Chapter 7 Connecting the Dots
At the bar.
"Thank you, Anton."
Eddie was slightly tipsy but looked invigorated, his eyes seeming to burn with determination.
Since Anton had informed him that the Daily Bugle would support his renewed investigation into the Life Foundation, Eddie seemed like a changed man, as if he'd found a renewed sense of purpose.
"No need to thank me. I wish you success."
Anton didn't take credit, lifting his glass to take a sip, though he made a face at the taste.
He didn't like the flavor of whiskey.
"By the way, I need to remind you of something." Anton set down his glass and advised, "The Life Foundation has significant influence in San Francisco. The incident with the homeless people does highlight that the foundation crossed a line, but it will likely only cause some trouble for them. With so many medical patents in their hands, there are powerful interests backing the Life Foundation. As a journalist, you should be well aware of this."
Eddie nodded silently.
The excitement in his eyes faded, and he let out a bitter laugh. "Exposing the Life Foundation's actions, tarnishing their name, giving Carlton Drake a hard time, maybe even getting him jailed—that's all I can hope to achieve."
"And one more thing: you can't go back to San Francisco."
Anton continued.
Eddie looked surprised and glanced at Anton, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
"You're making it too obvious, Eddie."
Anton said, "Remember, your role now isn't that of a field reporter but as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle. You can't go back to San Francisco to do on-the-ground work. We both know that as soon as you show up, the Life Foundation will be on alert, knowing we're investigating them."
The investigation into the Life Foundation had to remain covert.
To ensure it proceeded smoothly, Eddie would have to stay in New York, but he'd have full control over the staff .
The plan was to gather evidence, expose the Life Foundation, and then press the advantage.
This was the safest approach.
"I get what you're saying." Eddie's enthusiasm dimmed a bit.
"Once the Daily Bugle fires the first shot and gets the public talking, then the restrictions will lessen," Anton hinted. "At that point, you won't be able to stay out of the spotlight even if you want to."
"Understood."
Eddie appreciated Anton's good intentions. He wasn't so stubborn as to ignore others' advice, and he responded thoughtfully.
"That's all for now."
Anton handed the bartender a stack of large bills, covering the drinks and a generous tip, then stood up. "I have to head to Los Angeles tomorrow. The Daily Bugle is in your hands."
Eddie watched Anton leave.
On his way home, Anton pondered Eddie's story.
Eddie Brock, San Francisco, the Life Foundation, fired from his job.
It was hard not to connect it to the Venom movie from his previous life.
After a moment of thought, Anton pulled out his phone to search for information on the Life Foundation and found news about a recent rocket crash.
The incident had happened not long ago.
"So, the symbiotes have already arrived on Earth?"
Anton furrowed his brows.
The more he knew, the more dangerous this world seemed.
The rocket had crashed in eastern Malaysia.
Various agencies were handling the wreckage.
Anton, however, knew that the Life Foundation wasn't just dealing with debris.
According to the storyline, the Life Foundation should be actively gathering the symbiotes that had come to Earth with the rocket.
The only difference was that Eddie had moved from San Francisco to New York.
A flap of the butterfly's wings might change the future.
Still, Anton was confident that no matter how things changed, the symbiotes wouldn't wreak havoc on Earth.
He understood the Marvel Universe.
Though this world seemed to have fused elements from various movies, Anton was 100% certain of one thing: where there was Tony Stark, there was S.H.I.E.L.D.
Founded after WWII, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been dealing with alien threats since the 1990s.
That incident had even led to the emergence of a powerful superhero.
Captain Marvel.
With enough assurance in place, Anton understood that the symbiotes would not disrupt Earth's order.
If Earth were that vulnerable to alien destruction, the Kree army in the 1990s would have wiped it out long before the symbiotes could.
Indeed, in a universe filled with countless inhabited planets, Earth was one of the "players with cheat codes."
Reflecting on these thoughts, Anton returned home.
His retired grandfather was nowhere to be seen, as usual.
Now that he'd started enjoying life, Jonah Jameson was as unpredictable as an unleashed husky, disappearing without notice.
The next day.
Anton, along with the screenwriter Browning, arrived in Los Angeles.
They were taken by the pick-up service to an upscale neighborhood near Hollywood.
In a luxurious apartment, Anton and Browning finally met Jim Lambert, who had been fashionably late.
"Anton, you're finally here."
Jim cut straight to the point. "The crew is almost ready. Now we just need to cast the main roles. Any suggestions?"
"That's your job; I just want to start shooting as soon as possible."
Anton shrugged.
He wasn't interested in the details of assembling the crew; he only cared about when filming would begin.
Learning Eddie Brock's story and the situation with the Life Foundation had deepened his understanding of the Marvel Universe.
To be honest, it left him feeling a bit insecure, with a strange sense of urgency.
The sooner he could complete the movie, reach his goal, and unlock the Batman template, the better.
"Alright."
Jim sighed. "The male lead role is nearly finalized, but I thought you might have some specific requirements for the female lead. After all, this is Hollywood."
Anton's eyes lit up. "Wait, the casting is happening today?"
"Tomorrow," Jim replied. "I've scheduled auditions with seven or eight actresses—all stunning."
"Count me in," Anton immediately changed his stance, saying seriously, "I do have specific requirements for the female lead. At the very least… she needs to be beautiful, obedient, and, well, with the right curves."
Jim shot him a knowing look.
Afterward, Browning discussed the script with Jim and assured him that the first draft would be ready within three days before excusing himself.
Browning's home was in Los Angeles.
The apartment was where Jim had arranged for Anton to stay.
Not because Anton didn't have another residence in Los Angeles, but because this location was conveniently close to Hollywood.
"What about the props team?"
Anton thought for a moment and added, "I have high expectations for the costumes and props in this film. The ones you showed me earlier were too generic—they don't meet my standards."
He had a clear vision, so there was no way he'd settle for the prop team's "cheap" designs.
"No problem," Jim agreed.
As both the investor and director, Anton had ultimate authority over the film.
Producer Jim's role was to serve Anton, with no room for objections.
It was all just work, after all.
Jim's paycheck wouldn't change whether he followed orders or not.
He just wanted a successful project.
Over the following days, Anton worked tirelessly, handling everything from props to casting until the key components were finally in place.
The day before shooting began, Anton received a budget estimate.
$110 million.
Anton's eyebrow twitched.
This was ten million more than the amount he and Tony Stark had agreed to invest.
But recalling the budget for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins from his previous life, Anton knew Jim wasn't overcharging.
Considering this world's technological advancements, including futuristic and even near-miraculous tech, the budget was reasonable.
Anton signed off on it and mortgaged all his assets to scrape together the $110 million.
Finally, production began.
Anton, filled with ambition, took charge, directing his team of assistant directors as he prepared to bring his vision to life.
At the same time…
The journalists Eddie had secretly sent to investigate the Life Foundation in San Francisco began reporting back with concrete findings.