Chapter 92: Nothing or Something Very Big

[Chapter 92: Nothing or Something Very Big]

Two days later, Ian struck a deal with the Minova Group. By then, he had sold several newspapers, including the Signet Daily, and purchased a lavish mansion along with shares in a small television station, Spark TV.

With this, he gained his own TV network, although it was just a minor stake in a small channel. Therefore, he decided against giving up any exclusive content just yet. The TV station served primarily as a tool for Ian to familiarize himself with television operations or, in more practical terms, as a training ground.

However, he definitely felt drained from that crazy woman's demands. Her appetite was simply insatiable!

Afterward, she left in style, never reaching out to him again. Ian had a soft spot for such carefree women.

...

Starting from that day, Ian officially moved into Beverly Hills. Mrs. Carr didn't move; she was comfortable with her life on Elk Ave and the admiration of the neighbors. More importantly, she knew her son was growing up and it was better for them to live apart.

On the day Ian moved into Beverly Hills, a Porsche was parked at the entrance. He spotted the two security guards. Taking off his sunglasses, he smiled at them and said, "Do you remember me? Ian Carr. I told you one day I would reside here as the owner."

The expressions of the two guards soured instantly.

Oh boy! This guy really came back.

Seeing their grim faces brought Ian immense satisfaction. Sitting in his car, he chuckled, "Don't worry, guys, I won't take revenge on you. Just keep an eye on this place, do your job well, and make sure those paparazzi don't sneak in. Protect the privacy of the guests! If you're struggling with spotting the paparazzi, feel free to ask me; I can teach you!"

Saying that, he drove off, leaving the two guards exchanging glances.

---

At his luxurious estate in Beverly Hills, Ian woke up early and instinctively walked to the balcony. There stood a telescope and a long-zoom camera.

Unlike casually wandering down Hollywood Boulevard, residents in Beverly Hills were either big business moguls or major celebrities. That means that in this place there was either nothing or something very big.

However, because of this, Ian wouldn't easily let anything go. More often than not, he played the role of a silent observer, a recorder of events. Using the telescope and his perspective, he searched for clues and captured every shot he could.

Sometimes, capturing just part of the scene sufficed. At other times, he would sneak over, subtly pull aside a curtain with his threads, and shoot photos from a mid-range; if he sensed monumental gossip, he would sneak a camera inside.

Hollywood stars weren't only about scandal; there were numerous other facets to explore. For example, Mel Gibson held strong anti-Semitic views, vocalizing them publicly and privately; Tom Cruise often brought women to his home; Steve Martin used his power to lure underage girls to his residence... the world was rife with hidden dramas.

It wasn't just movie stars! Michael Jackson, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Shaquille O'Neal, David Beckham -- all had mansions here. In the future, the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, Simon Cowell, Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres, Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, Mila Kunis, and Ashton Kutcher would make this their home as well.

Some indulged in wild lifestyles, and Shaquille O'Neal had his share of parties, as did Karl Malone...

Additionally, there were business magnates such as Steven Udvar-Hazy, the head of an aircraft leasing financial company.

Bill Gates from Microsoft and Larry Ellison from Oracle also owned properties here, primarily holding them temporarily for vacation purposes, making it easy to mingle. There were even politicians -- some wealthy beyond imagination!

For Ian, all of this was newsworthy! He could expose the glitzy facade of various celebrities' lives, revealing their true nature. He could even provide insider details about their habits, including, but not limited to, their sexual quirks.

For instance, who appeared mild-mannered but was actually aggressive! Who had peculiar hobbies? Which couples seemed lovey-dovey but were often at odds, even leading separate lives? Which politicians discuss various political bargains in private gatherings?

Among them, Shaquille O'Neal lived the most extravagantly, thriving on nightlife.

Most of the time, Ian merely watched and didn't interfere. The potential fallout from leaking such information would be catastrophic, rendering him a target. Thus, he preferred to keep these secrets as trump cards.

From Ian's perspective, there were no powerful figures who didn't indulge; only the tastes differed. This realization had imposed a psychological impact on Ian: the essence of the world was darkness.

His perspective unveiled the grim facets of life, causing him to lose trust in brightness.

At that moment, he removed the storage card from his camera, transferred the footage, labeled it carefully, and secured it in a safe.

...

"Mr. Carr," the new butler stood at the door, "Mr. Dayle next door sent a visiting card, hoping to invite you over as a welcome to the new neighbors."

Ian stepped out of his room and glanced at the butler. "Did you inform our new neighbor who stays here?"

The butler answered, "You instructed me not to let the neighbors know that Ian Carr resides here, so I didn't say anything."

"Good. I have an additional request. Politely refuse all visitors; if anyone inquires, just let them know the owner hardly stays here. Understood?"

The butler bowed respectfully. "Yes, sir."

Ian nodded. "Also, no one is allowed in my room without my permission, including cleaning staff. There's no need to clean when I'm not home unless I command it."

"Understood, sir." The butler took note of the requirements and turned to leave.

Typically, when buying a mansion, it was crucial to establish good relations with neighbors since everyone living in such an area was wealthy -- an opportunity for business. Ian was different; it was best if no one knew he lived there, or else his neighbors would likely sell their homes immediately.

With this thought, Ian decided to give those two guards a little something extra to ensure they kept quiet.

...

After briefing the butler, Ian returned to his room to continue handling his work. Major news must not leak, but minor gossip still had to be uncovered.

Damn, Beverly Hills harbored plenty of major stories but fewer minor ones. Just then, while determining which news to release next, his phone rang.

It was Crips.

"It's me, what's up?" Ian asked, glancing at his computer screen displaying a picture of a young star with seductive charisma.

Crips replied, "Bates Killers gang are coming tomorrow night."

Huh?

Were they finally arriving?

Ian moved his mouse and started editing video. "Who's coming?"

"Kenwal is coming in person with dozens of men, specific details are unclear."

Ian let out a soft sigh, slipped on a voice modulator, and said, "I've always wanted to delve into entertainment news, but violence seems to lurk around every corner... Is there a suitable place for our 'meeting'?"

He used the voice modulator not to disguise his identity, but to prevent Crips from recording anything sensitive; whenever the conversation turned critical, he would wear it.

Crips smiled, "There's an old scrap yard outside of Los Angeles; it's deserted and perfect for that."

"Then schedule them for tomorrow night, at the scrap yard. I'll see you there." Ian hung up the phone, his focus returning to his work.

*****

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