Chapter 119: Today's Star Segment

[Chapter 119: Today's Star Segment]

The lack of cooperation from his opponents only fueled Ian Carr's media frenzy.

Thus, the entire month of June became Hollywood's season of distress, as various news stories constantly emerged. The continuous barrage of sensational headlines caused Ian's left eye to twitch with excitement, his experience points soaring above 5,000, which notably diminished the side effects of his hypnosis technique.

Moreover, Artificial Intelligence suffered substantial delays, with launch timelines pushed back, indicating a strategic withdrawal to wait out the media storm.

A day later, Dan agreed to sell his company. Ian invested two million to acquire Lockbridge Productions, bringing in Barbara and the other girls, while waiting for Jessica, Kate, and Scarlett's contracts to expire.

After that, the talk show interviews also began to run smoothly.

...

In the WND News Network studio, a silver-haired host sat before the camera and greeted the audience, "Hello everyone, this is WND News Network. I'm your host, Cardock, welcoming you to my studio."

"You're watching the newly launched Today's Star segment, where we bring you exclusive interviews with stars... delivering timely entertainment news and revealing some fun trivia from the movie industry."

"Let's welcome today's guest, Halle Berry!!!"

As the host's enthusiastic shout echoed, Halle Berry walked through the side entrance, greeted by the audience's roaring applause. The celebrated African American actress held a significant place in the hearts of American viewers, and her entrance ignited a lively atmosphere, pushing WND's ratings into a rapid climb.

Initially, Ian Carr considered featuring the five girls in the premiere episode, but Jason Francie suggested that it would be more appropriate to showcase Halle Berry first, saving the others for the second episode. This way, they could maintain the news momentum while promoting dual publicity. Once the show took off, inviting more stars would become considerably easier.

At this moment, Halle Berry sat on the couch, engaging in conversation with the host. They discussed lighthearted movie anecdotes as well as her recent case, with Halle yielding much of the credit to her niece rather than absorbing it all for herself.

The captivating storyline of women's revenge, with sharp dialogues and well-timed comebacks, garnered cheers and applause from the audience.

...

What began as a routine news segment transformed into another viral sensation. Looking back at the most sensational news in America, most were related to Ian Carr's leaks.

The number one spot still belonged to the Palos Bank robbery, with live car chases never seen before. Following closely was the love murder case, which gained notoriety for its shocking elements - from murder and beheading to Halle Berry's celebrity effect, police missing the suspect, and the empowerment narrative of a woman fighting back, all intertwined with the downfall of Bloods gang.

All these components merged to craft a news story worthy of the number two hottest topic this year. The case even garnered support from feminist organizations, ensuring its continued relevance.

With the backing of feminist groups, it might even surpass the Palos Bank robbery, potentially dominating the headlines as the second biggest story of the year - the first spot already secured by 9/11. Countless outlets would surely want to reach out for interviews, but too bad; the exclusive interviews with the five girls were all his!

Ranking third was the Burning Torch incident, where interviews with the fire victim consistently drove more interest than ever before. Fourth was the Charlie Mills case, mainly due to the series of news stories accumulated over time. Fifth place was the Madonna event, with her iconic status ensuring it was a subject of discussion, even without substantial news behind it.

Ranking sixth was the Carr Media bet incident, with such a large economic event raising eyebrows, largely due to Ian's miraculous handling of it, coupled with the family drama and the George Chandler's death playing a crucial role.

The seventh and eighth spots went to other news pieces, while the ninth and tenth featured the hotel shooting incident and the Durham Steel Yard case.

If the rankings extended to the top twenty, stories like the resurrection of Lino Bank's chairman, Ian Carr shooting dead robbers, the case of a boy who attempted suicide, and Andy Conner's public nudity could also fit in.

---

In a small house in Boston, Muhammad Atta looked at the newspaper in his hands, sitting across from Philip Leyso. After a moment of silence, he lowered the paper and said, "They used your name, but I know you weren't involved in these matters."

Leyso smiled. "My boss enjoys creating heroes. He's quite capable and sympathizes with many issues in the Middle East. To him, America is evil, with every cell dripping with rotten blood."

"Is that how you feel too?" Atta poured him a drink.

Leyso shook his head gently. "I don't care. My life is nearing its end; to me, the last grand gesture is to be part of something significant, to report, to bring the truth to the world! I'm not an actor, just an observer, a chronicler!"

His eyes burned with excitement. "That would give my death greater meaning!"

Atta chuckled. "So what about your boss?"

Leyso considered briefly and then shook his head. "Honestly, while he sympathizes with the Middle East, he's primarily in it for the money. He only cares about profits; he just needs scapegoats, and right now, he's actively seeking new butterflies."

Atta nodded lightly. He could tell Leyso was speaking his mind; he had even brought Leyso to the hospital to confirm his AIDS diagnosis.

After a moment, Atta asked, "Do you think he will deepen his ties with the Middle East?"

Leyso shrugged. "Perhaps in the future, but he won't leave any traces. He welcomes cooperation but not coercion. What's the reason for your inquiry?"

Atta chuckled softly. "Maybe he'll offer us more help down the line."

Leyso nodded, "I can pass on your message; I believe he won't refuse."

Atta gazed at the floor, whispering, "Philip, there's an opportunity for you to become renowned, to unleash all your brilliance, but I need absolute trust from you. You can't question me, have no contact with the outside world, and you can't leave me -- even if it's just to go to the bathroom, you must report to me! Whatever I ask you to do, you must do it without question; otherwise, I'll kill you immediately!"

Leyso laughed. "That's no problem. My boss might occasionally call, and I can answer in front of you. If he needs something..."

Atta nodded. "I can accept that as long as it's reasonable. But remember, never mention my name or try to see my associates... until the very end, I'll fully reveal the truth to you, and you mustn't block me from doing that!"

Leyso replied seriously, "Even if you planned to detonate a nuclear bomb in Manhattan, I would simply record quietly in the center of that flame. I'm not responsible for the ignition; I'm here to share... as long as you allow me time to upload the videos; my boss prefers to treat news as separate items so he can sell more."

Atta smiled. "Pleasure doing business with you!"

*****

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