Chapter 949 - A Powerful Blow 2

The monotonous journey came to an end as the plane touched down.

Originally, Laila had hoped to head straight to Port Edward after landing. However, upon disembarking, she learned that the South African authorities had not yet finalized their arrangements.

What was there to arrange for a simple escort and protection detail? Laila was dissatisfied with their inefficiency but had no choice. On their turf, she had to comply with their schedule.

Additionally, some members of the crew needed to gather in the city. Some had arrived on different flights, while others had come earlier to familiarize themselves with the environment.

Laila appreciated the dedication of those who had arrived early. If not for the security concerns, she would have loved to spend a few days exploring this famous, beautiful city. But the thought of the trouble Roy and the others had stirred up made her head throb.

In the VIP lounge, Laila met with several South African government officials.

They first expressed their gratitude for the crew choosing to film in their country, then explained the reason for the delay in arrangements.

"Recently, there has been a significant increase in tourists. To ensure their safety, many of our personnel have been deployed on related tasks. But rest assured, within two or three days, we will reassign a team of excellent soldiers to protect your filming mission."

"Why the sudden influx of tourists?" Laila asked casually.

The official smiled warmly. "It's all thanks to you. Knowing that you are coming here to film, many admirers have arrived in advance, hoping for a chance encounter with you in a foreign land. Some even hope to catch a glimpse of your filming."

Upon learning that Laila's film would be shot here, the South African government recognized it as a golden opportunity. They knew this would significantly boost their global visibility and attract more visitors to South Africa.

But they hadn't anticipated that the impact would be felt even before Laila arrived.

The film hadn't even started shooting, yet tourists were already flocking to the country because of Laila's name.

However, with the surge in tourists, crime rates had also risen sharply, primarily targeting visitors. While tourists weren't in mortal danger, having a gun pointed at your head and losing everything wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

This situation infuriated South African officials, who berated the criminals for their short-sightedness. How much could they possibly steal? Americans preferred using cards over carrying large amounts of cash. Even if they stole the cards, how would they extract the money? It would be far better to let tourists spend their money willingly!

Amid this chaos, the South African government decided to launch the largest "anti-crime operation" in its history. The goal was to intimidate the underground gangs and thieves, ensuring they stayed out of sight during this critical period.

After all, the film hadn't even started shooting. Once it was released, the number of tourists visiting their beautiful country could increase tenfold or even a hundredfold. How could they let a few criminals tarnish their nation's reputation?

This was why Laila and her team didn't receive immediate military protection upon arrival—the soldiers were busy rounding up the bad guys.

The South African officials were apologetic, assuring Laila that they would arrange protection as soon as possible. In the meantime, the crew would have to stay in the city a bit longer.

Laila wasn't overly concerned about security. The mercenaries were already waiting outside the airport, ready to join them as soon as they stepped out.

The South African government had arranged a high-end hotel, booking two entire floors for the crew. Laila couldn't complain and decided to coordinate with the mercenaries before heading to the hotel.

As she left the VIP lounge, Xiao had already brought the mercenaries over. There weren't many—only about twenty or thirty.

Laila frowned at the sight.

Seeing her expression, Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He quickly leaned in and whispered, "Boss, don't misunderstand. This isn't the full team. We've brought 200 top-tier professionals, providing 24-hour protection with 12-hour shifts. These are the ones staying close to you; the rest are hidden in the surroundings. You know, if we reveal too much strength, anyone with ill intentions might misjudge our capabilities."

His explanation made sense to Laila. If potential attackers only saw twenty or thirty people, they might assume that's all they needed to deal with. In their eyes, the rest of the crew would be easy targets, barely worth considering. They might even surrender without firing a shot.

But if the attackers showed up expecting an easy victory, only to find a hundred more hidden professionals, the situation would become... interesting.

"Got it," Laila nodded. "You handle the arrangements. Just make sure my crew is safe."

"Don't worry. I guarantee everyone will return without a scratch," Xiao said confidently. These mercenaries were all retired experts—some had no family left, while others couldn't adjust to civilian life. They formed mercenary groups to take on jobs.

Their skills were impeccable, but they weren't great at business, often missing out on high-paying jobs. That's why Xiao had connected them with Laila. Knowing how generous his boss was, he wasn't about to let such a lucrative opportunity slip away.

With Xiao's help, Roy and Leonardo undergo some disguises. Neither of them had forgotten the inspectors they'd encountered at the airport last time. Even if those people were no longer around, it was better to be cautious.

What Laila hadn't expected was the scene outside the airport. A large group of reporters armed with cameras, along with a fan club of at least a thousand people holding posters and signs, had gathered.

Her expression darkened as she turned to the accompanying South African official. "Did everyone know about our arrival?"

The official smiled. "Of course. Your visit is a pride for all of South Africa. Our people are thrilled to have you here."

Laila could tell from his smile that the government had leaked their itinerary. In the past, she wouldn't have minded the publicity—it was free promotion. But now... if the reporters and fans knew, wouldn't the gang leaders know too?

Roy was less of a concern. He wasn't part of the crew, so he wouldn't be featured in the promotional materials. But Leonardo was different. As a potential Oscar winner and a global superstar, his face was plastered across every newspaper...

With his unmistakable presence, how could any gang leader fail to recognize him?

Laila didn't dare to think further.