Chapter 226: Making And Destroying Stars

As the time came to sign the contract and make the payment, Martin's car had undergone a change.

Antonio comfortably settled into the spacious back seat of the Escalade, appreciating the ample space it offered for his large belly. He commented, "This car is excellent – rugged, commanding, and roomy." Martin gestured toward the driver's seat, noting, "This guy wants to buy a Hummer."

Bruce started the car, asserting, "That's a man's toy."

Half-reclining on the generous seat, Antonio remarked, "Comfort is the most crucial factor."

Martin teased, "Did you hear that, Bruce?"

Bruce glanced back, raising a middle finger in jest.

Upon arriving at the real estate company, Thomas and the lawyer were already present.

The paperwork proceeded smoothly, and Martin obtained the keys to the house on the same day.

Upon their arrival at the Cotis community, the real estate company had thoughtfully tidied up the house, leaving it clean and orderly.

Martin turned to the group and mentioned, "There are still many things missing." He looked at Thomas and asked for advice.

Thomas candidly admitted, "My current home was purchased by my girlfriend, and then she broke up with me..."

He trailed off, unable to continue. During that period, he had worked tirelessly to cover his girlfriend's expenses, which had been quite taxing.

Martin suggested, "Move in for now, and you can buy whatever you need later."

In a place like Los Angeles, money ensured that you wouldn't lack for anything.

Bruce deftly pulled out his camera and suggested to Martin, "Take a photo with your new home and share it on your blog."

Martin complimented Bruce, "You're getting smarter."

Sharing the moment on the internet would undoubtedly draw significant attention and traffic.

Leaving Thomas and Antonio behind, Martin and Bruce, along with Emily and Jessica's cars, returned to the North Hollywood apartment and completed their move in one trip.

Blues consisted mainly of clothing with a few firearms.

Additionally, Martin had crew memorabilia, emeralds, and Australian specialties.

As Emily struggled to carry a stack of crocodile tusks into the villa's living room, Thomas couldn't help but inquire, "Martin, did you personally extract all these crocodile teeth in Australia?"

Martin, unfazed by the question, responded with thick-skinned charm, "I just heard a few days ago that you can legally hunted over a dozen 6-meter-long crocodiles in Australia. But my memory's not what it used to be; I can't even remember it."

Antonio shook his head, foreseeing that Martin's audacity would soon become a Hollywood sensation.

Originally, he had thought that these pendants and carvings, given by Martin, might fetch a good price once Martin became a superstar. However, now it seemed wiser to sell them sooner, perhaps to a budding star seeking stardom.

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

In addition to uploading photos, Jessica composed a brief piece in Martin's voice.

"Today is a special day. I moved out of my North Hollywood apartment and into a new home. I'd like to share photos of my new place with everyone."

The photos and text were promptly posted to the blog.

Upon returning to the fan section, Jessica was astonished to find hundreds of comments and numerous entertainment bloggers had shared their post.

Martin's influence was notably greater than that of his Hollywood peers, even transcending the confines of Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

Outside, Bruce used an electric drill and other tools to install some equipment on the walls.

Meanwhile, Martin and Thomas each carried a bag and descended to the underground storage room.

Two iron cabinets stood on the ground, perfectly suited for storing firearms.

Martin unzipped the bag, revealing several ARs and shotguns.

Thomas, feeling slightly uneasy, inquired, "Are these guns all right?"

Martin nodded confidently, "They're all legally registered firearms. I forgot to mention that the LAPD helped me secure a concealed carry permit."

Thomas, considering the Russian threat, had no objections to Martin possessing firearms. The long guns had distinct and somewhat unconventional grips, resembling hammerheads.

After the 1998 North Hollywood bank robbery, California introduced stricter regulations for assault weapons, prohibiting pistol grips on long guns, including semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. But as with any policy, arms dealers had devised solutions like hammerhead and shark-fin grips.

After storing the spare firearms in the basement, Martin returned to the first floor, grabbed another bag, and discreetly concealed weapons in each of the spacious rooms.

Antonio couldn't help but shake his head. Martin was both daring, willing to confront gunmen head-on, and exceedingly cautious.

Descending from upstairs, Martin realized it was nearly noon and called out, "Let's have a big lunch to celebrate our move and get ready to send out." While dining, Antonio handed Martin the contact information of the Chairman of the Cotis Community Committee.

Martin had recently settled into his new home, making it challenging for him to entertain visitors immediately.

He had plans to visit Washington shortly and intended to host a celebratory party upon his return.

In the afternoon, Martin bid farewell to his guests and embarked on a shopping trip with Bruce, primarily for bedding and everyday essentials.

As soon as they settled into the car after leaving the mall, Martin's phone rang, displaying Jolie's name from the Middle East.

He signaled for Bruce to drive while he answered the call.

"I just saw your blog online," Julie's voice was relatively subdued. "Congratulations on your new home."

Martin grinned, "You can still access the internet there, which means you're not in danger."

Jolie replied, "I'm in Baghdad, at the embassy. I delivered a speech to the Iraqi people yesterday, and it was very well-received."

Martin was curious, "What was the speech about?"

Jolie smiled, "I congratulated them on escaping a tyrant's cruel dictatorship and gaining valuable democracy and freedom."

Martin quipped, "You've learned well from your teacher."

With a cryptic tone, Julie said, "Teacher, I'll double your tuition when I get back."

They quickly ended the call.

Bruce, who was driving, glanced at Martin in the passenger seat and inquired, "I remember you telling me that deceased stars are better for movie sales than living leading actors?" He wondered about the eccentricities of Martin's teachings.

Martin responded casually, "It may not guarantee higher sales, but it's easier to create marketing buzz and generate better publicity."

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

Martin interjected firmly, "Bruce, can you have some principles? Even if we're not the best of people, we should have principles and boundaries!"

Innocently, Bruce protested, "I didn't say anything!"

Martin shifted the conversation, saying, "Let's wrap things up quickly. We're heading to Washington in two days to receive the award."

Bruce remarked, "It's just a medal, no cash prize."

Martin knew well, "Even if I received a cash prize, I'd probably donate it."

They returned home, and the ordered goods were promptly delivered.

In the afternoon, Mene joined them to help. He wasn't actively searching for a new role since filming for "The Departed" was scheduled to begin in mid-July.

...

In Atlanta, a commercial vehicle was parked outside the Clayton community.

From the driver's seat, Alex observed the dilapidated house in the distance and instructed his two subordinates, "This is the place. You need to gather information about Martin Davis's past carefully. People living in neighborhoods like this often leave behind no useful clues related to fame, gangs, or crime."

Albert, one of his men, suggested, "Can we offer them some incentives?"

Alex agreed, "Sure."

Another man, White, cautioned, "Make sure to wear your press passes. These neighborhoods can be dangerous."

Aware of the potential dangers of slum areas, Alex emphasized, "If the situation turns sour, exit immediately while wearing your passes."

Albert exuded confidence, "There's no news we can't get at News of the World!"

Alex pointed his finger at Martin's photo in a newspaper he held. His voice grew louder with a touch of excitement, "I don't know this guy, but I'm looking for him in the name of journalistic responsibility. The public has the right to know." His objective was simple; create stars and destroy them. The news value of tarnishing Martin's reputation was far greater than promoting his positive deeds.

Outside the Clayton Community entrance, Albert entered a small supermarket, picked up drinks, snacks, and other items, and proceeded to the checkout counter.

The shop owner, Nani, wearing a fang pendant, scanned the items for payment, stating, "That'll be $25. Thank you."

Albert handed over two $20 bills. As Nani returned the change, he inquired, "I'm a reporter, and I'd like to ask you some questions."

Nani had recently encountered several reporters, "About Martin, right?"

Albert continued, "Do you have any inside information?" He placed an additional dollar on the counter, suggesting, "Perhaps something more sensational?"

Nani, with no need to hide information, spoke candidly, "I've known Martin for a decade. He's a dropout who grew up in these parts. He didn't work hard and chose to become an actor to make money. He struggled to make ends meet, often relying on the Carter family for food. He had a long-standing relationship with the eldest daughter of the Carter family..." Nani provided a range of information, emphasizing the most sensational detail, "Oh, and Martin's parents were quite the scoundrels. His mother died in a car accident due to excessive drug use, and his father is a deceitful alcoholic and drug addict. The mother of the Carter family was seduced by him and later he took all her money and disappeared, nobody knows where he went."