Chapter 566: Stay Away From Martin!!

Manninger sat in the visiting room of California State Prison, facing a blast-proof glass window. He watched as the black man on the other side spoke to him.

The black man said, "Old Man, we've been looking out for your sister and mother. They're doing well."

Manninger nodded, grateful, and replied, "Thank you."

"My brother, no need for kind words," the black man continued. "I tried to bring you some new soap. I'll hand it over after checking it. Three newcomers with thin skin and tender flesh just arrived. The tallest among them..."

Manninger interrupted, recognizing the description, "I know him. The brothers have been craving meat for a while. Your timing is perfect."

The black man checked the time, realizing it was almost up. "Wait until next time. We'll come to see you and talk in detail."

Their visit concluded, and as Manninger left, he received an inspected bag from the prison guard, containing several opened boxes of soap.

The soaps had a unique fragrance, refreshing and unlike anything he'd experienced before.

Back in his cell, Manninger waited for the iron door to close before calling a few fellow inmates.

The day was calm, but during the break, a group of older black men gathered, full of energy and unbridled determination, making them a formidable force within the state prison.

They quickly reached an agreement, with six of them deciding to get directly involved. Some among them, those with enough resources, could be taken to the Sacred Valley to become artists.

The following day was bath time in the prison. Brad, Ben, and Cassie, newly turned inmates, entered the open bathroom and chose a secluded spot to shower.

As they turned on the faucets, a group of black men approached from the other side, engaged in animated conversation, and casting occasional glances in their direction.

Brad whispered to Ben, "I've made a connection; I'll get preferential treatment soon. Don't stir up trouble in there. Find a way to stash some money. I'm sure I can get out early."

Ben's face remained grim, "When I get out, Martin Davis will pay for this!"

He added with determination, "Martin's sister, her name's Lily Carter, right? You'll find her near the art school right!"

Cassie, still shaken by recent events, spoke up, "We should steer clear of Martin. He's not someone to mess with."

Brad advised, "Protect your life and stay away from Martin."

Ben glanced around and challenged, "Scared, are you guys?"

Cassie kept silent, head lowered.

Brad sighed and said, "Haven't you heard about Harvey? He might come in, and he'll be worse off than us."

Ben didn't give up easily, "I still have Damon, he'll be on the outside. He'll help me. I need to get out early and quietly repay everything Martin Davis did to us, so he'll suffer for the rest of his life."

Brad fell into deep thought, contemplating if reporting Ben might reduce his own sentence.

As Brad grappled with these overwhelming thoughts, a sudden snap echoed nearby. His gaze shifted, revealing a piece of soap with an unusual fragrance that had landed beside Ben.

Ben, too, caught sight of the soap, its scent more invigorating than the customary contraband from the Foot Gang. His attention shifted to where the soap had fallen, locking eyes with a towering figure that exuded an aura of strength.

Grinning with two rows of gleaming white teeth, the man, a veritable black iron tower, spoke in a friendly tone, "Man, help me pick up the soap."

Ignoring the request, Ben stepped away from the soap, his expression guarded.

Undeterred, Black Iron Tower approached, retrieving the soap, but he didn't depart.

Ben stared at him, taken aback.

Black Iron Tower raised his hand, holding the frothy soap. With a slight flick of his wrist, the soap soared towards Ben's chest, tumbling to the ground once more.

Ben, formidable in stature and temper, wasn't one to be trifled with. He demanded, "Apologize to me and leave!"

Black Iron Tower chuckled, "Help me pick up the soap."

Ben clenched his fists as a commotion brewed around them. The sound of approaching footsteps drew a crowd of old black men, numbering as many as thirty.

Black Iron Tower snapped his fingers, taunting, "Are you going to pick it up willingly, or shall we make you?"

Cassie hastily intervened, pulling out the big book and stammering, "If you have any grievances, let's talk it out. This is Ben Affleck..."

Black Iron Tower brushed Cassie aside, jesting, "A Hollywood star, treading in our territory! How rare!"

Laughter erupted among the crowd of old black men, their faces eager.

Cassie urged Brad, "Think of something, quick!"

Over a dozen old black men turned their gaze towards Brad, but it was clear they had a different target in mind. Brad scanned the surroundings, noticing the patrolling guards, who seemed to have a tacit understanding, focusing elsewhere simultaneously.

It was evident that this had been orchestrated.

Having fallen victim to plots and schemes that had stripped them of their wealth and futures, these notorious gangsters were undeterred by reputation alone.

Brad knew what came next. Though he'd faced similar circumstances before rising to fame, he had no desire to repeat them. He swiftly raised his hands, declaring, "I don't know them, not at all."

Black Iron Tower made a move, prompting Brad to sprint away from the scene.

Even in prison, abandoned by Hollywood, and scorned by the world, Pitt remained tenacious. If they intended to involve him, they'd have to pay a hefty sum, akin to the film producers in the Sacred Valley.

As he distanced himself, Brad glanced back to witness several old black men detaining Cassie, while dozens more encircled Ben, some clutching the strangely scented soap.

Before long, a chilling cry pierced the air, its unsettling nature leaving Brad uncertain if it was a scream or something else entirely.

The harrowing incident would soon become known as the "Manninger Massacre" at the California State Penitentiary.

...

Meanwhile, on this eventful day, a grand premiere unfolded at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" celebrated its North American premiere.

In a strategic move to align with the awards season, the film, which had already dazzled audiences at the Cannes Film Festival, had held off its North American release until the official commencement of awards season.

Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures had pulled out all the stops, inviting numerous celebrities to grace the event. The appearance of renowned director Christopher Nolan caused quite the sensation.

Nolan boasted a colossal fanbase across the United States and around the globe. They stood unwaveringly by his side, with debates on IMDb still raging fiercely, pitting Nolan enthusiasts against devotees of "The Godfather" and "The Shawshank Redemption."

In the words of Warner Bros. and Nolan himself, as long as "The Dark Knight" DVDs remained in circulation, this non-violent feud showed no signs of subsiding.

Even the upcoming release, "Inception," would feature a pre-roll advertisement during "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Tom Cruise, Paramount Pictures' current star attraction, made a special appearance, bringing Martin a unique gift to mark the occasion.

Hand in hand, Martin and Elizabeth glided gracefully down the crimson carpet, leading them to the gathering place of the Coke Gods. They indulged in signing autographs and sipping Coke, all under the intense gaze of cameras capturing the buzz.

As they ventured into the media area, a familiar face awaited them—Tom Cruise.

Martin couldn't help but feel a tad surprised, wondering what Tom Cruise had up his sleeve.

Amidst a sea of reporters and camera flashes, Tom Cruise strode forward, arms outstretched, and embraced Martin warmly before beckoning to someone behind him.

Katie Holmes approached, bearing a petite cake in her hands.

Tom Cruise passed the cake to Martin with a smile, declaring, "This one's for you."

Martin accepted it with gratitude, then turned to Elizabeth with a serious tone, offering, "We must taste Tom's cake later."

Tom Cruise, recognizing Martin's understanding, added, "My cakes are quite special. I'll send you more."

Without Martin needing to signal, Bruce discreetly slipped a gift box into Martin's hand.

Martin reciprocated, presenting Tom Cruise with Lily's intricately carved statue. "I happen to have a gift for you."

Tom Cruise received it graciously, and the two stood side by side, portraying an image of close friendship.

A curious reporter inquired, "Tom, Martin, when did you become such good friends?"

Tom Cruise replied first, "Martin provided valuable action design input for 'Mission: Impossible 4,' which I'm currently filming. His suggestions steered the crew away from pitfalls, ensuring a smooth production. I owe a lot to Martin."

The film industry had experienced its ups and downs in recent years, even affecting Tom Cruise's popularity.

Such friendships often bloomed in the industry, and Martin chimed in with a smile, "I've been an avid fan of Tom's since the days of 'Top Gun.' I've watched 'Mission: Impossible' more times than I can count. It's a timeless classic, and I'm honored to have been of assistance to Tom."

Tom Cruise exchanged a fist bump with Martin, declaring, "When 'Top Gun' gets its release, I should invite you to the premiere."

Martin grinned, his eyes alight with curiosity. "I was just a kid when 'Top Gun' hit theaters. Tom, there's something I've always wanted to ask you."

The two actors were putting on quite a show, obviating the need for further questions from the reporters, who now concentrated on capturing the moment for the news.

Tom Cruise leaned in, intrigued. "Go ahead, ask away."

"Now that 'Mission: Impossible' sequel filming has begun, I've been eagerly awaiting it for years," Martin began. "But when can we expect 'Top Gun' to make its return? Is there a sequel in the works?"

Tom Cruise, swift to catch on, recognized the potential for some excellent publicity and replied, "Soon, we're in the early stages of planning."

With conviction, he added, "Martin, I promise you'll see the sequel to 'Top Gun' in just a few years!"

Martin's face lit up. "That's fantastic news."

The reporters were abuzz with excitement; this tidbit of news would provide material for speculation for days to come.

Leaving the media area behind, Martin joined the rest of the crew, posing for a group photo against the backdrop of the event's sponsor. They then proceeded to the theater foyer.

Elizabeth handed the cake to Bruce and approached Martin, her curiosity piqued. "Why would Tom Cruise send a cake on such an occasion?"

Martin offered a simple explanation, "It's a symbol of Tom Cruise's friendship. He sends it every year before Christmas—a tradition of his to share cakes with close connections."