Chapter 31: Everything for Gain

[Chapter 31: Everything for Gain]

"Danny Koskri's dismemberment: gang retaliation or an evil ritual?"

In the office, Ian looked over his report and chuckled to himself.

Although it was not the biggest news, it involved gangs, death, and an evil ritual, which made it a compelling story. Especially with the shocking large photo of dismembered limbs, a pentagram, and a clown-painted head -- it was like a movie scene playing out, stirring adrenaline in readers and boosting sales of the Los Angeles Herald. This time, there was no video, just photos and text, making it an exclusive piece for the Herald.

It wasn't strictly an exclusive, though, since other outlets could report on it too. The problem was that the police would seal off the scene immediately, clearing everything, leaving other reporters with little chance of getting full photos. So, while the news wasn't exclusive, the photos definitely were! Of course, since there was no video this time, the impact on Ian's upward trajectory wouldn't be monumental, but it did benefit the paper's growth overall.

Ian's infulence points for right eye had nearly reached 500 and continued to rise. Additionally, the Blazer case and the Lili Marlene incident were still developing, nearing 300 as well. Just two more solid stories, the right eye can be upgraded.

As for Crazy Jett? He didn't worry. After this incident, Jett would come to realize he needed more preparation. Acting impulsively would only bring him more trouble -- after all, Ian Carr's fame was growing.

And besides, he was a business owner, not a street bum! Plus, the person sent after him was one of his own, so to avoid suspicion, they likely wouldn't surface for a while. Once Ian's eyes upgraded and he gained new skills, he could face Jett without fear.

...

Just then, Editor Lloyd walked in excitedly.

He waved the report in his hands, exclaiming, "Thirty thousand copies! Our sales hit thirty thousand today. And that's not even all the data; we expect to sell out in the next two days!"

Selling thirty thousand copies wasn't due to the value of this particular news piece surpassing the Charlie Mills case, the Blazer case, or the Lili Marlene incident. It was because the Herald's profile had surged during this period, coupled with Ian reinvesting every penny he made into expanding sales avenues.

Of course, the photos Ian had taken were indeed classic -- he had chosen the right angles and carefully shot them. Those photos had the potential to be nominated for a Pulitzer!

Lloyd handed Ian a receipt for a debt previously owed to Garrick, which he had settled on Ian's behalf. Sitting in his leather executive chair, Ian glanced at it and tossed it aside, saying, "It's just peak sales; nothing to brag about. The media requires a steady influx of news -- laying a solid foundation is key. I aim for daily sales of over 150,000, even without breaking news. Ron, invest all our current funds; we need to further expand our reach! Quickly! I don't want to waste my news value any longer!"

Exclusive news significantly boosted sales! Armed with previous earnings, Ian had been enhancing the sales channels of the Los Angeles Herald. A lot of money had been spent, and the sales of the Herald were rapidly inflating. With sufficient channels, sales could soar.

In just a month, the Herald had reported on the Charlie Mills series of cases, the Blazer case involving minor, the Lili Marlene wild night, and now the Danny Koskri dismemberment incident.

In a month's time, there had been four significant stories, with the Charlie Mills case split into six hotspots -- Ian Carr and Kate Beckinsale's romance was also among them.

Essentially, the Herald had covered ten major news stories, of which nearly half were exclusives. This made the Los Angeles Herald gain a reputation; many began asking where they could buy copies, and advertisers rushed to come on board -- advertising was still cheap now, and if the Herald could keep the scoops coming, it would mean a significant advantage for advertisers.

It could be said that the Herald was only limited by its sales channels at this point.

Lloyd excitedly rubbed his hands together, saying, "We're already working on it, boss, but we're short-staffed."

"Then hire more people! Oh, no Jews, and no religious zealots -- you know what I mean."

Lloyd looked stunned. "Are you being discriminatory, boss?"

Ian shot his gaze up sharply. He didn't speak, just focused on Lloyd with a steely glare that carried an unspoken authority. It wasn't the power of a boss, but the might of a top-notch journalist!

Yes, I am being discriminatory! You want me to admit that?

Lloyd felt a rush of cold air, sensing an unexpected chill despite the warm sunlight pouring in. Even the office lights seemed dimmer.

He nodded slowly and murmured, "Okay, boss."

Then Ian's expression relaxed.

His gaze shifted beyond Lloyd's body, surveying the editors busily working in the distance. He continued, "We need to expand the newspaper layout too; we need more content and more advertising space."

"That's no problem. We also need a larger office space. I'm in talks with the neighboring office that's moving out."

"Great, but sign for just one year. The expansion of the Los Angeles Herald will exceed your imagination, and this small pond will soon be too cramped for us! What we need to do now is expand, expand, and keep expanding. Spend all the money we earn; I want the Los Angeles Herald to become a national newspaper within a year!"

Lloyd sat across from Ian, looking exasperated. "That won't be easy, boss; you can't always scoop big stories. Those stars will be incredibly cautious around you."

Ian scoffed. "Star gossip? No! That stuff is just repetitive; people get bored of it! Who doesn't have those? Such stories are mere side dishes or bargaining chips! What people need is the thrill of adrenaline! Revenge killings, battles, bloodshed, and shattered bodies are the ongoing bread and butter of this business!"

He leaned forward, putting his legs down, and smiled at the older man. "Do you know how many murders, shootings, and gang fights there are in America each year? Gun violence alone exceeds a thousand, and there are tens of thousands of murders! And that's just what's known, not counting the undiscovered cases! Violence and bloodshed are the fabric of this country; adult content is merely decoration!"

Lloyd instinctively blurted, "But you won't have that many leads."

Ian laughed, "That's hard to say! We are figures shaped by our times, our fates intertwined with death and blood! But do you know what the key is?"

He pointed his cigar at Lloyd. "It's not the events, but the people tied to those events! A story about an ordinary black guy killing an elderly woman for twenty bucks is worthless. But if it's a powerful mogul, a wealthy tycoon committing such a crime, then that story is gold! The people are the key, the essence, the focal point! And what we do is build the narrative on top of celebrity foundations!

A wealthy businessman robbing an old lady of twenty bucks and raping her? Now that's news! If it's an unfortunate old man, it's simply good news! If that man manages to turn the tables, it's explosive news! If he succeeds in wooing the wealthy businessman's daughter and marries her, then that's legendary news! A good journalist doesn't sit idly by, they actively seek out and even guide such events to happen!"

Lloyd listened, stunned by Ian's perspective on news. It left him feeling baffled.

Am I not a veteran in the media business?

How come he's more extreme, crazed, and twisted than I am?

Is this transformation from a privileged kid to a hardcore media fanatic that swift?

The old man felt a sense of helplessness in not being able to keep up with the pace of modern youth.

He sighed, "You'll offend a lot of people doing this."

Ian shrugged. "We chase death, and death chases us! We chase trouble, and trouble chases us! That's the fate journalists must face. As unofficial kings without crowns, as righteous reporters, this is our calling!"

Lloyd pondered seriously for a moment before replying, "I agree with most of what you said -- except for one thing."

"What's that?"

"That isn't righteous, boss!"

Ian chuckled.

With a gaze sharpened, his voice turned low, "In this murky, filthy world, we can preach righteousness, but we must never try to execute it."

*****

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