The Horseman of Calamity

Chapter 11 - Money Don't Lie

"I want these papers out as soon as possible!" The man waved his hands continuously as if he would die if he stayed still.

He was a large bald man with a sizable beer belly yelling at his overworked staff like an alcoholic father. He wore a white dress shirt with overalls that fit loosely on his large frame, giving him the appearance of a striped beach ball.

"Um, Mr. Igor, sir, there's an issue with the Mutata Empire, they won't allow our branch there to publish it." A frail man clothed in business attire timidly approached the large man.

"Bah! Damn, that stupid emperor of theirs, always trying to censor this and that! Well, fine! Change it to however they deem fitting but keep the important stuff!" He yelled into the air, his spit landing on the worker's forehead.

The Continental Issue is a conglomerate of newspaper companies headed by a rich man named Igor. Hailing from a family that had been swimming in wealth for several generations, he decided he would take their wealth a step further. Starting by buying out every news outlet in his local area and expanding into many countries. Nearly every piece of news that is heard by the people of this world is due to Igor. Only the richest and most powerful countries can afford to censor his stories for whatever reason. Otherwise, his perverse and often exaggerated papers sell like wildfire consuming an arid forest. After all, only the most interesting and exciting stories will sell well.

In the latest paper, "A New Figure Appears? An enchanting witch burns several mercenaries working for the Mutata Empire." This paper sold exceedingly quickly in various countries across the continent,

"Mr. Igor, do you want us to continue with the other stories regarding the Horseman of Conquest?"

"Eh sure, but I want more resources redirected to this Hung character, his activities seem ripe for money." He chuckled, greedily rubbing his hands together.

"Is it really true, sir? That he's from another world?"

"Who cares? If he is then that's great and if he isn't then we can just say he is. Regardless of who he is, those bloody idiots on the ground will eat this up."

One of the paragraphs on the paper reads, "After a clash between the man going by Hung and mercenaries hired by the Mutata Empire, a mysterious cloaked woman with magical powers scorched several of the mercenaries causing them to flee in terror. The trackers have now lost track of Hung and the woman but they are described as traveling in a group of three with a third person. No discernable details could be made out from the cloaked woman but her crimson hair, however, the mercenaries report that she likely is working for Hung."

Suddenly, a third worker burst into the room, he was breathing frantically as he explained a new situation, "Mr. Igor! Just in, we've got reports from the sailors and locals on the Tropika Isles; The Carcass was spotted just a few days ago! It supposedly taunted a merchant ship before disappearing underneath the waves again!"

"What?! Get reporters to the Bayhoi coast right now!" Igor shouted, his spit flying everywhere.

"Right away!"