C 9

"The Life Foundation is more cunning than we thought," Eddie explained to Anton with a helpless tone. "Whether externally or internally, they've taken extensive protective measures. We can't find any flaws."

"More than a month in, and no progress at all?" Anton asked, taken aback. When he watched a movie in his previous life, taking on the Life Foundation hadn't seemed this difficult. Turns out, reality doesn't always match the movies.

"Not exactly," Eddie replied. "We've gathered some intel from researchers. Recently, it seems the Life Foundation is preparing for a mysterious experiment. This experiment demands a significant number of human subjects, and they've started increasing their investment in it. But without direct access to the Homeless Association or any concrete evidence that they're crossing ethical lines, there's nothing we can do legally... unless..."

"Unless we pose as homeless people to infiltrate and look for a lead," Anton interrupted, narrowing his eyes.

"Exactly," Eddie responded, though there was a noticeable hesitation in his voice. The risks of posing as homeless were considerable—especially if Anton's team took the risk while Eddie remained in New York.

With the Life Foundation's power in San Francisco, getting exposed as journalists would almost be a death sentence. They could even wind up as human test subjects for the Life Foundation's experiments, aiding the enemy rather than stopping them.

The thought of it made Eddie uneasy, unable to make a definitive decision.

...

"Mysterious experiment?" Anton mused. He could already surmise that the Life Foundation had started researching symbiotes. With Carlton Drake's obsession, it was only a matter of time before he pursued results that would likely transform him into a villain.

But that was Drake's path to take. Anton, meanwhile, was busy making movies in Los Angeles, with his life rooted in New York.

In this world, the boundaries between cities were as stark as those between countries, each with its own gangs, territories, and undercurrents. If the Life Foundation intended to stretch beyond its borders, they'd find it difficult.

However, Anton knew that once they openly confronted each other, it would be a different story. He pondered for a moment before asking, "Can we bribe any employees at the Life Foundation?"

"Employees only know bits and pieces, and the senior staff all have their families held hostage by Drake," Eddie admitted. "That scumbag is ruthless. We're at a standstill."

After a pause, Eddie spoke with determination. "Anton, I have to go to San Francisco. I can't sit here and let Drake get away with it."

"In that case, I wish you well," Anton replied, respecting Eddie's choice to go despite the risks. Though frustrated by the stalemate, Anton understood Eddie's conviction.

He'd given his word to Jameson to investigate, and giving up now would be a betrayal of both Eddie's trust and Jameson's expectations.

In a way, Anton realized, Eddie was the protagonist of this particular story, almost as if fate had given him the task. With a bit of humor, Anton thought, 'If he's the son of luck, he might actually pull through.'

Putting these thoughts aside, Anton added, "Before you go, make sure to arrange your work—especially my novel."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Eddie assured him. In his darkest moments, the Daily Bugle had given him a lifeline. Now, as he faced danger for the publication, he was resolved to do his job with perfection.

Anton, meanwhile, had little time to dwell on it. Filming was intense, and he soon fell asleep after ending the call.

Half a month flew by. The filming progressed at an unexpectedly swift pace, and under Anton's watchful eye, post-production was already well underway. Everything was on track, and the crew began seeing Anton in a new light. They were astonished by the seamless flow of the first half-hour he'd edited. It was remarkable.

To save time, Anton had canceled some location shoots in favor of using special effects or clever tricks, handing over on-site shoots to the assistant director. This cut down the timeline further.

Within just fifty days, two-thirds of the production was complete. Jim, a producer who occasionally visited the set, grew increasingly frustrated, convinced he'd underestimated Anton's skill and fallen into a "big hole."

Anton didn't waste time dwelling on Jim's irritation. But his mind was soon occupied by another worry: Eddie had gone missing.

Since arriving in San Francisco over two weeks ago, Eddie had consistently checked in every two days, updating Anton on his safety and progress. But a week ago, after infiltrating the Homeless Association, Eddie's updates stopped. Now, Anton felt a gnawing concern.

Although Eddie's fate didn't directly impact him, Eddie's return to San Francisco was indirectly Anton's responsibility. He had approved Eddie's plan, and, truth be told, he admired the man. Eddie's commitment to justice and his adherence to his moral compass were qualities that made him difficult not to respect.

After a moment's thought, Anton grabbed his phone and dialed a number Eddie had left him before going undercover. The contact was Phil Urich, a young reporter Eddie had stationed in San Francisco. Phil, too, worked for the Daily Bugle.

A young voice answered, "Hello?"

"Phil Urich?" Anton asked. "This is Anton—from the Daily Bugle."

Phil sounded immediately anxious. "Uh, yes! Hello, Boss. This is Phil Urich."

"How's it going with Eddie? He hasn't contacted me in a while. Is he okay?" Anton didn't waste any time getting to the point.

Phil hesitated. "We... we're not sure. The Homeless Association has some kind of information blocker, and we've lost all contact with him. However, we've bribed a security guard, who told us that Life Foundation personnel have recently been visiting the homeless shelter... We're guessing Eddie should be safe. For now."

But Phil's voice had lost confidence by the end of his explanation.

"So if Life Foundation staff are there, Eddie's probably not safe, correct?" Anton pressed, his voice hardening.

"Uh..." Phil stammered, clearly not wanting to confirm Anton's fear.

Silence lingered as Anton weighed the gravity of the situation, his mind racing with options. The Life Foundation was proving to be a formidable adversary, and Eddie's life could very well hang in the balance.

….

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