so intense that the man felt his knees weaken. His voice rumbled through the courtyard, deep and commanding.
"Mind your tongue." His tone carried undeniable authority, sending chills down the spines of everyone present. "What do you mean 'acquired'? We are not objects to be collected!"
The sheer pressure of their presence sent waves of terror through the media crew. Some felt as though the ground itself was shaking beneath them—though in reality, it was just their own fear gripping them.
The unfortunate reporter who had spoken nearly lost control of his bladder, his face turning pale as he struggled to keep standing.
At the same time, shock rippled through the crowd.
The dragons could speak.
Of course, some weren't surprised—legends had long claimed that dragons possessed high intelligence and could converse in the common tongue. But hearing it firsthand, seeing the way the creatures expressed their emotions so vividly, made it all feel unreal.
Arthur, watching the scene unfold, chuckled and shook his head.
Through telepathy, he calmly reminded the two dragons, "Don't get too full of yourselves, you two." His mental voice carried a hint of amusement, but there was also a subtle warning.
"I'll remind you that this kingdom is more than capable of hunting dragons—and they have weapons similar to what the dwarves used against you."
That statement clearly bothered Red and Yellow.
The two snorted but said nothing else, choosing to restrain themselves.
The media crews, sensing the tension ease, breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Arthur turned back to the crowd with an easygoing smile. "Apologies, everyone." He casually patted both dragons, as if they were no different from tamed animals. "They might get mad sometimes—but these two don't bite."
A heavy silence followed.
Firfel, standing among the cast, raised an eyebrow, along with many others present.
'Don't bite?'
The way Arthur casually petted the dragons, speaking about them as if they were ordinary pets, left everyone feeling uneasy.
They had expected the dragons to be furious—to roar in protest, maybe even snap at Arthur for the insult.
But... nothing happened.
The dragons didn't react at all.
They simply allowed Arthur to pat them as if it were perfectly normal.
Even the viewers watching the broadcast were stunned.
Young audiences, especially, were captivated by Arthur's fearlessness. Seeing him pat two enormous dragons like they were mere hounds—without even a trace of fear—made him look incredibly cool in their eyes.
The conference continued, though the atmosphere remained charged with a mix of fear and excitement. The presence of the dragons had left an undeniable impact, yet the reporters pushed forward, asking crucial questions about The Lord of the Rings sequel.
For half an hour, Arthur patiently answered inquiries about the film's production, cast, and expectations. Then, with a composed yet powerful voice, he made the announcement that everyone had been waiting for.
"The Two Towers will be released worldwide on March 4."
A collective gasp erupted from the crowd, mirroring the stunned reactions of fans watching from their televisions.
No one had expected the film to release so soon.
Many had assumed that post-production would take at least another two months, given the extensive editing, effects, and final touches required for a film of this scale.
Yet Arthur wasn't done.
"Tickets will be available for purchase right now, at this very moment."
Excitement surged. Some fans felt impatient, others overwhelmed with joy.
And just when they thought the surprises had ended, Arthur spoke once more.
"A reminder to everyone—beware of fake tickets. To verify authenticity, check for the unique marks embedded in each one..."
Though his warning was important, few actually paid attention. The excitement had already consumed the crowd.
The moment the conference ended, chaos unfolded.
***
Following the announcement, the upcoming blockbuster dominated headlines everywhere.
Sales of the VHS tape for The Fellowship of the Ring skyrocketed, with fans wanting to re-experience the first film before watching the sequel.
As a result, Arthur's wealth increased by several million dollars practically overnight.
But more than just money, what mattered most was the hype.
With each passing day, discussions about the film intensified. Week after week, The Two Towers became the center of conversations—whether at family dinners, gatherings with friends, or even casual workplace discussions.
For some, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring wasn't even their favorite film, nor did it hold the same weight as Demonfather or other cinematic masterpieces. Yet despite that, its story, world-building, and unforgettable cliffhanger had left an impact that couldn't be ignored.
And usually, a sequel to such a film would take at least one or two years before release, especially considering the massive success of Fellowship of the Ring.
This level of anticipation reminded Arthur of something from his previous life.
It was like the long wait for the next GTA game.
Back then, GTA V had been a global sensation, leaving fans desperate for a sequel. Yet for thirteen years, they were forced to wait. By the time the trailer for GTA VI was finally released, it had shattered records, with billions of gamers losing their minds over the long-awaited announcement.
The Two Towers hadn't quite reached that level of legendary anticipation, but it was easily the most hyped movie of its time—a feat that no other film had achieved before in this world.
And it wasn't just the marketing or storytelling that fueled the excitement.
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The rumors. The dragons. The secrecy.
Even the actors like Firfel, Imkrag, and Lewis Light were being overshadowed by the mere presence of real dragons in the film.
All the world could do now was wait.
And finally—
March 4 arrived.
The day that would determine whether The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was truly worth the hype, or just another overblown promise.