America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

A dark-colored Dodge pickup drove into the open campsite, and Pedro, in the driver's seat, asked, "Boss, there are too many cars here, where do we find that idiot Hodgson?"

Sanchez in the passenger seat said, "Keep an eye out for a particularly large Mercedes RV, there should only be one."

Sergio, sitting in the back seat, had been watching out the window and suddenly pointed to a large vehicle not far away, "Boss, look to the front left, is that it?"

Sanchez and Pedro looked in that direction at the same time.

It was a huge extendable RV, with an estimated length of over 15 meters, and considering the raised second floor, it definitely stood over four meters tall. Under the light, the Mercedes emblem was strikingly conspicuous.

Sanchez checked his phone again and said, "Mercedes RV, that's right, it's the one."

Pedro turned the wheel, driving down a road toward it. There were too many vehicles inside the campsite, and the Mercedes RV was surrounded by other vehicles, preventing the truck from getting through.

The three men got out of the truck, with Sanchez carrying a bag on his back, walking toward the Mercedes RV. He also casually sent Hodgson a text message: "I'm here, brought a lot of goods, enough for three months, have the money ready!"

In the heat of summer, after traveling hundreds of miles without even dinner, Sanchez was fuming. He sent another text: "You better not play me, or I'll blow your brains out with one shot!"

The reply came quickly: "The money is ready."

Sanchez was very satisfied; if the deal went through, it would definitely be a big trade, with prices thirty percent higher than usual, plus a separate delivery fee.

The three walked in the middle of the campsite, where quite a few people were coming and going. Some had lit bonfires on the open ground, drinking and eating barbecue.

"Be careful," Sanchez touched the handgun under his coat, reminding his two subordinates, "Watch out for a double-cross."

Southern California was not peaceful; Pedro and Sergio also touched their handguns. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

Gradually, the surroundings quieted down. Approaching the Mercedes RV area, all the disorder disappeared. The people in the campsite seemed to deliberately avoid this area, not bothering the occupants of the RV.

......

The party on the Mercedes RV had already ended.

As they had work the next day, Ridley Scott, Jessica Chastain, and others after a few drinks, left quite soon.

On the RV, apart from Martin, Daddario, and Bruce, only Andy Weir, the author of "The Martian," was still there.

This man, almost forty, having gone through a mid-life crisis and not skilled in socializing, a former software engineer turned sci-fi writer, had experienced a significant change in his life trajectory.

Andy Weir, not particularly eloquent, raised his glass, "Martin, to you, I owe you my thanks for all you've done."

Martin clinked glasses with him, "Congratulations on the launch of your new book."

Andy Weir downed the contents of his glass and scratched his head, saying, "Without you, 'The Martian' could only have been serialized on an internet blog..."

He didn't speak in flowery language, "I have to leave the set tomorrow to attend the book release in New York. I'll give it my all at every signing event after that."

The stronger the reader base, the more people would buy tickets for the movie when it premiered.

Martin poured him another glass and said, "Andy, I wish your new book great success, may our collaboration be fruitful."

Like when "Gone Girl" was published, with Martin and Ridley Scott formally announcing the adaptation of Andy Weir's "The Martian" into a film, this sci-fi novel attracted significant attention.

The first half of the novel serialized on Andy Weir's blog saw a surge in traffic by hundreds of times.

Davis Studio, still in collaboration with Random House, planned to officially publish the complete novel "The Martian" during the Independence Day holiday.

Andy Weir, in a good mood, had a few extra drinks as he wasn't much for words.

Staggering to his feet, he said his goodbyes and left.

Martin escorted him off the RV and turned back to re-enter the vehicle.

Bruce was about to close the RV door when he noticed three Latino men turning the corner from behind a trailer.

The faces of these three men were unfamiliar, and their necks and arms were covered in tattoos.

The one in the lead, carrying a black backpack, kept his right hand at his waist. The two following him, one looked to the left and the other to the right, appearing exceptionally vigilant.

They clearly were not crew members.

Bruce had seen too many people from Hollywood over the years to know they did not fit the part.

The three men turned the corner and walked toward the Mercedes RV.

Bruce immediately gestured to Martin to be cautious.

Martin quickly pulled Daddario down, warning, "Get down, now!"

Daddario obediently crouched, glancing at Bruce at the door, thinking it was some new excitement.

She reached out and grabbed Martin's belt.

Just as Martin was about to grab his gun, he found it seized by Daddario, who had clearly misunderstood him.

"It's dangerous, get down!" Martin could only offer a helpless reminder.

Only then did Daddario realize her mistake, but she wasn't Elizabeth or Blake Lively; her reaction was much slower.

She sat down on the floor, not moving anymore.

Seeing Martin pull a Glock handgun from a drawer, she realized what was happening.

Luckily trained in counter-shooting since childhood, Daddario hugged her head with her hands and lay on the floor, even crawling forward a few steps to clear the main aisle.

Meanwhile, with most of his body hidden behind the door of the Mercedes, Bruce, and the hand concealed inside, drew his hidden handgun.

Near another RV, Martin's two bodyguards also drew their weapons.

Sanchez looked up at the RV's emblem, confirming it as the Mercedes mentioned in the text message. Seeing from the car's headlights, he couldn't make out the faces in the door's reflection, but the silhouette wasn't Hodgson's; he didn't care much, though.

He knew the person coming for the goods was Johnny Depp's playmate, and Depp had always had a lot of those.

Sanchez asked, "Where's Hodgson? The goods he wants have arrived; tell him to come out and see me and give me the money."

Bruce unlocked the safety on his pistol, "There's no Hodgson here, you've got the wrong place, now leave."

Sanchez looked at the car, the car was right, "Hurry up, don't beat around the bush, hand over the money quickly, we've come so far, don't fucking play us, give me the money!"

"You've got the wrong person, there's no Hodgson here." Bruce pressed the alarm on the side of the door, warning, "Leave now."

Security from the nearby film crew was immediately notified.

Pedro stepped forward, "Boss, they're messing with us."

The scorching air infuriated Sanchez, his hand flipped up his coat, reaching for the grip of his gun.

Bruce warned again, "I don't know you, and I don't know who you are, get out of here!"

"This kind of game isn't fun, pay up now! I fucking want the money!" Sanchez's expression was extremely ugly, having dealt goods across the US-Mexico Border for years, his audacity and temperament were notably fierce, "If you don't pay, I'll make you regret it!"

He drew his gun, aiming it at Bruce.

Seeing their boss's move, Pedro and Sergio behind him also drew their guns simultaneously.

Just as Sanchez raised his hand and his finger had not yet touched the trigger, gunshots suddenly rang out.

From the opened window of the Mercedes van, the flash of the gun's muzzle flickered as Martin repeatedly pulled the trigger!

Bang! Bang——

Both of Sanchez's arms were shot, his own pistol fell to the ground, blood sprayed from his arms, and he collapsed to the ground with a shriek.

Martin didn't hesitate for a second, aiming the gun at the two bastards who had just drawn theirs.

Gunshots rang out from Bruce's end.

From another trailer, gunshots also sounded.

Martin's bodyguards, though better at spotting trackers, had no trouble hitting such a stationary target.

The sound of gunfire burst continuously; Bruce, having taken action, would not give the enemy any chance to counterattack.

He emptied his magazine as well.

The two bodyguards also emptied their magazines.

Pedro and Sergio fell to the ground, riddled with bullet holes all over their bodies, blood gushing out.

Daddario hugged her head with one hand, hiding in the tight space next to the sofa, her other hand clamped over her mouth to prevent a scream from affecting the morale of her own people.

Martin held his gun at the ready outside.

Bruce reloaded his magazine, glanced over at Martin's side, and flipped a switch next to him, turning on several large spotlights on the van, illuminating the surroundings with bright light.

Pedro and Sergio were already silent.

Lying on the ground, Sanchez tried to crawl away.

Bruce fired a shot, and the bullet whizzed past Sanchez's head.

Sanchez dared not move, enduring the severe pain he shouted, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot, I won't move..."

He was puzzled, what the fuck was Johnny Depp thinking, he'd earned so much money, did he fucking want to rob him as well?

"I would rather not survive this!" Sanchez lay on the ground motionless, but inside he harbored extreme hatred for Johnny Depp, "What's so great about the captain of Pirates of the Caribbean? As long as I live, I will make sure you eat a bullet!"

The sound of gunfire shattered the calm of the camp, and chaos ensued.

The film crew's security personnel ran over and shouted from a distance, "This is Harrington, what's the situation?"

Bruce replied, "Three gunmen barged in, trying to extort money!"

Harrington issued an order, "Stay alert, prevent others from intruding!"

Over a dozen security personnel secured strategic positions, and Harrington personally led a team to inspect the situation of the three gunmen, finding that two were already dead and one, shot in both hands and arms, lay on the ground playing dead.

Harrington ordered his men, "Take control of him, call the police!"

Then, many subordinates reported, "All clear!"

"All clear!"

Bruce got out of the van and stopped Harrington from touching the black backpack on Sanchez, saying, "Wait for the police or the FBI to come."

Inside the van, Martin called Nevies, an old acquaintance at the FBI, and the local FBI would arrive as quickly as possible.

When Bruce returned to the van, Martin said, "Bandage the wounded so that no one dies."

Bruce nodded, "Harrington had someone perform simple first aid and has secured the man, the film crew's doctor will come soon."

Martin checked the van's external surveillance, saying, "The cameras should have caught it."

After checking the onboard computer, he confirmed that the vehicle's surveillance captured the entire process.

Ridley Scott called, and after Martin assured him there were no issues, he finally took the time to comfort Daddario.

"I'm okay," Daddario feigned calm.

"Don't worry, it's going to be okay," Martin said through the window as he saw Ridley approaching, "Drink some cola, sweets can help relieve stress, I'll go see the director."