C 68

After a short vacation, Anton threw himself back into work. He directed the crew to move into the new research institute site and resume shooting for the movie Cyborg. 

At the same time, Quentin Beck and his team joined the company, with Anton immediately sending them to Hollywood to oversee special effects for Cyborg.

Meanwhile, in New York, the Batman fandom sparked by the Lizard incident continued to grow. The Manhattan Bridge, where Batman famously fought the Lizard, became a popular landmark for curious visitors. 

Even the Daily Bugle, long associated with Batman, saw a surge in visitors. Seeing the opportunity, Eddie set up a Batman-shaped standee at the entrance, letting fans take photos with it.

When Anton heard about this, he ordered a custom-made Bat-Signal and instructed Eddie to install it on the roof of the Daily Bugle building. 

For seven nights, the Bat-Signal shone over Manhattan, casting a giant bat symbol that overshadowed the moon, igniting excitement and cheers across the city. 

After a week, the Bat-Signal was turned off for good, despite countless calls to the Daily Bugle requesting its return. Many people were left puzzled by its sudden disappearance.

But that's a story for later. For now, the Daily Bugle rode the wave of Batman's popularity, benefiting immensely. It not only became a trendy, internet-famous newspaper, but its daily sales also skyrocketed, stirring envy among rival publications. 

Yet they found they couldn't simply copy the Daily Bugle's success. Thanks to its strong association with Batman—and especially with Anton, the owner, who also happened to be the director and writer of the film Batman Begins—the Daily Bugle held a unique position. 

Any attempts by other newspapers to jump on the bandwagon were ignored or even met with backlash, leaving them worse off for trying.

Reflecting on it, Anton felt a touch of nostalgia. In this world, the Bat-Signal wasn't just a tool used by Commissioner Gordon to call Batman; it had become an attraction for internet-savvy fans. 

However, in time, New Yorkers would realize that as long as the Bat-Signal lit up the sky, it meant that Batman was on the move.

Time flew by, and another month had passed. With the scenes at the research institute now shot, Anton moved from New York back to the lively world of Hollywood. By this point, the filming had entered its final stages.

Anton had underestimated the speed of his shooting process. Now, it looked like the entire film could be wrapped up within another two weeks, bringing the total time spent filming to less than 80 days. 

Quentin Beck, whom Anton had sent to Hollywood early on as the head of special effects, had played an invaluable role. Beck and his team applied newly developed holographic technology directly to the actors, creating effects that seemed almost magical by using light and shadow to create realistic transformations, all within real settings. 

While this technology wasn't as advanced as the holograms seen after Tony Stark's death, it was still a groundbreaking development for Hollywood.

The level of special effects achieved by Beck's technology elevated Hollywood's capabilities in a way that felt like the leap from 2D to 3D technology. Industry professionals in the special effects world began to treat Quentin Beck like a scientific genius, constantly seeking his input and revolving around him like moths to a flame. 

Studios across Hollywood were placing special effects orders, eagerly trying to work with Anton's new "Mystery Effects Studio," the division he'd set up with Beck leading the way. 

Here, Beck not only found financial success but also a sense of purpose he'd long been missing. Grateful to Anton, he felt he'd finally found his place in Hollywood.

Seeing Beck's success and progress, Anton estimated that the film could be completed and ready for release within another month. With that timeline in mind, he decided that now was the time to start ramping up promotions. After wrapping up a day of filming, Anton tracked down Jim.

"It's time to start preparing the promotional plan!" Anton said without hesitation. "In about two weeks, Cyborg will be fully shot. With Beck's technology, we can finish post-production within a month. Jim, I need a plan for the publicity as soon as possible."

"What? You're almost done filming?" Jim's jaw dropped in disbelief.

He knew Anton was a fast worker, but he hadn't expected that just two months in, Anton would already be thinking about promotion. 

Jim had been managing two other projects—Superman and The Dark Knight—and hadn't been able to keep up with Anton's breakneck pace. Now, here was Anton, ready to wrap up filming. It left Jim feeling like he was in a dream.

The feeling reminded Jim of how Anton had felt a few months earlier, after wrapping up Batman Begins—a mixture of pride, amazement, and sheer disbelief. 

The words were caught in his throat, leaving him with a complex blend of emotions he couldn't quite express.

Looking back, Jim realized he hadn't felt the weight of his decisions at the time, but now he appreciated the direction he'd taken. 

If Anton could replicate the success of his last film, Jim's decision to join DC was undoubtedly the best choice of his later career.

"I'll get in touch with the publicity team," Jim said, aware that he rarely had final say when it came to working with Anton. He nodded to himself and asked, "Do you have any thoughts on the promotion?"

"Film is the art of the masses. I'm confident in the quality of this movie. If we go with the usual promotion process, the box office should do well," Anton replied thoughtfully and with a contemplative mindset. 

"However, this film has a Black lead. If we can draw support from the Black community with the right promotion, the film's success is almost guaranteed." He gave Jim a meaningful plan. "You know what to do."

"I understand." Jim smiled, fully grasping Anton's point. As a seasoned producer, he knew how to execute. They discussed a few more details, and then Jim left.

Anton returned to the hotel arranged by the crew, took a bath, and was preparing to rest when his personal assistant, Betty, knocked on the door.

"Hey, it's late!" Anton said, surprised. Shirtless, he raised his eyebrows at Betty and joked, "I just warmed up the bed for you. Interested in sharing it?"

"Nice abs." Betty glanced at him, unfazed by his teasing. Calmly, she ignored his provocation. "There's something you'll definitely want to hear."

Anton's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?"

"Tony Stark is alive. The military found him in the Afghan desert and brought him back. He's likely landed at a military airfield by now."

"Tony's been found?" Anton was stunned, then smiled as he processed the news. Right on schedule, he thought. Since the release of Batman Begins, three months had passed—the same amount of time Tony had endured in captivity.

"Stark Industries just released a statement. Tony Stark will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at their L.A. branch," Betty continued, her expression composed. "Tony might have a lot to say… Also, Eddie and Phil flew in overnight. They think the Daily Bugle can't miss this conference."

She paused, then looked at Anton. "If you'd like to attend tomorrow's press conference, I can arrange an extra ticket for you."

"Why not?" Anton said without hesitation, grinning. "I wouldn't miss this iconic moment for anything."

…

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