Chapter -14 Phenomenon of lord of rings.
Chapter 14.
The next few days were pretty chill and felt a bit like a routine, with Dudley and Harry diving into their studies, potion research, and keeping up with their workouts.
What stood out, though, was Dudley's newfound seriousness about potions. He even asked Mrs. Figg for help in finding some rare magical books about potions and herbs! Plus, he was really putting in the effort with his physical training.
It was like something had sparked a fire in him, turning him into a total study enthusiast!
And then, the new year rolled around—a year to remember, especially since it was 1991, the year Dudley and Harry would both turn eleven.
Turning eleven meant they could finally get a shot at Hogwarts!
One day after school, Dudley turned to Harry and said, "Hey, I've got something to do today. You can head home first. If anyone asks, just say I'm playing ball with my friends."
"Sure thing, Big-D!"
Harry nodded, knowing better than to pry after all their time together.
Once Dudley was on his own, he slipped into a quiet alley where he wouldn't be seen. He quickly changed into a suit he had set aside and started applying some makeup.
Before long, a plain-looking young man stepped out of the alley.
It was a simple disguise, just a basic makeup trick he had learned from the system.
Today, Dudley was off to meet a publisher, and he wanted to keep his identity under wraps.
While being a minor like Master Jerry could be a fun twist, it could also lead to a lot of hassle, and Dudley preferred to keep things low-key.
He had arranged to meet the publisher at a cozy café.
When Jimmy from the publishing house spotted Dudley, a big smile spread across his face.
"Mr. Jerry! Long time no see!"
Thanks to Dudley, their publishing house was doing really well. It was safe to say he was their golden ticket!
After exchanging some friendly pleasantries, they got down to business.
"The second volume of 'The Lord of the Rings' is a huge success, just like we thought!"
"The manuscript fee for this issue has been sent to your account. If you have any questions, just reach out!"
Dudley had set up a profit-sharing deal for the second volume, just like he did for the first one, which had also done really well.
It made sense that it was a hit; the Western fantasy genre was pretty sparse in this world, and "The Lord of the Rings" was a breath of fresh air for fantasy fans.
"I'm curious when we can expect the manuscript for the third volume, Mr. Jerry."
The publisher was eager; the sales from the first two volumes had everyone buzzing, and they didn't want to miss out on the chance to cash in.
Seeing Dudley hesitate, Jimmy added, "Are you worried about the profit-sharing? Don't stress, we can negotiate!"
Even if the profit-sharing percentage went down, the sales were still solid, and it would all add up in the end.
Dudley wasn't in a rush to talk about profit-sharing just yet. Instead, he asked, "Hey, Jimmy, we've been working together for two years now, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Jerry!"
Jimmy smiled, reminiscing about how their initial collaboration had turned out so well.
"I think you've got some great skills. How would you feel about teaming up with me?"
Dudley got straight to the point: "I want to start a company."
Jimmy didn't jump to a conclusion right away but asked, "What kind of business are you thinking about?"
"Selling merchandise."
Dudley knew that you didn't need fancy tech to make money; once you built a brand, royalties and sales from various products could bring in a lot of cash.
He thought of successful franchises from his past life, like Harry Potter or Pokémon, which were known for their money-making potential.
As long as you kept the excitement alive, you could even make money with minimal effort!
Dudley's plan was simple: write novels, achieve big sales, build a brand, and sell merchandise. It was a strategy he had in mind since he couldn't go to Hogwarts, even though he really wanted to learn magic there.
In his past life, he was always hustling to make ends meet, but this time, he wanted to focus on financial freedom.
Especially now, with technology advancing, the Muggle world was catching up to the wizarding world.
Dudley often wondered: could firearms take down wizards? In some stories, they could!
He was curious to find out.
Jimmy didn't give an immediate answer but said, "Can you give me some time to think about it?"
He was actually quite interested. After all, working for a publishing house meant he'd only see a small bonus, while teaming up with Dudley could lead to something much bigger.
Dudley nodded, knowing Jimmy would come around. After all, who would say no to a good opportunity?
The two of them then dove into a lively yet friendly discussion about the profit-sharing for the third volume of "The Lord of the Rings."
In the end, they reached an agreement that left both of them feeling great about the outcome.
Dudley said, "It's a pleasure to work together!"
Jimmy replied, "Absolutely, the pleasure's all mine!"
As Jimmy got up to leave, Dudley finished off his milk in one go.
Coffee wasn't really his thing, whether it was espresso or Americano.
So, he opted for a cup of milk instead.
He figured he was still growing and needed to fuel up with good stuff like meat, eggs, and milk.
At nearly 1.8 meters tall and only eleven years old, he definitely had some growing left to do!
A few days later, Dudley got a reply from Jimmy—he was on board with Dudley's plan!
So, with Dudley providing the vision and Jimmy bringing in the funds, they quickly set up a factory to start selling merchandise related to "The Lord of the Rings."
Just as Dudley had anticipated, sales took off within a month, with the hobbit trio being the most popular characters, and the elf prince was a huge hit with the girls!
The already popular series gained even more attention thanks to the surge in merchandise sales, bringing in new fans who hadn't heard of it before.
Together, they turned "The Lord of the Rings" into a real phenomenon!
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