(3rd Person POV)
Arthur had spent a long time conversing with Yoda, explaining as much as he could about his summoning, the current state of the world, and the limitations of his abilities.
He made it clear—returning Yoda to his own world wouldn't be easy. He had no knowledge of any method that could accomplish such a feat.
For now, the best course of action was to introduce Yoda to Sylwen and his underground organization—Hellsing, located in a hidden facility near Hellfire Park.
When Arthur and Yoda arrived, Sylwen was waiting for them.
Her sharp eyes immediately landed on the small figure beside Arthur—her brows furrowing slightly.
At first, she assumed he was a dwarf, but something about him felt… off.
His ears were pointed, yet they weren't quite elven.
His skin was green, but it wasn't rough like a goblin's.
His stature was short, but something about his presence made her hesitant to classify him as just another short-statured race.
For the first time in a while—Sylwen was confused.
Was he a goblin? An elf? A half-breed?
She couldn't tell.
Then, Arthur spoke.
"Meet Yoda."
Sylwen raised an eyebrow, glancing between Arthur and the strange figure.
Arthur gestured toward her.
"And Yoda, this is Sylwen."
Sylwen muttered the name under her breath.
"Yoda?"
Arthur caught the casual tone in her voice and immediately corrected her.
His expression grew firm.
"Sylwen, Yoda is your senior in this organization. Treat him with respect."
Sylwen's eyes widened slightly at Arthur's serious tone.
Arthur continued, his voice calm but resolute.
"He may not look like much, but Master Yoda is wise, knowledgeable… and more importantly, powerful."
Sylwen couldn't help but feel skeptical.
Powerful?
She glanced at Yoda again, this time more carefully.
Yet, despite Arthur's words, she sensed no magic emanating from him.
Was he suppressing his power?
Or was Arthur overestimating this tiny creature?
Still, she trusted Arthur's judgment enough to show respect, even if she had her doubts.
Yoda gave her a small nod before he began speaking to her.
Sylwen listened, but she quickly realized that Yoda's speech pattern was… strange.
Some of his phrases were oddly structured, making it difficult to grasp his full meaning right away.
She tried her best to understand, but ultimately, the conversation was short.
After a brief exchange, Sylwen left, leaving Arthur and Yoda alone.
Yoda turned his gaze toward Arthur, his deep eyes filled with contemplation.
"So… that Sylwen, one of your people she is? One I must educate?"
Arthur nodded.
"Yes. She is part of my organization, which pursues both peace and the advancement of this world."
Yoda hummed, rubbing his chin.
Then, his sharp gaze locked onto Arthur's horns.
His expression darkened slightly as he asked,
"How trust you, can I? That truly for peace, you work?"
Arthur met his gaze, sensing the weight behind his words.
Yoda continued.
"Use me for dark purposes, you will not?" His eyes narrowed. "A demon, you call yourself. And in my world… demons are but a metaphor for evil."
His tone wasn't accusatory, but it was cautious, filled with wisdom and experience.
Arthur could sense the concern in Yoda's voice, the subtle unease laced beneath his words.
But instead of reacting seriously, he simply chuckled.
"Not in this world."
Yoda's ears twitched, his gaze sharpening slightly.
Arthur continued, his tone calm yet certain.
"Perhaps in your world, demons are symbols of evil. And in this world, we too have been demonized by history. But in truth, demons are simply one of the many races that exist here—no different from humans, elves, or dwarves."
Yoda's expression remained contemplative, his mind absorbing the information carefully.
Arthur took the opportunity to explain further, detailing the existence of the Four Races—Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Demons.
As Yoda sat deep in thought, Arthur leaned back slightly, watching him with amusement.
"Take as much time as you need." His voice was casual, yet firm. "Think about it for days, even weeks, if you must. Whether you want to help me or not is entirely your choice."
A rare sound escaped Yoda—a low chuckle, brief yet unmistakable.
"Choice, you say?" His wise eyes gleamed with irony. "Bound to your summoning spell, I am. Your servant, it has made me."
Arthur merely smiled, his tone easygoing.
"True. But I won't force you."
He met Yoda's gaze directly.
"I'll give you time. Time to learn about this world. Time to learn about me."
Arthur's voice softened, yet held a subtle determination.
"Then, you can decide for yourself."
Yoda nodded slowly, his expression unreadable.
Arthur then continued, offering a sliver of hope.
"As for returning to your world…" He let out a small sigh, rubbing his temple. "As I've told you before, I can summon, but I can't send a summoned being back. This was my first time using a summoning spell—and it was a one-time occurrence."
Yoda remained silent, absorbing the words carefully.
But then, Arthur offered an alternative.
"That said, you might find your own way back."
Yoda's ears perked slightly.
Arthur leaned forward.
"Maybe, with time, you can meditate… connect with this world's Force. If the Force truly exists in some form here, then perhaps you'll find a way to return on your own."
Yoda closed his eyes for a moment, considering the thought deeply.
Then, he slowly nodded, his wisdom allowing him to see the logic in Arthur's words.
For now—he would observe. Learn. Understand.
And perhaps, in time, he would find the answers he sought.
***
Meanwhile, the world was still reeling from the unprecedented success of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
With a record-breaking $1 billion box office, the film had cemented itself in history—leaving major studios green with envy.
But it wasn't just film studios feeling the sting.
Companies from other industries—from manufacturing to telecommunications—were seething with jealousy at how much money a single movie had generated.
And nowhere was this frustration felt more strongly than in the Morningstar Royal Castle.
The Morningstar family sat gathered for breakfast in the grand royal dining hall.
At the head of the table, King Luke and Queen Lily sat side by side, their expressions as composed as ever.
Seated along the table were Lucy, Arnold, Bobby, and Azazel, while on the opposite side sat the princesses, Lucy and Apollonia.
Though no one spoke of it outright, everyone at the table was well aware of Arthur's recent achievement.
Even if they tried to ignore it, the massive, impossible-to-miss number—$1 billion—was plastered across headlines worldwide.
Even King Luke and Queen Lily, as much as they hardened their hearts, felt a flicker of regret for exiling Arthur from the castle.
A fortune like that, right under their noses, yet out of their reach.
But they shook off the thought, silencing their greed—for now.
However, not everyone was as indifferent as the King and Queen.
Lucy ate her meal, but with a bitter taste in her mouth.
That $1 billion number kept haunting her mind.
She imagined what it could have meant for the Morningstar Kingdom—
If Arthur had made his film here, they could have taxed it heavily, reaping enormous profits.
The thought alone was maddening.
As much as she wanted to bring it up, she knew that doing so would ruin the breakfast—not to mention, it could anger the King and Queen.
So instead, the conversation shifted toward another topic—
The upcoming wedding of Princess Apollonia.
"The Crown Prince of Thorn Kingdom has been sending gifts to you, Apollonia," King Luke spoke, his tone light. "The gifts are piling up outside your chambers. Do you truly not wish to accept them?"
Apollonia remained silent.
She didn't need to say it—her displeasure was obvious.
But her silence was ignored.
Queen Lily spoke as if her daughter's feelings didn't matter.
"By marrying Crown Prince Enril, the Thorn royal family has agreed to unite with our kingdom. This is a matter of great importance."
King Luke nodded in approval, and soon, Arnold, Bobby, and Lucy joined in on the discussion, excitedly talking about the political benefits of the marriage.
Apollonia, however, remained silent, staring down at her plate.
Across from her, Azazel noticed her discomfort, his expression tinged with concern.
Then, suddenly—
She spoke.
Her voice was soft, yet firm.
"Can I make a request?"
The table went quiet.
King Luke and Queen Lily exchanged a brief glance, before the King finally said,
"Of course. What is it?"
Apollonia took a breath and, with no hesitation, said—
"I would like to invite someone to my wedding."
Queen Lily laughed lightly, waving a hand.
"Of course, my dear! You may invite as many people as you wish."
King Luke nodded. "Who is it that you wish to invite?"
Apollonia looked up, her expression calm, unwavering.
Then, she spoke.
"I want to invite my brother, Arthur."
The room fell into complete silence.