The Greatest Showman #845 - Mutation Strikes

At the end of the long flight, the plane slowly began to descend. Below, JFK Airport appeared, and through thick layers of clouds, New York's iconic skyline revealed itself bit by bit. Renly opened his eyes, feeling disoriented, as though in a dream—one that wasn't quite a dream—floating like a cloud, light and soft, with the scent of marshmallows lingering in the air.

Suddenly, a figure leapt up in his peripheral vision, startling Renly out of his daze. Nathan's familiar voice followed.

"Renly, you've slept so soundly! Aren't you excited?" Nathan lowered his voice, but his trembling tone betrayed the storm inside him. "Jesus Christ, you just won the Silver Bear in Europe, Best Actor at one of the three major film festivals!"

Renly's lips curved into a small smile, a hint of helplessness appearing between his brows. "Nathan, that was twenty-four hours ago," he replied hoarsely, his deep sleepiness still evident. "I feel like I could go back to sleep."

"Yeah, it was only twenty-four hours ago!" Nathan couldn't hold back, waving his fists. "This is incredible! Do you think the airport will be flooded? The whole pick-up area will be packed, right? Should we call Andy and arrange for bodyguards?"

Renly chuckled but didn't respond, instead changing the subject. "Nathan, can you please call the flight attendant for me? I need a cup of black tea."

Nathan snapped back to attention, his enthusiasm restored. "No problem!"

The noise from the cabin subsided, allowing Renly to rest his eyes again. But before long, the plane began its descent in earnest, signaling it was time to prepare for landing. Renly straightened his seat, put on his seatbelt, and adjusted his surroundings: opening the sunshade, straightening the backrest, lifting the blanket, and sipping from a bottle of mineral water to wake himself further.

The European continent was now behind him, the Berlin Film Festival already a part of history. Everything had come so quickly, and it had passed even faster. The rush of excitement, joy, and happiness had barely settled before they began their return journey.

Looking out the window at the hazy, dense forest below, Renly couldn't help but think of the text message he received before boarding the plane from Edith Hall.

"A start."

Such a simple phrase—"a beginning." Even without context, Renly understood exactly what Edith meant: it was the start of a return to Europe, a beginning of recognition.

In the 21st century, the constraints and rules of the past were gradually fading. The conservative aristocrats of London still clung to their old glory, refusing to let go. But even they couldn't ignore the shifting tides of time. Even the Queen of England had adapted, so how could they be exempt? The aristocracy may still consider acting a disgraceful profession, but more and more actors were gaining recognition. Veterans like Judi Dench and Maggie Smith were known and respected even by the British royal family, much like the artistic geniuses of the past, who were celebrated by royals for their brilliance.

The conditions for such recognition, however, were harsh.

Now, with the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival, it was a start. Not Cannes, not Venice, but Berlin. The Silver Bear had weight in London's upper circles, and when people now mentioned "Renly Hall" or "Hall's youngest son," the words were no longer sneers or mockery. They no longer treated him as an amusing spectacle.

That's why Edith had said, "A start." But it was just the beginning.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Renly's mouth. He had finally earned "a beginning" on his terms. He liked this life, enjoyed the process.

The scent of tea filled the cabin as the flight attendant approached, offering a smile. "Sir, black tea—no milk, no sugar, correct? We're descending now, please be careful. Let us know if you need anything."

The rumble of the engines grew louder, echoing in his ears, drowning out the world. As the plane's descent continued, Renly prepared himself for the chaos ahead—the roaring crowds and flashing cameras at the arrivals hall. Over two hundred reporters surrounded them, their lights flashing incessantly, creating a deafening noise like the thunderous roar of a waterfall, making it impossible to hear anything clearly.

Under the protection of six security guards, Renly was caught in the frenzy. Nathan and Roy, trapped in the thick of it, were experiencing "media power" for the first time. Every detail was under scrutiny, and there was nowhere to hide, like being laid bare under the cameras.

Once inside the van, the chaos didn't end. The reporters remained relentless, flashing their cameras continuously. Two of them even jumped onto the hood of the car, making it impossible for the driver to move. The van driver, however, remained calm, shifting to neutral, then backing up and navigating through the crowd to escape. The reporters ran after them, but the van sped away, leaving them behind.

"What the hell?" Even Roy, typically calm, was sweating and shocked. Nathan was even more excited, practically shouting, "This is insane! It's gone completely crazy!"

Only then did Nathan and Roy begin to understand the intensity of what Renly had been dealing with. The excitement, the thrill, and the chaos were indescribable.

Nathan tried to stand up, but in his excitement, he banged his head on the roof of the van. He sat back down quickly, creating the effect of a vibrating seat. It felt like riding a banana boat.

Meanwhile, Renly seemed unaffected by the chaos. Amid the frenzy, the reporters focused more on Nathan and Roy, with Renly becoming somewhat of a secondary figure. His frown deepened, sensing that something was off.

He turned to Andy, who had appeared in the front passenger seat. Renly raised an eyebrow. "Something big happened, didn't it?"

Andy, usually calm, wasn't his usual self today. There was a heaviness in his smile, and Renly's instincts told him something was wrong. Andy's presence was unexpected, and Renly couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just about the chaos at the airport.

Finally, Andy spoke, his tone serious. "Renly, Heather Cross's condition has suddenly deteriorated. I don't have all the details yet, but she's in the operating room, and it seems like there's a blue alert."

Renly's smile froze on his face. The world seemed to stop around him as the news hit him like a gut punch. For a moment, he couldn't respond, feeling as if his very soul had frozen. His mind raced, but he was too shocked to react.