America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz
Chapter 228: Chapter 227: Creating Stars, Destroying Stars

When it came time to sign the contract and make the payment, Martin's ride had also changed.

Antonio settled into the spacious back seat of the Escalade, feeling there was ample space even for his big belly, and said, "This car is nice, tough, dominant, and spacious."

Martin pointed at the driver's seat: "Old Cloth here wants to buy a Hummer."

Bruce started the car: "Now that's a man's toy."

Antonio reclined on the large seat: "Comfort is the most important."

Martin spoke, "Did you hear that, Old Cloth?"

Bruce gave a middle finger to the back without turning his head.

By the time they arrived at the real estate company, Thomas and the lawyer had already arrived.

The procedures went very smoothly, and Martin got the house keys that very day.

Arriving at the Cody Community, the real estate company had already had someone clean up, and the house was tidy and neat.

Martin took a tour around and said, "We're still missing a lot of stuff." He looked at Thomas, "Give me some suggestions."

Thomas spoke the blunt truth: "My current house was set up by my girlfriend. After she broke up with me..."

He couldn't continue, as that period was so tough, with girlfriends coming and going because of his overtime work.

Martin said, "Just move in, and we'll buy whatever is missing."

In a place like Los Angeles, if you have money, you won't lack for things.

However, Bruce skillfully pulled out his camera and said to Martin, "Take a photo with your new home, post it on the blog."

Martin gave a thumbs up to Old Cloth, "You're getting smarter."

Internet sharing was quickly becoming a key part of how stars attracted followers.

Leaving Thomas and Antonio behind, Martin and Bruce returned to the North Hollywood Apartment and with the help of Emily and Jessica's vehicles, moved everything belonging to the two men in one go.

Bruce mainly had clothes and a few guns.

In addition to these, Martin had memorabilia from the set, jade, and Australian specialties.

As Emily struggled to carry a pile of crocodile teeth into the villa's living room, Thomas just happened to see it.

Seeing the huge quantity, he couldn't resist asking, "Martin, did you pull out all the crocodile teeth in Australia?"

Martin, thick-skinned as ever, wasn't the slightest bit embarrassed, "I just got a piece of news a few days ago. Turns out, I legally hunted over a dozen 6-meter-long Bay Crocodiles in Australia. My memory is declining; I actually forgot about it."

Anthony shook his head as he watched. Given Martin's shamelessness, it was only a matter of time before this became widespread in Hollywood.

Originally, he had thought about waiting until Martin became a superstar, so that the pendant and carvings Martin gave could fetch a good price. Now it seemed better to sell them sooner.

He planned to sell them to a tenant aspiring to stardom.

Bruce handed the camera to Jessica, asking her to go to the study and upload the photos to the blog.

Jessica did not just upload photos. She also wrote a short essay as if she were Martin.

"Today is a special day. I moved out of the North Hollywood Apartment, settled into my new home, and wanted to share some photos of the new place with everyone."

The photos and text were posted on the blog together.

When Jessica checked the fan section later, there were already hundreds of comments and dozens of entertainment bloggers had shared the post.

She selected a few comments to reply to in Martin's name, and the next time she checked, she saw that the official blogs of "Hollywood Reporter" and "Entertainment Weekly" had also shared that recent post.

The young Jessica felt a unique sense of achievement—compared to Hollywood stars of the same caliber, Martin's influence was much greater, even beyond Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

Outside, Bruce took a power drill and other tools to the fence to install some equipment.

Martin and Thomas, each with a pack on their back, headed to the underground storage room.

There stood two metal cabinets, perfect for storing guns.

Martin pulled open his pack, revealing several ARs and shotguns.

Thomas winced in pain and specifically inquired: "The guns are okay?"

Martin nodded: "They are all registered legal firearms. I forgot to tell you, the LAPD helped me get a concealed carry permit."

"With your situation, it's safer to have guns." Thomas knew about the Russians and didn't oppose Martin having firearms.

All the rifles had unique grips that looked quite awkward, almost like hammerheads.

After the 1998 North Hollywood bank heist, California tightened its control over assault weapons, including long guns like semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, banning the use of pistol grips.

But where there's policy, the arms dealers have tactics. Hammerhead and shark-fin grips came into existence.

Anyway, the users didn't need to worry—the arms dealers always replace a way.

After stowing the backup weapons in the basement, Martin returned to the first floor and took another pack, hiding weapons in every major room after making a round."

Anthony was quite speechless, wondering if the man was too timid since he dared to grapple with armed robbers, or too bold, and yet overly cautious.

When Martin came downstairs, it was almost noon. He called out twice, and when everyone gathered, he declared, "For lunch we'll have a feast to celebrate, get ready to send out."

While dining, Antonio gave Martin the contact details of the chairman of the Cody Community committee.

Martin had just moved in and needed to settle down before visiting.

He was soon going to Washington and planned to host a party after returning from there.

In the afternoon, Martin sent the others away and went with Old Cloth to make a big purchase.

It was mainly bedding and everyday items.

Just as the two left the mall and got in the car, Martin received a call from Jolie in the Middle East.

He gestured for Bruce to drive and answered the call.

"I just saw your blog on the internet," Jolie's voice came through, quieter than usual, "Congratulations, you've moved into a new home."

Martin laughed, "If you can access the internet there, it means it isn't too dangerous."

Jolie replied, "I'm inside the embassy in Baghdad. I delivered a speech to the Iraqi people yesterday, and the response was quite positive."

Martin asked curiously, "What was it about?"

Jolie chuckled, "I congratulated them on escaping the tyrannical rule of a tyrant and gaining the precious freedom of democracy."

Martin said, "Classmate, you've learned all of your teacher's skills." Read next chapters on m vl-em-py-r

Jolie, constrained by her location, spoke cryptically, "Teacher, when I return, I'll pay double the tuition fees."

The two quickly ended the call.

Bruce, who was driving, glanced at the passenger seat and asked, "I remember you taught me that dead stars are more beneficial to a film's big sales than living leads, right?"

Heaven knows what sort of hodgepodge knowledge Martin had imparted to Old Cloth.

Martin casually explained, "Not necessarily big sales, but it's easier to write marketing articles, and the promotional effect would be better."

Bruce stated, "I know some people over in the Middle East..."

"Old Cloth, can you please be human?" Martin immediately claimed the moral high ground, "Although we are scoundrels, we are scoundrels with principles and bottom lines!"

Bruce's face was the picture of innocence, "I didn't say anything!"

Martin changed the subject, "Get everything sorted out quickly, we have to go to Washington to receive our award in a few days."

Bruce complained, "Just a medal, not even a cash prize."

Martin was highly aware, "Such prize money, even if I received it, I would have to donate anyway."

The two returned home, and the ordered goods were delivered soon after.

In the late afternoon, Mene came over to help as well. He wasn't looking for a new role for the time being, because "Infernal Affairs" would start filming in mid-July.

...

In Atlanta, a van parked outside the Clayton Community.

From the driver's seat, Alec looked at the decrepit house from afar and said to his two subordinates, "This is the place. Go and inquire carefully about Martin Davis's past. People living in places like this generally can't escape from flour, gangs, and crime. Find useful news leads."

Albert, a subordinate, asked, "Can we offer them some benefits?"

Alec nodded, "You can."

The other subordinate, White, reminded, "Take your press cards with you; this kind of place is quite dangerous."

Alec was of course aware of the potential dangers of slums, "Wear your badges properly, and retreat first if the situation turns bad."

Albert was confident, "The news 'World News Report' wants, there's none we can't get!"

Alec gestured with his hand, sending the two into the community.

He took a newspaper from the side. On the social news page of the paper, the names of those who would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year were listed.

The Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan, boxing champion Ali, the father of the internet Vinton Cerf, and Hollywood star Martin Davis.

"World News Report" is "The Sun's" weekend edition and had entered North America years ago with the News Corporation.

Alec's news team didn't want to miss the big news of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but like "The Sun", they never trod the beaten path, and they were known for creating sensational news.

What's the point of conventional reporting? It can't attract attention.

Alec was good at picking targets. Greenspan was untouchable, boxing champion Ali was deeply rooted, and being tagged as racist for criticizing him would be troublesome, and Vinton Cerf had a conservative net worth of several million US dollars…

Was there anyone better suited than Martin Davis? He had fame, broad influence, and was isolated.

As for the Sect Hierarch of the Cola Cult, as long as you deliver a deadly blow to bring down his public image and create a fait accompli, the businesses would not hesitate to drop him. This sort of thing had happened countless times in North America.

Alec's finger landed on Martin's head, his voice inexplicably rising in caliber, "I don't know you, but it's a journalist's sense of duty that brings me to you, the public has the right to know."

What he wanted to do was actually very simple, and it was an old media trick: a star and a hero successfully created, continuing to promote his glorious deeds possessed far less news value than destroying him.

Alec muttered to himself, "Making stars, ruining stars!"

At the entrance to Clayton Community, Albert entered a small supermarket, picked out drinks and snacks, and proceeded to the checkout to pay.

The owner Nanni, wearing a fang pendant, scanned and totaled the items, "25 US dollars, thank you."

Albert pulled out two twenty-dollar bills and handed them over, waiting until Nanni gave change to speak, "I'm a reporter, I'd like to ask you about a few things."

Recently, Nanni had seen more than one reporter, "About Martin?"

Albert asked, "Any inside information?" He took out another dollar and slapped it on the counter, "The juicier, the better."

Nanni didn't need to cover for anyone and spoke the blunt truth, "I've known Martin for ten years, a genuine hooligan. He dropped out of high school, didn't take proper jobs, insisted on being an actor. He made so little money he couldn't even afford food; he had to mooch meals from the Carter Family. He and the Carter Family's eldest daughter got together very early on..."

He rambled on, emphasizing the explosive parts: "By the way, Martin's parents were bastards. His mom overdosed and died in a car accident, and his dad was a swindler, a drunkard, and a junkie, who seduced the mother of the Carter Family's daughter, Martin's first love, and ran off, no one knows where."