Fabio Rychten grumbled as the ratty photo-transponder fussed again. Why couldn't it just work for once? He needed to get new equipment, but it just wasn't in the budget of an old dog like him.
He had set it up on a tripod on the balcony of his little house to record the procession. A video of a Gold-plated adventurer company would sell for even a magic coin or two, if not for his cheap equipment malfunctioning.
"What's this for?"
"You been on a bender? They killed the Elden Treant!"
"Really?!"
"Yeah, the damn thing is dead!"
"Shit, I gotta drink some more than, eh?"
"Till you throw up."
"Haha.."
Fabio stroked his grey beard and looked down at the cobbled street under his balcony. The entire city seemed to have gathered to watch Heaven's Wrath Party pass. Even the illustrious inner-city guards were struggling to restrain all of them.
Although he knew that was only an illusion stemming from the capital's city guards playing nice. If a peasant actually stepped out of line they would be apprehended in a matter of seconds. After all, everyone in the capital's inner-city guards was in the second realm or higher.
"Fizzzz," the magic crystal in the projector made a sound and its cogs started to turn.
'Yes! thank the Six Spirits!,' Fabio thought. Swiftly, his old hands flew expertly across the keypad, calibrating the capture of light and sound just right for the occasion. He let his expertise shine as he zeroed on the magical signatures necessary for a strict and stable recording.
Soon after, the sound of booming footsteps broke through the clamor of the crowd, only to be drowned by excited cheering. 'They're here,' Fabio thought and went even faster, quickly finishing his last preparations. While a drop of sweat rolled down his balding head, he pointed the lens downward and began recording.
At the head of the procession, Fabio spotted the main attraction of Heaven's Wrath Party: Slade the Tempest Paladin. He was sat, cross-legged on top of a giant white tiger, whose heavy footsteps resounded across the city street. On his back was a giant, white greatsword. He smiled and waved at the clamoring crowd in a practiced manner.
To Fabio's delight, he had on a loose-fitting robe that showed off in full all his buff chest in addition to his pretty face. 'Hehe- that addition will fetch me a few more gold coins,' he thought. A new photo-transponder might not just be a pipe dream for him.
Next to him walked Annabell the Fairy Queen, the right hand of Slade. He noted how her body, hugged by a cyan leather armor, bewitched the male crowd. In the wind, strands of her long golden hair were blown into her face. Her smile, reminiscent of a warm campfire, was directed at the crowd and photo-transponder alike.
Behind them, the rest of the company was carrying what looked like a gigantic, humanoid tree.
"Is that the Elden Treant?" Fabio heard from the streets.
"So cool!"
"The Tempest Paladin is so handsome~"
"It didn't stand a chance!"
The crowd's cheers were wondrous. Even Fabio found himself was in awe of the giant magic beast they slew. It was four times the size of his house. How strong must it have been to reach such a size? Gold-plated adventurers were truly something.
The next, day Fabio Rychter sold the footage of the procession to a merchant called crafty old Conroy.
**
After getting his hands on the footage, Conroy made many copies of the footage and sold them during his travels all over the Federation's continent. 'At this rate, I'll make a huge profit,' he thought.
**
Ganji bought a copy of Heaven's Wrath Company's footage from a merchant who visited Nientel. The merchant called himself Conroy. He didn't know why he bought the copy. He didn't need it. But, the slick merchant's words convinced him.
He was a bit frustrated with the purchase and let it gather dust in his house. No one touched it. Until one day, a boy found it and watched it starry-eyed.