Chapter 466: Revenge

As the night deepened, the once-bustling courtyard began to quieten, its guests departing one by one under the still-glowing lights. Each left with a parting gift, a thoughtful token from Martin and Elizabeth, a reminder of the evening's elegance and warmth.

Thomas, one of the last to linger, approached Martin with an update. "Ari's efforts in lobbying are showing positive results," he informed.

Martin, acknowledging the importance of their efforts, replied, "Keep close communication with Martha and Rita's PR team. I'll provide full cooperation."

"They'll have specific plans and a schedule by next Monday," Thomas said, checking his watch. "I should head out now."

"Get some rest," Martin advised, understanding the demands of their industry.

Once alone with Elizabeth, Martin was met with her quiet inquiry, "What can I do to help?"

"Keep me motivated," he whispered playfully, a light tone in his voice. "A little encouragement now and then keeps me focused."

Elizabeth, still radiant from playing hostess, teased, "Seems like you're a bit distracted now. Maybe a wake-up call is needed."

"With a girlfriend like you, who wouldn't be?" Martin replied, his affection evident.

Together, they retreated to the villa, their steps in sync, closing the chapter on a successful evening.

...

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a small villa near Sunset Boulevard's North exit, two imposing figures, Victor and Big Beard, stood surveying the area. After arriving from Atlanta, they had settled in a rental not far from Martin's new home, carefully monitoring the neighborhood.

Through his binoculars, the bearded man observed the line of cars departing a well-lit estate. "It's over 2,500 meters away," he noted, using the telescope's rangefinder.

Victor, well-versed in the details, added, "The house sits centrally in the community, equidistant from all exits. The area is securely managed, and any unfamiliar face is quickly noticed."

The bearded man mused about the vulnerability of Martin's residence. "Seems easy to strike. Just wait for the boss, launch an RPG, and it's done."

Victor, more cautious, chided, "Let's not entertain such reckless ideas."

"I prefer the straightforward approach," the bearded man retorted.

Their conversation was briefly interrupted by the flashing lights of a passing police car. Victor noted the time and observed the frequency of LAPD patrols in this affluent neighborhood, a reflection of its high tax contributions and the need for heightened security.

The bearded man, however, was less interested in such details. He studied the manor in the distance, then the community's security personnel, calculating how quickly they could execute their plan and escape.

"How long to neutralize security, hit the target, and get out?" he questioned Victor.

Victor pointed towards Sunset Boulevard. "A patrol passes by every ten minutes. Any action we take will be quickly discovered. And how would we escape?"

The bearded man, unfazed, suggested, "We could take some of the guards hostage."

Their conversation, laced with danger and intent, contrasted sharply with the tranquility of the night, as they continued to plot under the cover of darkness.

As the evening wore on, Victor and the bearded man stood on the rooftop, their conversation shifting towards their sinister plans. Victor, clearly the more level-headed of the two, shook his head in frustration at the bearded man's suggestion.

"You're a fool if you think taking hostages will work. That's not Alpha's style. We'd be cornered and swept away by the LAPD in no time," he rebuked.

The bearded man, undeterred, began, "What if we just used overwhelming firepower..."

Before he could finish, Victor cut him off with a slap to the back of his head. "Shut up. We're gangsters, not soldiers. This is America, not Russia. Do you think we can gather a Russian army without drawing attention?"

The bearded man spread his hands in resignation, "Then maybe we just bump into him on the street. He's a Hollywood star. I could take him down myself."

Victor sighed. Despite his partner's often impractical ideas, he valued his willingness to listen and not act rashly. "This isn't the right place for action. With our current strength, we'd likely be overrun by the LAPD before we even lay eyes on Martin."

"Is the LAPD really that formidable?" the bearded man questioned, skepticism in his voice.

"They're the largest armed force in the area," Victor stated matter-of-factly.

As the distant lights from the road began to dwindle, Victor suggested, "Let's go. Time to speak with the boss."

They drove away from the upscale Beverly Hills, finding a spot without surveillance. Using a public phone, Victor made a quick call, then turned to the bearded man. "The boss and his crew are leaving the country today. They'll arrive in North America separately."

The bearded man chuckled, "Soon, we'll be in for some action."

...

Meanwhile, in Viegostad, along the Russia-Ukraine border, a group was making its own clandestine movements. After crossing the border into Luhansk, they arrived at a small town and quickly made their way to the only hotel there.

Inside, a middleman greeted Boris, a man with a graying beard. Without wasting time, they moved upstairs for a private discussion. The middleman presented different passports and tickets, scattered across the table. "Traveling together raises suspicion. You must scatter," he advised, thinking ahead.

Boris nodded, and one of his men promptly paid the middleman with stacks of cash.

The middleman, taking the money, added, "This is as far as I can help. In the U.S., money will buy you the guns you need."

Boris, stern and to the point, warned, "Be careful with your words."

With a quick nod, the middleman left the room.

Boris instructed his men to prepare, keeping only one bodyguard with him. He then pulled out a photo from his coat, a poignant reminder of his lost family – his son and grandson, whose dreams of America had ended tragically.

Revenge was not just a desire for Boris – it was a necessity.

Reaching for a bottle of Coke, he drank it down, each gulp fueling his resolve for vengeance. The bottle, a symbol of the American dream that had eluded his family, now held a darker significance in his hands.

After finishing his Coke, Boris retrieved a folded poster from his pocket, carefully spreading it on the table. With a swift, deliberate motion, he shattered the glass bottle against the poster. The shards scattered across the mottled image, revealing the face of Martin Davis, slightly obscured but unmistakable.

"This is what he used to crush my grandson's skull, right?" Boris asked, his voice laden with a cold, vengeful edge.

The bodyguard, standing stoically nearby, affirmed, "Yes."

"Good," Boris declared with a steely resolve. "Catch him alive if possible. I want to shatter his head with a Coke bottle, just like he did to my grandson!"

Haunted by years of persecution from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Boris's patience had reached its breaking point. It was time for retribution.

...

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Martin was immersed in the whirlwind of the Oscars campaign. With generous sponsorships covering the expenses, he had every motivation to strive for the golden statuette and the accompanying $6 million bonus. The prospect of not spending a dime from his own pocket made the endeavor even more enticing.

As November progressed, "The Dark Knight" crew hosted numerous grand dinners, with Martin attending each one, effortlessly mingling and sharing laughs with academy members.

Gifts flowed generously through the crew. In major cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, WMA organized dozens of free screenings, primarily attended by film critics, media reporters, and entertainment bloggers. At these events, Martin was a constant presence, enthusiastically emphasizing the effort poured into his character.

Each attendee received a unique handcrafted Joker figurine a collector's edition "Dark Knight" DVD set.

Martin's campaign efforts included a return appearance on Helen's talk show, further boosting his visibility.

In a strategic move, WMA and Warner Bros. mailed Joker statues and "Dark Knight" DVDs to all Academy judges. To circumvent the Academy's regulations against gifting, the crew cleverly "loaned" DVD players to judges for the film's viewing, a thoughtful touch that ensured compliance.

The entire lobbying process was entrusted to Martha and Rita's experienced PR team, allowing Martin to focus on following their meticulously planned schedule.

Influential figures like Nicholson and Warren Beatty could enjoy complimentary lunch and dinner at top-tier restaurants throughout the awards season, along with generous gifts, a testament to the lavish efforts put into the campaign.

For an Oscar nomination and victory, substantial funding was crucial. Martin's team, backed by various sponsorships, had allocated over $3 million for the supporting role campaign alone.

Martin recalled a Korean film that had reportedly spent a staggering $15 million on Oscar PR, setting a record for awards season expenditure. He understood that, regardless of a film's quality, such significant investment could not be ignored.

For over a month, Martin's schedule was a whirlwind of activity, often traveling to multiple cities in a single day, or shifting between several locations within one city. The exhausting pursuit of an award required humility and relentless public relations efforts, even for established actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Meryl Streep.

The Academy, in its own way, endorsed such vigorous campaigning, fostering a competitive spirit within the industry.

By early December, after nearly five months of screenings, "The Dark Knight" concluded its North American theatrical run. Its impressive $616 million box office haul catapulted it past "Shrek 2" and "Star Wars Episode 1," securing it the second-highest grossing film in North America.

Internationally, "The Dark Knight" continued to perform strongly, its overseas earnings nearing $500 million, pushing the global box office total to an astounding $1.088 billion. With its theatrical run ending, the anticipation for its DVD release was mounting, promising to add another chapter to the film's extraordinary success.