<h4>Chapter 105: Noble Demon?</h4>


    (Arthur POV)


    As I exited the office, my crew''s eyes widened at the sight of my shredded clothes.


    "What happened to you, boss?!" they eximed in unison.


    "Haha, don''t worry about it," I said, trying to sound casual. "Just a small... ident."


    Embarrassment bubbled up inside me as I made my way to the male hot tub. I quickly stripped, grabbed a towel, and sunk into the warm water.


    For ten minutes, I rxed, my mind racing with thoughts of my new ability to transform, fly, and who knows what else. Eventually, I stood up and quietly borrowed some clothes hanging nearby.


    Just as I finished dressing, a demon exited the hot tub. "Bo-boss! Those are my clothes!"


    "Oh, these?" I said nonchntly. "I''ll repay you. For now, I need to borrow them."


    "But..."


    One look from me was enough. He nodded in understanding.


    As I left the hot tub area, I found Klein waiting outside. "Oh right, you had something to report?"


    "It''s about our talents, boss..." Klein said, his tone uncharacteristically solemn.


    Hmm? This didn''t sound good.


    "Tell me," I said, bracing myself for whatever news wasing.


    ***


    (3rd Person POV)


    A few hours before Arthur''s transformation, Clint and Benny had decided to celebrate the huge sess of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly."


    Though Clint and Benny had only been living in Horn City for a few weeks, they''d wasted no time exploring the local nightlife. Among the handful of bars they''d discovered, one stood out: "Hidden Bar."


    As Clint and Benny entered the Hidden Bar, the reality of their newfound fame was still sinking in.


    "I still can''t believe this is happening to me," Clint said, a mix of excitement and disbelief in his voice. "Suddenly bing so famous... My manager even said Empirican major studios want me in their films."


    Benny sighed, a rueful smile on his face. "Me too. I''m just a sixty-year-old man. Never imagined I''d be famous at this age."


    Their conversation was interrupted by an excited voice. "Hey, aren''t you Blondie and Tuco from that western film?"


    Clint chuckled, "Yeah, that''s us. But I''m Clint, and he''s Benny."


    "Wow. Can I have an autograph?"


    Everything was happening so fast. Just weeks ago, they could walk into a bar unnoticed. Now, they were surrounded like... well, celebrities. Which, they realized with a start, they actually were now.


    As more people approached, asking for autographs, Clint and Benny exchanged a look. This was their new reality, and while exciting, it was also a bit overwhelming.


    Clint and Benny hade to Hidden Bar to celebrate, but they couldn''t get a moment to themselves. Fans kept approaching, getting too touchy and demanding their attention, making it impossible for the actors to enjoy their evening.


    Fortunately, the bar manager, a subus named Alissa, noticed their predicament and swooped in to rescue them. "Follow me," she said, leading them to the VIP room.


    "Thank you, Alissa," Clint said, gratitude evident in his voice. He and Alissa had grown close over the past few weeks, even before his sudden rise to fame. She''d always treated him and Benny well, and Clint had found himself drawn to her.


    Alissa smiled warmly. "Come on, I''m the bar manager here. Looking after my customers is the least I can do."


    Benny, never one to miss an opportunity for yful jabs, interjected, "Haha! Suddenly all concerned about customers, are we?" He grinned mischievously. "Just a few days ago, I saw you beat down some young troublemakers and kick out the folks cheering them on!"


    Alissa chuckled, unfazed. "That was different."


    Clint nudged Benny as they settled into their seats, a silent request to ease up on the teasing.


    Benny noticed the growing closeness between Clint and Alissa. He shook his head, thinking, ''Who would''ve thought this guy would find a love life so quickly in a foreign city?''


    Indeed, just a few weeks ago, Horn City had beenpletely alien to them.


    The jovial atmosphere shattered as trouble barged in. Alissa''s eyes widened in recognition and fear. A group entered their VIP room, led by none other than Caleb Diamond - a music star famous throughout Horn Kingdom and beyond.


    "What are you doing here?" Alissa''s voice trembled.


    Clint, sensing her distress, asked, "Who are they, Alissa?"


    Caleb chuckled darkly, hands in his pockets as he eyed Clint and Benny through fancy sunsses. "Just checking out who you''ve been... associating withtely."


    "Leave!" Alissa demanded, pointing at the door.


    Caleb''s gaze turned icy as it settled on Clint. "You... What''s your rtionship with Alissa?"


    "My rtionships are none of your damn business, Caleb!" Alissa shouted.


    "Quiet!" Caleb snapped, but Alissa, fueled by anger and fear, hurled a liquor bottle at him. Caleb gestured to his men, who moved to restrain her.


    Clint jumped up, eyes wide. "What the hell? Don''t touch her!"


    "Just run, Clint!" Alissa pleaded, clearly more concerned for his safety than her own.


    Caleb''s voice dripped with venom. "So he''s your new boy? Trying to rece me? That''s not happening."


    Benny watched helplessly as the situation spiraled. Clint, unable to stand by, fought back but was quickly overwhelmed by Caleb and his group.


    As fists flew and bottles shattered, the celebratory night had devolved into chaos. The VIP room, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cage, with Clint and Benny trapped in a confrontation they never sawing.


    ***


    (Arthur POV)


    I listened intently as Klein recounted what happened to Clint and Benny, my eyes growing cold. "How are they? Are Clint and Benny okay?"


    Klein sighed heavily. "They''re in the hospital, boss. But... they''re not in good shape." He hesitated before adding, "They could recover quickly with some high-grade healing potions and a skilled healer, but that''ll cost tens of thousands."


    I nodded decisively. "Hire the most reputable healer in the city. And get those medical potions. They''re my talent - their appearance and health are paramount."


    Klein asked hesitantly, "You''ll cover the costs, boss?"


    "What kind of question is that?" I shook my head, slightly annoyed. "Of course I''ll cover it." Then, my tone sharpening, I asked, "You mentioned the culprit is Caleb Diamond?"


    Klein nodded. "We''ve already got the legal team working on filing charges against him."


    "Good," I said, "but it won''t be easy. The guy''s popr and influential." My eyes narrowed. "But I''ll make sure Clint and Benny get justice, one way or another."


    "What are you nning, boss?" Klein asked, concern evident in his voice.


    I just smiled, offering no answer. My mind was already racing with possibilities, some of which Klein was probably better off not knowing.


    As Klein left, I couldn''t help but feel a surge of anger. No one messes with my talent and gets away with it. Caleb Diamond was about to learn that the hard way.


    ***


    (3rd Person POV)


    A day after Clint and Benny''s beating, Caleb lounged in his penthouse, attempting to soothe his panicked manager.


    "Rx, Veret. We''ve got nothing to worry about," Caleb said, exuding confidence.


    Veret''s voice cracked with anxiety. "Nothing to worry about?! Those guys you beat up aren''t nobodies! They''re rising stars! The media will be all over this!"


    Caleb chuckled, waving off the concern. "Come on. Dad will handle it. He''s got connections with politicians and newspaper bigwigs. We''re covered."


    Veret visibly rxed at this assurance.


    Seeing his manager calm down, Caleb''s smirk widened. He felt invincible, his mind wandering to dangerous territory. ''No one can have Alissa but me,'' he thought, then mused, ''Maybe I should pay those two a visit in the hospital, teach them asting lesson.''


    Just as this cruel thought crossed his mind, the window exploded in a shower of ss.


    "What the hell—" Veret''s shout was cut short as a tall, imposing demon appeared in the shattered window frame.


    Caleb''s face contorted with rage. "Who the fuck are you? What do you think you''re doing?!"


    Instead of answering, the demon unfurled massive bat-like wings. Caleb and Veret''s eyes widened in shock and fear.


    The atmosphere in the penthouse shifted dramatically. The once-cocky Caleb found himself face-to-face with a being that radiated power and danger.


    The unfurled wings left no doubt - this was a ''noble demon.'' A higher ranking one at that.


    Caleb and Veret stood transfixed, having never seen one in the flesh before. Such demons were exceedingly rare.


    With a single p of his wings, the demon sent a gust of wind that made Caleb and Veret stumble.


    Caleb''s demeanor changed instantly, his voice dripping with forced politeness. "I apologize for my earliernguage. I didn''t realize we were in the presence of a noble demon." He gestured at the broken window. "Please, don''t worry about that. We can easily rece it."


    Veret nodded frantically, like a bobblehead caught in an earthquake. "Absolutely! We''re just... curious why a noble demon such as yourself would honor us with a visit?"


    Caleb''s ego couldn''t resist chiming in. "Did youe to see me?" he asked, puffing up with pride. "I know I''m quite popr. My fame reaches far and wide. I can see why even a noble demon such as yourself were so excited to meet me that you didn''t think twice about breaking a window to get in."


    He continued, oblivious to the growing danger. "Would you like an autograph? I could even perform a song for you-"


    His words were cut short as the demon suddenly appeared before him, fist connecting with Caleb''s face. The impact sent him flying across the room.


    Veret''s eyes bulged in shock. "Wha-what?!" he sputtered, his earlierposure shattered.


    The noble demon stood silently, his scarlet eyes burning with barely contained rage. It was clear that this was no social call, and Caleb''s assumption of admiration couldn''t have been further from the truth.